.JPG){kind=link}
City Sightseeing runs Bath's open-top hop-on hop-off bus, with two routes covering 35+ stops across the city centre and the surrounding hills, running roughly 9.30am to 5pm daily. Tickets are sold in 24-hour and 48-hour versions with an audio guide included, but don't cover entry to any attraction. It suits visitors who want the Skyline route's views without the climb, or anyone with limited time or limited mobility; if you're fit and staying central, Bath is compact enough that walking often gets you there just as fast.
The two routes
| Route | Focus | Key stops |
|---|---|---|
| City Route | The historic centre | Bath Abbey, Roman Baths (High Street), Grand Parade, Royal Crescent, Royal Victoria Park, Milsom Street |
| Skyline Route | The hills and countryside around the city | Great Pulteney Street, Holburne Museum, Bathwick Hill, Widcombe Hill, Prior Park |
The City Route sticks to the flat centre and the main sights most first-time visitors want: the Abbey, the Roman Baths, Pulteney Bridge and the Royal Crescent are all served directly. The Skyline Route is the more useful one if you're short on time or can't manage hills, since it climbs up towards Bathwick, Widcombe and Prior Park, ground that our Bath Skyline walk covers on foot for anyone who'd rather hike it.
How it works
Buy a ticket, hop on at any stop, and hop off wherever something catches your eye, then catch the next bus when you're ready to move on. Tickets come with a recorded audio commentary, and most tickets also include a downloadable self-guided walking tour you can use once you're off the bus. A 24-hour or 48-hour ticket runs from your first use, and vouchers are typically valid for booking up to 12 months ahead. The buses run daily except 25 and 26 December and 1 January.
One thing to be clear on: this is a sightseeing bus, not an attraction pass. It gets you to the door of the Roman Baths, the Holburne Museum or No.1 Royal Crescent, but you'll still need to buy a separate ticket to go inside any of them.
What it costs
Adult tickets are sold in 24-hour and 48-hour tiers, with family and child pricing also available, and City Sightseeing periodically bundles the bus with add-ons like entry to Mary Shelley's House. Prices vary by season and by which channel you book through (the operator's own site, a reseller, or a local discount voucher), so we're not going to quote a figure here that might already be out of date by the time you travel; check the current price directly on city-sightseeing.com before you decide.
Is it worth it?
If you're staying in central Bath for a short break, the honest answer is that walking gets you to most of the City Route's stops just as quickly, since the historic core is small and flat where the sights are clustered; our guide to getting around Bath without a car has walking times from Bath Spa station to the main sights. Where the bus earns its keep is the Skyline Route: it reaches Prior Park, Widcombe Hill and the high ground above the city without you having to walk up, which matters if you're short on time, travelling with people who can't manage the hills, or simply want the view without the effort.
It's also a reasonable option if you're only in Bath for a few hours between a train connection and want a fast overview before deciding where to spend your remaining time, or if poor weather makes an open-top upper deck less appealing than a covered lower deck alternative to walking around exposed.
Practical tips
- The main starting point is around Bath Abbey and North Parade, both a short walk from Bath Spa station.
- Buses run roughly every 20-30 minutes depending on the route and time of year; you rarely wait long, but check current frequency before planning tight connections.
- Booking online in advance is usually cheaper than buying on the day from a rep on the street.
- Bring layers if you're sitting on the open top deck; Bath's hills mean the Skyline Route especially can be breezier and cooler than street level suggests.
For a wider view of what to prioritise on a short visit, see our one day in Bath guide, and our full things to do in Bath hub for everything the bus routes past.