Travelling to Bath – Bath Spa University
Source: https://bathspa.ac.uk/students/international/arriving/travelling-to-bath
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:12
Travelling to Bath – Bath Spa University
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Travelling to Bath
Once you've booked your flight you'll need to think about what you're going to bring and how you're getting to campus.
What to bring with you
The Home Office requires you to carry certain documents in paper form (not on an electronic tablet or mobile phone) so that you’re ready to present them on arrival into the UK. You should be prepared to answer a few simple questions from the Border Force Officer.
There are certain documents we advise you carry with you in your hand luggage. There are also items we think you'll find useful to include in your checked luggage.
You should carry hard copies of the following in your hand luggage:
Your valid passport (which must also appear in your
UKVI account
if you are travelling with an eVisa)
Your entry clearance vignette (if you were issued one) or a printout of a valid
view-and-prove
share code if you are travelling using an eVisa
Your CAS (if you have a Student visa) or letter of acceptance (if you are coming as a visitor)
Evidence of your finances
Details of where you're going to stay
The original academic qualifications as listed in the ‘Evidence used to obtain offer’ section of your CAS
UK currency and about £100 in case for immediate expenses or emergencies.
You’ll also need, if applicable:
The original English language qualification the University has used to assess your English; this will also be listed in the evidence text box of your CAS
Your TB certificate.
You may also wish to view Border Force’s
Student arrivals: 10 top tips
.
Border Force no longer routinely stamp passports, so it's
vital
that you retain evidence of the date you enter the UK. You'll need this to enrol on your course, and it will be important evidence for future UK visa applications.
Here's a helpful list of what to bring with you. Our Accommodation team will email you with more information after you've applied for accommodation.
Travel adapters
While you can purchase travel adapters in the UK, it's a good idea to buy them in your home country so you can charge everything when you arrive. We'd recommend bringing several so you can charge your laptop, phone and toothbrush all at the same time!
Traditional items
It's a good idea to bring some traditional sweets, games, or other items from your country. This can be a good way to start conversations and make new friends during your first week.
Photos and mementos
Bring some photos or mementos of your family and friends. Most rooms will have a noticeboard where you can pin these up and they'll help you to feel more at home.
Remember that our
Student Wellbeing Services
are always on hand to offer free mental and emotional support if you experience any difficulties.
Medication
If you're taking regular prescribed medication, please check if the name of your medication will be the same in the UK. This is because some medicines may have a different name in the UK, and some medications may not be available at all. Please check with your doctor before arriving here.
You should be able to order most medications once you're in the UK. If you need a refrigerator to store your medication, please check our
access needs
page for more information on how to arrange this with our Accommodation team.
Make sure you review the rules on
taking medicine in or out of the UK
before packing anything in your luggage.
Bedding packs and cutlery
You won't have a bedding pack in your room, but we advise that you don't bring bedding sets and cutlery with you due to limited luggage space.
You can purchase bedding and cutlery packs from our partners
UniKitOut
before you arrive. There are also many shops in Bath that you can purchase these from.
Important things to consider when packing:
If you're bringing valuables, store these safely in your hand luggage
Label all your bags with your name, Bath Spa University and your new accommodation address (both inside and out)
It's also a good idea to include some spare personal items in your hand luggage in case your checked luggage becomes temporarily lost.
Entering the UK via the Republic of Ireland
You might travel to the UK via the Republic of Ireland. However, it is important to understand that both countries are part of a Common Travel Area (CTA). There is no immigration control on arrival in the UK from the Republic of Ireland. It is important to check how this can impact your immigration permission in the UK. Before you travel, please read
the guidance on the UKCISA website
to understand how you may be affected if you arrive in the UK via the Republic of Ireland.
Please note this is only an issue when arriving via the Republic of Ireland (for example, via Dublin). Northern Ireland is part of the UK.
Immigration on arrival in the UK
If you're a
registered traveller
you'll be able to enter through an eGate, provided your passport has a biometric chip.
EEA and Swiss citizens as well as citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the USA can also use an eGate, if they have a passport with a biometric chip and are 10 years old or over (those who are 10- 17 must be accompanied by an adult).
See the
Home Office guidance on entering the UK
for advice about what to do and expect at border control.
