Visit Bath and Visit Bath Museums During Museums Week

From 22^nd – 30^th October Bath is running its ever-popular museums week - previously known as Heritage Open Week. 

During this week (well, nine days to be precise but nine days doesn’t have the same ring to it) Bath’s museums will be opening their doors for longer and will be running special events for adults, families and children alike; so while the museums in Bath are well worth a visit at any time of year, throughout this week they’re an especially good place to be. It’s also a good opportunity to visit before many of the museums reduce their opening times for the winter, and some also close altogether over the winter period so this week is one of the last opportunities to take a look at them this year.

Below we’ve listed a few gems of museums week that we felt both newcomers to Bath, and residents and frequent visitors to the city alike, might enjoy.  

On Saturday the 22^nd of October, Sunday 23^rd, Saturday 29^th and Sunday 30^th, Beckford’s Tower and Museum will be offering a guided tour of the Tower and cemetery that was once William Beckford’s garden. William Beckford was an important figure in Bath as he was a patron of decorative arts, an English novelist and a sometime politician for nearby Wells. The Tower and museum tells the story of Beckford’s life and works and its museums week tour is from 11am-12 noon and booking (via 01225 460705) is essential. Later on those days Beckford’s Tower and Museum will also be offering a 3pm-4pm walking tour of the various towers which can be found around Lansdown.  

On Tuesday 25^th Bath’s American Museum in Britain is hosting falconry displays at 12:30pm and 2:30pm which will include owls, eagles, hawks and falcons. The museum itself is well worth a visit, but with the addition of birds of prey flying over the amazing grounds it’s a good time to go.  

For fans of the Roman Baths (and who isn’t?) on Thursday 27^th the Baths will be joining in with other museums across the country who will be opening later as part of Museums at Night. From 6pm-8pm (last entry at 7pm) you will be able to tour the Baths as they are illuminated by torchlight. They’re atmospheric during the day but at night the feeling you get is on a whole other level.  

On Friday 28^th the Museum of Asian Art (which is nearly opposite the Assembly Rooms) will be holding a tea ceremony demonstration from 6pm-7pm. During this time guests will learn about the essential elements of a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, sample a selection of Asian teas, and enjoy relaxing Japanese music.

Our final recommendation is that throughout the week Bath’s famous delicacy, the Sally Lunn bun, will be getting a new twist each morning. At Sally Lunn’s House (a restaurant with small museum attached) between 10am and 12 noon the bun will be served with a different sweet topping. So perhaps a good place to go for an early lunch?