Few small cities in England can match Bath when it comes to style and elegance. As a Roman spa town, a mediaeval ecclesiastical centre and an influential Georgian city, Bath has long been in the limelight. It is the perfect choice for a weekend or longer break. As Bath is less than 90 minutes from London on the train, it is also very easy to make a day trip from London to Bath and back.

Bath is a compact city, one that is easily explored on foot. In a few hours, you can take in the finest Georgian crescents, the city’s beautiful abbey and the Roman baths. The town’s setting in the valley of the River Avon is glorious. Don’t miss Prior Park, just a short walk or bus ride south of the city centre. It is a showpiece example of an English landscape garden. Back in town, make time for tea where you can try the local speciality teacakes – called Sally Lunns. Bath is seductive. The chances are that, once there, you’ll want to stay. There’s a great choice of hotels and lots of tempting B&Bs – many of them in the town’s hallmark Georgian houses.

The railway station is called Bath Spa. It’s tucked into a curve of the River Avon at the southern end of the town’s central area. There are fast trains to London Paddington twice each hour. A second route to the capital (less frequent, slower but sometimes cheaper) runs via Salisbury to Waterloo station in London.

Bath has a good range of long-distance train services, even including direct trains to Edinburgh and Glasgow. There are regular departures to Bristol, Cardiff, Gloucester and Salisbury and also good links to the south coast. These include direct trains from Bath Spa to Weymouth, Southampton, Portsmouth and even an occasional train to Brighton.