Bath Activities - The best Activities in Bath
The beautiful spa city of Bath is famed for its Roman baths and stunning Georgian architecture. Sometimes overlooked in favour of other nearby cities when it comes to things to do, Bath activities actually well rival their neighbours and more facilities are available than ever before.
Activities in Bath are certain to keep you entertained. There are spa facilities aplenty, but you may also prefer to get outside the city to the glorious Somerset countryside, where some brilliant activities await you.
VOTED Bath's best group activitiy
A weekend in Bath would not be complete without a visit to West Country Games.
Bath’s most popular weekend activity features 9 hilarious games using large inflatables, catapults and sumo suits and much more.
This activity is designed for groups of all abilities perfect for your weekend visit to Bath. It runs on Saturdays all year round, with the fun moving indoors from October to March.
top activities in bath
Want to find some fun Bath activities to do? There are oodles of choices for hen parties, stag weekends, birthday bashes and corporate teams who would like to get active.
Here’s a quick rundown of the best ideas for celebrating something special, from stag weekends and hen parties, to birthdays, to corporate team bonding and any excuse in between.
Bath activities for all groups...
Bath Activities Guide
Looking at the Georgian splendour of Bath, lolling opulently in the Somerset countryside, you might just want to sprawl with it, sup coffee and take in the sights. But if you fancy a few thrills and spills, there are plenty of adrenaline-busting Bath activities to choose from.
Bath is a great place for getting active on the water. There is even a venerable and ancient boating station. Victorian ladies and gents set out onto the water from here and the business is still going strong today.
Stag and hen parties have a splendid choice of watery activities available to them. You can hire canoes, row boats, punts or canal boats, then head out along the River Avon or Kennet and Avon canal leaving Bath in the background.
You can glide and wobble your way downstream, spotting wildlife, splashing your mates and admiring the views. There are gorgeous country pubs to moor up at for a few bevies, before it’s “all hands on deck” to wend your watery way back to Bath.
Go Crazy Outdoors In Bath
One of the newest Bath activities on offer is bubble football. The art of footie is all a lot trickier when you are encased in a zorb-like PVC sphere! Try to tackle and you’ll soon be rebounding off your mates.
It’s a hilarious challenge that is sure to make you bounce. Alternatively, you can choose to pit your skills against your friends down on the farm, with a unique set of West Country themed games that will make you pant, chuckle and cheer. There is even the truly crazy Bath activity of wingsuit flying. Make like a flying squirrel and take to the skies!
Sporting Activities In Bath
Bath rugby ground ‘The Rec’ is slap bang in the heart of the city, so an easy stroll for rugby-loving groups. Bath have been playing their home matches here since 1884, so just like its home city, the ground is steeped in history.
Matches are scheduled from August to May each year. You can cheer on the Bath players from the stands, enjoy a locally-brewed beer or two and spot the current and future stars of England rugby. So, set your chariot’s compass for the Rec and ‘swing low’ in style.
Take Tea in Bath
Now I know this doesn’t sound like the most adventurous of activities, but everyone needs a pitstop to refuel. And when in Bath…drink tea! Bath may very well be the ultimate destination for those with a fondness for tea and cake, as there are dozens of super cafes and restaurants to choose from.
Next door to the Roman Baths lies the deliciously posh Pump Rooms, where you can be entertained by a trio of classical musicians, whilst munching genteel sandwiches and quaffing a glass of champagne.
In Jane Austin Centre’s Regency Tea Rooms, you can step into Regency life and experience ‘Tea With Mr Darcy’, ‘Bingley’s Brownies’ or ‘Cousin Collins Crumpets’. And if you fancy a dollop of history with your high tea, you could visit the famous Sally Lunns. This cafe is set in one of the oldest buildings in Bath and is home to the original ‘Bath bun’, a scrumptious brioche-style delicacy. All in all, one of the best relaxing Bath activities on offer.
Go Fast Bath Activities
For those with a need for speed with their Bath activities, there are plenty of Bath activities that will have you whizzing about. There is the pint-sized option of speeding around on mini motos.
Your machine is only 18 inches tall, but when you’re that close to the ground, a top speed of 30 mph feels like flying. There’s also the muddy prospect of quad biking, with a few challenging courses to choose from.
And there’s the ever-popular activity of go-karting. There are indoor and outdoor tracks to tear around. One of the venues is set in an iconic World War 2 aircraft hangar. You’ll have hairpin bends and your mates to contend with. Some sites even offer an F1 style championship. Strap on your seatbelt and let battle commence!
