Museums

There are surprising number of museums in Bath on a wide range of topics. Residents of the city can gain free access to the Roman Baths and the Fashion Museum (next to Museum of Costume) with a Discovery Card, obtained free at the Roman Baths. For a full list of museums, click here

Popular venues include:

• the Roman Baths (as a resident its easy to miss for many years)
  
• the Bath at Work museum (just up from the Assembly Rooms)
• the Building of Bath (just off the Paragon) with many models of Bath Townhouses and their construction
• the Fashion Museum also known as the Museum of Costume (next door to the Assembly Rooms) where you can sometimes even try on some of the costumes
  
• the American Museum (south of the University) which has examples of early American dwellings and large gardens
  
• Bath Postal Museum (co-located with the Central Post Office opposite the Podium Centre)
• Jane Austen Centre (just up from Queen Square) often has actors dressed up in period costume
• No 1 Royal Crescent (At the east end of the Crescent) furnished as it would have been 200 years ago

Nearby Attractions

• @Bristol : "Hands on" exhibition which will keep the most active kids interested. Park underground and walk up.
• Avon Valley Railway : Take a ride on a real steam train from Bitton towards Bath on approx 6 miles of track. Many special events and promotions including Thomas the Tank Engine, Sunday Lunch "Steam'n'Cuisine".
• Bristol Empire and Commonwealth Museum - Child friendly, but also fascinating for adults. Many pictures, themes and objects from colonial times. Next door to Bristol Temple Meads so can go by train or use their carpark.
• Bristol Zoo . A favourite with considerable redevelopment in recent years. View penguins, scorpions, monkeys and snakes - a huge variety of different animals and species with talks and "hands on" sessions through the day.
• Dyrham Park : National Trust property a few miles north of Bath on the A46. Gardens and large deer park.
• Longleat (approx 30 minutes south of Bath on the A36) - Drive through fields with many wild animals, and also try out the many attractions. Tickets are reusable for those attractions you didn't complete on your first visit.
  
• Slimbridge Wildlife Trust - Bird Sanctuary (approx 40 minutes north on the M5 near Dursley). See flocks of flamingos and many unusual types of birds in these wetlands.
  
• SS Great Britain : Walk all around this prioneering ship which has been lovingly restored. Impressive glass false floorwhich makes you believe you are underwater when viewing the hull.
  

  SS Great Britain
• Stourhead house and gardens:  Another National Trust property with very large estate with  beautiful walk around the lake including subterenean grotto and gardens. Approx 45 minutes drive south of Bath.
• Westonbirt Arboretum : About 30 minutes north of Bath on the A46, wide range of trees and forest walks.
• Wookey Hole : Explore the caves, make paper at the papermill, see some dinosaurs and other amusements. 

Activities

• Bath Sports and Leisure Centre - now run by Aquaterra , has large pool, slides, jacuzzi, and re-equipped exercise machine area. Includes a childrens supervised softplay area.
• Boomerangs: A centre with large soft play area and canteen/coffee section for parents to relax nearby. Melksham (20 mins south west).
• Cycle along the towpath:  Head towards Bradford-on-Avon (starting either at Bathhampton - parking in the George carpark) or closer into town at Sydney Gardens. You can stop at the Cross Keys pub (or the teashop opposite) for a break before heading back, or at one of several pubs in Bradford itself.
• Cycle along the railway path to Bitton: Head west along what used to be the Mangotsfield branch railway line. You can start either from Saltford, or closer into town and stop at Bitton railway station for a coffee, cake and/or ice-cream. You can continue further in towards Bristol if you have time.
• Ice Skating at Bristol Ice Rink. Public sessions and tuition for all leves of skaters in this Bristol City-Centre facility, also Ice Karting for the more adventurous. Refurbished in 2007

Further Afield

• Fleet Air Arm Museum. Pretend you are on an aircraft carrier as a plane takes off or lands. View inside a real Concorde. See how the navy air force works and many of the aircraft it uses in this large facility. Just over an hour south of Bath near Yeovil.
• Haynes Motor Museum . An enormous range of motor vehicles from late 1800s through to present day. The "red room" is worth a visit alone! About an hour south of Bath on the A303.
  

  The Red Room at Haynes Motor Museum
  
  
• Helicopter Museum , Weston Super Mare. See the fastest ever helicopter, the largest passenger helicopter and a huge range of different models and types in this, the worlds largest museum of its tyep. About an hour west of Bath.
• St Fagans Outdoor Museum , Cardiff. Free entry to this massive outdoor replica documenting the life and times of the Welsh people. About an hour west of Bath off the M4, to the west of Cardiff.