The countdown to Christmas in Bath is on. The Bath Christmas Market will soon be taking shape and from Wednesday the 16th November, the Christmas lights will be lighting up the city.
Bath certainly comes into its own during the autumn and winter seasons and with Christmas fast approaching, Bath will see an extra 400,000 visitors descend upon the city for the Bath Christmas Market alone.
We’re preparing our special Christmas pizza which we’ll be serving up during the December Bath Farmers’ Markets here at Green Park Station. We’ll be running a slightly smaller seating area throughout December as the Green Park Brasserie marquee takes over the main outdoor space for our Christmas party revellers. We will of course still be offering a takeaway service and will be bringing wood fired pizza from our oven to your door with a little help from our friends, Deliveroo.
In the mean time, we’ve put together a Christmas in Bath guide to help you plan your time, whether you're a visitor or resident. Our list includes and handful of the must-dos, where to get away from the crowds and a few off the beaten path recommendations.
1. Explore the Bath Christmas Market
What Bath guide would be complete without one of the UK’s best Christmas markets? Our sister business the Braz has been trading at the Bath Christmas Market for a number of years now. Set against the backdrop of the Bath Abbey, Roman Baths and Abbey Green the headline event for Christmas in Bath, this is one not to miss.
Top tip: visit midweek and either earlier in the day or later into the evening - the Bath Christmas Market can get very busy with people travelling from all over the UK to make the trip.
2. A winter walk at the National Trust's Prior Park Gardens
Possibly one of Bath’s slightly hidden gems due to its location, the National Trust’s Prior Park Gardens is certainly one of the city’s great assets. About one mile from the city centre of Bath, the Gardens are worth the rather steep hill you'll be met with. Certainly gets the blood flowing.
Take in stunning vistas of what might be the best view of Bath and of course the beautiful Palladian Bridge and architecture of what is now Prior Park School. The gardens were designed in the 18th century by the poet Alexander Pope and the landscape gardener Capability Brown and are best visited on a crisp clear days for those framed views of Bath down through the Prior Park Gardens valley. Walkers can also pick up the Bath Skyline Walk from here which takes a fantastic route across the hills and viewpoints overlooking Bath.
Top tip: get your walking boots out. The pathways can be slippery as you’ll be traversing different terrains! While the walking is up and down hill some of the pathways can be slippery in especially during the winter months.
3. Bath Thermae Spa
Perfect for couples on a weekend break in Bath, you won’t be spending too long in your towelling robe on the terraces during the winter, but the views across the city aren't half bad. Escape the bustling shopping period over Christmas, put your feet up and enjoy the different spa treatments and pools available.
Top tip: check out the Twilight package for those sunsets views.
4. The Holburne Museum and Sydney Gardens
Following the Holburne Museum’s recent redevelopment - completed in 2011, this architectural marvel is worth a visit purely for its design alone - let alone its collection. Combining a stunning 18th century design with a contemporary extension to house new gallery spaces and visitor facilities the Holburne Museum is nestled against Sydney Gardens just outside of Bath’s city centre. The gardens are fantastic for taking in the Avon and Somerset Canal and were often visited by Jane Austen who lived a stone’s throw from the park at 4 Sydney Place.
Back into the warm and within the Museum’s collection you’ll find wonderfully displayed 19th-century paintings and changing temporary exhibitions and displays. Entrance is free, however, temporary exhibitions are paid.
Top tip: Journey from town. The 5 minute walk from Bath city centre to the Holburne Museum will take you along one of Bath's grandest streets, Great Pulteney Street. The Georgian architectural planning of framing buildings up the vista from Laura Place to the Museum is one of Bath’s finest examples of design.
5. A winter run around the Royal Crescent and Lansdown
Off set a few of those Christmas chocolates in advance with a run around the north of Bath’s city centre and for the more adventurous take on Lansdown hill and the Bath Racecourse - a beautiful stretch of green space to run around on a clear day. A loop starting from the Circus along the Royal Crescent, up to Lansdown past Beckford's Tower and back down will create a great 10km circuit run around Bath for those enjoy a mixed surface and hill run.
