While the tranquil spas might be your first stop for a de-stressing day out in Bath, there’s also a variety of mindful activities on offer to leave you feeling refreshed and restored.

Mindful activities engage your senses, helping you tune into the present moment and switch off from the busyness of normal life. Here are some of the top ways to enjoy this kind of wellbeing experience during your stay in Bath.

Book a sound bath at The Soul Spa

Based above the healing thermal springs of the city, the serene Soul Spa is loved by locals and visitors alike for its calming guided meditations.

These include legendary sound baths. During these sessions a practitioner uses their voice and the sounds of crystal bowls to lead you into a deeply relaxed state of mind. All you need to do is lie back in one of the comfy recliners and drift away to the vibrations that surround you. Choose between a 30-minute experience, which run on the hour, every hour from 11am to 4pm, or a deeper hour-long sound bath in the early evenings. Gong sound healing sessions are also available.

You can also book a VR spa session, where you can enjoy a guided meditation in a digital landscape of your choice, where you can also select your preferred audio.

Image - The Soul Spa

Book a relaxing treatment with Bath Natural Remedies

Choose from a variety of calming therapies including acupuncture, aromatherapy, hynotherapy, reiki, massages or talking therapy. Bath Natural Remedies is run by three natural health practitioners who can advise you on the best treatment to book.

Connect with nature on mindful walks

With a bounty of beautiful green spaces to explore in and around Bath, you’re in the perfect location for a mindful walk in nature or a spot of forest bathing. Turning your regular stroll into a more mindful one means that, rather than letting your mind wander, you focus on observing the world around you – the sights, sounds and smells.

In the heart of the city, take a moment on the scented walk in The Botanical Gardens at Royal Victoria Park, enjoy the magnificent views from Alexandra Park, or find a tranquil corner in Henrietta Park. The Bath Skyline Walk is also a great way to enjoy nature within easy reach of the city.

The woody wonderland of Westonbirt makes an excellent setting for a mindful walk. You can even follow one of their self-guided sensory walks, which include tips on using your senses to connect with the trees and atmosphere of the arboretum along the trail.

There are countless acres of greenery to walk around on the local National Trust estates too, from the picturesque Prior Park Landscape Garden to the woodlands at Newark Park.

• More country walks in and around Bath

Image - Westonbirt, credit Johnny Hathaway

Glass blowing at Bath Aqua Glass

Come and try your hand at working with hot glass alongside the expert glassblowers at Bath Aqua Glass, where you can make your own bauble or paperweight to take home. Once you're done creating, you can browse gifts in their Bath Aqua Jewellery shop, or enjoy cake and a hot drink at their cafe.

Image - Bath Aqua Glass 

Book a massage

Ally Massage Therapy is a team of therapists who travel to your accommodation and provide professional massage and beauty treatments. Treatments are bespoke and tailored to your needs, whether you opt for a massage or a beauty treatment.

Or how about booking an outdoor massage in the scenic countryside near Bath via Yuup Bath?

Image - Yuup

Enjoy active meditation on a bike ride

Walking isn’t the only exercise where you can enjoy moments of mindfulness. Cycling also gives you the chance to focus on being present during the journey and absorbed in physical activity. You can rent bikes or electric bikes from Bath Ebike Hire, or enjoy a guided tour of the city on two wheels with Bath Cycle Tours.

If this sounds like your kind of meditation, hit the city’s cycle paths such as the Two Tunnels Greenway, Bristol and Bath Railway Path and Kennet and Avon Canal Path. Whichever you choose, there’s stunning scenery to observe while tuning into your breath and movement.

• Cycle through City and Country in Bath

Image - Two Tunnels Greenway, credit @jessicamckay92

Learn a new craft 

Let go of perfectionism and try your hand at something new at Love Makers Craft Cafe.  A menu of options offers plenty of ways to tune into some creative flow for a couple of hours of making with your hands in good company. Choose from the likes of lino or block printing, basketry, embroidery or collage, or take a look at the Inspiration Library if you're not sure what to pick!  All activities are self-led and open-ended, and all tools, materials and instructions are provided, plus help is on hand should you need it. Come and enjoy a rewarding, stress-free few hours..

Image - Love Makers Cafe

Go horseriding at Lucknam Park

As well as enjoying calming riding sessions around Lucknam Park's 500 acre estate in Wiltshire, there are also a range of relaxing packages combined with a spa session or lunch during your visit to their top-rated Equestrian Centre. 

Image - Lucknam Park

Wellbeing experiences with Yuup

Choose from a broad range of local activities and experiences on Yuup's website, from foraging walks and photography workshops to making pottery in a brewery. There's something for all abilities and budgets, plus you can also choose to gift an experience.

Image - Yuup

Create art in the gardens at Yeo Valley

You may have eaten their yoghurts, but did you know you can also visit the canteen and gardens at Yeo Valley? As well as regular guided tours and supper clubs, you can also book on to drawing classes and gardening workshops in the gardens.

Image - Yeo Valley

Practice mindful museum musing

Carve out time for peaceful contemplation at Bath’s museums and galleries, which house some extraordinary collections. Take your time to look around and try out some ‘mindful looking’. As the name suggests, this is all about bringing mindfulness to your experience of looking at art or artefacts, such as by focusing on particular colours, shapes and lines.

You might enjoy admiring the decorative and fine art at The Holburne Museum and Victoria Art Gallery, the exquisite examples of Asian artistry and craftsmanship at the Museum of East Asian Art, or the cultural objects and art at the American Museum and Gardens.

You can practice mindful looking anywhere – it doesn’t only have to be in spaces where art is displayed. How about taking in the magnificent stained glass windows of Bath Abbey, an excellent setting for peaceful reflection, or stopping to fully appreciate the city’s impressive Georgian architecture?

Image - The Holburne Museum

Experience a day afloat 

Hire a boat from Bath Narrowboats for a day of peace and tranquillity on the Kennet and Avon Canal. As you meander along this stunning waterway, you can look and listen out for wildlife, flowers and plants. Plus, get in the rhythm of steering the boat – you’ll be given full instructions before you set off, so don’t worry if it's your first time manning the tiller! 

You can also go punting for the day along the River Avon - head to Bath Boating Station to rent a punt. Or you could extend your time on the water and rent a narrowboat for a few days - both Bath Narrowboats and Anglo Welsh have canal boats available for short breaks.

If you'd feel more comfortable with a paddle in hand, hire one of their canoes instead. 

Image - Kennet and Avon Canal, credit Paolo Ferla

More ways to enjoy a wellbeing break in Bath:

• How to spend a three-day wellbeing break in Bath
• Plan a countryside wellbeing break near Bath
• Top picks for a vegan meal in Bath