Best Pubs in Bath: Where to Drink, Eat, and Soak Up the City’s Character
Bath’s pub culture, in one city-sized snapshot
Bath may be compact, but it overdelivers on character. Georgian streets frame a drinking scene that mixes centuries-old inns with modern tap-led bars. At the centre of it all sits The Raven, the city’s standout all-rounder, a Free House that’s spent 15 straight years in the Campaign for Real Ale’s Good Beer Guide and took a 2023 CAMRA pub of the year title. That kind of streak doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from a simple formula: keep the beer right, keep the welcome warm, and keep the choice moving.
If you’re new to the city, that’s the first surprise: Bath does variety. You can move from a snug one-room pub to a four-floor townhouse with a proper cask line-up in a five-minute walk. You’ll find Somerset cider poured with pride, modern IPAs on keg, and the kind of traditional bitters that made CAMRA a movement. Being a Free House matters here—unshackled from a single brewery, pubs like The Raven can pour what’s tasting best week to week.
History gives the scene its backbone. The Saracens Head trades on real age and real stories; step inside and you’re drinking in rooms where countless Bath nights started and ended. At the other end of the scale, Coeur De Lion is tiny, cheerful, and unapologetically tight on space. You’ll end up chatting to strangers because there isn’t room not to. That’s half the point.
Bath’s geography adds the rest. On warm days, beer gardens and rooftops sell the city all over again. Bath Brew House has the kind of outdoor space that makes a second round inevitable, while Ludo Bar and Kitchen pulls the crowds upstairs for skyline views and big-match energy. When the weather turns, the room matters more than the view—and Bath’s pubs are built for rainy afternoons: low beams, coal fires, and wood polished by time.
Food is not an afterthought. White Hart Inn is the city’s reliable answer to “Where can we actually eat well in a pub?” and Wheelwrights Arms has the roast-lunch tradition down to a habit. Then there’s the wider table: restaurants like Olive Tree, The Elder, Olio, and The Plate push Bath beyond pub grub—handy when you want a full evening rather than just a pint and a pie.
Match days light the fuse. Bath Rugby brings a wave of blue, black, and white into the centre, and sports-focused pubs like Lamb & Lion lean into it with screens and atmosphere. Late nights, live music, and low prices all have their places too—The Bell Inn for bands, The King of Wessex for wallet-friendly rounds. And if your idea of a perfect pint includes a walk first, the canal-side route to a George Inn makes the beer taste better purely because you earned it.
Quick primer before you go: cask ale is served a touch warmer and softer than lager—it’s meant to be. You don’t need to tip at the bar in Britain, but people often round up or leave something for table service. Sunday lunch books out fast. And while many pubs welcome dogs and kids during the day, it’s safest to check before you turn up with a buggy or a Labrador.
One more thing. If you’re planning your hit list, anchor it around the phrase you typed into your phone: Best pubs in Bath. The city makes good on it.
Pub-by-pub guide: who does what best
The Raven — Best overall. Four floors, two-and-a-bit bars, and a rotating line of cask, keg, cider, and stout explain the long run in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide and the 2023 award nod. As a Free House, it pours what it wants, when it wants, which keeps regulars curious and first-timers happy. Expect a classic pub atmosphere in the thick of the city centre.
The Saracens Head — Most historic. If you want to drink where generations already have, this is your stop. Low ceilings, stories baked into the walls, and the feel of an old coaching inn. Order something traditional and let the room do the rest.
Coeur De Lion — Smallest pub. Blink and you’ll miss it, then you’ll be glad you didn’t. Counter, a couple of tables, and conversation by default. Perfect for a quick, cosy pint between sights.
Bath Brew House — Best beer garden. When the sun’s out, so is half the city. Big outdoor space, easygoing service, and plenty on tap. If you’re hopping between pubs, it’s a great reset point—fresh air, a seat, and a second to plan your next stop.
Ludo Bar and Kitchen — Best rooftop patio. Views of honey-coloured terraces, a buzzy crowd, and a menu built for sharing. Match nights can be electric here, but on mellow evenings, it’s just you, the skyline, and something cold in the glass.
White Hart Inn — Best pub for food. This is where a “let’s just grab a bite” turns into a proper meal. Think seasonal plates, pub classics done well, and a dining room that works for date night or a family dinner. If you care about what’s on the plate as much as what’s in the glass, start here.
Wheelwrights Arms — Best Sunday lunch. Roast done right: crisp potatoes, proper gravy, and a pace that assumes you’re not going anywhere fast. Book if you can. Sundays in Bath vanish.
Ring O Bells — Coziest pub. Quiet corners, soft light, and the kind of hush that makes conversation easy. If you want a low-key catch-up or a solo pint with a book, this is the move.
