Grand Georgian architecture, ancient Roman history and natural hot springs draw thousands of visitors to Bath each year. Did you know that Bath is the largest city of Somerset, a beautiful region of South West England.
The World Heritage spa city is nestled in the Avon Valley, surrounded by picture perfect rolling hills and quaint villages.
Famed as a relaxing holiday spot for centuries, there are loads of attractions for families in Bath.
So if you plan your first visit, you might wonder what are the great things to do in Bath with the kids?
The city of Bath is synonym with wellness, relaxation and happiness. No wonder why a lot of English families choose Bath as a safe bet for a relaxed family weekend.
Based on past visits, I have selected some of the best things to do with your kids, from petting farms to playgrounds.
The whole family is sure to fall in love with this beautiful city. And why not booking a treatment at the Thermae Bath Spa for yourself if you can have your kids looked after for 2 hours.
Without further ado, let’s explore our favourite things to do with kids in Bath. Let’s go!
1. Botanical Gardens
Why is it great: If you are visiting Bath with the kids on a sunny day, you can’t miss spending some time at the beautiful Botanical Gardens located in Victoria Park on the north of the River Avon.
This free entry park is a great opportunity to kick start your day with your children after taking your breakfast of course.
What to do:In these gardens, you will find a whole collection of plants and gigantic trees. Also, your children will easily find the play area or maybe they would rather feed the army of squirrels guarding the park all day long.
Not too far from the Botanical Gardens, you can head to the Skate Park pending your kids have brought their scooter or skate board of course.
Unless watching other kids performing skate stunts is something you are interested in.
2. Moorfields Sandpits
Why is it great: Alternatively, you can head to Moorfields Sandpits where I am sure your children will love the play park with lots of activities to do. You will find plenty of free parking nearby the park too.
What to do: Expect to find bridges, seesaw, climbing ropes and different trails suitable for young children.
A great kids playground cannot be complete without a sandpit and this one proves to be popular on sunny days.
Also the park is fully fenced with a closing gate for extra security when your child is playing.
📍55 Monksdale Rd, Bath BA2 2JB
3. Sham Castle
Why is it great: I have to admit at first I wasn’t sure what a folly was. Now I know with the discovery of the Sham Castle on Claverton Down.
So don’t expect to visit anything inside this castle since it was built purely for exterior decoration. If there is one odd thing to visit with Bath with kids, that might be it!
What to do: Well you just walk up to the Sham Castle and you will be spoilt with a nice panoramic view of Bath and its surrounding.
There are plenty of photos opportunities that you can take with your kids too.
📍Golf Course Rd, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 6JG
4. The Jane Austen Centre
Why is it great: If you are familiar with English literature, there is good chance you would know Jane Austen. Price and Prejudice anyone? Whilst this activity might not be super exciting for young children, I believe children 10+ will enjoy this introduction to one of the most celebrated English novelists of the 18th century.
What to do: Your family will discover a permanent exhibition that explains the life of Jane Austen and all the different inspiration she got for her famous novels.
You will be greeted with staff dressed up as different characters from Mrs Austen’s fiction books with an opportunity to take a picture with her as well.
The tour runs for about 30 min so perfect time without boring the kids too much.
5. Henrietta Park
Why is it great: One of the great advantages to spend a holiday in Bath is the great choice of parks available in the city and nearby. Henrietta Park is one of these beautiful green areas that offers 7 acres of trees and plants.
After a morning visit in the city centre of Bath and a well deserved lunch, this park is the perfect place to relax and let the kids wander around at their own pace.
What to do: Built in the late 19th century to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, Henrietta Park is particularly popular in spring where all flowers are coming out. You will find some benches to sit nearby the different ponds too.
Beware that there no play areas for your children but it is still a nice place to have a picnic in the summer days though !
📍Henrietta Rd, Bathwick, Bath BA2 6LY
6. Paddle Boarding with Original Wild
Why is it great: Fancy an exciting outdoor activity to do with the kids in Bath? Why not trying a paddleboarding on River Avon. Your family can book a private paddle tour of Bath whether you and your children are beginners or experts in this popular water sport.
This tour is only available for children age 8+ who are experienced to swim 15m or more (just in case you fall down).
