17 Things to do in Bath with Kids

A 2017 Bath Family Travel Guide

Bath is located in South-western England in Somerset about 100 miles from London. The city has been welcoming visitors for over 2,000 years, its beautiful historic sites and buildings from many periods have earned it the UNESCO designation as a World Heritage Site.

The city's name comes from its biggest attraction – natural hot springs. Over 10,000 years ago rain seeped into the surrounding hills, the water is warmed by the rocks and earth and comes bubbling up through the ground to supply the therapeutic mineral rich waters.

The Best Things to do In Bath, Somerset

Bath's most famous site is the Roman Baths, a bath house built by the ingenious Romans to take advantage of the natural hot springs.

Visitors can take a dip in the waters at the Thermae Spa and see the ancient Roman baths. Although visiting a spa is not the most family-friendly activity in Bath you can tour the water source and take a tour of the Roman Baths. The same goes for visiting the Bath Abbey. Churches aren't the most exciting site for kids but wait until they see the vaults! 

Adults or kids who've studied Jane Austen books will love the way the Jane Austen Center brings the author's life in Regency Bath alive. Get out and about in one of Bath's magnificent parks like Prior Park Landscape Garden, Royal Victoria Park or Parade Gardens. Of the city's 17 museums there is Haynes International Motor Museum, Beckford's Tower & Museum, Herschel Museum of Astronomy, Bath's Original Theatre Royal and Masonic Lodge and a Fashion Museum.

Don't leave the city without visiting Sally Lunn's Historic Eating House & Museum. The house dates back to 1483 and this is the birthplace of a traditional sweet bun – the Sally Lunn. You can eat in the dining room and see Sally Lunn's 300-year-old kitchen. For another historic culinary experience dine at the Pump House next to the Roman Baths.

Seeing Bath by bus, on foot or by boat!

Walking around the city or taking the hop-on-hop-off double-decker bus tour (£14/£8) you can see the Georgian architecture like that on the curved Royal Crescent. On the bus you can listen to a prerecorded commentary. Kids will find the city much more appealing if they get to see it from the water.

The waterways which surround Bath are the perfect way to get outdoors and explore the city by a Pulteney motorboat cruise or narrowboat. Find out more about the activities on the water at the Canal Visitor Center. After you've seen the main sites take a trip in a hot air balloon above bath and the surrounding green countryside. Visit the Bath Racecourse for a thrilling experience. Kids can get a bit of culture with performances and workshops at the Egg Theatre.

Bath and Beyond - Day Trips from Bath

For day excursions from Bath families should take the kids for a tour of the Wookey Hole Caves. The site has a number of exciting attractions for kids like the Hall of Crazy Mirrors, a maze, a Cave Museum, prehistoric valley and a Clown Museum. Another must-do day trip is to see Stonehenge an hour's drive from Bath. Just 35 minutes away is Longleat Safari and Adventure Park.  

If you need advice when in Bath then visit the Bath Tourism Center in the Abbey Churchyard.

Don't forget to download your child a Fly it Quiet Travel Guide with lots of cultural games about the United Kingdom!

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