Looking to immerse yourself in culture for a day? Bath is the perfect place to do it, with the city boasting more galleries per square mile than many of its larger counterparts, plus many other arty activities! If you’re not sure where to start, you’re in luck - we’ve put together a handy itinerary for you…

Morning

Don’t waste a second of your day in Bath and head straight to the city’s fabulous galleries!

We recommend starting at the Victoria Art Gallery, where you can explore extraordinary artworks from the venue’s permanent collection in the Upper Gallery for free, including those from none other than Thomas Gainsborough, who called Bath home from 1759 to 1774.

Image: Upper Gallery at Victoria Art Gallery 

Afterwards, head downstairs to the Lower Gallery to enjoy an eclectic range of unmissable temporary exhibitions throughout the year for a small admission fee. In recent years, these have included displays of work from vaunted artists including Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Lucian Freud, Frank Auerbach and Bridget Riley, as well as exhibitions celebrating the work of the Ladybird Book illustrators and 18^th century satirists Thomas Rowlandson and John Nixon, among many others.

A highlight of the Victoria Art Gallery’s programme is the annual Bath Society of Artists Open Exhibition, which showcases work from talented local artists, and allows you to vote for your favourite piece – if you’re able to narrow it down to just one!

Next up, cross Pulteney Bridge and head to The Holburne Museum. Instantly recognisable to fans of Bridgerton as the exterior of Lady Danbury’s mansion in the show, the building is home to its own permanent collection, featuring a range of beautiful decorative works from the 16^th – 18^th centuries, alongside paintings dating from the Renaissance to Georgian eras, including even more works by Gainsborough.

Image: The Holburne Museum

Similarly to the Victoria Art Gallery, The Holburne Museum hosts temporary exhibitions throughout the year from notable artists, which have previously included Grayson Perry, Henry Moore, and Mr Doodle. In 2026, you can expect to see work from more big names on display at the museum, most notably Dame Zandra Rhodes.

Before moving on, enjoy a bite to eat in the Holburne Museum’s on-site café, which overlooks the beautiful Sydney Gardens. Or take a short walk south to the stylish surroundings of PLATE at The Bird, where you can savour a selection of hearty dishes indoors or outdoors on the restaurant’s scenic suntrap terrace. 

Afternoon

Following lunch, you have a few options. You could opt to continue exploring some of the other galleries based in and around the city centre, including:

- The Gallery at No.1 Royal Crescent, which adjoins the award-winning No. 1 Royal Crescent museum, hosts a programme of temporary exhibitions which blend contemporary and classical art. 

- Museum of East Asian Art, set in a former Georgian townhouse to the north of the city centre, this venue not only holds over 2,000 objects from east and southeast Asia, but also hosts regular temporary exhibitions celebrating art and artists from the region.

- Roseberry Road Studios, a hub of contemporary art, which hosts a programme of temporary exhibitions featuring everything from sculpture, photography, immersive installations, and much more.

Image: Museum of East Asian Art

Alternatively, hop aboard the U1 bus towards the University of Bath, then take the short journey uphill to the campus. From there, it’s a short walk east to the American Museum & Gardens, set in the leafy surroundings of Claverton Manor, with its stunning vista over the Limpley Stoke valley.

Image: American Museum & Gardens, credit Peter Hall

Here, you can explore American artworks through the ages, including quilts, maps, and folk art pieces, along with special temporary exhibitions relating to different aspects of American culture in the on-site gallery, from spaceflight to road trips and much more.

As the name suggests, the venue also boasts 2.5 acres of spectacular prairie-style landscaped gardens to lose yourself in, including the ‘New American’ garden and its neighbouring ‘Mount Vernon’ garden. There’s even a walking trail through the venue’s nature-rich woodland, beloved by birds, bats, deer and many more!

Image: Bath Aqua Glass 

Perhaps your morning browsing Bath’s galleries has left you feeling inspired to create? If so, book a session with the Love Makers Craft Café and take your pick from a varied menu of materials, then spend a couple of hours making your own masterpiece. Or, hop aboard the 271 bus towards Melksham outside the Guildhall and spend an afternoon at Bath Aqua Glass’ Glassblowing Studio in the nearby village of Bathford, where you can try your hand at fashioning a range of pieces, from glass baubles and hearts to stained glass and paperweights.

For more creative workshops and experiences in and around the city, check out Yuup Bath.

Evening

As night falls, switch from visual arts to the performing arts, and catch a show at one of Bath’s glittering performance venues.

If it’s a play, musical, dance or opera that takes your fancy, Theatre Royal Bath is sure to deliver. The historic venue hosts a wide variety of touring productions in its Main House all year round, including several straight from London’s West End, meaning that you’re sure to find a show that piques your interest. Next door in the Ustinov Studio, you can expect a programme of acclaimed premieres and small-scale touring productions, including plenty of shows from award-winning solo performers.

The Theatre Royal also occasionally hosts exclusive seasons of productions from theatrical legends such as Ralph Fiennes, so keep your eyes peeled for opportunities to catch such stars in action!

Image: Theatre Royal Bath

In the mood for a spot of standup comedy or live music? Your first port of call should be Komedia, based just steps away from the Theatre Royal. Here, you’ll find a weekly comedy club starring familiar faces and rising stars every Friday night, as well as shows from some of Britain’s finest comics. Music lovers will find an eclectic selection of gigs, spanning everything from tribute acts to up-and-coming artists.

Image: Komedia Bath

Many of Bath’s beloved pubs and restaurants also double as vibrant live music venues, with Green Park Brasserie, The Grapes, and The Bell Inn all hosting performances from talented local musicians several nights per week. Better still, you can savour delicious food and drink at each, making them perfect spots to cap off your arty day out in Bath with a meal to remember.

Image: The Bell Inn

If you’re planning ahead, why not time your arty daytrip to Bath to coincide with one the city’s many annual cultural festivals? Music lovers and bookworms will love the Bath International Music Festival and Bath Literature Festival in May, while cinephiles won’t want to miss the Bath Film Festival in October. Discover more on our Festivals page. 

Read more: 

• Exhibitions in Bath
• Cultural Attractions in Bath
• Experiences in Bath