Bath House Prices: What £300,000–£500,000 Buys (Nov 2026)

By Karen Richardson, Star Property Partners · About buying in Bath, England

Illustrative image.

Last updated: November 2026

The short answer: for a child at the University of Bath, the six homes I found on 2 and 4 November 2026 show £300,000 buying a two-bedroom flat in both the city centre and Oldfield Park, £400,000 a flat in the centre or a house in Oldfield Park, and £500,000 a town house in the centre or an extended terraced house in Oldfield Park. The two areas trade off differently, and the extra costs on top of the price matter as much as the price itself.

If you are a Hong Kong parent thinking about buying a home in Bath for a child at the University of Bath, the first question is usually "what does my budget actually get me?" I can't give you an honest "typical" price for a Bath street, because every home is different and the numbers move. What I can do is show you six real listings I found on 2 and 4 November 2026 (one for each of £300,000, £400,000 and £500,000, in the city centre and in Oldfield Park), explain how each area works for getting to the Claverton Down campus, and add up the costs that sit on top of the price.

This guide sits alongside my step-by-step guide to buying a home in Bath from Hong Kong. I'm not a solicitor, tax adviser or mortgage adviser, so I point you to official sources throughout and tell you where you will need a professional.

These homes were available on Rightmove on 2 November 2026 (Ringwood Road on 4 November 2026). They're examples to give you an idea of what each budget buys, not homes we're selling, and some may since have sold.

What do £300,000, £400,000 and £500,000 buy in Bath city centre and Oldfield Park?

These homes were available on Rightmove on 2 November 2026 (Ringwood Road on 4 November 2026). They're examples to give you an idea of what each budget buys, not homes we're selling, and some may since have sold.

• City centre, about £300,000: a two-bedroom ground-floor flat in a Grade II listed townhouse, asking £285,000
• City centre, about £400,000: a two-bedroom riverside flat on two floors, asking £395,000
• City centre, about £500,000: a two-bedroom freehold town house in a gated mews, asking £500,000
• Oldfield Park, about £300,000: a two-bedroom, two-bathroom flat in a converted Victorian Sunday school, asking £310,000
• Oldfield Park, about £400,000: a two-bedroom freehold mid-terrace house, asking £400,000 (offers in excess of)
• Oldfield Park, about £500,000: a three-bedroom freehold extended Edwardian terraced house, asking £495,000

How to read these six homes

• Walking and bus times are estimates, not timetabled. The walking times come from OpenStreetMap foot routing from each home to the middle of the campus. The bus times are my rough estimates and I haven't checked a timetable for the nearest stop. The official route and timetable information is in the next section, kept separate. Use the First Bus app for your exact address.
• Leasehold figures are only as the agents state them. Three of the six are leasehold. The lease length, ground rent and service charge below are copied from the agents' listings and particulars. I haven't verified them. A solicitor must confirm them before you rely on them.
• Locations are described as the agents and map give them. Brunswick Place and Nash Gardens are on the northern edge of the city centre, not in the middle of it, and Dorset Close is on the border of Oldfield Park and Westmoreland, not in the heart of Oldfield Park. That affects the distance to campus.
• Stamp Duty figures beside each home are GOV.UK-rate estimates at its asking price. They use the GOV.UK rates and the asking price in the listing. The actual figure depends on the agreed price and your circumstances, so please check with a solicitor or tax adviser.
• Council Tax bands are as stated in the listings and are consistent with Valuation Office Agency records (checked 2 and 5 November 2026). Check the exact address on the GOV.UK Council Tax band search once you have it.

