I'd suggest walking. Bath is not a large city, it's farely small and the longer you spend here the more you'll realise that. So put on your trainers and get moving! If you're a tourist then you'll be able to cover the centre on foot, infact from one end of the centre of town to the other takes 10 minutes. Most things outside of the very centre wont be of interest to visitors. It's mostly just houses and pubs.
If you do need to get around there are three options; the bus, the tour bus and the car.
The busses as in most places in England are unreliable and overpriced. I wish I could say the opposite, but unfortunately I can't. A single ticket from the outskirts of town to the centre was at last count (as I've moved and no longer need it as everything's in walking distance) £1.70 for a single on the Park n Ride and three pounds something for a return. The First Bus company charge a bit extra but I can't remember just how much. The Park and Ride runs and stops from two places in Bath. Firstly it goes from Lansdown (Just outside the MOD) down through town and over to Combe Down, on the other side. The other goes from just after the dual carriageway that comes from the direction of Bristol (Saltford and Keynsham), next to the pub on the left hand side shortly after exiting. This one runs to the centre but stops outside pizza hut, near Bath College. Park and Ride busses are usually run by extremely friendly bus drivers (except one, and anyone getting the Lansdown bus know's who he is) and are always helpful.
The First Bus company run all over town and out to Bristol as well. They are unreliable, either late or not showing up at all. The European drivers are friendly, the English ones are usually not. At least on the Bath bus routes I've taken anyway.
The tourbus is perfect for showing you around the centre, getting you familiar with the city. They are opentop on the second level, so in good weather they are great. They run from outside of the abbey and stop all over the city, taking you around all of the popular sights. They are the average price. But again, you could walk it really, so I'd say they were good to familiarise yourself with Bath.
If you're driving around then you'll need to familiarise yourself with the one way system that rules over drivers in Bath. Countless times I've seen a non resident driving up a one way street. The rule usually is - if you need to drive up that street it's a one way and you can't. Or it's surrounded with bollards, or just for the coaches and taxis. You'll need a good map and your glasses on to read all the signs. There's heavy traffic around the work traffic hours of 8-10 and 4.30-6. If you're exiting or entering via the London road then don't, find a way around it as you could be there for hours. Try coming down from Lansdown area instead (further along the motorway and take a later junction).
Really if you live in Bath city centre or if you're just visiting the centre you don't actually need a car.
If you do need to visit something outside of the city then cars can be rented from the train station at the bottom of Manvers Street. You'll be ok as soon as you leave!
Pictures of Getting Around in Bath
Bath Train Station
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We visited Bath last year and your review is spot on - the town centre is perfect for exploring on foot, and dreadful if you're in a car. We parked fairly near the centre and it seemed to take an age to get out again in the evening.
SweetTooth93 14.08.2008 10:58
Thanks. I think this review is worth a very helpful! Your reviews are improving! xx
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