Which of the three is cheapest overall in Bath?

Tarmac per metre, always. But if your plot needs drainage work to make a non-permeable surface compliant, resin can end up cheaper all-in.

Block paving at 20 to 30 years, and it is the only one whose repairs are invisible. Resin and tarmac both run 15 to 25 years with care.

Which adds most kerb appeal to a period Bath house?

Sett-style block paving or a muted natural-blend resin. Plain tarmac adds the least on period streets, though a sett edge improves it markedly.

Which is best for a sloping drive?

Resin bound: no joints, no loose material, and water cannot erode it. Tarmac with a proper channel drain is the value alternative.

Which driveway surface belongs in front of Bath stone

Bath is a world heritage city on hills. A drive in Weston, Larkhall or a village of Bath stone is judged on colour and on how water moves down the slope. Resin, block and tarmac can all be built properly here. They do not all look right on the same street.

Colour and the hill

Bath stone is pale. Black tarmac against it is a hard line, and on a steep plot it can look like a road rather than a garden. Block paving in a buff or grey can sit next to the stone if the joint and the edging are quiet. Resin bound in a light aggregate is the modern option that still drains, which matters on the hills where water otherwise runs straight to the pavement.

A front garden over five square metres should be permeable or drain to a soft area. On a Bath hill that is not optional. Ask the installer to show the fall on a sketch.

Conservation streets

Inside the conservation area a new surface in front of a listed terrace can need a conversation with the council before the wall or the railings come out. Block paving is the easiest to argue for where neighbours already have it. Resin is acceptable on many later streets if the colour is muted. Tarmac is the one most likely to look out of place on a stone facade.

Price after the base

The excavation on a sloping Bath plot often costs more than the finish. Compare the three tops only once the base depth is the same. Choose the surface that suits the stone and the slope, then ask for the price of that build, not a national rate.