City centre

City centre, about £300,000: Brunswick Place, Bath BA1 2RQ

Photos: Peter Greatorex Unique Homes

• Address or area: Brunswick Place, Bath BA1 2RQ, just off Lansdown Road on the northern edge of the city centre (about 0.7 km north of Bath Abbey).
• Price: £285,000 (offers in excess of). Added to Rightmove on 21 October 2026.
• Stamp Duty at the asking price (GOV.UK-rate estimate): standard rates £4,250; additional property £18,500; non-UK resident £9,950; non-UK resident and additional property £24,200.
• Beds and baths: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom (a wet room)
• Type: Ground-floor apartment in a Grade II listed townhouse, about 546 sq ft (51 sq m). Leasehold.
• Key features:
• Sitting room with a fireplace and views over a garden square
• Kitchen with integrated oven, microwave, hob and dishwasher
• Principal bedroom with two built-in wardrobes; second bedroom with a built-in cupboard
• Large storage area above the kitchen and communal basement storage; mains gas boiler and radiators
• Resident's parking permit available
• EPC C. Council Tax band B (as stated in the listing, consistent with Valuation Office Agency records, checked 2 Nov 2026)
• The listing says buyers are charged £35 plus VAT per person for ID and anti-money-laundering checks after an offer is accepted
• Tenure: Lease: 999 years from 29 September 1981 (the listing says about 954 years remaining). Ground rent £20 a year. Service charge £2,193 a year. All as stated by the agent; a solicitor must confirm.
• Distance or route to campus (estimates only): Estimated walk to the University of Bath campus: about 3.6 km, around 49 minutes (OpenStreetMap foot routing, an estimate, not an official time). Estimated by bus: roughly 15 to 25 minutes door to door including the walk to a stop (my estimate, not timetabled). Walk to Bath Spa station: about 1.4 km, around 18 minutes (estimate).
• Agent: Peter Greatorex Unique Homes, Bath
• Listing link: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/94572024
• Seen on: 2 November 2026 on Rightmove. Homes sell, so this may no longer be available.

City centre, about £400,000: Caxton Court, Bath BA2 6PN

Photos: Strattons and Partners

• Address or area: Caxton Court, Bath BA2 6PN, a riverside conversion just off Great Pulteney Street in Bathwick, near the Recreation Ground (about 0.3 km north-east of Bath Abbey in a straight line).
• Price: £395,000. Added to Rightmove on 23 October 2026.
• Stamp Duty at the asking price (GOV.UK-rate estimate): standard rates £9,750; additional property £29,500; non-UK resident £17,650; non-UK resident and additional property £37,400.
• Beds and baths: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
• Type: Apartment on two floors in a conversion, about 694 sq ft (64 sq m). Leasehold.
• Key features:
• Living area with a private balcony over the River Avon
• Modern kitchen; ground-floor bedroom and bathroom
• Large attic bedroom with Velux windows and eaves storage
• Italianate-style communal courtyard; central heating; on-street permit parking; no onward chain
• EPC D. Council Tax band D (as stated in the listing, consistent with Valuation Office Agency records, checked 2 Nov 2026)
• Tenure: Lease: 999 years from 25 March 1980 (about 953 years remaining, per the seller's information). The most recent six-monthly service charge invoice was £1,413.44. Ground rent is not stated. Managing company HML; freeholder to be confirmed. All as stated by the agent; a solicitor must confirm.
• Distance or route to campus (estimates only): Estimated walk to the University of Bath campus: about 2.9 km, around 39 minutes (OpenStreetMap foot routing, an estimate, not an official time). Estimated by bus: roughly 15 to 25 minutes door to door including the walk to a stop (my estimate, not timetabled). Walk to Bath Spa station: about 1.0 km, around 13 minutes (estimate).
• Agent: Strattons and Partners, Bath
• Listing link: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/94676940
• Seen on: 2 November 2026 on Rightmove. Homes sell, so this may no longer be available.

City centre, about £500,000: Nash Gardens, Circus Mews, Bath BA1 2PW

Photos: Andrews Estate Agents, Bath Central

• Address or area: Nash Gardens, Circus Mews, Bath BA1 2PW, a gated mews next to The Circus on the northern edge of the city centre (about 0.8 km north of Bath Abbey).
• Price: £500,000. Added to Rightmove on 26 October 2026.
• Stamp Duty at the asking price (GOV.UK-rate estimate): standard rates £15,000; additional property £40,000; non-UK resident £25,000; non-UK resident and additional property £50,000.
• Beds and baths: 2 bedrooms, 1 shower room plus an en-suite WC
• Type: Terraced town house over three floors, about 81 sq m. Freehold.
• Key features:
• Kitchen/dining room with integrated oven and gas hob; cloakroom
• Sitting room (16'2" x 11'3") with a fireplace
• Two double bedrooms with built-in cupboards on the second floor, one with an en-suite WC
• Off-road parking in a gated mews; no chain; the photos show unfurnished rooms
• EPC D. Council Tax band F (stated in the listing, consistent with Valuation Office Agency records, checked 2 Nov 2026)
• Tenure: Freehold. The listing also states ground rent of £1.16 a year twice (£2.32 a year) and a courtyard maintenance charge of £125 a year. As stated by the agent; a solicitor must confirm.
• Distance or route to campus (estimates only): Estimated walk to the University of Bath campus: about 3.8 km, around 50 minutes (OpenStreetMap foot routing, an estimate, not an official time). Estimated by bus: roughly 15 to 25 minutes door to door including the walk to a stop (my estimate, not timetabled). Walk to Bath Spa station: about 1.4 km, around 19 minutes (estimate).
• Agent: Andrews Estate Agents, Bath Central
• Listing link: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/94756482
• Seen on: 2 November 2026 on Rightmove. Homes sell, so this may no longer be available.

