Bath is a city of water – with the Spa, the river, the canal and many water features around. However, when we are looking out the window at the April Showers we know that it can be tough to find things to do when on holiday or on a break away in the city when the weather isn’t the best. Unfortunately it’s difficult to avoid the bad weather in the U.K. whatever time of year, but Bath has some great things to do if you do find yourself here when the weather isn’t at its most glorious. Here’s a few of our ideas:
1. Go to the Cinema – there’s always something to see at the “flicks”, whether it’s a children’s film, thriller or action movie, you can while away a few hours immersed into another time and place at the cinema. Here in Bath we’re lucky to have a choice of cinemas to visit, but why not make it the very special and historic Little Theatre for your trip out. There’s something on all day long, whether for toddlers or the young at heart. If you live in Bath you could take out a membership package that entitles you to not just free tickets but lots of other great discounts at the Little and around Bath.
2. Explore a Museum – Bath is packed with Museums to explore and enjoy. Whether you want to step back in time at The Roman Baths or experience American life at The American Museum, there’s plenty to see and do. Most of the Museums will have children’s activity trails and fun things to keep the kids occupied if you visit with family, so you don’t have to worry about youngsters getting bored. Plus, many of the museums have their own fantastic cafes to enjoy, such as at The Holburne Museum or Jane Austen Centre. Some of the museums are also FREE to enjoy like The Holburne and the Victoria Art Gallery. Some you may never have been to before, such as the Bath Postal Museum, Bath Architecture, Bath at Work, Old Theatre Royal or Herschel Museum of Astronomy. Don’t forget about the Art Galleries, Churches and Abbey too! Why not make a rainy day that day you go somewhere different.
3. Make something – If you fancy being a bit crafty or test out your culinary skills on a wet and miserable day then you can do with some of these great companies. The famous cooking schools of Demuths and Bertinet offer courses and workshops throughout the week, just take a look at their website and call to see if they have any spaces left. You could have fun blowing your own glass bauble, and learning all about how skilled a job it is being a glass blower, at Bath Aqua Glass along Walcot Street, whilst at The Makery in the centre of town you can join a class where you could learn how to embroider or knit, make a cushion or lampshade, or even a pair of knickers!
4. Get sporty – Even with wet weather, some of you will want to keep active, and if you’ve brought your swimming kit then you could head along to Bath Sports and Leisure Centre where you can get wet in a more enjoyable environment! If you’d rather stay out of the pool then there are squash and badminton courts for hire, football courses and pitch to hire; plus a fully equipped gym. Please note – Refurbishment programmes are going forward here so do check the website and the timetables for full information. If you are a visitor to Bath you may be restricted as to whether you can use any of the facilities, such as the gym. Please call the Leisure Centre to enquire further.
5. Use your brain – Bath’s first live escape room is located not far from the Theatre Royal. If you fancy yourself as a bit of a detective, like a challenge, enjoy using your imagination, and are looking for a fun activity to do on a wet day then you could try Bath Escape. The Escape Rooms and Detective Tours they offer are suitable for all ages and will be created accordingly so you don’t have to worry if you’re looking for something family friendly as they certainly can cater for all. If you’d rather something more relaxing and just while away a bit of time out of the rain, then head to the Central Library in Bath where you can take a comfy seat and read one of the many books for a few hours. There are occasional exhibitions throughout the year too here so enjoy a walk around the Gallery, and maybe stop for a cup of tea in the Waitrose cafe next door.
6. Shop till you drop – Although shopping may seem as if you’ve got to head outside into that wet weather, there are places in Bath where you can stay dry and spend some money on beautiful things. Head to Milsom Street and Jolly’s, the oldest department store in the city. A huge spread of fabulous designer delights for both men and women, home-ware upstairs, plus a tea room if you need to refuel. Just across from Jolly’s is Milsom Place and here the fashion fun continues in an undercover labyrinth of shops, restaurants and bars. Pop to The Guildhall Market and you’ve got 20+ stalls all under one roof with everything from leather goods to books, jewellery to cakes. On Saturdays and Sundays there are also stalls a plenty to explore at Green Park Station, all under cover – with the Farmer’s Market on Saturdays, and Sundays with crafts, vintage and more.
7. Simply Relax – If all the above seems too much, then fear not there are still a few options that may entice. Relax and enjoy the Thermae Bath Spa for a few hours, where it won’t really matter if you get wet or not! If you’re staying with us then make sure you’re on our fabulous Spa Break deals to really make the most of your stay. In addition you could book yourself a treatment at the Spa to really spoil yourself or you could wait until you get back to The Royal Hotel where you can enjoy one of the exclusive pamper packages created for us by Awen Health and Beauty in the comfort of your room (book direct with Awen Health and Beauty). For those of you who are not Spa lovers then fear not, Bath is full of fabulous cafes and public houses where a few hours whiling away some time with a book, magazine or kindle may be just the business for you. The Royal is open to non-residents and here you can enjoy all our 1846 Bar and Brasserie Brunel offers, including The Royal Cream tea which includes a pot of Twining’s tea of your choice, fresh home-made scones, Tiptree strawberry jam and lashings of Cornish cream for only £5.50 per person. Perfect!
8. Learn All About Glassblowing – Visit Bath Aqua Glass Glassblowing Studio to see a live glassblowing demonstration and browse the extensive selection of beautiful glass ornaments in the factory shop. If you fancy a more hands-on experience, the team at Bath Aqua Glass also offer a variety of interesting courses and activities, from paperweight making workshops and bauble blowing sessions, to stained glass courses and customisable half-day courses with the master glassblower. In our opinion, a visit to the Bath Aqua Glass studio and shop is one of the very best things to do on a rainy day in Bath. The studio and adjoining shop are just under a mile and a half from The Royal Hotel, making it a convenient destination in all weathers.
9. See a Magic Show – If you are looking for something fun to do on a rainy Friday or Saturday evening in Bath, we can highly recommend attending a magic show at the Krowd Keepers Magic Theatre. This parlour-style magic theatre is situated in the upstairs space above the Ale House pub, which is just a 5-minute walk from our hotel. Owing to the location and the style of magic, it’s probably not a good choice if you have young children in your group but it’s a great option for couples who enjoy modern magic and, once the show is over, you can retire to the bar downstairs for a glass or two of your favourite tipple. Please note: there is a minimum required number of attendees in order for the show to take place so bear that in mind when making your arrangements and maybe have a back-up plan in place.
10. Let the Kids Run Wild – A 15-minute drive from Bath is the Dragonfly Leisure Centre in Writhlington, Radstock, where you will find the highest-rated soft play area in the region. The play area is open to children up to 10 years of age and parents are required to stay in the vicinity for safety reasons. However, with free Wi-Fi and a nearby onsite café, this is no hardship on a rainy day.
Whenever you choose to come to Bath, and whatever you decide to do, the weather is certainly one thing you can’t control; at least with this list of ideas you’ll have plenty to keep you warm, busy…and dry!
To stay in the heart of Bath, minutes from the tourist attractions and seconds from the main Bus and Train links, stay at The Royal Hotel. For further information about the hotel, offers and to book please contact us either by calling us on (+44) 1225 463 134 or online via our website here. We look forward to welcoming you to Bath and The Royal Hotel.