If you don't meet the criteria mentioned above for using an eGate you'll instead meet a Border Force officer who will look at your passport and check your visa.
When you enter the UK with Student immigration permission, the Border Force officer must be satisfied that you speak English at the required level, without needing an interpreter. They may check by asking you some simple questions about your study plans.
Be ready with all the documents advised in the
hand luggage section
above.
Getting to Bath
By coach, with National Express
Check which terminal you're flying into. Flights arrive into Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Terminals 2 and 3:
Head to the Heathrow Central bus station, a short walk from the terminals. It’s open 24/7.
Terminal 4:
Coaches depart from stands 12-14.
Terminal 5:
Find stands 13-15 outside Arrivals.
Alternatively, you can take the free underground Heathrow Express transfer to the Central bus station. You'll need to get a free transfer ticket from one of the self-service machines next to the entry gates. The journey takes about 20 minutes.
Making your booking
From the Central bus station, journeys take two to three hours to Bath Bus Station depending on traffic. They depart at various times of the day and night.
You can
book an e-ticket online
in advance. Single journeys cost around £25-35 and there are discounts available in the 'offers' section of the website.
There are no ticket offices for National Express at Heathrow, so you will need to have already purchased a ticket, or use one of the automated ticket machines.
Once you've chosen a time, we recommend that you purchase the fully flexible fare for a small additional cost, just in case you don't arrive at the Heathrow bus station in time or you're delayed earlier in your journey. If you need to change to a different coach, you can
manage your booking
or go to the travel centre at the Central bus station, where it says 'coach tickets'.
When you're about to board the coach, you can show a printed copy of your ticket or a digital copy on your phone.
By taxi
Private taxi transfers from Heathrow to Bath take two to three hours depending on traffic and cost around £135-£150. Some options include:
Bath Taxi Transfers
By train
Once you arrive at Heathrow (LHR), you can take the
Heathrow Express
or the
Elizabeth Line
to
London Paddington
station.
Heathrow Express:
The journey takes only 15 minutes from Heathrow Central (Terminals 2 and 3) and slightly longer to/from Terminal 5 due to the extra distance. Trains run every 15 minutes.
The Elizabeth Line:
The Elizabeth line serves all three Heathrow terminals (2, 3, 4, and 5) for trains to London Paddington. It operates approximately from 5.30am to 11.00pm, and the trains run to Heathrow Airport six times per hour.
London Paddington (Great Western Railway):
Departing from Paddington you’ll find regular train services to Bath. Direct trains are available with an average journey time of around 1 hour 30 minutes, though the fastest services can complete the journey in 1 hour 15 minutes.
To purchase tickets or for more information on trains from London to Bath, including schedules and ticket options, you can download the
Trainline app
or visit the
GWR website
, which provides up-to-date travel details.
By coach, with Airdecker
Air Decker
operates an hourly bus service from Bristol Airport to Bath which costs £16. Payments can be made directly upon boarding. The bus is green and will be numbered A4. It picks up from right outside the terminal.
The stop nearest to
Gardens/Lakeside accommodation
at Newton Park campus (BA2 9BN) is Newton St Loe/Globe. From there, you can cross the road to the opposite bus stop and pick up the U5 bus which goes directly to campus.
For
Waterside Court
(BA2 3ED) and
Charlton Court
(BA2 3ES), the nearest stop is Windsor Villas. It is an eight minute walk from Windsor Villas to the accommodation.
By taxi
Private taxi transfers from Bristol Airport to Bath take 45 minutes and cost £35-£50.
Arrow Cars
offer pick up from the terminal.
Getting to campus
The U3 is the main bus service that runs between the city centre and
Newton Park Campus
. It passes our Waterside Court, Charlton Court and Twerton Mill accommodation on Lower Bristol Road, which is just a short walk away from
Locksbrook Campus
.
Please refer to the
First Bus
website for the most up-to-date information about timetables, how much bus fares cost and how you can purchase and use bus tickets for the academic year.
Taxis depart from the front of Bath Spa train station (eight minute journey).
Taxis depart from the front of Bath Spa train station (15 minute journey).
Welcome to Bath Spa!
We hope you have a safe and stress free journey and find your accommodation with minimal disruption. Please read our
When you arrive
page for information you'll need to know when you get here.
