Bath Gay Travel Guide for LGBTQ+ travelers

Bath is one of those cities that makes you stand up straighter without quite knowing why. Maybe it’s the honey-coloured Georgian terraces. Maybe it’s the way the light bounces off the stone at golden hour, and suddenly we’re both pretending we’re in an episode of Bridgerton (parts of it were actually filmed here).

We first came to Bath expecting Roman ruins and polite tea rooms. We got that plus more. Bath doesn’t show off. It just sits there all honey-stone and symmetrical while we wander around going, “But why is every single street this pretty?” You wander from the ancient thermal baths to indie bookshops, from riverside strolls to the cutest cafes, and somehow everything is within a very photogenic 15-minute radius.

Is Bath a wild, throbbing gay metropolis? No. But that’s not the point. Bath is romantic. It’s cultured. It’s the sort of place you escape to when you want long conversations, good food, and architecture that makes you feel like the main character.

And for LGBTQ+ travelers, it feels easy. Relaxed and unbothered. We initially came in 2012 as a surprise birthday weekend I planned for Seby (the big 30!), but have returned several times since, usually on a day trip from Bristol or Cardiff.

1. Is Bath safe for gay travelers?

Short answer: yes. Very.

We’ll be honest, because Bath sits in a rather affluent, slightly traditional corner of England, we weren’t totally sure what to expect on our first visit. As we often do, I rang our guesthouse in advance (Badminton Villa, which has since stopped operating, unfortunately) to double-check that they were happy hosting a gay couple.

There was a pause.

Not the awkward kind. More of the confused kind.

The owner eventually replied, “Yes… of course we do. We always have and proudly will continue to do so!” Then he gently asked why on earth I felt the need to ask. I explained that, sadly, it’s just something we’ve learned to do over the years. His response? Warm, matter-of-fact, and completely unfazed.

And that pretty much set the tone for Bath.

At no point did we feel out of place or like we had to edit ourselves in public. It helps that Bath is both touristy and studenty. Yes, it’s elegant and traditional on the surface. But underneath? It’s relaxed, welcoming, and refreshingly unbothered about who you’re holding hands with.

2. Where is the best place to stay in Bath?

The great thing about Bath is that wherever you stay, you're never far from the city center because it's small, compact, and easy to get around on foot.

There are some really plush hotels to stay in Bath that welcome gay travelers, especially #TravelProud certified hotels like Z Hotel Bath (medium budget) and Hotel Indigo (luxury). Other hotels that we've found recommended by fellow gay travelers to Bath include The Bear (medium budget) and the Royal Hotel (medium budget).

Whilst hotels in Bath are not as expensive as some of the gay hotels in London we stayed at, it's still quite pricey given how touristy the city is. One tip we have is to try to avoid peak days like Saturday. If you stay overnight on a Sunday, prices are usually lowest.

3. Are there any gay bars and clubs in Bath?

Bath isn’t Manchester. Or Brighton. Or even Bristol. With a population of around 98,000, you’re not arriving for a sprawling gay village moment. But thanks to its sizeable student crowd, there is a small but solid LGBTQ+ scene.

The heart of the gay scene of Bath is Mandalyns Bar, the city’s longest-running LGBTQ+ venue. This is where the community gathers for drag cabaret, karaoke chaos, themed nights, and a proper little dance floor moment. It’s intimate, friendly, and open late (often until 3 am), which in Bath terms basically makes it Studio 54 🙂

Beyond that, Bath is more about queer-friendly spaces than strictly ‘gay-only' ones. The Common Room is a laid-back café-bar that’s perfect for early evening drinks when you want to chat before the music gets louder. The Garrick’s Head gives you traditional pub vibes with a welcoming crowd. The Bell Inn leans into live music and an inclusive atmosphere where queer locals often hang out. And The Bath Brew House is great for craft beers before heading out: not officially LGBTQ+, but very much open-minded and relaxed.

4. Are there any gay events and festivals in Bath?

There are a few annual gay events that take place in Bath. The most iconic is the Pride NOT Prejudice Ball that takes place every June, usually at the Roman Baths. It is organised by the WigBath group (Bath's Premier Drag Cabaret!) – check their socials for details of the latest event.

Also in the summer months, usually in August, is Bath Pride, which includes a range of events, picnics, live music, meet-ups, and of course, the colorful Bath Pride Parade through the city center.

5. Is there a gay sauna in Bath?

Surprisingly, there is no gay sauna in Bath. The closest gay bathhouse to the city is Touch Sauna in Swindon (around 50 mins drive) or The Greenhouse Sauna in Newport, Wales (also around 50 mins drive).