Oldfield Park

Oldfield Park, about £300,000: St Peters Hall, Dorset Close, Bath BA2 3RF

Photos: Madison Oakley

• Address or area: St Peters Hall, Dorset Close, Bath BA2 3RF, a quiet cul-de-sac off Lower Bristol Road on the Oldfield Park and Westmoreland border. The agent says it is 0.4 miles to the Moorland Road shops. This is the edge of Oldfield Park, not its centre.
• Price: £310,000. Reduced on Rightmove on 5 October 2026.
• Stamp Duty at the asking price (GOV.UK-rate estimate): standard rates £5,500; additional property £21,000; non-UK resident £11,700; non-UK resident and additional property £27,200.
• Beds and baths: 2 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
• Type: First-floor apartment in a late Victorian former Sunday school converted in 2008, about 794 sq ft. Leasehold with a share of the freehold.
• Key features:
• High ceilings and mullion windows
• Open-plan sitting/dining room with the kitchen off it
• Gated private parking space in the rear car park
• Double glazing and gas central heating
• Oldfield Park station is 0.2 miles away (per the listing)
• EPC C. Council Tax band C (as stated in the listing, consistent with Valuation Office Agency records, checked 2 Nov 2026)
• Tenure: Share of freehold with a 999-year residue lease (agent's notes). Service charge £100 a month, about £1,200 a year, per the agent's particulars. Ground rent is not stated. As stated by the agent; a solicitor must confirm.
• Distance or route to campus (estimates only): Estimated walk to the University of Bath campus: about 4.5 km, about 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on pace (an estimate based on OpenStreetMap foot routing, not an official time). Estimated by bus: roughly 15 to 25 minutes door to door (my estimate, not timetabled); I haven't checked which stop is nearest to this address. Walk to Bath Spa station: about 1.9 km, around 25 minutes (estimate).
• Agent: Madison Oakley, Bath
• Listing link: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/170973395
• Seen on: 2 November 2026 on Rightmove. Homes sell, so this may no longer be available.

Oldfield Park, about £400,000: Livingstone Road, Bath BA2 3PQ

Photos: Bath Stone Property

• Address or area: Livingstone Road, Bath BA2 3PQ. The listing describes it as a residential street in the heart of Oldfield Park, with the Moorland Road shops nearby and Oldfield Park station 0.16 miles away.
• Price: £400,000 (offers in excess of). Reduced on Rightmove on 29 September 2026.
• Stamp Duty at the asking price (GOV.UK-rate estimate): standard rates £10,000; additional property £30,000; non-UK resident £18,000; non-UK resident and additional property £38,000.
• Beds and baths: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
• Type: Mid-terrace house. Freehold. Size not stated.
• Key features:
• Bay-windowed lounge and a separate dining room
• Kitchen with garden access
• Two bedrooms and a family bathroom on the first floor
• Good-sized rear garden; no chain
• EPC D. Council Tax band C (as stated in the listing, consistent with Valuation Office Agency records, checked 2 Nov 2026)
• Tenure: Freehold, as stated by the agent; a solicitor must confirm.
• Distance or route to campus (estimates only): Estimated walk to the University of Bath campus: about 4.4 km, about 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on pace (an estimate based on OpenStreetMap foot routing, not an official time). Estimated by bus: roughly 15 to 25 minutes door to door (my estimate, not timetabled); I haven't checked which stop is nearest. Walk to Bath Spa station: about 2.0 km, around 27 minutes (estimate).
• Agent: Bath Stone Property, Bath
• Listing link: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/92274546
• Seen on: 2 November 2026 on Rightmove. Homes sell, so this may no longer be available.

