After many stays in London, we decided a couple of nights in Bath ahead of boarding the Island Princess in Southampton would be a welcome change of pace. It was our first time in the city, and it lived up to its reputation. Here’s a quick recap of our two nights, plus everything we’d tell a friend planning their own stop in Bath.

Quick guide to our stay:

• Arrival Day — Avebury, Lacock, and Castle Combe on the way in
• Day One — a free walking tour, fish & chips, and Pulteney Bridge
• Day Two — the Roman Baths, a Sunday roast, and the Avon canal

Arrival Day

We headed west from the airport with a driver from Celtic Horizons, making three stops on the way to Bath: the 6,000-year-old Avebury stone circle, the unspoiled film-location village of Lacock, and the Cotswold time capsule of Castle Combe. By the time we checked into the Hotel Indigo, the sun was out and the weekend was off to a great start — a light lunch at The Architect with a view of Bath Abbey, gin and tonics at Bath Distillery, and dinner at Garrick’s Head, where the Cornish mussels in cider cream stole the show.

Read our full post: Avebury, Lacock, Castle Combe, and our first time in Bath.

Day One

Since it was our first time in the city, we started with a free walking tour from The Mayor of Bath’s Honorary Guides — their Classic City Centre Tour gave us a strong orientation before we set off on our own. Lunch was fish and chips at The Scallop Shell, followed by a leisurely afternoon along Pulteney Bridge, the River Avon, and the Pulteney Weir. We closed out the day with cocktails at Circo and dinner at The Salamander Pub, with hoisin pork belly bites and parmesan-crusted hake among the highlights.

Read our full post: a free walking tour, fish & chips, and Pulteney Bridge.

Day Two

We started our last day at the Roman Baths — reluctant to book tickets at first, worried it might be one-note and touristy, but fellow travelers talked us into it, and they were right to. Saving it for day two turned out to be the smart move, since the historical context from the walking tour gave everything more weight. Sunday meant a proper Sunday roast, which we found at The Hive, just over Pulteney Bridge with a view of the Weir. We spent the afternoon walking the Avon canal before heading back to the hotel to close out the weekend.

Read our full post: the Roman Baths, a Sunday roast, and the Avon canal.

Final Thoughts: Is Bath Worth a Precruise Stop?

Absolutely. Two nights gave us enough time to see the highlights without rushing, and Bath’s compact layout means everything worth seeing is within walking distance. Pairing it with a scenic drive out from the airport — Avebury, Lacock, and Castle Combe along the way — made for a far more memorable start to the trip than a direct transfer would have, and it set us up perfectly for the train down to Southampton to board the ship.

Bath Tips for a Precruise Stay

• Consider a private driver for the drive in from the airport — Celtic Horizons let us fit in three stops (Avebury, Lacock, Castle Combe) on the way to Bath rather than losing that time to a direct transfer.
• Budget real time at Castle Combe — it’s small, but the atmosphere rewards slowing down rather than rushing through.
• Stay central at Hotel Indigo for easy walking access to Bath’s sights.
• Start with a free walking tour — the Classic City Centre Tour from The Mayor of Bath’s Honorary Guides is a great first move if it’s your first time in the city, and it makes everything you see afterward land better.
• Save the Roman Baths for your second day if you can — the historical context from a walking tour first adds real weight to the visit.
• Dining suggestions worth building your stay around:
  • The Scallop Shell — go-to fish and chips, recommended by a friend and worth the hype.
  • Garrick’s Head — order the Cornish mussels in cider cream.
  • The Salamander Pub — a solid dinner spot, with the parmesan-crusted hake a standout.
• Don’t skip a gin stop — Bath is a serious gin town, and Bath Distillery is a fun, easy way to do as the locals do.

FAQ

Is two nights enough time in Bath? Yes, for the highlights. A walking tour, the Roman Baths, Pulteney Bridge, and a proper pub or two comfortably fit into two nights without feeling rushed.

Is Bath a good stop before a Southampton cruise departure? Very. Bath is an easy train ride from Southampton, making it a relaxed, low-key way to start a cruise rather than flying in and boarding the same day.

Do you need to book a walking tour in advance? We didn’t — the Classic City Centre Tour from The Mayor of Bath’s Honorary Guides is free and departs at set times, but book in advance.