Summer holidays: What to do with the kids in Bath

The summer holiday season is fast approaching with the schools breaking up in a couple of weeks. This means parents across the land will be frantically trying to think of ways to keep their little ones entertained throughout their long summer break.

Bath is a great choice for a family holiday, weekend break or simply a fun day out, as it offers loads of fun things for children to do and see while also having plenty for parents to enjoy. In Bath, parents and children are spoilt for choice.

All based within an easy walk of the city centre and its attractions, our Bath holiday homes are perfectly designed to cater for family groups, with all the two-bedroom self catering properties sleeping at least six guests.

To help you plan what to do with the kids in Bath, here we list some of the family friendly fun on offer.

Family fun in Bath during the 2019 summer holidays:

Bath City Farm, Kelston View, Bath

Open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm, Sunday 11am to 3pm

A must-visit for anyone with kids to entertain in Bath, the 37-acre city farm has dozens of friendly animals to admire and pet as well as scenic nature trails with stunning views over Bath. Make the acquaintance of Dougie and Dougal the miniature Shetland ponies, one of the six pygmy goats, the Kune Kune sows or one of the many other animals living at the farm. There is also a play space for toddlers and farm shop for those wanting to pick up some local produce. Free to enter, the farm runs a club for kids every Saturday between 10am to 11.45am, booking is recommended.

Julia Davey: kids workshops, Bear Flat, Bath

Each workshop runs weekly throughout the summer, times vary

This independent arts and crafts shop hosts a series of children’s craft workshops throughout the summer. These range from the art and clay work clubs to the pompom animal making and illuminated cityscape workshops. The fun hour to hour-and-a-half long sessions are designed to build children’s confidence and get their creative juices flowing and the children come home with their very own work of art. The workshops cost £12.50 to £25.

Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park, Pixash Lane, Keynsham

Open daily 10am to 6pm throughout the school summer holidays

This 90-acre adventure and wildlife park offers a full day out with an extensive outdoor play area including two giant air pillows, a playground complete with rope bridges, zip wires and slides, a giant sandpit, quad bikes, a climbing wall, the list goes on. There is also a lot of indoor fun for rainy days with an award-winning play barn. All that, before you even get to the main attraction – the animals. There are lots of opportunities to handle, pet and feed the varied inhabitants including ponies, pigs, chickens, guinea pigs and even a tortoise. More exotic creatures including reindeer, wallabies and alpaca can be admired in their enclosures. Day tickets are £11 during the school holidays.

Little Farmer’s Fiesta, Neston Farm Shop, Melksham

10am to 4pm, Sunday 14^th July

Okay, so this is slightly ahead of the summer holidays, but is definitely worth a trip for anyone with youngsters to entertain. Neston Farm is opening its doors to children to enjoy a day of tractor rides, playing with baby animals, a bouncy castle, face painting, storytelling, fun with Wild Woods, crafts and more. Entry is free but activities charge a small fee.

Avon Valley Railway: Sci Fi Fun, Bitton Station, Bitton

Saturday 20^th July, 11am to 4pm

This old steam railway which takes passengers three-miles to and fro through lush Somerset countryside is inviting families to don their best superhero fancy dress and jump aboard for a special sci-fi themed rail trip. Darth Vader, K9 and other key figures from the sci-fi annals will be present alongside a unique display of a DeLorean. Children in full costume will go free if they are with a fee paying adult. If you miss this special event, then head along for a standard steam train ride, which runs daily, as the kids will love it.

Beckfords Tower Summer Spirals, Lansdown Road, Bath

Weekends and Bank Holidays throughout summer, 10.30am to 5pm

Built between 1826 and 1827, this bizarre tower was once home to one of the greatest collections of books, furniture and art in Georgian England and is now the only surviving example of William Beckford’s great architectural achievements. Take the kids to climb the 154 steps of our spiral staircase to admire the 360-degree view from the top of the tower. You can then all make your own decorative spiral to display at home. All included in the normal admission price of £4.60 for adults, £2.30 for children aged 6 to 16, free for five and under.

No 1 Royal Crescent: Bonnets and Bicorns, The Royal Crescent, Bath

Daily from Wednesday 24^th July to Friday 30^th August, 10am to 5pm

This Regency town house turned museum, which provides a fascinating insight into Georgian life in Bath, is offering visitors the chance to make their own Georgian bonnet or Napoleonic bicorn. Explore the house itself in which every room is furnished in the style of the Regency period demonstrating what life was like for the wealthy families and their servants before dropping into the servants hall to give the whole family a Georgian makeover. Tickets are £10.60 for adults and £5.30 for children.

Herschel Museum of Astronomy: Landing on the Moon, New King Street, Bath

Open daily with extended opening hours of 11am to 5pm weekdays, 27^th July to 30^th August, 10am to 5pm weekends.

This museum dedicated to the many astronomical achievements of the Herschels, is celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the Apollo moon landings throughout the summer. There will be moon inspired exhibitions, crafts and other family friendly activities. While there you could also follow the Amazing Astronomy trail with quiz questions about William and Caroline Herschel’s fascinating discoveries or head to the gallery to build amazing space creations with our Space Lego ™ and ‘Women of NASA’ Lego ™. Entry costs £6.70 adults, £3.30 children.

City sightseeing hop on hop off bus tour, locations across Bath

Running daily, 9.40am to 6.30pm 1^st June to 30^th September

Need to rest your tired legs but still want to see the city? The Bath Bus Company open top bus tours are the perfect solution with 38 stops covering the city centre and the skyline for great views over Bath. Tickets last for 24 hours and you can jump on or off as many times as you wish, allowing you to stop and explore the sights like Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths before you continue your bus route. You will be kept entertained onboard by the knowledgeable tour guides who will regale you with interesting and surprising trivia about Bath and its history.

Victoria Falls Adventure Golf, Royal Victoria Park, Bath

Open daily, 10am until dusk

This 18-hole miniature adventure golf course welcomes all ages and will keep the whole family entertained. Its course takes players over streams and waterfalls and there is even the challenge of a hole in the middle of a lake. Surrounded by the luscious greenery of Victoria Park, right in the heart of the city, a game at Victoria Falls is a perfect break from sightseeing – as long as no-one gets too competitive!

Bath on the Beach, Royal Victoria Park, Bath

 Open 10am to 10pm daily until Sunday, 4^th August

One for the parents really! A section of the Royal Victoria Park will be transformed into a tropical beach with volleyball, table tennis and other fun games, Mexican street food and summer cocktails. Kids can enjoy the beach games while parents can relax in the hammocks with a cocktail, shaded by palm trees. Bath on the Beach is free to enter but there is a charge for the games.

This just a taster – of course there are many other treats in store for anyone planning a family holiday in Bath. If you are thinking about a family trip to Bath and want to get some advice and information about the city and all it has to offer – or discuss which of our lovely rental properties will best suit your needs – please don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our friendly team. We’d love to hear from you!