Key logistical information for the city centre

Bath is a beautiful city, and being able to live in a World Heritage Site is lovely. The stunning architecture in Bath does, however, lead to various accessibility issues, particularly in terms of step-free access and wheelchair access. There are still plenty of parts of Bath that can be explored and enjoyed, and accurate information can help you make informed decisions about your trips to our city!

This guide will include information on:

• Transport into Bath.
• Logistics of navigating the city centre.
• Finding places with step-free or wheelchair access in Bath

Getting to the city centre

There are lots of different options into the city - here is some general information about the transport situation in Bath:

Public buses

There are lots of public buses across Bath, and all of them should have ramps available on request, low floor access, and a dedicated space for wheelchair users. Most of the bus stops in the city centre have raised pavement, and the main bus station on Dorchester Street, which is on route for lots of Bath's buses, has step-free access.

Trains

The Bath Spa train station on Dorchester Street is wheelchair accessible, with step-free access via lifts. There is also seating on both siders of the ticket barriers, and an accessible toilet (requires a radar key) is available during the staffing hours of the station. The National Rail website provides more accessibility information for Bath Spa station.

Taxis

There are a few taxi ranks across the city centre, including just outside the main entrance of Bath Spa train station, and Orange Grove - right next to Bath Abbey.

Here are some links that might be useful:

• Taxi ranks in the city centre
• Firms offering adapted taxis in Bath

Cars and parking

There are lots of car parks and on-street parking options in the city centre. Here is some general information on parking in Bath and information on accessible parking if you are a Blue Badge holder.

Particularly if you're travelling by car, it is worth bearing in mind that some of the streets in the city centre have restricted access for vehicles. B&NES Council have a useful map detailing restrictions.

Navigating the streets of Bath

Bath is a reasonably compact city, with lots of activities, shops, and restaurants in close proximity to transport links. Here is some general information about navigating the city:

• Many of the roads and paths in the centre of Bath, including Southgate Street and Stall Street, are wide and fairly even. These high streets sometimes have obstructions, but are typically wide enough for this to not impact wheelchair access. They do tend to get quite busy and crowded. 
• Some of the smaller streets offer step-free access, but narrow or uneven surfaces. There are a few streets that are completely cobbled, such as Abbey Green and Queen Street, and some with pavement that can be too narrow to navigate including parts of Walcot Street and Grove Street.
• The area around the Southgate Bath Shopping Centre is fairly flat, but there is a slight incline as you go northward; if you're following the main high street, it starts to get steeper as you join Milsom Street.  
• There is public seating dotted around the city - this map provides information on public seating availability.
• Here is some info on public toilets in Bath - there are quite a few different options across the city. There are also a few Changing Place Toilets including in Southgate Bath Shopping Centre, Bath Sports and Leisure Centre, and Sydney Gardens.

Members of the community will often report issues in public spaces on FixMyStreet, including things that might temporarily affect access routes like street obstruction and pot holes - it can be helpful to sign-up for email alerts or check for incident reports on their map.

Finding indoor places in Bath

If you're planning ahead, or want to look for places to go while you're already in town, I'd recommend using the following information sources to find out more about step-free and wheelchair access across Bath:

• Wheelmap is a fantastic source of information about wheelchair accessible places in Bath, with most locations included on the map. It is an open, crowd-sourced database available in lots of languages, and anyone is able to add/flag errors or add details and photos.
• Visit Bath also has some useful information and recommendations about accessibility in Bath. Many of the attractions, experiences, and locations that they list on their website contain detailed accessibility information. 
• AccessAble has details from audits of some buildings and locations in the city.

Going outdoors in Bath 

As a lot of the indoor spaces in Bath can be very busy and narrow, and also because we live in such a beautiful area, I want to briefly touch on access to parks and waterways in the centre of Bath.

Rivers and canals

The Kennet and Avon Canal is an iconic feature of the city, and a large section of the towpath has step-free access. I'd recommend joining at the entry point on St Matthew's Place - there are a few steep parts, but most of the towpath is flat. 

There are some options for the Avon River - the Riverside Path is flat and quite level, and has an entry point near Carpenter House.

Some more useful links:

• Canal & River Trust have a wonderful map which indicates different access points to the canal. It provides information on different entry points including whether there are steps or a slope, details on any barriers, and access width.
• If you want to get onto the water, you can find out about companies that have adapted canal and river boats.

Green spaces

This is some basic access information about some of the parks in the centre of Bath:

• Parade Gardens has a long ramp to access the main garden, and flat, paved paths to navigate the grounds.
• Green Park has a flat and level entrance with a path running along one of its edges. Lots of the green space is only accessible through the grass, which has some steep banks, but is otherwise flat.
• Henrietta Park main entrance is step-free with a slight incline, though some of the other entrances have steps or steeper slopes. There are lots of paths round the park which are flat, but a little narrow in some areas. There is also a toilet in this park.
• Sydney Gardens is found behind the Holburne Museum. It is mostly flat, has a mix of asphalt and gravel paths, step-free access, and an accessible toilet. 
• Queen Square is fairly flat, small park. All of the access points are step-free with gravel paths around the square. 
• Hedgemead Park has a few step-free entrances, though some of these have steep gradients. The paths around the path are quite event, but are steep in places, and some parts of the park can only by accessed by a few shallow steps.
• Royal Victoria Park is a large park, with roads and pavements running through it. There are paths running through the park, though a few are quite uneven, gravel paths, and some of the green areas are slightly sloped. There is a toilet in this park.
• Alexandra Park is on top of a steep hill; it can be accessed by car. There is a tarmac park around parts of the park, which connects with the best places for panoramic views of Bath, but some parts of the park can only be accessed via a dirt path. There are some toilets in this park.

Hopefully this gives you a sense of what to expect in Bath city centre! If you want to share your favourite places to go in Bath, or want to help us develop some additional guidance and recommendations for wheelchair accessible locations, please get in touch via our email: reslife@bath.ac.uk