The 19 best things to do in Bath with kids

From the time of the Romans, Bath has been tempting people to visit – and if you think that this elegant city isn’t family friendly, think again because there are plenty of things to do in Bath with kids.

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Beyond the golden Georgian architecture which has made it a Unesco World Heritage site, there are museums with activities perfect for children, lots of chances to get outside including the surrounding Somerset countryside, and the wonderful Roman Baths.

We last visited as one of the stops on our road trip along the Great West Way and are regular visitors to Bristol, but there’s always a new reason to return to tick off more of the top 19 things to do in Bath with kids on my list – including the newly opened World Heritage Centre as well.

The Roman Baths and Museum

The world-famous Roman Baths are one of the biggest attractions of the entire city of Bath and for good reason!

And when we visited, I was impressed at just how much there is to do for kids, including a special audioguide, a couple of trails to follow and lots of chances to get quite literally hands on.

There are also actors portraying some of the people who might have visited the baths during Roman times, so it’s even easier to step back in history.

You can even discover the old Roman gym, as part of the baths complex.

And children over the age of 6 can even taste the waters that were prized for their curative properties – astonishingly my daughter pronounced it ‘not that bad’. Unlike me… 

For more ideas of ancient Roman sites in the UK to visit with kids, check out this post

Bath Abbey

Gorgeous Bath Abbey will leave young and old alike awestruck – for adults, there’s the history and the architecture. For kids, it looks like something out of a fairy tale, plus there are quirky statues to spot.

Every bit of it from the stained glass windows to the flying buttresses will inspire their imagination too.

You can also climb to the top of the Abbey’s tower for some amazing views out across the city… although with more than 200 steps this isn’t something to try if you’re visiting with little ones.

No 1 Royal Crescent

Picture Bath and the Royal Crescent is one of the images that probably comes to mind – a long elegant sweeping curve of houses.

Built between 1767 and 1774, it’s one of the best preserved examples of Georgian architecture in the country so at the very least take a wander past as you walk through the city.

Better still, there’s a museum at No 1 Royal Crescent, showing late 18th century life, along with trails for kids to follow as you make your way through and other events during school holidays.

You can also try Georgian themed games and try on costumes in the Servants Hall. If you’re visiting with a baby, there are baby carriers to borrow (and buggy parking but you can’t take your buggy in with you).

There’s also green space just beyond the private gardens, for a picnic or the chance to shed their best Regency manners afterwards.

American Museum Bath

Home to the largest collection of American cultural artefacts outside of the United States themselves, the American Museum in Bath is a must-visit if your children are studying any American history, including recreations of American homes from the earliest colonial era.

But that’s certainly not the only reason to visit and there’s plenty to keep even younger kids entertained too: as well as the children’s area and garden, there is plenty of interactive fun, extra activities relating to the current exhibitions, trails and more.

During school holidays, there are often extra crafts and other activities, some of which have an extra fee.

The museum is accessible by bus from Bath followed by a short walk, plus there’s a cafe and lovely gardens to explore, also themed on American history.

Check out this review from Tin Box Traveller who visited with her two young daughters.

Herschel Museum of Astronomy

For any kids who love astronomy and all things space, the Herschel Museum of Astronomy is set in the very house on New King Street where William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus in 1781. (No sniggering at the back please!)

Families can follow the Amazing Astronomy quiz trail (for a small extra fee) while there are various activities and workshops to suit families.bristo

Best of all, you can find a fantastic area dedicated to Space Lego and the Women of NASA Lego as well as an entire section of children’s astronomy books in the Star Vault.

Pulteney Bridge

Pulteney Bridge is one of only a few bridges in the world that has shops across its full span on both sides; it also happens to be a great place to get a drink.

Take a wander across first of all, to look back on lovely arches and the weir in front.

Then head back for the view from the bridge itself. There are only a few seats near windows in the cafes, so you’ll just have to keep your fingers crossed if you hope to refuel while you look out onto the water.

Sally Lunns buns

No trip to Bath is complete without a trip to the famous Sally Lunns. Well… who doesn’t love a bun?

The world-famous tea and eating house, famous for the Sally Lunn bun, is set in one of the oldest buildings in Bath, built in 1482.

There’s even a small museum attached – which can be done in about five minutes to suit very short attention spans. And to let you get back to the buns, still baked to a secret recipe, obviously.

The Sally Lunn bun is not to be confused with the Bath bun – this is more of a brioche style treat than the fruity teacake style of the Bath bun. It’s probably best to try both and choose your favourite!

The Holburne Museum

The Holburne Museum was Bath’s first public art gallery, with regular temporary exhibitions of both modern and classic art alongside its impressive permanent collection.