You might also be interested in
Before you leave
Student Visas
Your Responsibilities on a Student visa
When you arrive
Skip to main content
Travelling to Bath
Once you've booked your flight you'll need to think about what you're going to bring and how you're getting to campus.
What to bring with you
The Home Office requires you to carry certain documents in paper form (not on an electronic tablet or mobile phone) so that you’re ready to present them on arrival into the UK. You should be prepared to answer a few simple questions from the Border Force Officer.
There are certain documents we advise you carry with you in your hand luggage. There are also items we think you'll find useful to include in your checked luggage.
You should carry hard copies of the following in your hand luggage:
Your valid passport (which must also appear in your
UKVI account
if you are travelling with an eVisa)
Your entry clearance vignette (if you were issued one) or a printout of a valid
view-and-prove
share code if you are travelling using an eVisa
Your CAS (if you have a Student visa) or letter of acceptance (if you are coming as a visitor)
Evidence of your finances
Details of where you're going to stay
The original academic qualifications as listed in the ‘Evidence used to obtain offer’ section of your CAS
UK currency and about £100 in case for immediate expenses or emergencies.
You’ll also need, if applicable:
The original English language qualification the University has used to assess your English; this will also be listed in the evidence text box of your CAS
Your TB certificate.
You may also wish to view Border Force’s
Student arrivals: 10 top tips
.
Border Force no longer routinely stamp passports, so it's
vital
that you retain evidence of the date you enter the UK. You'll need this to enrol on your course, and it will be important evidence for future UK visa applications.
Here's a helpful list of what to bring with you. Our Accommodation team will email you with more information after you've applied for accommodation.
Travel adapters
While you can purchase travel adapters in the UK, it's a good idea to buy them in your home country so you can charge everything when you arrive. We'd recommend bringing several so you can charge your laptop, phone and toothbrush all at the same time!
Traditional items
It's a good idea to bring some traditional sweets, games, or other items from your country. This can be a good way to start conversations and make new friends during your first week.
Photos and mementos
Bring some photos or mementos of your family and friends. Most rooms will have a noticeboard where you can pin these up and they'll help you to feel more at home.
Remember that our
Student Wellbeing Services
are always on hand to offer free mental and emotional support if you experience any difficulties.
Medication
If you're taking regular prescribed medication, please check if the name of your medication will be the same in the UK. This is because some medicines may have a different name in the UK, and some medications may not be available at all. Please check with your doctor before arriving here.
You should be able to order most medications once you're in the UK. If you need a refrigerator to store your medication, please check our
access needs
page for more information on how to arrange this with our Accommodation team.
Make sure you review the rules on
taking medicine in or out of the UK
before packing anything in your luggage.
Bedding packs and cutlery
You won't have a bedding pack in your room, but we advise that you don't bring bedding sets and cutlery with you due to limited luggage space.
You can purchase bedding and cutlery packs from our partners
UniKitOut
before you arrive. There are also many shops in Bath that you can purchase these from.
Important things to consider when packing:
If you're bringing valuables, store these safely in your hand luggage
Label all your bags with your name, Bath Spa University and your new accommodation address (both inside and out)
It's also a good idea to include some spare personal items in your hand luggage in case your checked luggage becomes temporarily lost.
Entering the UK via the Republic of Ireland
You might travel to the UK via the Republic of Ireland. However, it is important to understand that both countries are part of a Common Travel Area (CTA). There is no immigration control on arrival in the UK from the Republic of Ireland. It is important to check how this can impact your immigration permission in the UK. Before you travel, please read
the guidance on the UKCISA website
to understand how you may be affected if you arrive in the UK via the Republic of Ireland.
Please note this is only an issue when arriving via the Republic of Ireland (for example, via Dublin). Northern Ireland is part of the UK.
Immigration on arrival in the UK
If you're a
registered traveller
you'll be able to enter through an eGate, provided your passport has a biometric chip.
EEA and Swiss citizens as well as citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the USA can also use an eGate, if they have a passport with a biometric chip and are 10 years old or over (those who are 10- 17 must be accompanied by an adult).
See the
Home Office guidance on entering the UK
for advice about what to do and expect at border control.
If you don't meet the criteria mentioned above for using an eGate you'll instead meet a Border Force officer who will look at your passport and check your visa.
