From the time of the Romans, Bathtub has been tempting folks to go to – and if you happen to assume that this elegant metropolis isn’t household pleasant, assume once more as a result of there are many issues to do in Bathtub with children.
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Past the golden Georgian structure which has made it a Unesco World Heritage website, there are museums with actions excellent for kids, numerous possibilities to get exterior together with the encircling Somerset countryside, and the fantastic Roman Baths.
We final visited as one of many stops on our highway journey alongside the Nice West Approach and are common guests to Bristol, however there’s at all times a brand new motive to return to tick off extra of the highest 19 issues to do in Bathtub with children on my checklist – together with the newly opened World Heritage Centre as effectively.
The Roman Baths and Museum
The world-famous Roman Baths are one of many largest sights of all the metropolis of Bathtub and for good motive!
And after we visited, I used to be impressed at simply how a lot there may be to do for youths, together with a particular audioguide, a few trails to comply with and many possibilities to get fairly actually palms on.
There are additionally actors portraying a number of the individuals who might need visited the baths throughout Roman instances, so it’s even simpler to step again in historical past.
You may even uncover the outdated Roman health club, as a part of the baths complicated.
And kids over the age of 6 may even style the waters that had been prized for his or her healing properties – astonishingly my daughter pronounced it ‘not that dangerous’. In contrast to me…
For extra concepts of historic Roman websites within the UK to go to with children, take a look at this publish
Bathtub Abbey
Beautiful Bathtub Abbey will go away younger and outdated alike awestruck – for adults, there’s the historical past and the structure. For teenagers, it seems to be like one thing out of a fairy story, plus there are quirky statues to identify.
Each little bit of it from the stained glass home windows to the flying buttresses will encourage their creativeness too.
It’s also possible to climb to the highest of the Abbey’s tower for some superb views out throughout town… though with greater than 200 steps this isn’t one thing to attempt if you happen to’re visiting with little ones.
No 1 Royal Crescent
Image Bathtub and the Royal Crescent is without doubt one of the photographs that most likely involves thoughts – an extended elegant sweeping curve of homes.
Constructed between 1767 and 1774, it’s among the best preserved examples of Georgian structure within the nation so on the very least take a wander previous as you stroll by way of town.
Higher nonetheless, there’s a museum at No 1 Royal Crescent, exhibiting late 18th century life, together with trails for youths to comply with as you make your approach by way of and different occasions throughout college holidays.
It’s also possible to attempt Georgian themed video games and take a look at on costumes within the Servants Corridor. Should you’re visiting with a child, there are child carriers to borrow (and buggy parking however you may’t take your buggy in with you).
There’s additionally inexperienced house simply past the personal gardens, for a picnic or the possibility to shed their greatest Regency manners afterwards.
American Museum Bathtub
Residence to the biggest assortment of American cultural artefacts exterior of the US themselves, the American Museum in Bathtub is a must-visit in case your kids are learning any American historical past, together with recreations of American houses from the earliest colonial period.
However that’s definitely not the one motive to go to and there’s lots to maintain even youthful children entertained too: in addition to the youngsters’s space and backyard, there may be loads of interactive enjoyable, further actions regarding the present exhibitions, trails and extra.
Throughout college holidays, there are sometimes further crafts and different actions, a few of which have an additional price.
The museum is accessible by bus from Bathtub adopted by a brief stroll, plus there’s a restaurant and beautiful gardens to discover, additionally themed on American historical past.
Take a look at this evaluate from Tin Field Traveller who visited along with her two younger daughters.
Herschel Museum of Astronomy
For any children who love astronomy and all issues house, the Herschel Museum of Astronomy is about within the very home on New King Road the place William Herschel found the planet Uranus in 1781. (No sniggering on the again please!)
Households can comply with the Wonderful Astronomy quiz path (for a small further price) whereas there are numerous actions and workshops to swimsuit households.bristo
Better of all, you will discover a unbelievable space devoted to House Lego and the Girls of NASA Lego in addition to a complete part of kids’s astronomy books within the Star Vault.
