BATH RACEDAY GUIDE
Bath Raceday Guide: What It Actually Costs and Where to Go
A full breakdown of travel, food, drinks, and accommodation for a day at Bath Races — so you can plan your trip without the guesswork.
If you’re thinking about making a raceday out of a trip to Bath, this one’s for you. We’ve done the legwork — figured out where to stay, how to get to the track, where to eat and drink — and we’re laying it all out here so your day runs smoothly from the off.
This is part of our ongoing Paddock Preview series where we document real racedays, real costs, and give you honest recommendations. No fluff, just the stuff you actually need to know.
Where We Stayed
Travelodge Bath City Centre — £100 between three people
For a raceday trip, you’re not looking for a boutique hotel experience. You want somewhere clean, central, and easy on the wallet — and the Travelodge Bath City Centre ticks all three boxes.
We split the cost three ways, which works out at just over £33 each. For a city like Bath, that’s a proper result. It’s right in the centre of town, so you’re walking distance from everything — restaurants, pubs, and crucially, your transport to the track the next morning.
If you’re coming as a group, this is the obvious base.
Parking at the Travelodge
£21 for 24 hours — 4-minute walk away
If you’re driving to Bath rather than getting the train, just know that free parking near the Travelodge isn’t really a thing. We ended up putting the car in an overnight car park about a four-minute walk from the hotel — £21 for 24 hours.
Not the end of the world, but worth factoring into your budget if you’re driving in. Once the car’s parked, you won’t need it again — the bus to the racecourse is right on your doorstep.
Getting to the Racecourse
Bus — £6 return, stop right across the road
This one couldn’t be easier. There’s a bus stop directly across the road from the Travelodge, and it’ll take you straight to the racecourse and back for £6 return.
No messing around with taxis, no trying to find parking. Just cross the road, jump on the bus, sorted. For a day where you’re likely spending money at every turn, keeping transport costs this low is a nice win.
Where to Eat
Bath’s got a solid food scene, and we managed to hit three spots worth knowing about.
Solina — Pasta, Walk-Ins Only
Solina serves handmade pasta with a menu that champions Italian flavour combinations and British produce. It sits on Grand Parade with large windows overlooking the River Avon, so the setting does the job too.
The menu is concise — think dishes like rigatoni with pork and fennel ragu, sedanini with wild mushroom and truffle sauce, and tagliatelle with wild venison bolognese, all in the £13–£15 range. Servings are more akin to a traditional Italian pasta course, so if you’re hungry, grab a starter alongside.
The no-booking system is worth knowing about. You can join a live waiting list and head off for a drink until you get a text that your table’s ready. It tends to fill up with a queue by around 6.30pm, so get there early or be ready to wait. Worth it though — strong recommendation from us.
Beefy Boys — Burgers
An award-winning burger, beer and cocktail joint — dirty burgers, loaded fries, cocktails and boozy milkshakes. The Bath site is on Milsom Street, housed in a former NatWest Bank building with an open kitchen at the back where you can watch the burgers being made. There’s also a vibrant bar serving cocktails, craft beers and spirits, including draught lager and IPA from local Somer Valley Brewery.
The patties are 100% grass-fed Herefordshire beef, and the sides — Pastrami Fries, Mac & Cheese Balls — are solid too. These guys finished fourth at the World Food Championships, so they know what they’re doing. Casual, buzzy, and a great shout if you want something straightforward after the races.
Frites Caesar — Steak Frites
A contemporary steakhouse on Westgate Street, specialising in 30-day matured Argentinian Angus steaks served with seasoned frites and a choice of sauces — peppercorn, cream mushroom, chimichurri, or mustard. Seafood options like lobster tail and scallops are also on the menu if you’re feeling flash.
It’s a smaller, cosier spot with only a few tables, but the portions are generous and the vibe is fun and relaxed. Reviews rave about the frites in particular. If you want something a bit more indulgent and premium-feeling after a day at the races, this is your place.
Where to Drink
Three spots worth having on your radar, each with a different vibe.
Born from a family farm just outside Bath, The Welly is a taproom that sits somewhere between a local pub and a proper restaurant — great beer paired with exceptional small plates. Expect up to 18 craft beers on tap, some from their own Somer Valley Brewery, others from well-regarded national craft breweries. If you want something a bit more considered than your standard city centre pub, this is the one.
An Irish pub tucked between the Theatre Royal and Kingsmead Square, with a reputation for Guinness Extra Cold served in serious quantities. Irish-themed decor, a good selection of whiskeys alongside the Guinness and Murphy’s, live music on select nights, and outdoor seating for warmer evenings. Popular with the rugby and sport crowd, so the atmosphere on a big weekend is usually decent. Your Guinness stop — simple as that.
This one’s a step up from a standard pub. Ludo Sports Bar & Kitchen sits near the train station with over 30 Ultra HD screens and a state-of-the-art sound system. They show everything — football, rugby, Formula 1, boxing, tennis, cricket, NFL, and horse racing. There’s also a full dining menu covering wings, burgers, pizzas, steaks and sharing platters, plus two rooftop terraces. If there’s racing or any other sport you want to catch after the track, this is the obvious destination.
What It’ll Cost You
Accommodation (1/3 of Travelodge room) — ~£33
Overnight parking (if driving) — £21
Bus to racecourse and back — £6
Food (across two meals, estimate) — £25–£45
Drinks across the evening — £20–£40
Estimated total per person — ~£85–£145
Obviously your drinks tab is the wildcard, but even at the higher end that’s a very manageable raceday budget for an overnight trip.
Final Verdict
Bath is a brilliant raceday destination — and it’s one that works for pretty much everyone.
The racecourse itself has a great atmosphere, the city gives you a proper night out around it, and the logistics are genuinely straightforward. Accommodation is affordable when you’re going as a group, getting to the track costs next to nothing, and you’ve got plenty of options for food and drink across every price point.
It’s particularly well suited to a social group trip — the kind of raceday where the racing is the centrepiece but the whole 24 hours around it is just as enjoyable. Whether you’re a serious racing fan or someone who’s just along for a good day out, Bath delivers.
We’d go back without hesitation. If you’re on the fence, get it in the calendar.
Paddock Preview documents real raceday experiences so you can plan your own. All costs are accurate at time of visit.