Oldfield Park, about £500,000: Ringwood Road, Bath BA2 3JL

Photos: Madison Oakley

• Address or area: Ringwood Road, Bath BA2 3JL, on the western fringe of Oldfield Park, backing onto the Linear Park, 0.18 miles from Oldfield Park station (per the listing).
• Price: £495,000. Added to Rightmove on 21 August 2026.
• Stamp Duty at the asking price (GOV.UK-rate estimate): standard rates £14,750; additional property £39,500; non-UK resident £24,650; non-UK resident and additional property £49,400.
• Beds and baths: 3 bedrooms (the third a double in the converted loft), 1 family bathroom, plus a first-floor WC and a ground-floor WC
• Type: Extended three-storey Edwardian terraced house, about 1,344 sq ft (per the listing). Freehold.
• Key features:
• Two original reception rooms, now open plan; full-width kitchen/breakfast room; utility room and ground-floor WC
• Gas central heating and double glazing; residents' permit parking
• West-facing level rear garden, about 20ft by 16ft, with gated rear access, backing onto the Linear Park
• The listing shows EPC band D (the agent's particulars say to be confirmed)
• Council tax band C (as stated in the listing, consistent with Valuation Office Agency records for 61 Ringwood Road, BA2 3JL, checked 5 Nov 2026)
• Tenure: Freehold, as stated by the agent; a solicitor must confirm.
• Distance or route to campus (estimates only): Estimated walk to the University of Bath campus: about 5.0 km, about 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on pace (an estimate based on OpenStreetMap foot routing, not an official time). Estimated by bus: roughly 15 to 25 minutes door to door (my estimate, not timetabled); I haven't checked which stop is nearest. Walk to Bath Spa station: about 2.3 km, around 31 minutes (estimate).
• Agent: Madison Oakley, Bath
• Listing link: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/92287293
• Seen on: 4 November 2026 on Rightmove. Homes sell, so this may no longer be available.

Which is better for a University of Bath student: the city centre or Oldfield Park?

Neither is better for everyone. The city centre puts the most going on at your child's door, and Oldfield Park is a residential Victorian neighbourhood with its own shopping street and railway station. Both are a bus ride from campus. I would choose by how your child will get to the Claverton Down campus and how they want to live, then look at the property. Bath Spa University is a different university in a different part of the city, so check that any route you look at goes to the University of Bath.

Illustrative image. Not a specific Bath street or an available property.

How far is the city centre from the University of Bath?

The city centre is around two miles from the Claverton Down campus, with regular buses (University of Bath, Living in different areas of Bath).

• Bus timetable (official information, checked 2 November 2026): The First Bus U1 and U3 serve the city centre. The U1 stops at Grand Parade, Bathwick Hill and the campus Arrivals Square, and runs all year. First Bus's Friday timetable, valid from 25 September 2026, shows the U1 taking 15 minutes from Grand Parade to Arrivals Square. Check the timetable for your own stop.
• Walking (official information): The University says the walk from the city centre takes 30 to 40 minutes, uphill, and cycling takes around 22 minutes. The routes (North Road, Bathwick Hill or Widcombe Hill) are steep. My own estimate for the two homes on the northern edge, Brunswick Place and Nash Gardens, is a little longer, at around 49 to 50 minutes on foot, because they sit further from the Abbey.
• Character and housing (Bath and North East Somerset Council): the council's city-wide character appraisal describes a broad mix of uses and ages. The historic core is mostly three to four storeys of Bath stone and slate, famous for its 18th-century buildings, with modern buildings on sites cleared by Second World War bombing. It calls the centre a busy and bustling place, with traffic noise a significant issue on the edges, and notes that the University brings many young people to the town's bars and clubs. I'd weigh that against how much quiet your child wants.

How far is Oldfield Park from the University of Bath?

Oldfield Park is around three miles from the campus, with regular buses (University of Bath, Living in different areas of Bath).