Pulteney Bridge
Pulteney Bridge is certainly one of only some bridges on this planet that has retailers throughout its full span on each side; it additionally occurs to be an amazing place to get a drink.
Take a wander throughout initially, to look again on pretty arches and the weir in entrance.
Then head again for the view from the bridge itself. There are only some seats close to home windows within the cafes, so that you’ll simply need to hold your fingers crossed if you happen to hope to refuel when you look out onto the water.
Sally Lunns buns
No journey to Bathtub is full and not using a journey to the well-known Sally Lunns. Properly… who doesn’t love a bun?
The world-famous tea and consuming home, well-known for the Sally Lunn bun, is about in one of many oldest buildings in Bathtub, inbuilt 1482.
There’s even a small museum hooked up – which will be completed in about 5 minutes to swimsuit very brief consideration spans. And to allow you to get again to the buns, nonetheless baked to a secret recipe, clearly.
The Sally Lunn bun is to not be confused with the Bathtub bun – that is extra of a brioche fashion deal with than the fruity teacake fashion of the Bathtub bun. It’s most likely greatest to attempt each and select your favorite!
The Holburne Museum
The Holburne Museum was Bathtub’s first public artwork gallery, with common non permanent exhibitions of each trendy and basic artwork alongside its spectacular everlasting assortment.
Should you’re visiting with children, the museum contains exercise drawers plus common trails for households to assist children take pleasure in their time exploring.
The museum additionally has a separate inventive space, House to Make, with actions impressed by the museum’s exhibitions and everlasting assortment – excellent for letting your children’ creativity run free.
There’s no entry cost to the Holburne Museum for under-18s, excellent if you happen to’re on the lookout for free issues to do in Bathtub with children.
Victoria Artwork Gallery
The Victoria Artwork Gallery is one other Bathtub museum that’s free for kids – you too can get mixed tickets with the Roman Baths and Trend Museum, and it’s one other nice possibility for wet days in Bathtub with children.
The gathering contains objects from the fifteenth century proper as much as the current day (together with a not too long ago acquired Grayson Perry print).
In addition to household occasions throughout college holidays and common family-friendly exhibitions, you’ll discover artwork trolleys stocked with crafts to attempt together with colouring and a portrait path.
Different trails included the 5 senses household path, designed to encourage children to speak about artwork – as soon as they’ve hunted down the objects in a number of footage – so there’s at all times one thing new to entertain kids.
Journey a Canal Boat
For my thirtieth birthday, a gaggle of associates and I employed a narrowboat to cruise from Bradford on Avon into Bathtub – child-free on the time, there was a variety of prosecco and scones, chatting and chilling out.
However as soon as your children are previous the age whenever you assume they’ll fall overboard, a canal boat journey is nice for households too. You don’t need to do the multiday barge journey both, with loads of canal boats to take you on excursions by way of Bathtub.
It’s additionally a good way to see Bathtub with children with out having to fret about little ft getting worn out.
The vacationer board has strategies of a number of the completely different Bathtub boat journeys you may attempt, together with numerous choices from Bathtub Adventures cruises, together with a strolling tour plus 25-minute cruise possibility.
The Trend Museum
Edit: The museum is quickly closed after transferring out of its earlier house within the Meeting Rooms to a brand new location in central Bathtub on the Outdated Put up Workplace – reopening date tbc
With round 30,000 objects exhibiting how gown modified from the sixteenth century to the current day, the Trend Museum is fascinating in case your children love historical past or fashion (to not point out for adults).
Though realistically, that is going to pale in opposition to the dressing-up space the place you may attempt on reproductions of Victorian and Georgian garments. My daughter can’t be the one dressing-up fiend on the market, certainly?
There are common non permanent exhibitions as effectively, however even if you happen to solely slot in a brief go to, take a look at the Costume of the Yr assortment with one piece chosen by an professional for every year since 1963.
