Fun Things To Do in Bath with Kids*

[Ad-gifted] During the Easter holidays we decided to visit the stunning City of Bath which is filled with Georgian architecture, historical limestone buildings and Roman remains.

Bath has been awarded the UNESCO World Heritage status in 1987 and is the largest city in the county of Somerset.  It has also been home to some famous people such as Jane Austen, Mary Shelly, William Wordsworth and even Dame Mary Berry.

Bath is such a family-friendly city guaranteed to keep all ages entertained.  I knew from friends that it was a walkable city hence decided to book our hotel in the city centre as we wanted to walk to all the main tourist attractions.  If you are heading to Bath then keep on reading, as we share some great tips on where to go, what to do/eat and how best to spend a couple of days in Bath, no matter the weather!

If you are heading to Bath, book your hotel early as it is a busy city and hotels do get booked up.  We stayed at DoubleTree  by Hilton Bath which was smack in the city centre hence walking distance to most of the main tourist destination such as Bath Abbey as well as The Roman Baths.  Do note that parking is quite expensive as they are run by private companies. We parked below Waitrose (which was the closest carpark to our hotel) and paid £15 per day (24 hours) for our parking.

Bath is such a walkable city but don’t let the weather stop you, there is still so much to see and do in Bath even when it rains. I would recommend visiting the numerous museums sprinkled around town such as Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein if your children love spooky and gory things or the Jane Austen Centre if you want your children to learn more about the author and dress up in Regency clothing.

Restaurants are aplenty in Bath, we had the chance to try a few good places to eat, our favourite pizza shop had to be Barton Street Pizza which served delicious sourdough pizzas.

We also visited Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House to try their famous Bath Bunn, they offer both sweet and savoury options with delicious afternoon teas.  Just be aware that there usually is a queue getting into the venue.

If you love Thai food then do also check try the food at Thai Balcony as well as Yum Yum Thai.

We also enjoyed walking around Parade Passage as there are lots of little eateries selling treats such as chocolates, sweets and ice-cream.

The Scallop Shell and a must-try if you love seafood. We discovered the restaurant by chance when we passed it and spotted the fresh seafood on display.  Their food is delicious and they serve a selection of fresh seafood dishes as well as fish and chips.

Bath gets pretty busy during the summer months, especially during the weekend. So make sure you have your table booked in advance to avoid disappointment.

Whenever we travel, whether it is to London or Stratford-Upon-Avon, we often book a Hop-On-Hop-Off bus tour as I find it is the best way to discover the city as it allows us to get off at various tourist attractions and hop back on again at our own pace without worrying about where to park.

This time, we booked our bus tickets via Tootbus which operates two bus routes ie the City Tour and the Skyline Tour. The City Tour bus route takes the passengers to the most prominent attractions such as The Thermae Bath Spa, Royal Victoria Park (which has a large children’s playground) and The Royal Crescent amongst others. There are 17 historic and urban stops on this route. A great way to see the city from the open-top busses.

The Skyline Tour has a total of 21 stops and takes you to the charming countryside of Bath.  You would get to stop at some lovely places including Bath Spa Hotel, Holbourne Museum, Rainbow Woods Farm, Claverton Down and it also starts/stops back at the city centre (Terrace Walk).

I find that my children learn more about the history and culture of the city we are visiting when we book a Hop-On-Hop-Off bus tour as they love listening to the audio-guide (which is available in 10 languages).

How much are the tickets for the Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus?

A family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children) for City Sightseeing bus tour costs £66.50. Individual tickets are also available with child ticket (5 to 15-years-old) costing £14.50 while adult ticket (16 to 59-years-old) costing £22.50.

Discounted tickets are available for students and those above 60-years-old and children under 5 travel on the bus for free.  Do note that the bus only runs from 10am to 5pm.

How can I book the tickets?

You can book the bus tickets online and scan the QR Code for paper tickets with the bus driver or you can directly purchase paper tickets when you are there from the bus driver.

About Tootbus

Tootbus know the city and they’ll guide you on your journey. There are many ways of discovering a city, but what you can always expect is a travel experience that will leave you with lots of happy memories to share.  They are here to show you the best parts of the city, guaranteeing an easy journey rich with discoveries.  They commit to making your city experience safe and unforgettable. They are here so that you can “Let the city simply take you by surprise”.  Your ride is eco-friendly: take a seat in one of their clean air busses.

You may also want to read this:

Fun Things To Do in Stratford-Upon-Avon with Kids

Family Beach Getaway Holiday to Lytham St Annes in Lancashire

Family Day Out Review : Blackpool Tower

*We were gifted a family bus ticket in return for the feature.  All opinions are our own.

Photo copyright : Visit Bath