• Bus timetable (official information, checked 2 November 2026): The U2 runs directly between Oldfield Park and the campus via Widcombe, in term time only. First Bus's Friday timetable, valid from 25 September 2026, shows 16 to 20 minutes from the St James Cemetery stop to Arrivals Square. The U3 also serves Oldfield Park and runs all year. The Big Lemon service 20 stops at Oldfield Park too, hourly from Monday to Saturday, according to the University.
• Walking: about 45 minutes to 1 hour from Oldfield Park, depending on pace. That is my estimate rather than a timetabled figure. Cycling takes under 30 minutes from Oldfield Park, according to the University.
• Getting around: Oldfield Park has its own railway station with regular connections to Bath and Bristol, Moorland Road has shops, bars, restaurants and cafés, and the city centre is around a 20-minute walk (University of Bath area guide).
• Character and housing (Bath and North East Somerset Council): the council's appraisal says most houses in the Bear Flat and Oldfield Park area date from the mid-to-late 19th century and early 20th century. Terraces are by far the most significant form, mostly two storeys without basements or habitable attics, with larger detached and semi-detached houses around Upper Oldfield Park and Bloomfield Avenue. Bath stone is common, and the area is densely developed with small front and rear gardens and very few buildings after 1918. On-street parking is widespread. It's a busy area near the shops and peaceful away from the main roads.

How do the two compare for a parent?

• Distance to campus: around two miles for the centre and around three for Oldfield Park, according to the University. On the First Bus timetable a bus from Grand Parade takes 15 minutes and from Oldfield Park 16 to 20.
• Buses all year: the U1 (centre) and U3 (centre and Oldfield Park) run all year. The U2 (Oldfield Park) runs in term time only, so ask which route your child would use out of term.
• Feel: a busy, mixed-use historic centre versus a residential grid of Victorian terraces and houses with a local high street. The six homes above show the difference in what each budget buys, but they are only six homes.
• If friends will share: both areas are in the city of Bath, where converting a family home into a house in multiple occupation needs planning permission, and a licence is needed at five or more sharers. I explain this in my buying guide. Check before you choose a house.

How much Stamp Duty will I pay at £300,000, £400,000 and £500,000?

For a Hong Kong family it is usually the biggest cost on top of the price, and it can be several times the standard figure. These are the England rates from 1 April 2025, checked on GOV.UK on 2 November 2026, for round example prices. Your exact figure depends on the real price and your circumstances, so use the GOV.UK Stamp Duty Land Tax calculator or ask your solicitor.

Stamp Duty at £300,000, £400,000 and £500,000 in four cases, from the GOV.UK rates (checked 2 November 2026). Example prices only; not listings.

£300,000

• Standard rates: £5,000
• Higher rates for an additional property: £20,000
• Non-UK resident: £11,000
• Non-UK resident and additional property: £26,000

£400,000

• Standard rates: £10,000
• Higher rates for an additional property: £30,000
• Non-UK resident: £18,000
• Non-UK resident and additional property: £38,000

£500,000

• Standard rates: £15,000
• Higher rates for an additional property: £40,000
• Non-UK resident: £25,000
• Non-UK resident and additional property: £50,000

What the four cases mean:

• Non-UK resident: if you are not present in the UK for at least 183 days in the 12 months before you buy, you pay a 2 percentage point surcharge on every band. Nationality and visa status don't matter for this test. If you buy with someone and any one of you is non-UK resident, all buyers are treated as non-resident, with a limited exception for married couples and civil partners.
• Additional property: if you will own another residential property worth £40,000 or more anywhere in the world after the purchase, for example your home in Hong Kong, you usually pay the higher rates, which are 5 percentage points above the standard rates. A property owned on behalf of a child under 18 counts as owned by the parents.
• Both: the 2% surcharge is added on top of the higher rates.
• First-time buyers' relief: it takes the first £300,000 to 0% and charges 5% from £300,001 to £500,000, with none above £500,000. But every buyer must be a first-time buyer who intends to occupy the home as their only or main residence, and it can't be claimed where the higher rates apply. I wouldn't assume it applies to parents buying for a child, so please ask your tax adviser.
• A refund of the 2% surcharge may be possible if you later spend enough time in the UK. I explain it in my buying guide.

What other costs should I add to the price?

Allow roughly £2,700 to £3,900 for the legal and survey costs on a cash purchase, and more if you borrow. These are typical ranges from named sources, not quotes, and they don't change much with the price band, although surveys tend to cost more as the property value and age go up.

Illustrative image.

