Museums and galleries in Bath

Museums and galleries in Bath

1. See

   American Museum and Gardens

   The only museum of Americana outside of the United States. A little way outside of Bath in Claverton (accessible by bus), but well-worth a visit. The gardens in particular are of note, being designed by the celebrated landscape architects Oehme van Sweden. There are also extensive map and quilt collections and a programme of changing exhibitions.

   Closed Jan to mid-Mar·Adult House, Gardens and Exhibition Ticket £15.50

2. See

   Building of Bath Museum

   One of the most fascinating museums in Bath. It gives an excellent history of the development of the Georgian city, illustrated with cut-away wooden models which give a better insight than any book into the construction and structure of Georgian houses and their furnishings. It also houses a unique collection of 18th-century builder's tools. No queues, off the tourist track - but only a 7-minute walk from the Roman Baths and set in a wonderful Georgian area of the city.

3. See

   Great Pulteney Street

   Quintessential Georgian street on the other side of Pulteney Bridge. Film location for 2005's Vanity Fair (the Reese Witherspoon version). Made for casual strolling past the Laura Place fountain, down to the Holburne Museum, around Sydney Gardens, then back up Great Pulteney Street. Below Great Pulteney Street is the Recreation Ground, home of the Bath rugby union club.

4. See

   Herschel Museum of Astronomy

   An excellent museum if you are interested in the history of science and astronomy music and culture at the time when Bath was at the height of fashion; it is also a perfectly restored Georgian townhouse of the type lived in by people of 'the middling sort' and the Georgian garden is delightful. William Herschel lived here with his sister Caroline, and it was here that he discovered the planet Uranus using what was then the world's most powerful telescope that he had made himself in his workshop. The museum has a gallery for temporary exhibitions.

   Adult £5, concessions available

5. See

   Holburne Museum of Arts

   Displays the treasures collected by Sir William Holburne: superb English and continental silver, porcelain, maiolica, glass and Renaissance bronzes. The Picture Gallery contains works by Turner, Guardi, Stubbs and others plus portraits of Bath society by Thomas Gainsborough.

6. See

   Jane Austen Centre

   The, Queens Square. This museum is very popular and a fascinating testament to Jane Austen's lasting appeal. As a museum, it is somewhat disappointing as it is in a house where Jane never lived and contains no items with any connection to her (unless you count items from recent films).

7. See

   Museum of Costume

   A world-class collection of contemporary and historical dress.

8. See

   Sally Lunn's Refreshment House & Museum

   City centre shrine to the original Bath Bun — claims to be the oldest house in Bath, and it very nearly is — the simple but enjoyable museum in cellars is free if guests take refreshment. See below under Eat.

9. Eat

   Sally Lunn's Refreshment House & Museum

   Taste the original Sally Lunn Bun made without sugar, not to be confused with the more famous Bath Bun, a small round bun containing sugar and currants. Good lunch time fare - and very popular so you may have to queue at peak times.

10. See

    The Museum of Bath at Work

    Housed in an eighteenth-century Real Tennis Court, the museum traces the development of Bath a retailing and manufacturing centre. If you want to see a side of Bath that's not in the guidebooks, like Victorian factories, this museum is well worth a visit.

    10:30AM-5PM (Nov-Mar weekends only)·£6

11. See

    The Museum of East Asian Art

    A fascinating selection of ceramics, jades, bronzes, and other art from China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia.

    Tue-Sat 10AM-5PM, Sun noon-5PM·£5 (£3 while the first-floor gallery is closed)

12. See

    Beckford's Tower & Museum

    A small tower with an interesting history and museum.

    Mar-Oct: Sat Sun 10:30AM-5PM·£4/adult, £3/concessions, £1.50/child, £9/family

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Bath (CC BY-SA 4.0).