6. Are there any gay cruising areas in Bath?

There aren't that many gay cruising areas in Bath, but Sydney Gardens (around 1 mile northeast of the city center) is renowned for outdoor fun, especially by the railway cuttings in the evening hours. As ever with outdoor cruising, please take care, ideally leaving as many of your valuables locked up safely back at your hotel.

We also use this opportunity to stress the importance of travel insurance and backing up everything on your phone to the cloud. Seby had his brand new iPhone stolen from his bag at a party in Brussels. Thankfully, we were able to claim most of the loss back from our travel insurance, but sadly, all recent photos/videos taken were lost forever because he hadn't activated iCloud backup.

7. Where are the best places to eat in Bath?

When we visited Bath, Sotto Sotto was all the rage, recommended to us as the most romantic restaurant in Bath. It is. And the ideal location, close to the Roman Baths in the heart of town. But it's busy, for good reason. So book well in advance! Other highly rated restaurants to try out in Bath include the Michelin-starred Menu Gordon Jones and The Beefy Boys.

During the day, you can't go wrong with one of the many cute, cozy cafes in the city center. Knoops on the corner of Quiet Street is worth checking out. It's famous for having some of the best chocolate drinks in the UK. For a traditional English Afternoon Tea experience, we recommend the quirky Alice in Wonderland-themed cafe called The Mad Hatter's Tea Party, also in the city center.

For another traditional treat unique to Bath, try a Bath Bun – a small, sweet roll made from milk-based dough with fruits/spices, originating in Bath in the 1700s.

We tried ours at the famous Sally Lunn's, which is a part museum, part restaurant/cafe located in the oldest house in Bath. We got a cinnamon Bath Bun to take away…it looks meh, but it tastes delicious!

8. What are the sightseeing highlights of Bath?

Bath is so easy to explore on foot. Every street is begging for an Insta-shoot…it's why we keep revisiting. It's also romantic, especially the walk along the Pulteney Bridge and riverside path along the Avon.

To start with, we recommend heading to the historic city center and walking around the cobblestone streets around the Roman Baths and Bath Abbey. Pick any cafe for a break, our favorite was the San Francisco Fudge Factory located down the road from Sally Lunn's.

Next, we recommend heading to The Royal Crescent and The Circus, around a 10-15-minute walk from Bath Old Town. These are two of the most iconic, Grade I-listed, 18th-century Georgian architectural masterpieces in Bath, where you'll feel like a Jane Austen-style debutante ready to be introduced to high society… The Royal Crescent is a sweeping 150-meter arc of 30 terraced houses, and The Circus, a circular set of townhouses designed as a “hidden” Roman-style coliseum.

HEADS UP tip from us: use the new Clean Up feature in your iPhone editing panel, which can easily remove people and cars from your Royal Crescent snaps 🙂

For the best panoramic views of the city, head over to the Bath Skyline. If you're up for a hike, it has a 6-mile (9.7 km) circular National Trust trail through woodlands, hidden valleys, and fields. Or a more unique way to see the city skyline? In a hot air balloon! I initially got this for Seby for his birthday surprise…just make sure you pick a company who will allow it to be postponed/rebooked as it's weather dependent, and the UK weather is renowned for being, well, quite awful!

9. What's the best way to reach Bath from London?

The easiest? Train. Direct services run regularly from London Paddington and take around 1 hour 20 minutes. We’ve done it a few times. It's smooth, scenic, and far less stressful than battling motorway traffic. If you’re traveling on a budget, coaches (FlixBus or National Express) are much cheaper (starting from £5) and take around 3 hours from London Victoria/Earls Court, subject to traffic.

That said, if you’ve got time, we actually love turning Bath into part of a little West Country road trip. Hire a car and make a weekend of it. The gay scene of Bristol is only about 40 minutes away, and the Cotswolds are right on your doorstep for chocolate-box villages and countryside walks.

Flying in? The closest airport is Bristol Airport, with connections to most major European cities. For international arrivals, you’ll likely land at one of the London airports and head west from there.

Read more travel adventures like this in our book!

We've published our very own gay travel book called, ‘Out in the World'. It has all our practical safety tips, first-hand advice, and travel stories from some of our favorite destinations.

We hope it inspires you to have a fun and safe trip!

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For more inspiration, we recommend you…

• Use our gay guide to London to flesh out your weekend there
• Read our Manchester gay travel guide for everything you need to explore
• Dip into our Scotland gay guide for the ultimate road trip in the UK
• Party hard at one of the best gay festivals and events in London
• Plan your next London Gay Pride with our guide