What to do in Bath – Christmas to New Year

The time in between Christmas and New Year can be a bit awkward if you’re looking for things to do. A lot of places are shut for the festive period (especially museums) but you want to get out and explore and make the most of your break. Well, if you happen to be spending that break, or some of it, in Bath, then these are four of our top recommendations for what to do in Bath from Christmas until New Year (with opening times!).

Go skating

(Open daily 10-9 until January 3^rd and only closed on Christmas Day)

Visit the outdoor ice rink in Victoria Park. As well as the ice rink itself there’s also a fully licensed bar serving milled wine, hot cider, a range of beers and spirits and champagne. There are also hot chocolates, soft drinks and freshly ground coffees to keep you feeling toasty. Fresh pizza straight from the wood-fired oven is on hand for food and the homemade cakes are delicious. All tickets include skate hire and one hour on the ice and can be paid for at the time or in advance.  

Go to the pantomime

(Tickets still available for all performances which are twice daily. No performances on New Year’s Day or Christmas Day)

This year the Bath Theatre Royal is putting on Aladdin as its annual pantomime, with energetic celebrities (admittedly not the likes of George Clooney and Angelina Jolie but still well-known faces) cast in all the big roles. It is a Christmas tradition and a great way to let off some steam and be silly for a little while. “Party season magic; it’s just all good even (and especially) that bad guy.”- The Bath Magazine.

Visit the Roman Baths

(Open daily over the festive period, 9:30 am - 5 pm (last entry 4pm), but closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day)  

A visit to Bath isn’t complete without a trip here. Even if you’ve been before then it’s worth another visit as they’re always adding to the exhibits (the Bill Bryson audio tour is great fun). This might be a good New Year’s Day activity when most other things are shut. 

Chill out in the spa

(Open 9am-9:30pm with last full entry at 7pm, except on New Year’s Eve when the Spa closes at 8pm with last full entry at 5:30pm. Closed on New Year’s Day.)

Bath’s Thermae Spa is one gem of a relaxation experience. It uses Bath’s naturally warm, mineral-rich waters to relax and refresh its visitors in the open-air rooftop pool and the atmospheric Minerva Bath. Afterwards there are the series of aromatic steam rooms to enjoy and spa treatments which you can book. In the first half of 2017 the Baths will be undergoing some upgrades and not all of the spa will be open to guests, so now is a good time to go!