When you enter the UK with Student immigration permission, the Border Force officer must be satisfied that you speak English at the required level, without needing an interpreter. They may check by asking you some simple questions about your study plans.
Be ready with all the documents advised in the
hand luggage section
above.
Getting to Bath
By coach, with National Express
Check which terminal you're flying into. Flights arrive into Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Terminals 2 and 3:
Head to the Heathrow Central bus station, a short walk from the terminals. It’s open 24/7.
Terminal 4:
Coaches depart from stands 12-14.
Terminal 5:
Find stands 13-15 outside Arrivals.
Alternatively, you can take the free underground Heathrow Express transfer to the Central bus station. You'll need to get a free transfer ticket from one of the self-service machines next to the entry gates. The journey takes about 20 minutes.
Making your booking
From the Central bus station, journeys take two to three hours to Bath Bus Station depending on traffic. They depart at various times of the day and night.
You can
book an e-ticket online
in advance. Single journeys cost around £25-35 and there are discounts available in the 'offers' section of the website.
There are no ticket offices for National Express at Heathrow, so you will need to have already purchased a ticket, or use one of the automated ticket machines.
Once you've chosen a time, we recommend that you purchase the fully flexible fare for a small additional cost, just in case you don't arrive at the Heathrow bus station in time or you're delayed earlier in your journey. If you need to change to a different coach, you can
manage your booking
or go to the travel centre at the Central bus station, where it says 'coach tickets'.
When you're about to board the coach, you can show a printed copy of your ticket or a digital copy on your phone.
By taxi
Private taxi transfers from Heathrow to Bath take two to three hours depending on traffic and cost around £135-£150. Some options include:
Bath Taxi Transfers
By train
Once you arrive at Heathrow (LHR), you can take the
Heathrow Express
or the
Elizabeth Line
to
London Paddington
station.
Heathrow Express:
The journey takes only 15 minutes from Heathrow Central (Terminals 2 and 3) and slightly longer to/from Terminal 5 due to the extra distance. Trains run every 15 minutes.
The Elizabeth Line:
The Elizabeth line serves all three Heathrow terminals (2, 3, 4, and 5) for trains to London Paddington. It operates approximately from 5.30am to 11.00pm, and the trains run to Heathrow Airport six times per hour.
London Paddington (Great Western Railway):
Departing from Paddington you’ll find regular train services to Bath. Direct trains are available with an average journey time of around 1 hour 30 minutes, though the fastest services can complete the journey in 1 hour 15 minutes.
To purchase tickets or for more information on trains from London to Bath, including schedules and ticket options, you can download the
Trainline app
or visit the
GWR website
, which provides up-to-date travel details.
By coach, with Airdecker
Air Decker
operates an hourly bus service from Bristol Airport to Bath which costs £16. Payments can be made directly upon boarding. The bus is green and will be numbered A4. It picks up from right outside the terminal.
The stop nearest to
Gardens/Lakeside accommodation
at Newton Park campus (BA2 9BN) is Newton St Loe/Globe. From there, you can cross the road to the opposite bus stop and pick up the U5 bus which goes directly to campus.
For
Waterside Court
(BA2 3ED) and
Charlton Court
(BA2 3ES), the nearest stop is Windsor Villas. It is an eight minute walk from Windsor Villas to the accommodation.
By taxi
Private taxi transfers from Bristol Airport to Bath take 45 minutes and cost £35-£50.
Arrow Cars
offer pick up from the terminal.
Getting to campus
The U3 is the main bus service that runs between the city centre and
Newton Park Campus
. It passes our Waterside Court, Charlton Court and Twerton Mill accommodation on Lower Bristol Road, which is just a short walk away from
Locksbrook Campus
.
Please refer to the
First Bus
website for the most up-to-date information about timetables, how much bus fares cost and how you can purchase and use bus tickets for the academic year.
Taxis depart from the front of Bath Spa train station (eight minute journey).
Taxis depart from the front of Bath Spa train station (15 minute journey).
Welcome to Bath Spa!
We hope you have a safe and stress free journey and find your accommodation with minimal disruption. Please read our
When you arrive
page for information you'll need to know when you get here.
You might also be interested in
Before you leave
Student Visas
Your Responsibilities on a Student visa
When you arrive