The chalk to Bristol’s cheese, Bath is too close to Bristol not to check out. The two share plenty in common — a fierce independent streak, a passionate love of creativity and unbeatable architecture, for a start — but are also completely contrasting places. If you’re looking for a day trip out of Bristol and haven’t considered Bath, we don’t really know what to tell you. This is a no-brainer.

The distance between the two cities is a mere 14 miles, with pretty much every train heading east from Bristol stopping first in Bath. Driving between the two cities is also a piece of cake, albeit a piece of cake that takes about 45 minutes, compared to just 15 on the train. Taking the train also allows you to enjoy a drink or two in Bath, so it makes all the sense in the world.

Bath is famous for its architecture, for its wellness history, for its buns. The city stands out as a major destination in itself, one of the most popular tourist attractions in the south of England. Fitting everything into a day trip will be tough stuff, so do your research ahead of time and prioritise what it is you want to see. Saying that, the planning will go out of the window once you arrive and get blown away by absolutely everything.

The Roman Baths are the real main event, the reason the city has its moniker and the catalyst for the development of the town. You can’t go into the famous waters but you sure can take a thousand photographs of them, so don’t miss out there. The baths are backed by the gorgeous Bath Abbey, one of the most stunning pieces of Gothic architecture in England and another Instagrammable gem in the centre of town. Pulteney Bridge rounds off this part of town, a real gorgeous piece of civil engineering.

It is Bath’s architecture that really gets us going. The Royal Crescent and The Circus are arguably the two most impressive feats of residential architecture in England, real inventiveness and aesthetic brilliance in the heart of the city. It is easy to see where Jane Austen got her inspiration from. The famous author lived in the city for a short period, and while little is known about her time here it is Bath that celebrates Austen the most. Check out the Jane Austen Centre, or maybe time your visit for the world’s largest Jane Austen festival.

This place is a culinary champion, and cafes don’t come much more iconic than Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House. The buns are famous nationwide and for good reason, all in a building that is worth checking out for historical value alone. But we’re getting carried away now, you get the point. Bath is an absolute must-visit when in the south of the country, a massive understatement if ever there was one. Be sure to check out our Bath In Your Pocket page before you go!