There are sometimes kids’s trails selecting out key historic fashions from the 1700s to the 2000s, in addition to different non permanent exhibitions that includes star items from the gathering.
The Bathtub Postal Museum, which was one other of my prime household pleasant issues to do in Bathtub, has additionally now closed sadly.
Bathtub Skyline
The Bathtub Skyline stroll stretches for six miles by way of historic woods, fields and tracks across the metropolis with some beautiful views again to Bathtub.
Owned by the Nationwide Belief, there are pure playgrounds and fairy doorways for youths to identify alongside the way in which, in addition to prompt actions and issues to identify.
We had scooters with us and ambled so didn’t get near ending all of it after we visited, however there are shorter variations of the stroll as effectively and it’s a stunning place to walk. Should you’re travelling together with your four-legged pal, it’s canine pleasant as effectively.
There are buses from the centre to get you to varied factors to begin the stroll, or you too can hop onto the Metropolis Sightseeing Skyline tour bus to see some out of your seat or to hop off part-way (verify the place it stops with the driving force as some factors are request stops).
Metropolis Sightseeing additionally runs a hop-on hop-off bus tour of Bathtub itself, or there’s the Tootbus Bathtub Discovery tour – useful for Bathtub on a wet day.
Prior Park Panorama Backyard
Not removed from the Bathtub Skyline stroll is Prior Park Gardens, the form of sweeping panorama which mixes pure magnificence, Functionality Brown’s unmatched contact and superb touches together with Palladian bridges.
Plus infinite house for youths to run across the Nationwide Belief website, and let their imaginations run free on the identical time. The positioning, which has simply undergone a significant restoration on the historic dams, additionally has common actions and trails for youths, together with its annual introduction path.
One of the simplest ways to get there is without doubt one of the buses from town centre – the Metropolis Sightseeing Skyline route has its personal cease for Prior Park, or you too can take FirstGroup bus no 2 from Dorchester Road.
Jane Austen Centre and Meeting Rooms
There’s no author extra intently related to Bathtub than Jane Austen and the Georgian society she depicts. I keep in mind falling in love along with her novels after I was in my teenagers, and in case your children are the identical, the Jane Austen Centre ought to definitely be on the checklist.
Set in a home courting from the interval when Austen lived in Bathtub, there are costumed Regency guides sharing info alongside the way in which – and but extra dressing up right here too.
The exhibition covers the writer’s time within the metropolis and the way it has influenced her books, then you may end with afternoon tea within the Regency Tea Room.
You will get tickets with free cancellation if you happen to guide by way of Get Your Information
It’s also possible to go to the unique Meeting Rooms, the center of Georgian society in Bathtub. There’s not an enormous quantity to do – though there’s a cafe right here too – but when they’re open, it’s enjoyable to wander round and picture your self as a girl or gentleman of leisure.
Realistically, except you’re a enormous Austen fan decided to not miss out, this isn’t one thing to attempt with youthful children who gained’t even start to care concerning the plot of Value & Prejudice.
Bathtub Kids’s Literature pageant
Should you’re visiting Bathtub with children who love books, however aren’t studying Austen, attempt to time your go to with the Bathtub Kids’s Literature pageant within the Autumn.
Play in Royal Victoria Park
There are a whopping 57 acres within the Royal Victoria Park, opened by the long run Queen Victoria herself in 1830 when she was 11 years outdated. Alas for Bathtub, a resident reportedly insulted the thickness of her ankles and the not amused monarch by no means returned.
There’s lots to amuse children immediately although, together with skate ramps and an journey playground with zipwires, in addition to conventional play areas.
It’s also possible to discover the botanical gardens with the Nice Dell aerial walkway, mini golf and earlier than Christmas, there’s additionally an ice rink. Or for an expertise to recollect, you may even take a sizzling air balloon journey over town from right here – appropriate for youths aged seven and above.