What to do: You will be assisted with an experienced instructors during your trip on the the Avon river. The session includes all equipment like wetsuit trousers and windshield jacket.
The Bath Paddle tour takes about 2 hours and is a great way to discover the city with a unique viewpoint.
📍Original Wild, Victoria Bridge Rd, Bath BA2 3FL
7. Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour
Why is it great: Yep. Bath also has its own Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour too. And like any other cities, it is popular too. Especially if you want to have a good look around the city with minimum walking effort.
What to do: The Tour bus has 2 different tours: City tour and Skyline tour.
This red open deck bus is making different stops in Bath. For instance you will be able to get off Royal Crescent or Great Pultney Street.
If you want to explore the green side of Bath, take the Skyline tour with lots of photo opportunities as well.
8. The Roman Baths
Why is it great: It might sound obvious but let’s get it out of the way. The Roman Baths are the the most touristic place in Bath for the good reasons. With over 2,000 years of history, the Roman Baths is something you need to see in your lifetime. You will visit the places where Romans used to relax and appreciate the complexity of the architecture that defines this historical site.
What to do: You can also use the FREE audioguide that makes the visit even more interactive. Perfect for the children to be entertained and learn about the Roman Baths. Another great thing to do in Bath is to book a morning brunch or an afternoon tea at the Pump Room Bath. The package includes a visit to the Roman Baths too. Prices are from £40 for the brunch and £50 for the afternoon tea.
📍 The Roman Baths, Abbey Church Yard, Bath BA1 1LZ
PRICE: from £17.50/adult and £10/child on weekday and £20/adult and £12.50/child on weekend. Family package prices are also available
OPENING TIMES: Weekdays: 9.30am-5.30pm (last entry 4.30pm) Weekends: 9am-6pm (last entry 5pm). Roman Baths are open everyday except on 25 and 26 December.
9. Fashion Museum
Why is it great: Delve into contemporary and historic dress at this fantastic museum, which is much-loved by families thanks to its hand-on displays. Kids will love also the dress up section, where they can try dresses and coats from the Victorian and Georgian era.
What to do: Last but not least, don’t forget to get a snap in front of the Royal Crescent backdrop as a souvenir! There are also lots of free, creative activities on during the school holidays. Please be aware that tickets must be booked online in advance.
📍 Fashion Museum, Assembly Rooms, Bennett Street, Bath BA1 2QH
PRICE: From £10 per adult and £7.75 per child. Family packages are available.
OPENING TIMES: Open daily 10:30 am – 4pm
10. Victoria Falls Adventure Golf
Why is it great: Playing an 18 holes miniature golf is a fun activity for the whole family. Especially if it outdoor and inside the Victoria Park. So are you ready to challenge your children and score a low score at this mini golf. Who will win?
What to do: This miniature golf must be among the family things to do in Bath with kids. Expect to play 40min to 1 hour depending how busy the golf is. You might wait a bit in the beginning to get your turn to kick off the first hole but it is worth the wait. Unfortunately, you can’t prebook a tee time like a regular gold course!
PRICE: From £5.5/adult and £4.5/child. Family packages are available
OPENING TIMES: Everyday from 10am until dark. Last entry is 1 hour before sunset
11. The Egg Theatre
Why is it great: First, this acclaimed children’s theatre shows a great variety of plays for all ages, and has become a renowned venue for its community outreach and youth work.
What to do: Secondly, performances vary every year and could include for instance Hansel and Gretel, Snow Mouse or Muckers.
📍 36 Monmouth St, Bath BA1 2AN
PRICE: vary dependent of the show. For example, the show How to Save the Planet is offering tickets for £11.50 each.
OPENING TIMES: performances are scheduled in different times depending of the play. Can be late morning, afternoon or evening for teens
12. Victoria Art Gallery
Why is it great: If you are into Art or want to introduce Art to your children, Victoria Art Gallery is a great place to start. The venue is very family friendly and always has some fun exhibitions that kids would love for sure. For instance, there is an exhibition around Myths and Monsters that is currently shown until end of February
What to do: You will wander around the different galleries and exhibitions. There are some trails to follow to make the visit even more interactive with your children. Some trolleys can be found with coloring sheets. During holidays, the venue organises free activites for children as small as 3 years old.
