Best route LHR to Bath
 

We'll be arriving at LHR Terminal 3 Monday morning, and I'm looking for the best way to get to Bath Spa. The thought of a long bus ride after a long flight doesn't appeal. Is there a better way?

Your best options are 1) a bus ride all the way (though there is an express that isn't too bad); 2) A bus ride to Reading and then a train to Bath; or 3) A train into London Paddington and then another train to Bath.

The bus is actually the easiest since you don't have to schlepp luggage through any transfers/train stations.

Does Bath have to be your first stop??

As <font color="blue">janisj <font color="black">mentioned, there are 3 ways to go from Heathrow to Bath. I took the bus last month because it doesn't require a change.

I don't know what date you arrive in Heathrow. Below is the web site. I entered Mon. Aug 14, and the schedule came up. As you can see the ride takes from 2+ hours to 5+ hours. Many schedules need a change of bus.

We took the 14:45, the ride was very pleasant. We sat at the front row. The bus driver was so wonderful. We struck up a conversation during the ride. When he approached Bath, he made the announcement that there are 2 visitors from California and he gladly welcome us to Bath. Then he went on and told the history of Bath and pointed out so many buildings and some historical sites until we reached the bus terminal.

Since you will arrive in the morning, I see 9 am, 10:15 and 11:45 buses, all takes less than 3 hours to get to Bath.

http://www.nationalexpress.com/bp/b2.cfm?id=61495332

When you try this site, make sure you use (hi-lite) London, HEATHROW AIRPORT, central bus station, instead of Heathrow Airport Terminal 3, greater London, to search for your schedule. It is very easy to go from T3 to the Central Bus Station. We booked/paid (&pound;16.50 for 2 seniors)/printed our tickets before we left California. According to the website, if you arrive by air and your flight is delay, they will allow you to take the next bus (if it's not full). Then your next bus can take much longer!</font></font>

Terminal 3 is by the bus (and Tube &amp; HEX) stations. It's T4 that's a fair distance away

I am so jealous, Bath is one of my favorite places.

Thanks so much for the info, Teatravel. I've saved your link for my next trip.

In 1998 we arrived at around 11:30 a.m. but after being up all night we did not want to drive. We took the National Express bus to Bath. If I recall, it was something like a 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ride and only stopped once before Bath. My husband slept the whole way and I, of course, had to pry open my eyelids and look at quaint chimneypots the whole way. It was very comfortable and we could watch that our luggage was put on and off.