Victoria Falls Journey Golf
Close to the tennis courts in Royal Victoria Park, there’s an amazing 18-hole mini golf course – Victoria Falls Journey Golf that’s excellent for youths who desire a break from all of the historical past and outdated buildings.
Set between streams and waterfalls (watch your ball!) with paths main previous flowers and timber, it’s a stunning one even simply to stroll round.
Should you’re visiting in winter, there’s additionally a night-time possibility – Glow Golf, with twinkly lights and glow-in-the-dark balls as a twist on the usual loopy golf enjoyable. It solely runs from round mid-November to early January, so it’s effectively value reserving forward if you happen to fancy a recreation.
Go on a treasure hunt
I’m an enormous fan of the Treasure Trails for numerous cities across the UK – we’ve tried them in Salisbury and Greenwich, in addition to Aldeburgh in Suffolk and Topsham in Devon to call a couple of.
Not solely is it a good way to level out a number of the little particulars you’d in any other case miss, and encourage you to discover down streets you wouldn’t in any other case select, it’s additionally a good way to get children strolling.
Inform my daughter we’re going out for an hour or two to take a look at attention-grabbing structure and we wouldn’t even get previous the entrance door. Inform her we’re happening a Spy Mission across the metropolis to resolve a thriller, and she or he’s prepared with a pencil in 2 seconds flat.
For an additional technique to discover, take a look at the brand new Bathtub World Heritage app, which helps you to construct an itinerary, acquire augmented actuality characters and stickers, whereas hidden golden acorns throughout town allow you to reveal hidden gems – obtain from Google Play or Appstore.
Should you’re visiting with older children, there are some nice escape-room fashion video games – half treasure hunt, half outside escape room might be the perfect description. Preserve an eye fixed out for the occasions from CluedUpp or Clueniversity of Magic outside escape room, aimed toward age 11+
Go to the Egg Theatre
This award-winning theatre focuses on productions for youths, younger folks and households, so it’s the proper place if you happen to’re on the lookout for a family-friendly efficiency.
The one designated kids’s theatre exterior London, the Egg Theatre has reveals on Saturdays in addition to further ones throughout college holidays plus inventive workshops for youths aged two to 18. There’s additionally an amazing family-friendly cafe on this website subsequent to the Theatre Royal Bathtub as effectively.
Bathtub Metropolis Farm
Sheep, pigs, ponies, chickens… it’s sufficient by itself to tempt animal loving children for a day trip. And that’s simply the beginning of what you’ll discover on the 37 acres of the Bathtub Metropolis Farm.
There’s a historical past path and nature path, plus a Fort play space, whereas you too can purchase feed for the chickens. Throughout holidays and sometimes all year long, you’ll discover further actions going down.
It’s additionally nice if you happen to’re on the lookout for free days out in Bathtub with children, though donations are welcomed – and there’s additionally a restaurant and a farm store if you happen to fancy a memento, edible or in any other case.
Farleigh Hungerford Citadel
When you’ve got greater than a day or two in Bathtub with children, there are some pretty household pleasant locations to go to simply exterior town. Farleigh Hungerford Citadel is {a partially} ruined mansion with gardens and a unbelievable place for kids to discover.
Courting from the 14th century, it was house to the Hungerford household for 300 years, and you may uncover tales of the inhabitants in addition to seeing their tombs.
Sadly the spiral staircases and towers are not climbable however there’s a free audio tour with some superb and generally grotesque tales.
For extra inspiration, take a look at my prime issues to do in Bristol with children, together with Avon Valley Journey Park between Bristol and Bathtub, plus the perfect issues to do in Somerset with children similar to Wookey Gap Caves and the Haynes Motor Museum
PIN FOR LATER: THINGS TO DO IN BATH WITH KIDS
Disclosure: This publish comprises some affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Roman Bathtub and Bathtub Skyline photographs copyright MummyTravels; American Museum picture copyright TinboxTraveller; Holburne Museum, Jane Austen Pageant & Victoria Park copyright VisitBath; all others courtesy Depositphotos