The Bell Inn — Best for live music. A Bath institution for bands and late-night sets. Expect crowds, energy, and a playlist built by the people on stage. If your night out needs volume, here’s your ticket.
The King of Wessex — Cheapest drinks. A straightforward, budget-friendly stop where a round doesn’t sting. It’s where you balance the spend on a longer crawl without losing time or momentum.
George Inn — Best pub to hike to. Head out along the water and let the city fall away. The canal-side stroll is part of the charm; the first sip is your reward. Ideal for a lazy afternoon that turns into “should we stay for another?”
The Crystal Palace — Best location. Right where visitors want to be—steps from Bath’s big hitters and built for a pause between sights. When someone asks for “somewhere central,” this is what they mean.
Garrick’s Head — Best for couples. Tucked-in tables, a little theatre buzz, and a dining room that feels special without trying too hard. If you’re catching a show later, it sets the tone.
Lamb & Lion — Best sports pub. Screens, sound, and a crowd that’s actually watching. Rugby days can be loud—in the right way. If the result goes your way, it’s hard to leave.
The Grapes — Most eclectic. Expect character—decor that tells a story and a back bar that suggests you try something you haven’t had before. If your night needs a curveball, this is it.
How to stitch it together? Bath is walkable, so plan by mood and weather. On a clear evening, start high and finish low: rooftop first, snug last. If the rain is out, flip it—keep to the densest cluster and duck between doors. These sample routes keep the steps light and the choices varied.
- Classic centre crawl: Ludo Bar and Kitchen for a view; The Raven for cask; Coeur De Lion for a tight-knit pint; The Crystal Palace to reset; finish at The Grapes for a left-field last order.
- History-to-music line: The Saracens Head to start; Ring O Bells to slow the pace; White Hart Inn if you’re hungry; The Bell Inn for a live finish.
- Canal-and-back plan: Late lunch at Wheelwrights Arms; walk it off towards the water; end at a George Inn and let the day drift.
What to drink where? If you’re chasing fresh cask, The Raven will have something turning heads. If it’s lager weather and you want a garden, Bath Brew House sorts you out. Cider drinkers are in the right county—Somerset knows apples—and you’ll find dry, tannic pours that taste nothing like the sweet stuff from a supermarket. Non-drinkers aren’t stuck with cola; most places now stock low-and-no beers, sodas with bite, and decent coffee.
When to go matters. Fridays build from late afternoon; Saturdays start early and don’t really stop. On Bath Rugby home games, sports pubs fill two hours ahead of kick-off and empty into the streets when the whistle goes. December brings the Christmas market crowds, which means pubs near the Abbey and Roman Baths stay busy from lunch to last orders. If you like space, aim for weeknights or early doors on Sundays after the roast rush.
Prices are what you’d expect for a tourist city with real quality. You can keep a round sensible at The King of Wessex and then treat yourself elsewhere. Card is everywhere, contactless is easiest, and service is counter-led unless you’re seated for food. If a place feels packed, it probably is; Bath’s smaller rooms fill fast. Two practical tips: book tables for Sunday lunch and groups, and have a Plan B pub within a two-minute walk.
Etiquette is simple. Order at the bar, give the team a smile, and don’t camp on a table with a single drink for an hour when people are hunting for seats. If a pub’s hosting live music, expect to stand and lean into the noise. If it’s a locals’ snug, read the room—keep voices down and laptops away. Most pubs are family-friendly during the day, but past early evening they switch back to adult spaces. Dogs are often fine in the bar; water bowls appear like magic. Best to ask.
Hungry? Bath’s restaurants round out the night. The Olive Tree Restaurant, listed in the 2023 Michelin guide, makes a case for Bath as a dining city, not just a drinking one. It leans into local produce and modern tasting menus—vegan, vegetarian, and dairy-free routes included—without losing the British core. The Elder champions seasonal game and careful sourcing, so autumn and winter are a sweet spot. Olio, set at Homewood in the countryside, brings Mediterranean flavours to Somerset ingredients, backed by a kitchen garden. The Plate adds a playful edge with a design-first dining room and those glass dining domes with a view. If you’re doing pubs first and dinner second, book ahead and give yourself a 20-minute window to cross town on foot.
Accessibility and comfort count. Central Bath is hilly in places and cobbled in others; wear shoes that forgive the miles. A few historic pubs have tight stairs and low beams, and some may lack step-free loos. If that’s a concern, call ahead—staff are usually happy to help. Winter evenings can be damp and dark on side streets; summer evenings can be bright and busy late. Either way, the city feels safe and compact.
One last way to play it: base yourself near the Abbey and make short hops in circles. You’ll never be far from a great pour, and you’ll see the city change as the light does—from the pale stone at dusk to the glow behind pub windows after dark. That’s Bath’s secret. You come for a pint and end up staying for the rooms, the people, and the rhythm of the place.
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