Only one free day? · Day trip from London
Bath or York?
| Field | Bath | York |
|---|---|---|
| Travel time | 1 h 20 | 1 h 45 fastest trains; average 2 h 11 min |
| Transport | Direct train | Direct train |
| Self-guided | – | £ 67.20–73.20 |
| Tour | € 92.93 | – |
| Time needed | 5–7 h | 6–8 h |
| Closed | 25-26 Dec | None; Sunday sightseeing 12:45-14:30 only |
| Best time | Weekdays, Apr-Oct; Roman Baths open 9:00-18:00 in Sep-Oct | Mon-Sat, arriving by 10:00; Minster first admission 9:30 |
| Verdict | Worth a full day | Worth a full day |
Our verdict
Bath for one day, York for two.
Pick Bath if you have a single day. The train from Paddington takes 1 hour 20 minutes, the Roman Baths cost £ 26.50 on weekdays and everything is within a 20-minute walk of the station. York is the bigger city, with the Minster at £ 20, the walls and a free railway museum, but the fastest train from King's Cross takes 1 hour 45 minutes and the average is 2 hours 11 minutes. Choose York if medieval streets interest you more than Georgian ones, if you can leave by 08:00, or if you can stay a night.
Last checked: · Train times from Great Western Railway, South Western Railway, Chiltern Railways and Trainline; opening days and ticket prices from each attraction's official site or the local tourist office.