If you’re visiting with kids, the museum includes activity drawers plus regular trails for families to help kids enjoy their time exploring.

The museum also has a separate creative area, Space to Make, with activities inspired by the museum’s exhibitions and permanent collection – perfect for letting your kids’ creativity run free.

There’s no entry charge to the Holburne Museum for under-18s, perfect if you’re looking for free things to do in Bath with kids.

Victoria Art Gallery

The Victoria Art Gallery is another Bath museum that’s free for children – you can also get combined tickets with the Roman Baths and Fashion Museum, and it’s another great option for rainy days in Bath with kids.

The collection includes items from the 15th century right up to the present day (including a recently acquired Grayson Perry print).

As well as family events during school holidays and regular family-friendly exhibitions, you’ll find art trolleys stocked with crafts to try including colouring and a portrait trail. 

Other trails included the Five senses family trail, designed to encourage kids to talk about art – once they’ve hunted down the objects in a selection of pictures – so there’s always something new to entertain children.

Ride a Canal Boat

For my 30th birthday, a group of friends and I hired a narrowboat to cruise from Bradford on Avon into Bath – child-free at the time, there was a lot of prosecco and scones, chatting and chilling out.

But once your kids are past the age when you think they’ll fall overboard, a canal boat trip is great for families too. You don’t have to do the multiday barge trip either, with plenty of canal boats to take you on tours through Bath.

It’s also a great way to see Bath with kids without having to worry about little feet getting worn out.

The tourist board has suggestions of some of the different Bath boat trips you can try, including various options from Bath Adventures cruises, including a walking tour plus 25-minute cruise option.

The Fashion Museum

Edit: The museum is temporarily closed after moving out of its previous home in the Assembly Rooms to a new location in central Bath at the Old Post Office – reopening date tbc

With around 30,000 items showing how dress changed from the 16th century to the present day, the Fashion Museum is fascinating if your kids love history or style (not to mention for adults).

Although realistically, this is going to pale against the dressing-up area where you can try on reproductions of Victorian and Georgian clothes. My daughter can’t be the only dressing-up fiend out there, surely?

There are regular temporary exhibitions as well, but even if you only fit in a short visit, check out the Dress of the Year collection with one piece selected by an expert for each year since 1963.

There are often children’s trails picking out key historic fashions from the 1700s to the 2000s, as well as other temporary exhibitions featuring star pieces from the collection.

The Bath Postal Museum, which was another of my top family friendly things to do in Bath, has also now closed unfortunately.

Bath Skyline

The Bath Skyline walk stretches for six miles through ancient woods, fields and tracks around the city with some gorgeous views back to Bath.

Owned by the National Trust, there are natural playgrounds and fairy doors for kids to spot along the way, as well as suggested activities and things to spot. 

We had scooters with us and ambled so didn’t get close to finishing all of it when we visited, but there are shorter versions of the walk as well and it’s a lovely place to stroll. If you’re travelling with your four-legged friend, it’s dog friendly as well.

There are buses from the centre to get you to various points to start the walk, or you can also hop onto the City Sightseeing Skyline tour bus to see some from your seat or to hop off part-way (check where it stops with the driver as some points are request stops).

City Sightseeing also runs a hop-on hop-off bus tour of Bath itself, or there’s the Tootbus Bath Discovery tour – handy for Bath on a rainy day.

Prior Park Landscape Garden

Not far from the Bath Skyline walk is Prior Park Gardens, the kind of sweeping landscape which mixes natural beauty, Capability Brown’s unmatched touch and glorious touches including Palladian bridges.

Plus endless space for kids to run around the National Trust site, and let their imaginations run free at the same time. The site, which has just undergone a major restoration on the historic dams, also has regular activities and trails for kids, including its annual advent trail.

The best way to get there is one of the buses from the city centre – the City Sightseeing Skyline route has its own stop for Prior Park, or you can also take FirstGroup bus no 2 from Dorchester Street.

Jane Austen Centre and Assembly Rooms

There’s no writer more closely associated with Bath than Jane Austen and the Georgian society she depicts. I remember falling in love with her novels when I was in my teens, and if your kids are the same, the Jane Austen Centre should certainly be on the list.

Set in a house dating from the period when Austen lived in Bath, there are costumed Regency guides sharing information along the way – and yet more dressing up here too.

The exhibition covers the author’s time in the city and how it has influenced her books, then you can finish with afternoon tea in the Regency Tea Room.

You can get tickets with free cancellation if you book through Get Your Guide

You can also visit the original Assembly Rooms, the heart of Georgian society in Bath. There’s not a huge amount to do – although there is a cafe here too – but if they’re open, it’s fun to wander around and imagine yourself as a lady or gentleman of leisure.