• Solicitor or conveyancer: MoneyHelper says legal fees are usually about £2,000 including VAT, and it says quotes can range from £800 to over £2,000. Get quotes from three firms, check what is included, and ask whether there is an extra charge for identity checks on clients who live overseas.
• Local searches: MoneyHelper says £250 to £300.
• Electronic transfer of funds: MoneyHelper says £25 to £50, sometimes already included in the legal fee.
• Survey: MoneyHelper says £400 to £1,500. It puts a Level 1 survey at around £380, a Level 2 at around £400 and a Level 3 at £600 or more, rising with the property value. RICS says a Level 3 suits larger, older, altered or unusual properties, and that a survey isn't a legal requirement in England and Wales but is highly recommended. Many Bath homes are older, so ask your surveyor which level they advise.
• If you borrow: MoneyHelper lists a booking fee of £100 to £200, an arrangement or product fee of £1,000 to £2,000 or more, and a mortgage account fee of £100 to £300, so about £1,200 to £2,500 in total. Which? says arrangement fees commonly run from £999 to £1,999 and that fee-free deals tend to carry higher interest rates. A lender's valuation is usually paid by the lender, but MoneyHelper says to budget £150 to £800 if you are charged.

How much cash will I need on top of the price?

Put the Stamp Duty and the other costs together and the extra cash on top of the price, for a cash purchase with no mortgage, comes to roughly the following. If you borrow, add about £1,200 to £2,500 for the mortgage fees, plus a valuation fee if the lender charges one.

£300,000 purchase

• Standard rates: about £7,700 to £8,800
• Higher rates for an additional property: about £22,700 to £23,800
• Non-UK resident: about £13,700 to £14,800
• Non-UK resident and additional property: about £28,700 to £29,800

£400,000 purchase

• Standard rates: about £12,700 to £13,800
• Higher rates for an additional property: about £32,700 to £33,800
• Non-UK resident: about £20,700 to £21,800
• Non-UK resident and additional property: about £40,700 to £41,800

£500,000 purchase

• Standard rates: about £17,700 to £18,800
• Higher rates for an additional property: about £42,700 to £43,800
• Non-UK resident: about £27,700 to £28,800
• Non-UK resident and additional property: about £52,700 to £53,800

What about Council Tax?

If everyone living in the home is a full-time student, the household doesn't pay Council Tax, but you must apply for the exemption. To count as a full-time student, GOV.UK says the course must last at least one year and involve at least 21 hours of study a week. If anyone who isn't a full-time student lives there, a bill may be due, with a possible discount. Each home has a Council Tax band, which the agents state in their listings. You can check any band on the GOV.UK Council Tax band search. See GOV.UK: Council Tax discounts for full-time students.

What do we cover on an introductory call?

It is a relaxed 30-minute conversation about your family's plans, with no pressure to decide anything. There is no obligation, and sometimes the honest conclusion is that renting makes more sense.

On the call we can talk about:

• when your child expects to start at the University of Bath, and your timescale
• whether you are thinking about buying, renting or both
• what you are hoping to find, and whether friends might live there
• how Bath's areas could work for your child
• what you might want to do with the property after graduation
• what you would need to have in place before a search begins, such as advisers, documents and funds
• how local help could work, from viewings and photographs to coordinating the professionals, which you can read about on my Buying a Home in Bath page

I can't give legal, tax or mortgage advice, but I can help you understand which questions to take to the right professionals. Book an introductory call.

If you are still weighing up all your housing options, start with my Hong Kong parent's guide to where your child could live in Bath. The full costs of renting and University accommodation are in my University of Bath accommodation costs guide, and I explain how to arrange a rental from Hong Kong in my guide to arranging Bath accommodation.

Frequently asked questions

What can I buy in Bath for £300,000, £400,000 or £500,000?

It depends far more on the area, the type of home and its condition than on the headline price, so I don't quote an average. On 2 and 4 November 2026 I found a two-bedroom flat asking £285,000 in the city centre and one asking £310,000 in Oldfield Park, a two-bedroom flat at £395,000 and a two-bedroom house at £400,000, and a two-bedroom town house at £500,000 and a three-bedroom terraced house at £495,000. They are examples, not a guarantee of what is for sale today.

Is Oldfield Park or the city centre better for a University of Bath student?

