Travel to Bath
Heathrow Terminals T1, T2 and T3 to Bath
- I normally take the
Railair bus from Heathrow's Central Bus Station to Reading, and then the train to Bath Spa.
In principle, one could buy one ticket for the entire journey from Great Western Railway
but then one needs to collect the ticket at Heathrow, and clever people have failed
to achieve that. I suggest to book the tickets for the bus and the train separately, using the links above. In Heathrow, the bus leaves from the Central Bus Station.
You will need to have the credit card used for the booking to collect the train ticket
at Reading. You also need the train ticket at the ticket barrier when leaving Bath Spa
Station.
- Alternatively, one can use the National Express coach ("Heathrow Airport London (Terminals 2,3)", which is
the Central Bus Station, to Bath Spa), but normally the option above is faster. The coach leaves from the Central Bus
Station.
- There is also Megabus going from
the Central Bus Station (and Terminal 4 and 5) to Bath, also directly to the University.
- Train web-sites tend to suggest to go from Heathrow via London Paddington and then to Bath Spa. This is possible but normally expensive and a detour; personally, I never take this route that but it's an option.
Heathrow Terminals T4 and T5 to Bath
If you arrive at Terminals T4 or T5, then the instructions for Terminals T1 - T3 apply except that the buses will leave from Terminal T5; there is a shuttle from Terminal T4 to T5.Bristol Airport to Bath
The Air Decker goes from the Airport to the Bath Bus Station in Dorchester Street (bottom right in the city map). Some of these buses are very environmentally friendly, and the seats are more comfortable than the picture suggests. Also, there is a taxi rank at the airport.
Within Bath to the University
In town, buses commute from the station via Bathwick Hill (close to the Ayrlington, Pulteney House and Apple Tree Guest House) to the uni. The destination 'University of
Bath' is correct, 'Bath Spa University' is another university at
the opposite end of town.
- From the Ayrlington, the bus stop next to the church Bathwick St. Mary going uphill is about a minute away.
- From Pulteney House, turn right and follow Pulteney Road to the next roundabout. The bus stop is on Bathwick hill, next to the church Bathwick St. Mary (Google map).
- From the Apple Tree Guesthouse, walk along Pultney Gardens toward Pultney Road and then turn right. Carry on walking until you reach a roundabout. The bus stop is on Bathwick hill, next to the church Bathwick St. Mary (Google map).
The bus U1 goes to the University, see bus
services for further informations and timetables. The buses run frequently but can be overcrowded in the morning, in
particular ahead of lectures starting at 9:15. Some students walk up the hill (about 25 scenic but strenuous minutes); see
below for taxis as alternative.
The University is the final destination; this is the orange dot on this campus map next to the blue path. Almost everyone will walk up the stairs there, and along the Parade. I am in 6W 1.4 (green dot) next to the main maths building is 4W. The blue path shows the way from the bus stop (one hast to go down one level in Wessex House). Alternatively, and slightly faster, is it to exit at the top of Bathwick Hill (orange dot next to the red path; many people will leave the bus there) and follow the red path.
Taxi companies in Bath include Abbey Taxi, +44 (0) 1225 444 444, and Bath Spa Taxi and Bath Spa Cars, +44 (0) 1225 31 31 31.
