Cultural Attractions

Bath is a city full to the brim with cultural attractions, from historical sites and museums, to theatre and performance venues, to unique art galleries.

As well as being a vibrant and thriving twenty-first-century city, Bath is a living museum. History and heritage line the city’s streets, with every footstep revealing compelling cultural attractions and astonishing architecture. It’s why Bath is the only city in the UK designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with its unique second inscription at part of UNESCO's Great Spa Towns of Europe.

It all starts at the Roman Baths, the city’s oldest and most famous historic attraction. The beautifully preserved ruins have been augmented by reconstructions and interactive displays illustrating how Bath’s natural hot springs have been attracting visitors for thousands of years. It offers an immersive insight into the daily lives of some of our city’s earliest inhabitants.

The city is home to an array of fascinating museums, such as No. 1 Royal Crescent, where you can turn back time to experience life as a Georgian in Bath, or the unique Museum of East Asian Art, the UK’s only museum solely dedicated to the arts and cultures of East and South East Asia. Take a walk across Pulteney Bridge to the impressively majestic Holburne Museum, home to a collection of fine and decorative art along with continually changing temporary exhibitions. Enter Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein if you dare, to immerse yourself in Mary Shelley’s complex and often tragic past, and uncover the true story behind the world’s favourite monster. Visit Victoria Art Gallery for classic and contemporary art in a splendid Victorian setting.

Housed in beautiful, historic buildings, Bath's award-winning performance venues offer fantastic year-round programmes perfect for an entertaining evening in the city. Theatre Royal Bath is one of the oldest and most historic theatres in the country where the Main House hosts a varied programme of top-quality drama, opera, comedy, dance and musicals. Enjoy after-hours entertainment at Komedia Bath or catch a film or live opera screening at the Little Theatre Cinema. If that isn’t enough, there’s also a year-round programme of special events and festivals.