PRICE: From £6/adult and £2/child
OPENING TIMES: Tuesday – Sunday, 10.30am-5pm with the last entry at 4.30pm. Closed on 25 and 26 December. The Gallery is closed on Mondays with the exception of bank holiday weekends.
13. The Holburne Museum
Why is it great: Enjoy hands-on activities, an animal trail and a great range of children’s workshops at this beautiful museum, housing Sir William Holburne’s collection of fine art and sculptures.
What to do: We are advising you to borrow the activity bag that is available for families to make the visit fo the galleries more interesting. You can also find pencils and paper to let your children express themselves. Trails are also organised every weekend and during school holiday from 19 February until 15 May 2022. Admission to the museum is free, although some of the seasonally changing temporary exhibitions may be charged.
📍 Great Pulteney St, Bathwick, Bath BA2 4DB
PRICE: FREE
OPENING TIMES: 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays
14. Museum of Bath at Work
Why is it great: The Museum of Bath At Work tells different stories of the 19th century industrial revolution that happened in Bath. It is highly important to remind young generations how we used to live and work in previous centuries. The main floor gallery is showing the business life of the businessman J B Bowler who founded a mineral water and soda company. Great to see how working offices looks like before.
What to do: Children’s activities are available on site as well as demonstration of different machineries. Free audio guides are available for your visit too.
PRICE: From £8/adult and £5/child
OPENING TIMES: From January until April 1st weekends only from 10.30am until 5pm
15. Softplay at Dragonfly Leisure Writhling
Why is it great: And finally, rated the best indoor play centre in the area, this clean and friendly space offers a hours of fun for your little ones! There is a separate play area for under 3’s , and two areas over 3’s complete with ball pit, slides, bridges, rope swings, trampolines and more!
What to do: Adults have also been well catered for too, with free WIFI and freshly ground coffee in the comfortable viewing lounge. Make you pre-book your session at the SoftPlay especially on weekends and during holidays
📍 Knobsbury Lane, Radstock, Bath BA3 3NQ
PRICE: 0-5months: FREE / 6-11months: 50p / 12-23months: £2.50 / 2-11 years: £4.95 / Adults:FREE
OPENING TIMES: Monday – Friday 9.00am – 7pm and Saturday/ Sunday 9.00am – 5pm
16. Escape 4 Fun
For teenagers only 12 years+ with at least one adult for every 2 children
Why is it great: Escape rooms are becoming a thing now in most touristy spots such as Bath. Escape 4 Fun is offering 2 different escape rooms for the moment: Action Escape Room where you need to find a missing star and Comic Adventure where you are immersed in a comic adventure.
What to do: Expect to spend 2 hours with this activity with 3 different levels of difficulty and lots of fun with the family to solve mysteries in these 2 escape rooms
PRICE: From £50/room for a party of 2 and from £70 for a party of 3/4
OPENING TIMES: Tuesday – Sunday from 10am until 8pm (however you need to book your session in advance, you can’t walk in to book an escape room on the spot)
17. Bath City Farm
Why is it great: Families in Bath love this 37 acre working farm, offering a play park, walking trails, farm shop and cafe, and of course, animals to feed and pet! Check their website for up to date activities including a Christmas Craft Fair.
What to do: Admission is free, and any donations go towards providing education, training and therapeutic activities to disadvantaged people in the local community. One of the most popular things to do in Bath with your kids for sure.
PRICE: FREE (donations are more than welcome)
OPENING TIMES: Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 4pm Closed on Sunday and Monday
More things to do with your kids in Bath? Read on…
18. Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein
Why is it great: If visiting an immersive house depicting the famous 19th century novel Frankenstein is something appealing to your family, we can’t recommend enough to book entries in this museum. The writer Mary Shelley was actually a resident of Bath so it is no surprise that there is attraction about her famous gory story.
What to do: The venue presents different artefacts and exhibits over 4 floors. The exhibition has lots of sounds effects and lights which could be disturbing for young children. So make sure you ask in advance if your kids want to see this interactive museum.