Neither is better for everyone. The city centre is around two miles from campus and Oldfield Park around three, according to the University. A U1 bus takes 15 minutes from Grand Parade to campus and a U2 bus 16 to 20 minutes from Oldfield Park, on First Bus's timetable. The U2 runs in term time only. Choose by how your child will travel and how they want to live.

How far is Oldfield Park from the University of Bath?

Around three miles, with regular buses, according to the University. The U2 runs directly in term time, and First Bus's timetable shows 16 to 20 minutes from the St James Cemetery stop. Walking takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on pace.

How much Stamp Duty will I pay on a £400,000 home bought from Hong Kong?

If you are non-UK resident and own no other residential property, £18,000. If you are non-UK resident and will also own another residential property, such as a home in Hong Kong, £38,000. The standard figure is £10,000 and the additional-property figure £30,000. This is for the round price of £400,000, so use the GOV.UK calculator for your real price.

What costs come on top of Stamp Duty?

For a cash purchase, roughly £2,700 to £3,900 for legal fees, searches, funds transfer and a survey, using MoneyHelper's ranges. If you borrow, add about £1,200 to £2,500 in mortgage fees and a valuation fee if the lender charges one.

Do I need a survey?

It isn't a legal requirement in England and Wales, but RICS highly recommends one. MoneyHelper puts survey costs at £400 to £1,500, depending on the survey and the property.

Can I claim first-time buyers' relief if I buy for my child?

Probably not, but ask a tax adviser. Every buyer must be a first-time buyer who intends to occupy the home as their only or main residence, and the relief can't be claimed where the higher rates apply.

Will my child pay Council Tax?

If everyone living there is a full-time student, the household doesn't have to pay, but you need to apply for the exemption. A bill may be due if anyone who isn't a full-time student lives there.

Can my child's friends live there too?

Possibly, but decide before you buy. In the city of Bath you need planning permission to turn a family home into a house in multiple occupation, and a licence is needed where five or more people from more than one household share facilities. See my buying guide.

Important information

This guide is intended as general information only and does not constitute investment, financial, mortgage, legal or tax advice. Property values and rental income can rise or fall, and property ownership involves costs and risks. The homes shown are examples that were listed for sale on the date stated; they are not recommendations, and I have not inspected them.

UK taxation, Stamp Duty Land Tax, overseas purchaser rules, mortgage requirements, planning rules and property regulations can change, and individual circumstances vary. Walking and bus times marked as estimates are not timetabled. Lease and service-charge details are as stated by the agents and must be confirmed by a solicitor. Obtain independent legal, financial, mortgage and tax advice from appropriately qualified professionals before entering into a property transaction. Star Property Partners is independent of the University of Bath.

Figures checked: 2 November 2026 (Ringwood Road listing details 4 November 2026).

Sources

Official and named pages checked on 2 November 2026.

• GOV.UK, Stamp Duty Land Tax: residential property rates
• GOV.UK, Higher rates of Stamp Duty Land Tax
• GOV.UK, Rates of Stamp Duty Land Tax for non-UK residents
• GOV.UK, Stamp Duty Land Tax: overview
• HMRC, SDLT Manual SDLTM29831: conditions for First-time Buyers' relief
• legislation.gov.uk, Finance Act 2003, Schedule 6ZA
• GOV.UK, Council Tax: discounts for full-time students
• GOV.UK, Check your Council Tax band
• MoneyHelper, Mortgage fees and costs when buying or selling a home
• MoneyHelper, Find the right property solicitor or conveyancer
• Which?, The cost of buying a house
• RICS, House surveys: the costs, types and benefits of an RICS Home Survey
• University of Bath, Living in different areas of Bath
• University of Bath, Travelling by bus to the University of Bath
• University of Bath, Cycling and walking to the University of Bath
• University of Bath, Active travel
• University of Bath, Advice for students: travelling to campus
• First West of England, Bath Universities bus services
• First West of England, U1 timetable (valid from 25 September 2026)
• First West of England, U2 timetable (valid from 25 September 2026)
• Bath and North East Somerset Council, Bath City-wide Character Appraisal, chapter 7 (Area 8 City centre; Area 13 Bear Flat and Oldfield Park)
• Bath and North East Somerset Council, Apply for an HMO licence
• Bath and North East Somerset Council, Article 4 Directions
• Rightmove listings for the six example homes, seen 2 November 2026 (Ringwood Road 4 November 2026) (links in each listing)