A Travel Price Comparison for United Kingdom Cambridge vs. Bath for Attractions, Couples, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Cambridge or Bath?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Cambridge and Bath. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Cambridge

Cambridge is a historic, beautiful, and collegiate university town. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Bath

Bath is a beautiful, architectural, and charming spa town. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Cambridge and Bath: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cambridge or Bath?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Bath than Cambridge. While Cambridge is larger than Bath, Bath has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Bath is more popular for its museums, historical sights, and impressive beauty, while Cambridge is known for its food. Cambridge is popular for its iconic university and the many colleges associated with it. Bath is popular for its world-renowned Roman built baths as well as its historical architecture and many museums. It is also home to The Historic Roman Baths.

The Historic Roman Baths

How is Cambridge different from Bath?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Bath and Cambridge. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Cambridge or Bath?

Bath is a must-visit destination for its museums and history. Also, Cambridge is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Travelers visit Bath from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. The main draw to Bath is the rich history and most sights are focused on the area's spa city past. The Roman Baths are a highlight of a trip to the city, but other not to be missed places include Bath Abbey, the Royal Crescent, and Pulteney Bridge.

Cambridge offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The history is rich and impressive in this university town. There are countless museums and architectural sights that you should check out. High on the list are the Cambridge University buildings, The Fitzwilliam Museum, the Bridge of Sighs, The Round Church, and many more.

Is the Food Better in Cambridge or Bath? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Cambridge is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. Also, Bath is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Cambridge. You'll find college pubs, local eateries, and fine dining, all in one charming town. Enjoy afternoon tea or fish chips at one of the many local restaurants around town.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Bath. Sample afternoon tea or try some local fish and chips. There are a diversity of restaurants to choose from so it's easy to find local favorites, vegetarian options, or international cuisine.

Is Cambridge or Bath Better for Nightlife?

Both Cambridge and Bath have good vibes after the sun sets.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Cambridge. The nightlife scene is centered around the student culture and you'll find many university pubs, some lively clubs, theaters, and wine bars around town. Whether you're looking for a chill night with friends or a more wild experience, there are options in Cambridge.

Bath has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Head to George Street, which is the liveliest part of the city at night. You'll find a mix of high end restaurants, pubs, and cocktail bars that keep the energy high. One of the most popular nightlife venues in Bath is Bath Komedia, which is a popular music and comedy club.

Is Cambridge or Bath Better for its Old Town?

Bath is an excellent place to visit for its historic old town. However, Cambridge does not have a historic old town.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of Bath. The Roman old town has charming streets and a vibrant environment. On pleasant weekends you'll find tourists and locals alike filling the restaurants and town squares, giving the city an energy and lively atmosphere.

Cambridge does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Cambridge or Bath?

Shoppers can find a variety of high quality stores in both Cambridge and Bath.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Cambridge. The town offers independent boutique shops, local brands, and a 7 day a week market. The three main shopping areas in town are The Grafton, Lion Yard and Grand Arcade.

Bath is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. Head to Stall Street and Union Street for the most popular shopping streets in town. Many visitors pick up jewelry, glass, and fudge or other sweets while exploring the area.

Is Cambridge or Bath Better for Families?

Both Cambridge and Bath are good family-friendly destinations.

Cambridge is a family-friendly university town. Kids will enjoy following the Treasure Trail, or climbing to the top of the Great St Mary’s Tower. Punting is another iconic experience. On a rainy day, head to the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, the Museum of Zoology, or the Cambridge Science Centre.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Bath. The city is all about history and architecture, so at times it can be challenging for the kids to stay entertained. For a change of pace, take a boat on the canal or explore one of the beautiful gardens.

Is Cambridge or Bath Better for Couples?

Bath is a must-visit destination for romance. Also, Cambridge is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Bath is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. With its beautiful architecture and fascinating history, this city is perfect for couples. Take a canal cruise or wander through the scenic areas to enjoy a romantic trip.

Couples visit Cambridge frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. The quaint town is fun to explore as a couple. Try your hand at punting or take a tour of one of the colleges. You can also enjoy a picnic in the botanical gardens or have tea at the Orchard Tea Garden.

Is Cambridge or Bath Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Cambridge and Bath are both good destinations for backpackers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Cambridge. With a handful of hostels and a vibrant student population, the town makes for a fun stop on your backpacking trip.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Bath. You'll find a surprising number of hostels around town so it's not hard to meet other backpackers while you're in the area.

Is Cambridge or Bath Better for Students?

Cambridge is an unbeatable place for its student-friendly activities. Also, Bath is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.

Students come from all over the world to visit Cambridge. The town is home to more than 25,000 students who come from 140 different countries. This is one of the most iconic university towns in the world, and there's really no better place for students to visit or reside.

Bath is a great university town to visit as a student. The University of Bath offers a number of different programs so this is a popular city for local and international students.

Is Cambridge or Bath Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find good public transit in both Cambridge and Bath.

Cambridge has some public transit options. There is a regional bus service that operates through town.

You'll find some public transit in Bath, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. You likely won't need public transit because it's easy to walk most places, but there are buses around town.

Is Cambridge or Bath a more walkable city?

Cambridge and Bath are first-rate when it comes to walkability.

It's very easy to get around on foot in Cambridge. Walking is the best way to explore the town.

Getting around Bath on foot is easy. It is a very walkable city with most sights and activities packed into a very compact area. There are also many pedestrian areas that are easy to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Cambridge Worth Visiting? and Is Bath Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bath or Cambridge?

How long in Cambridge or Bath?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Cambridge and Bath. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Bath than in Cambridge. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Cambridge, and 1-3 days is enough time in Bath.

Families should spend more time in Bath than Cambridge. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Bath, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Bath than Cambridge. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Bath that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

One day in Cambridge or Bath?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Cambridge. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

You'll find shopping and museums around the spa town of Bath. Visiting the old town is also a must. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Bath has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Cambridge or Bath?

Cambridge is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historical destination of Bath. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this spa town has to offer. This spa town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Cambridge or Bath?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the collegiate destination of Cambridge. This university town offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the beautiful spa town of Bath. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Most people head to the area for the museums. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Cambridge or Bath?

The charming university town of Cambridge offers nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

Bath is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from London, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from London, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, and The Best 10-Day Tours from London.

When comparing the travel costs between Cambridge and Bath, we can see that Bath is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Cambridge Expensive? and Is Bath Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Cambridge or Bath?

Cambridge has a larger population, and is about 38% larger than the population of Bath. When comparing the sizes of Cambridge and Bath, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.