Activities in Bath
There is no shortage of ways to enjoy the daytime in Bath whatever the weather or season, some expensive, but also a surprising number of free activities.
Parks
The parks in Bath are good, and there is a lot of choice. Victoria Park is ideal for picnics, frisbees, feeding the ducks and a walk in the Botanical Gardens. The stroll into town from Victoria Park does not take long, and you pass the Royal Crescent on the way. Henrietta Gardens is pretty central, behind Great Pulteney Street, again good for impromptu picnics sourced from Waitrose. Another good spot is Alexandra Park, with fantastic panoramic views over Bath. Sydney Gardens, which has the unusual feature of a main-line railway running through the middle is an attractive starting point for a canal walk to the east of Bath. Parade Gardens is right in the centre of Bath, with its own refreshment pavillion, bandstand, immaculate flower beds and fabulous city and river views. There is a small admission charge for non-residents.
Architecture
A well-planned walk can take in most of the of the classic Georgian buildings. Do not miss the Royal Crescent, the Circus, Pulteney Bridge and Great Pulteney Street, but try and make time to enjoy some of the less frequently visited areas, such as Lansdown and Camden Crescents, both of which have good views over Bath.
Museums and galleries
Not as stuffy as it sounds. The Roman Baths are very impressive, more so when there are less people there, so try and visit early or late, or out of season. It can get very busy. The Bath Fashion Museum, located in the Assembly Rooms, is well-presented, interesting, and more hands-on than you might think. The Holburne Museum of Art has some notable articles in its collection, and the building and its situation are spectacular if you ignore the traffic. No. 1 Royal Crescent is at the City Centre end of the Royal Crescent, is open Tuesday to Sunday, and the interior has been restored to how it would have looked in the late 18th century. The Victoria Art Gallery is central, free, and often has good visiting exhibitions. There are also plenty of commercial galleries dotted around the centre of Bath.
Jane Austen
Jane Austen is big in Bath. She lived in the city between 1801 and 1806, and Bath is featured in Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. Jane Austen enthusiasts are well catered for by the Jane Austen Centre in Gay Street.
Shopping
Peerless for a City the size of Bath, particularly if you like small independent retailers. Clothes and shoes of course, but also books, cosmetics, antiques and food - Bath supports two specialist cheese shops. The Shops of Bath website gives some idea of the range of retail opportunities available.
Street Entertainment
There is plenty of street entertainment all year round in Bath, ranging from bagpipes to the famous semi-naked acrobats in the Abbey Churchyard.
Pampering
A hen party favourite is a visit to the Bath Thermae Spa, with its truly spectacular roof-top swimming pool, but there are other options, such as Green Street House and Champneys.
Activities
There seems to be no end to the activities available in Bath and the surrounding area. Here is a selection:
Afternoon Tea - The Pump Room Restaurant
Ballooning - Ascent Balloon Company, Bath Balloons
Boat Hire - Bath Narrowboats
Boating - Bath Boating Station
Bus Tours - Bath Bus Company
Chocolate Initiation Workshops - Minerva Chocolates
Cinema - Little Theatre Cinema, Odeon
Comedy Walk - Bizarre Bath
Cookery Courses - Bertinet Kitchen
Flower School - Rachel Lilley Flower School
Pole Dancing - Poledancingbath.com
Racing - How about a day out at Bath Racecourse?
River Trips - The Pulteney Princess
Rugby - Bath Rugby Club
Theatre - Theatre Royal, Rondo Theatre
Or try Walcot Street's The Makery, which currently offers 'Make your own saucy underwear' workshops, Life-drawing workshops (with a handsome male model, of course!) and Tiara-making workshops.
If you want to venture beyond Bath some suggestions are Wookey Hole and Caves, Longleat and Mad Max Tours.