Shoot Stuff
Aim…fire…SPLAT….”aargh!” Ah, hark at that. It can only be ye olde sport of paintballing. There’s nowt more fun than dressing up in boiler suits and running about the woods shooting paint at your friends. If you prefer a less messy option, there are venues offering laser quest too.
If you want to get all country gent, there is the challenge of clay pigeon shooting. Or if you want to practice an ancient and venerable skill, get your noggin around nocking, ready your quiver and try your hand at archery instead.
Shop Till You Drop
Bath is simply awesome for shopping darlings! Whilst this may not strictly count as an adrenaline activity, there are pairs of shoes in Bath to set your heart racing. There are streets upon streets of genteel Georgian architecture, with curious little side alleys to explore too.
All of them are jam-packed with stylish, quirky and artisanal treasures. And it’s all set in a nice compact area, so easily stroll-able.
And Relax....
…in a spa. One of the more commonly recognized of all Bath activities. When the Romans settled in Bath 2,000 years ago, they called the town Aquae Sulis, meaning ‘the waters of Sulis’, after the local goddess of the hot springs. Bath claims to have the hottest natural spring waters in the country, waters which have drawn the rich and famous here to bathe for centuries.
In Roman times, the spa was a hotbed of debauchery, being famously lewd. But these days, the spa experience is a far more refined affair. Thermae Bath spa has a variety of pools, including a fabulous rooftop pool. Once there, you can swim and relax in the warm waters, whilst admiring the view, through the steam, across the rooftops of the city. Relax, renew and rejuvenate before your totally splendid Bath night out on the tiles.
Bath Hen Activities
Bath is a city that is full of stunning architecture and exciting establishments that offer varied entertainment. For hen and stag parties, though it may be the norm to get completely sloshed and make a fool of yourself before your big day, this can get old after a while.
There are many reasons that a party may wish to seek alternative activities that don’t include the usual bar crawl; and with that in mind, we’ve gone ahead and created a list of some of the top activities in Bath that are sure to please the crowd following the bride or groom to-be around for the day.
Starting with some Bath hen activities for your rambunctious party of ladies, there are many relaxing things you could all be doing with your hen party day. But if you’d rather get down and dirty (quite literally in this case), then Bath can accommodate that for you, as well. From muddy field games to afternoon tea, we have several suggestions full of the best things your party can get up to in bath.
Get competitive at the West Country Games
Number one on our list is a day out with West Country Games! These activity specialists offer a complete day with nine games that your entire group can take part in. What makes West Country Games so special is that their games are designed for people of all abilities to have as much fun as possible! You’ll get your own activity host, and they’ll even take photos of your day for you – which means that no one from your party can get away with being out of the photos. Something like an old school sports day or activities that are a bit more creative like those from West Country wouldn’t be out of place during a hen party.
Get glowing
If you’d, for some reason, prefer to be indoors for your Bath hen activities, there are quite a few other kinds of entertainment in Bath that we can recommend. Sticking to the sporty theme, you could always try a fitness party with a twist – some companies offer sports parties with neon accessories and clothing that glow under a blacklight.
Take part in several glow themed games such as dodge ball, netball & a dance-off!
Shake, shake, shake... get Cocktail Making
If you’re moving away from sport, our next choice is a unique experience: Cocktail making! Get specialist tutoring from an experienced bartender and learn how to make all of your favourites!
Bath has some great bars to try your hand at creating some mouth watering cocktails to kick off your night out on the town.
Dance till you drop
Want to be active and indoors? A dance class could be exactly what you and your gal pals need. Get everybody ready for the wedding early by sneaking in a waltz or tango class; depending on your preferences.
You and the girls can take part in any type of dance class that suites you all, with choices from a hip shaking Samba to down right dirty Greece dance class.
Relax and enjoy the view
But if you’d rather relax, we completely understand. And in that case, there’s always a lovely two-hour Thermae Spa treatment.
Bath is the epicentre of everything spa, book yourselves in to the the Thermae spa for some luxurious treatments and enjoy the view across the city in the roof top pool, a way to really catch up with the girls in a truly magical environment.
Some tea ladies?
Top off your daytime bath activities with a choice of afternoon tea, tiny cakes and finger food.
The iconic Bath pump rooms is a great place to kick back and people watch whilst indulge in some amazing food fineries in a great setting. There are plenty of choices for places to head for your Bath afternoon tea party.
Explore the human form by Life Drawing
Well, there’s always life drawing. A different kind of experience than anything else you’ve ever taken your friends to. Life drawing usually involves a model – which can be a nude model – and a group of people surrounding them drawing the model from every angle.
