10 min readFrom open-air theatre, pool days, exhibitions and musical experiences to new alfresco terraces and sizzling outdoor dining, here are Visit Bath’s hot picks for summer…
Events, Exhibitions and Festivals
America 250 at the American Museum & Gardens
Marking 250 years since the American Revolution, the American Museum & Gardens will have, on special loan from the National Archives London, an original Declaration of Independence printed on the evening of 4 July 1776. To mark the occasion the Museum has reduced ticket prices to just £2.50 during weekdays in July.
America 250 at American Museum and Gardens - Visit Bath
Bath Boules
2 – 5 July
The much-loved and longstanding Bath Boules tournament will be returning to the iconic Queen Square this July for four days of fun and fundraising, all in aid of local charities via the Bath Boules Trust.
Bath Boules at Queen Square - Visit Bath
Bath Carnival
Saturday 11 July
Bath Carnival 2026 promises an unforgettable day of colour, creativity, and community spirit as it returns to Sydney Gardens on Saturday 11 July. This free family festival will bring together an eclectic mix of entertainment for all ages, featuring two stages of live music, independent food and drink, and a vibrant array of walkabout acts.
30 years of Prior Park with the National Trust
Saturday 18 July
To celebrate 30 years of being open to the public under the National Trust’s care, Prior Park’s lower garden will open after hours for an evening of celebration including food and music. Tickets are free for National Trust members.
Prior Park Landscape Garden - Visit Bath
Garden Theatre Festival at The Holburne Museum
2 – 26 July
Immerse yourself in the worlds of Oscar Wilde, Jane Austen, with three outstanding productions: The Importance of Being Earnest, Sense & Sensibility, and The Big Bad Wolf. The garden of The Holburne will be transformed into a charming outdoor theatre with covered seating and deck chairs.
Garden Theatre Festival - Visit Bath
SISTALAND Festival Chew Valley Lake
10-12 July 2026
SISTALAND Festival is expected to welcome over 500 attendees from across the UK working in film, TV, music, photography, theatre, media, design and the wider creative industries. The programme of panels, workshops, screenings, immersive installations and wellbeing-led spaces is designed to challenge traditional industry culture.
Sistaland Festival 2026 - Visit Bath
Beckford’s Tower: Paddock Circus Festival
19 July
Step right up for a magical day of family-friendly entertainment at Beckford's Tower with a lively celebration of circus, theatre and outdoor fun. Enjoy spectacular performances inside a "Little Big Top" tent, outdoor shows, hands-on circus skills workshops, delicious food, an all-day bar, and space for picnics.
Circus Festival at Beckford's Tower & Museum - Visit Bath
The Bath Summer Fayre
17–19 July
The Bath Summer Fayre returns to the city centre offering a free, open-air celebration of independent traders, food and entertainment. Visitors can browse artisan stalls before exploring the surrounding streets for lunch and shopping.
Bath Summer Fayre 2026 - Visit Bath
Rode Comedy Festival
26 – 30 August 2026
Sir Lenny Henry leads a stellar cast of comedy royalty for Somerset’s beloved festival, spanning five nights of live comedy. Joining him are Romesh Ranganathan, Katherine Ryan, Tom Davis, Jen Brister and Iain Stirling - a line-up that punches well above the weight of a boutique Somerset festival and confirms Rode’s remarkable reputation for attracting world-class talent.
Rode Comedy Festival - Visit Bath
Through the Crescent - Summer Garden Exhibition at The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa
Studio Ellie Maya is delighted to present Through the Crescent, an outdoor sculpture exhibition set in the gardens of The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa. The exhibition will bring together nine talented UK-based artists and sculptors working across a range of materials.
Through the Crescent at The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa - Visit Bath
EXPERIENCES
New! Walled Garden Tours at Iford Manor and afternoon teas
Book a place on a small-group tour of the estate’s private walled garden – new for this summer. The private garden is the heart of the estate where you’ll find an array of fruit, vegetables, flowers, glasshouses, stunning unusual topiary displays and the Shell House. Enjoy a freshly made afternoon tea after a garden tour.
Walled Garden — Iford Manor Estate
New! Fragrance workshops with Parterre Fragrances
Available on selected dates throughout the summer. Join a small group where Julia from local fragrance company Parterre Fragrances will take guests through the process of blending your own perfume. Learn about how perfumes are composed and the origins of the botanicals used within the scents.
