Bath is a beautiful city no matter what time of year it is, but it’s especially beautiful in the summer when the sun is shining. If you’re visiting, whether for just a day or for a week, there’s plenty to see and do. We’ve put together a list of ideas for things to do in Bath in the summer.
What to Do When Visiting Bath in the Summer
1. Visit the Roman Baths
The attraction that the city is known for and a must-see for all visitors. The Roman Baths are thought to have been built as far back as 60 AD and offer lots of interesting sights to take in. There’s the Great Bath, what remains of the Temple to Sulis Minerva, as well as the Sacred Spring. There’s also a really good museum that’s worth checking out.
2. Walk Around Alexandra Park
When the weather is nice, you want to be outside. And Alexandra Park is a great place to take the city in. It offers some great views of the city and is the perfect place for a picnic. Or you could just enjoy a very pleasant walk around it.
3. Enjoy a Dip at the Thermae Bath Spa
It’s quite possible that a trip to the Roman Baths might make you want to get into the water yourself. While you can’t do that there, there’s a place nearby where you can. The Thermae Bath Spa is a modern spa complex that boasts an open-air poor on the rooftop and provides stunning views out over the city.
4. Take a Trip on a Canal Boat
There are plenty of boat tour providers in the city, and you have the option to either explore the River Avon or enjoy some time on the Kennet and Avon Canal. Slowly meandering along the water is a great way to relax and take in your surroundings during the summer period.
5. Explore the Many Excellent Cafes and Restaurants – Bath is home to many superb eateries, including pavement cafes, pubs with gardens, and restaurants with fantastic views over the surrounding countryside. If you enjoy great food, gorgeous scenery and good weather, there are few better places than Bath in the summer. From pub grub and international cuisine, to alfresco afternoon tea, you’ll be spoilt for choice during your time here.
6. Attend a Local Festival – Bath is most famous for its architecture and history but it is also one of the best places to head if you enjoy outdoor summer events such as the jazz festival held at nearby Iford Manor Gardens in late July every year. And if you’re not a fan of jazz, the grounds are also open from the 1st of April to the 30th of September for visitors who’d just like to explore the manor gardens, which include Italian, Byzantine and Oriental areas.
7. Visit Longleat Safari and Adventure Park – Just a 30-minute drive from Bath is this famous safari park, which was the first of its kind outside of Africa when it opened in 1966. Here you can see lions, tigers and many other exotic species. You can also try to find your way out of the vast hedge maze, ride on the narrow-gauge miniature railway and explore Longleat House, a beautiful stately home with a history that stretches all the way back to the middle of the 16th century.
8. Relax in Alice Park – On the north-eastern outskirts of the city is Alice Park, which provides a tranquil setting for walks, picnics and a lot more besides. With a play area, café, wild pond, skate park and community garden among the attractions, Alice Park easily earns its place in our list of best things to do in Bath this summer, especially for families with younger children.
9. Try aRoller Skating Disco – If the weather is overcast or you simply fancy a rest from the sun, you can join one of the roller skating disco sessions at the Bath Pavilion in the centre of the city.
10. Dyrham Park – Around 9 miles north of the city, Dyrham Park consists of 270 acres of beautiful local parkland, filled with mature trees, including several truly magnificent specimens. At its heart sits a great example of a baroque English manor house with attached stables and an orangery. In addition to the open parkland are the formal gardens of the manor house: both the house and the gardens are open to the public and help to make Dyrham Park a perennial fixture on all the best lists of Things to Do in Bath in Summer. Both the grounds and the house itself have been used as the settings for scenes in various films and TV series over the years so you may well recognise certain trees, views, water features and statues that you encounter as you explore.
11. Pulteney Bridge – This charming shop-lined bridge is a great place to visit at any time of year and is understandably one of the most frequently photographed sights in the city. However, it is especially fun to visit Pulteney Bridge during the summer months, when the sun is shining and everything seems right with the world. On such days, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll across the bridge, popping in and out of the shops as you go. You will also find a decent selection of places to eat on the bridge and in the surrounding area. If you fancy a boat trip after exploring the bridge, there are plenty to choose from: boats leave Pulteney Bridge regularly throughout the day, heading up the river towards Bathampton.
12. American Museum & Gardens – Located in Claverton Manor on the outskirts of the city, the American Museum & Gardens attracts visitors from far and wide, especially during the summer. This Grade I listed estate with gardens was designed by American architects in the Georgian style of the time in which it was built and has been well maintained in the intervening period. You can visit the museum, explore the gardens and enjoy a range of interesting activities held on the estate during your stay at the Royal Hotel.
A Few Other Things to See
- Walk Around the Royal Crescent – It’s appeared in period dramas and is one of the things Bath is most famous for.
- Royal Victoria Park – Explore its beautiful botanical gardens.
- Bath City Farm – No admission fee and great for kids – you can see ponies, sheep, goats, chickens and more.
If you’d like to plan a trip to Bath and are looking for the perfect place to stay, look no further than the Royal Hotel. We’re located right in the heart of the city.