How about a trip along the river Avon?
Finish your day by punting along the River Avon. A punt is a flat-bottomed boat that is designed to be used in shallow waters. The River Avon is perfect for this kind of adventure, and a small hen party would be perfect for such an endevour. There’s no better way to bring people together than to put them in a small boat and teach them how to punt.
Bath Stag Activities
Choosing your Bath stag activities can has never been easier! Bath is a fantastic city to visit for a stag do, with the activities are vast and varied,even if you may have to travel out of the city a little to make the most of the options.
Most activities need to be booked ahead (particularly for larger groups), but you’ll find Bath’s venues often more accommodating to stag parties than most.
So here are our top pick of Bath's stag activities, so you can seek inspiration for your trip right here.
Get competitive at the West Country Games
As for Bath stag activities, we’re sure that the lads among you would prefer something with a bit more action and a bit more drinking involved. With that in mind, we would like to turn your attention to West Country Games one more time. West Country Games runs both hen and stag parties, both with nine outdoor games that include inflatable courses and obstacles. Stags will also benefit from fancy dress, and a host/photographer staff member.
Shoot for the stars at Combat Archery
For more outdoor activities, there’s always combat archery. Combat archery is a growing part of the Bath stag activities scene, with more groups opting to try this new experience.
This experience combines paintball, archery, and dodgeball in a selection of inflatable bunkers and obstacles to help you hide from players while they fire arrows at you. Despite that description, it is a safe activity.
Thorw an axe like a pro!
Similarly, other Bath activities that are great for thrill-seeking stags are axe throwing and quad biking. Both are exactly what they sound like! Axe throwing takes place indoors, with each person throwing axes at a target in their own personal lane. You’ll benefit from a trainer to teach your group how to throw safely, and you’ll be able to watch each other throw actual axes at a scoring board.
Jump on a quad...
Quad biking is great, if a little more dangerous; though we’re not sure where you’d rate quad biking verses throwing axes on a scale. But if you want to be outdoors but don’t quite fancy quad biking, your next best choice would be off-road go-karting. With prices starting at just £50 per person, you can hit speeds of 50 miles per hour on an epic dirt track. Quad biking in karts, who knew?
Shoot some paint
Remember the other shooting-based Bath activities we mentioned earlier? Combat archery is certainly something different, but some of the basis of it does lie in paintballing. Paintballing is a much more common thing to do, and as such, there are a few more places that offer paintballing activities in Bath than those that offer combat archery.
Enter the bubble and kick the ball
Moving on to some more sport-based Bath activities, there’s always Bubble Football. This is one of those Bath activities that is extremely unique. Bubble Football is perfect for a stag party that wants a bit more of a competitive day out. Each player is strapped into their own personal bubble, and from there, things can get a bit wild. Bash into your opponents with gusto as you and your team try to score more than the rest of your party.
Catch a game of rugby
Activities in Bath wouldn’t be complete without a Bath rugby match. There are plenty of matches that kick off during several times of the year, just waiting for a stag party to get a little out of hand in the stands. Invite the rest of your group to a match they’ll never forget, buy themed t-shirts, enjoy yourselves, and cheer for the players running across the pitch. Of course, matches do take up a larger portion of the day, but you could certainly combine watching a match with another activity from our list.
Everyone loves a Brewery tour!
Last on our list for your stag party’s Bath activities is a brewery tour.
As you’ll likely be trying a few ales, perhaps stray away from the more dangerous activities on this list if you plan on going on a brewery tour first. What we’re saying is: Don’t consume alcohol and then go axe throwing. If you do decide that a brewery tour is the right activity for you, you’ll be happy to know that Bath has great tours that even include a taproom where you can try their beers and ales in the same place they’re made.
Other great Bath activities to consider
If you’ve scoured this extensive list and you still aren’t certain that any of these activities are the right fit for your party, then fear not! There are plenty of places that cater to the soon-to-be-wedded, and even more places that will happily take on the challenge of entertaining a party of people.
To remind you of some of our top picks, here are a few Bath activities from this list: A great day out with West Country Games, Afternoon Tea or a Brewery Tour, Punting and Bubble Football, and more!
Other ideas that didn’t quite make it onto our list are as follows: A movie night, cookery classes, a murder mystery evening (complete with dinner and wine!), a short cruise, airsoft, and a day at the races.
All of these extra activities have their own benefits, but we wanted to stick to a list that had an equal split between sportier activities in Bath and those that were a little more off the radar.