PRICE: From £10 per person (January offer)
OPENING TIMES: Tuesday to Friday and Sunday 11am until 5pm (last admission is 4pm) / Saturday 10am to 6pm (last admission is 5pm)
19. Scenic Cruise
Why is it great: If weather permits, visiting a city like Bath in a boat is a great way to make the experience relaxing and fun for the family. Quite a few options are available. Some boat operators are open all year round and other only start in Spring when the temperature is more suitable to be outside.
What to do: Take a leisurely cruise along the Kennet and Avon Canal in a narrowboat, as you admire Bath’s historic architecture and surrounding rural views. Stop off for a bite to eat at a cosy pub, bring your own picnic, or pre-order a gourmet hamper to enjoy on board. This is a lovely outdoor activity for a sunny day. It definitely should be on your best things to do in Bath with the kids.
PRICE: vary on operators and size of the party
20. Sally Lunn’s House
Why is it great: This place claims to be the oldest house in Bath and could have been founded in 1482. Today, this venue is famous for its Sally Lunn bun. So who is Sally Lunn? The legend says she was a French woman who set up a bakery in Bath bak in the late 17th century.
What to do: You can visit the downstairs museum and taste the famous delicacy bun. We also advise you to book a dinner at Sally Lunn’s house if you fancy candlelit light dinner.
📍 4 N Parade, Passage, Bath BA1 1NX
PRICE: depends of what you eat
OPENING TIMES: Monday-Saturday 10am until 6pm / Sunday 11am until 6pm (museum can close as early as 4pm sometimes)
21. Alice Park
Why is it great: Alice Park is a tranquil spot in the East of the city, with a children’s playground, 6 tennis courts, boules piste and an award winning café. A social hub for local families, there are always things to do, from football coaching and rugby tots to community-based events.
What to do: Need to take some fresh air and see you kids run wild and be active. Then Alice Park is one of the things to do in Bath to keep the kids entertained after visiting a museum or after lunch.
Café Opening Hours: 9:15am – 4:30pm (winter) or 5:30pm (summer)
PRICE: FREE
OPENING TIMES: park is open 24 hours
Café OPENING HOURS: 9:15am – 4:30pm (winter) or 5:30pm (summer)
22. Beazer Garden Maze
Why is it great: This maze located close to Pulteney Bridge is a flat garden so don’t expect your kids to play hide and seek and get lost in the maze. However it is quite fun to try to find the exit with your children.
What to do: Well I bet you know the rules. You enter the garden and need to exit as quick as you can. Or not. A great way to have a 5 min break while children enjoy following the different paths of the maze.
📍 Spring Gardens Rd, Bathwick, Bath BA2 6PW
PRICE: FREE
OPENING TIMES: always open
Phew…5 more things to do with kids in Bath…
23. Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park (near Bath)
Why is it great: Located between Bath and Bristol, this 90 acre park is perfect for an active family day out. It has extensive indoor and outdoor play areas, animal handling and a riverside trail. Explore on electric quad bikes or jump on the tractor ride and miniature railway – the kids will love it!
What to do: For 2022, the park will be open once again for February Half Term holiday. Another exciting news is that the park will be taken over in Easter by Dinosaur Valley with lots animatronic dinosaurs, including a 15 meter T-Rex. So make sure you to book your ticket entries for this coming Spring.
📍 Pixash Lanw, Bath Road, Keynsham, Bristol BS31 1TP
PRICE: From £14.95/adult or child over 2. £8.85 for children under 2. If you book in advance, you can save money on same day entries.
OPENING TIMES: 10:00am – 5:30pm
24. Text Quest
Why is it great: Here is another fun way to discover the city of Bath. Text Quest operates different text messages on your mobile phone with different clues regarding the mission you are trying to accomplish with your brood. Each quest can take up to 2 hours so plenty of time to entertain the children.
What to do: Text Quest offers 3 different missions: Bath ‘Step back in time’, Unmask the Bath Ban Robbers and Bewitching Bath. Each mission can have up to 22 clues and cost £16 per team (clues can be sent up to 4 mobiles phones)
📍 vary depending of the quest you choose to do
PRICE: £16/group
OPENING TIMES: 24 hours
25. Royal Victoria Park
Why is it great: Opened in 1830 by the 11-year-old Princess Victoria, this beautiful park boasts views of the famous Royal Crescent.