Realistically, unless you are a huge Austen fan determined not to miss out, this isn’t something to try with younger kids who won’t even begin to care about the plot of Price & Prejudice.

Bath Children’s Literature festival

If you’re visiting Bath with kids who love books, but aren’t reading Austen, try to time your visit with the Bath Children’s Literature festival in the Autumn.

Play in Royal Victoria Park

There are a whopping 57 acres in the Royal Victoria Park, opened by the future Queen Victoria herself in 1830 when she was 11 years old. Alas for Bath, a resident reportedly insulted the thickness of her ankles and the not amused monarch never returned.

There’s plenty to amuse kids today though, including skate ramps and an adventure playground with zipwires, as well as traditional play areas.

You can also find the botanical gardens with the Great Dell aerial walkway, mini golf and before Christmas, there’s also an ice rink. Or for an experience to remember, you can even take a hot air balloon ride over the city from here – suitable for kids aged seven and above.

Victoria Falls Adventure Golf

Near the tennis courts in Royal Victoria Park, there’s a great 18-hole mini golf course – Victoria Falls Adventure Golf that’s perfect for kids who want a break from all the history and old buildings.

Set between streams and waterfalls (watch your ball!) with paths leading past flowers and trees, it’s a lovely one even just to walk around.

If you’re visiting in winter, there’s also a night-time option – Glow Golf, with twinkly lights and glow-in-the-dark balls as a twist on the standard crazy golf fun. It only runs from around mid-November to early January, so it’s well worth booking ahead if you fancy a game.

Go on a treasure hunt

I’m a big fan of the Treasure Trails for various cities around the UK – we’ve tried them in Salisbury and Greenwich, as well as Aldeburgh in Suffolk and Topsham in Devon to name a few.

Not only is it a great way to point out some of the little details you’d otherwise miss, and encourage you to explore down streets you wouldn’t otherwise choose, it’s also a great way to get kids walking.

Tell my daughter we’re going out for an hour or two to look at interesting architecture and we wouldn’t even get past the front door. Tell her we’re going on a Spy Mission around the city to solve a mystery, and she’s ready with a pencil in 2 seconds flat.

For another way to explore, check out the new Bath World Heritage app, which lets you build an itinerary, collect augmented reality characters and stickers, while hidden golden acorns across the city let you reveal hidden gems – download from Google Play or Appstore.

If you’re visiting with older kids, there are some great escape-room style games – part treasure hunt, part outdoor escape room is probably the best description. Keep an eye out for the events from CluedUpp or Clueniversity of Magic outdoor escape room, aimed at age 11+

Visit the Egg Theatre

This award-winning theatre focuses on productions for kids, young people and families, so it’s the perfect place if you’re looking for a family-friendly performance.

The only designated children’s theatre outside London, the Egg Theatre has shows on Saturdays as well as extra ones during school holidays plus creative workshops for kids aged two to 18. There’s also a great family-friendly cafe on this site next to the Theatre Royal Bath as well.

Bath City Farm

Sheep, pigs, ponies, chickens… it’s enough on its own to tempt animal loving kids for a day out. And that’s just the start of what you’ll find on the 37 acres of the Bath City Farm.

There’s a history trail and nature trail, plus a Fort play area, while you can also buy feed for the chickens. During holidays and occasionally throughout the year, you’ll find extra activities taking place.

It’s also great if you’re looking for free days out in Bath with kids, although donations are welcomed – and there’s also a cafe and a farm shop if you fancy a souvenir, edible or otherwise.

Farleigh Hungerford Castle

If you have more than a day or two in Bath with kids, there are some lovely family friendly places to visit just outside the city. Farleigh Hungerford Castle is a partially ruined mansion with gardens and a fantastic place for children to explore.

Dating from the 14th century, it was home to the Hungerford family for 300 years, and you can discover stories of the inhabitants as well as seeing their tombs.

Sadly the spiral staircases and towers are no longer climbable but there’s a free audio tour with some amazing and sometimes gruesome stories.

For more inspiration, check out my top things to do in Bristol with kids, including Avon Valley Adventure Park between Bristol and Bath, plus the best things to do in Somerset with kids such as Wookey Hole Caves and the Haynes Motor Museum

PIN FOR LATER: THINGS TO DO IN BATH WITH KIDS

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Roman Bath and Bath Skyline images copyright MummyTravels; American Museum image copyright TinboxTraveller; Holburne Museum, Jane Austen Festival & Victoria Park copyright VisitBath; all others courtesy Depositphotos

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