A Perpendicular Gothic church at the southern end of the Cotswold Way, known for its fan vaulting, stained glass, and the trail's finish marker in the Abbey Churchyard.
Bath Abbey stands in the heart of Bath, a few steps from the Roman Baths and the official finish of the Cotswold Way. There has been Christian worship on this site for more than a thousand years; the present church is largely Perpendicular Gothic, rebuilt in the early sixteenth century after earlier Norman and Saxon foundations. Honey-coloured Bath stone, tall columns, and light flooding through stained glass give the interior its celebrated sense of height and space.
Look up for the fan vaulting: the choir vaults date from the 1500s, while the nave ceiling is a nineteenth-century copy - spotting the difference is a favourite visitor puzzle. The great east window fills the chancel with colour, and carved angels appear throughout the building. Tower tours and guided visits run on selected days when the diary allows.
The Abbey remains a working church, so visiting hours change around services and special events. Typical tourist opening is roughly mid-morning to late afternoon on weekdays and Saturdays, with shorter Sunday visiting windows between worship. Last entry is usually thirty minutes before closing. Confirm times, tickets, and tower-tour availability on the Bath Abbey website before you arrive.
For Cotswold Way walkers the Abbey Churchyard is the natural place to stop after the final city streets: a circular marker stone marks the end of the National Trail. Combine the abbey with the Roman Baths next door, or sit with a coffee in the square and watch the finishers arrive. The address is Abbey Churchyard, Bath, BA1 1LT.