What to do: Its 57 acres include botanic gardens, a mini golf course, and a fantastic playground with climbing frames, zip lines and a skateboard area. Stop for coffee at the Pavilion Café on a summer’s day, or lace up and take to the ice skating rink in winter.
📍 Marlborough Lane, Bath BA1 2NQ
PRICE: FREE
OPENING TIMES:
26. Krowd Keepers
Why is it great: Who doesn’t like magic and a whole intimate show around it? Krowd Keepers have been entertaining small crowds every Friday and Saturday at the small 35 seats theatre located above the pub The Ale House. The show is suitable for families with kids aged 10+
What to do: Magicians don’t do rabbit or hat tricks. Instead they will perform an innovative magical show that will last about 1 hour. The one and only resident magician Billy Kidd will make your evening quite special indeed. Advanced booking is advisable especially on weekends.
PRICE: £15/person
OPENING TIMES: doors open at 7.30pm and the show begins at 8pm
27. Bath Soft Cheese
Why is it great: And we are nearly coming to the end of our recommended things to do in Bath with kids. Wait! What’s Bath Soft Cheese got to do with kids friendly activities in Bath? Well the famous Bath Soft Cheese is made in the beautiful park farm in Kelston near Bath.
What to do: Apart of tasting different cheeses, you can explore the farm with a lovely child play area. Perfect for day out after having lunch or breakfast at the Café
We recommend to pre-book your table in the weekend or during holidays.
PRICE: vary depending on what you eat at the Café
OPENING TIMES: Monday to Thursday 9:30am until 5:30pm / Friday & Saturday 9:30am until 5:30pm / Sunday & Bank holiday (except Easter Sunday) 10am until 4.30pm
If you are driving to Bath for the weekend or during holidays, you might have time to explore the surroundings of Bath and discover the beautiful region of Somerset.
So if you are looking for more things to do near Bath with children, here are two 2 additional activities that will satisfy the whole family.
BONUS 1: Haynes Motor Museum
Why is it great: Located in Yeovil, only 1-hour drive from Bath, Haynes Motor Museum hosts the most complete and biggest exhibition of cars and motorbikes since the beginning of the 20th century. So if racing, cars, motorbikes are your thing, you can’t miss this amazing museum. And they also have the biggest UK collection of red cars.
What to do: The venue has an outdoor play area with climbing frame, a construction zone with diggers, a garage and so much more. And for the little ones, the museum offers Little Tikes baby car strollers so they can wander around the museum with you. Last but not least, don’t forget to visit the shop where your children will certainly find a car toy to bring back home.
PRICE: From £16/adult and £9.50 for children aged 4+ / FREE for children under 4. Family packages are available
OPENING TIMES: everyday from 10am until 4.30pm
BONUS 2: West of England Falconry
Why is it great: West of England Falconry is home of different birds of prey with an excellent rehabilitation programme in the Bath area. A bit like a hospital for birds. You can also meet different owls at The Owlery. Pre-booking at the owlery is advisable and it is suitable only for children aged 7+. Group of 4 people maximum. Expect a unique 1 hour experience to be up and close with owls.
What to do: A guide will take you through the Falconry and will tell you all about these birds of prey. The Owlery is a memorable moment where you will so close with owls probably for the first time. The experience is bit pricey but it is for the good cause. Wait until you see your kids holding a owl. Many photos to take for sure.
📍 The Grain Store, Newton St, Bath BA2 9BT
PRICE: From £4/adult and £2/children 7+ / FREE for children under 7
The Owlery: From £65 for 1 person up to £110 for 4 persons
OPENING TIMES: Wednesday to Sunday 10am until 3.30pm . Flying demonstrations resume in May 2022. Closed on Monday and Tuesday
CONCLUSION
We hope you’ve enjoyed this detailed article on the great things to do with kids in Bath. Bath is certainly one of the most underrated weekend breaks for families even though it is only 2h30 drive from London (even shorter by train where it takes 1h15 min from London Paddington) or 40min drive from Bristol.
Bath is among those lovely historical cities that clearly deserved to be added by the transnational World Heritage Site to be one of the Great Spa Towns in Europe. So what are you waiting for to book your weekend away and become a Bathonian for a few days!
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