Bathampton is a small village on the edge of Bath, reached by a flat towpath walk of around two and a half miles each way along the Kennet and Avon Canal. Yes, it's worth it: the walk itself is easy and scenic, St Nicholas Church has a genuinely notable grave, and the George Inn, a canalside pub with a claimed ale licence dating back to 1397, is a good reason to turn the walk into an afternoon rather than just a stroll.
Where Bathampton is and how to get there
Bathampton sits just east of Bath city centre, on the north bank of the River Avon and the Kennet and Avon Canal, not far from the University of Bath's Claverton Down campus. The main way to reach it without a car is on foot or by bike along the canal towpath, a flat, well-surfaced route that starts near Sydney Gardens and follows the water out past moored narrowboats. Route guides put the one-way distance at around two and a half miles, so budget roughly 45 minutes to an hour of easy walking each way, more if you stop to look at the boats. There are also bus routes out to Bathampton if you'd rather not walk both ways, and it's an easy stretch to cycle if you have a bike.
If you want a longer day of it, the towpath continues further east toward Monkton Combe and Freshford, and the full canal route is covered in our Kennet and Avon towpath walk guide.
The George Inn
The George Inn sits right on the canal at Mill Lane, and it's one of the oldest pubs in the area, with Visit Bath citing a claimed ale licence dating to 1397. It's a proper canalside stop: narrowboats moor up outside, there's outdoor seating by the water, and it serves food as well as drinks, now run under the Chef & Brewer brand. Hours can shift seasonally, so it's worth checking the pub's current opening times before you set off, especially outside summer. It's a popular stop for the exact walk described above, so expect it to be busier on warm weekends.
St Nicholas Church and the Admiral Phillip grave
Bathampton's parish church, St Nicholas, is a quiet but genuinely notable stop: it's the burial place of Admiral Arthur Phillip, the Royal Navy officer who became the first Governor of New South Wales and founded the colony that grew into modern Sydney. It's a low-key grave in a small English churchyard for someone with that kind of history attached, and worth the short detour from the towpath if you're interested in it.
Bathampton vs other canal-walk villages near Bath
| Route | Distance from Bath | What's there | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathampton | About 2.5 miles one way | George Inn, St Nicholas Church, canal moorings | A short, flat there-and-back walk with a pub stop |
| Monkton Combe & Freshford | Further east along the canal and rail line | Villages, a different pub stop, longer walk or train back | A longer day out, especially if you take the train one way |
| Saltford | West of Bath, toward Bristol | Riverside pub, lock | A walk or pub trip in the Bristol direction instead |
For the Bristol-ward option, see our guide to Saltford. For somewhere to sit afterwards, our best pubs in Bath and best pub gardens guides cover options back in the city too.
Is it worth doing with kids or if you're not a big walker?
The towpath is flat and traffic-free, so it's manageable with a buggy or younger kids who can walk a couple of miles, though there's no shade for most of the route. If two and a half miles each way feels like too much, you can walk one direction and get a bus back, or just walk partway along the towpath from Sydney Gardens and turn around whenever you've had enough, the canal and the boats are the main appeal rather than Bathampton itself being a destination with lots to see.
FAQ
How far is the walk from Bath to Bathampton? Around two and a half miles each way along the canal towpath, roughly 45 minutes to an hour of easy, flat walking in each direction.
Is the George Inn at Bathampton still open? Yes, it's an active canalside pub run under the Chef & Brewer brand, serving food and drink. Hours can vary seasonally, so check before you go, especially outside the summer months.
Who is buried at St Nicholas Church in Bathampton? Admiral Arthur Phillip, the Royal Navy officer who became the first Governor of New South Wales and founded the settlement that became Sydney, is buried in the churchyard.
Can you walk to Bathampton from Bath without a car? Yes. The usual route is the flat Kennet and Avon Canal towpath from near Sydney Gardens, and there are also bus services if you'd rather not walk both ways.
Is the walk to Bathampton suitable for kids or buggies? Yes, the towpath is flat and traffic-free, which makes it manageable with a buggy or younger children, though there's little shade along the route.
What else is near Bathampton on the canal? The towpath continues east toward Monkton Combe and Freshford for a longer walk, and west back into central Bath past Sydney Gardens.