Bath's traditional Christmas market will not be happening this year but fear not - there is still plenty of activities and great things to see over the festive season!
Families and visitors looking for something a little bit different may like to head over to Bath's main park, the Royal Victoria Park, where a small outdoor ice-skating rink has been created. In the Summer we have a beach with sand and tropical trees on this spot, in Winter - an ice-skating rink! Tickets should be purchased in advance on the official Bath on Ice website. Next to the ice-skating rink there is also a fun Adventure Golf course which over Winter will be open at night using glow-in-the-dark golf balls!
Bath's Christmas lights are already up and from the 25th November some of Bath's famous landmarks will be lit up every evening as part of the Bath Christmas Light Trail. Last year the Bath Abbey looked incredible when they did this. The official switch on for these lights will take place at 5pm on the 25th November on Milsom Street (located in the city centre). During the evening there will be pop-up entertainment and the Bath Abbey Chamber Choir will be singing festive songs.
There will be a number of festive stalls around the city centre and every day between the 22nd November and the 19th December Bath's independent Artisan Market will be based in Queen Square - a potential opportunity to pick up some local gifts and Christmas presents!
Bath Abbey will have an unusual attraction between the 20th November and the 24th December. The popular Museum of the Moon exhibition which has been touring the country will be in the Abbey during this time. Designed by UK artist Luke Jerram, the exhibition consists of a moon which is 7 metres in diameter featuring detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface. To see photos - follow me on Instagram (@bathinsider) - I will be posting photos as soon as I see this! The Abbey is doing a number of events to accompany this exhibition including ticketed visits in the evenings with accompanying music. There is also the opportunity to do star-gazing from the roof of the Abbey with the Bath Astronomers! Check out the Bath Abbey website for more details here.
Over the festive season art fans can enjoy the first exhibition dedicated to Dante Gabriel Rossetti's Portraits at the Holburne Museum in Bath. Rossetti is said to be one of the giants of Victorian art and is renowned for his sensuous visions of female beauty.
If you are interested in a romantic meal during your stay at a historic building then you may like to consider dining at the Pump Rooms. Between the 25th November and the 23rd December they are offering evening dining by candlelight. During its hey-day the Pump Rooms was the place in Bath to be seen in! When you are there be sure to ask the waiter if you can try the hot spring water - this is what made Bath famous! For details and reservations please visit the Pump Rooms website here.
For your classic festive British slap-stick family comedy, the Theatre Royal will be putting on the Cinderella Pantomime between the 16th December and the 9th January. You can book tickets via the the Theatre Royal website here.
Have fun and of course if you would like a tour of Bath or the local area during your stay then do get in touch.