Parterre Fragrances - Visit Bath
New! Bath City Sightseeing open top bus experience for children
Try the brilliant new experience for children aged 8-15, created especially for Bath City Sightseeing by TripMonsters. A fantastic addition to the customer experience which adults will enjoy as much as the kids.
City Sightseeing Bath - Visit Bath
Summer Lates at the Roman Baths
20 July–31 August
Experience The Roman Baths after hours as Summer Lates returns to bring music, atmosphere and a relaxed evening buzz to one of the UK's most iconic historic sites.
Summer Lates at The Roman Baths - Visit Bath
Magique – Magic and Illusions Show at Wookey Hole Caves
Various dates throughout July and August
Magique Presents: Fire and Water - A Spellbinding Family Magic & Illusion Show at Wookey Hole. Witness the ultimate showdown of fire and water - and prepare to be spellbound!
Magique - Magic and Illusions Show at Wookey Hole Caves - Visit Bath
ALFRESCO DINING, FOOD & DRINK
New! Gordon Ramsay Restaurants Global’s iconic Bread Street Kitchen & Bar is set to open in Bath this summer at the DoubleTree by Hilton, bringing the brand's vibrant dining experience to one of the UK's most historic and culturally rich cities.
Bread Street Kitchen & Bar — Bath | Opening 3 August
NEW! Corsham House
Opening 16 July 2026
Corsham House is a new wine-led townhouse, offering an all-day buzz and bustle between Bath and the Cotswolds. Sociable dining with a terrace, a Beckford Bottle Shop and 14 beautiful bedrooms upstairs.
New! Bird Grill at The Bird Hotel
Bird Grill is a boldly designed restaurant where open-flame cooking takes centre stage. Fire-led, seasonal, and built around big flavours, this is cooking with conviction: the kind of food that's made to be shared and talked about long after the plates are cleared.
New! Renewed Bowood Afternoon Tea
Bowood Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort introduces a refreshed afternoon tea at the Shelburne Restaurant. The experience has been developed in partnership with Cornish tea producer Tregothnan and brings together a seasonal menu of sandwiches, scones, and pastries, shaped by ingredients grown in Bowood Estate’s Walled Garden.
The Shelburne Restaurant at Bowood Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort - Visit Bath
New! The Terrace at Root, Shires Yard
With views over Bath’s rooftops and fields beyond and a dedicated Spritz & Snacks menu, Root’s new rooftop terrace is a pretty oasis set to be the city’s new favourite suntrap. Root is a vegetable-led restaurant championing local produce in vibrant and inventive ways.
Cross Guns at AvonCliffe
The Cross Guns at Avoncliff - a historic riverside pub with wonderful views of the River Avon - is now open again after being taken on by the Iford Manor Estate. A much-loved stop for walkers, river-goers and locals, the pub now has a new, riverside menu of light bites for summer.
The Cross Guns at Avoncliff - Visit Bath
Green Park Brasserie and Bath Pizza Co.
Loved by locals and visitors alike, Green Park Brasserie is a buzzing live music bar and restaurant located in a historic former railway station - perfect for watching the world go by on the terraces in the summer sunshine.
Green Park Brasserie - Visit Bath
Giggling Squid
Enjoy some of the best Thai food in Bath at Giggling Squid. This vibrant restaurant serves plentiful dishes, exciting Thai ingredients, and bold flavours. The spacious outdoor dining area is the perfect spot to savour Thai dishes while watching the lively streets of Bath.
Outdoor Dining at THE PIG nr Bath
Soak up every last drop of alfresco afternoons and evenings on the terrace at THE PIG-near Bath with summer dishes from the outdoor Garden Oven and Smoked & Uncut live music sessions on Friday nights.
THE PIG-near Bath - Country House Hotel in Pensford - Visit Bath
SPA & OUTDOOR POOL DAYS
Bishopstrow Hotel is expanding its spa this August into a premier wellness hub, including a 14m outdoor pool, sauna, cold plunge pool and an 8m hydrotherapy pool. The Francis Hotel recently opened its luxurious new spa featuring a unique Espuro Foam Steam Bath and an outdoor courtyard with relaxation pods. Enjoy a pool day in the walled garden of Beechfield House with lunch or afternoon tea on the terrace or breathe in the fresh warm air with a summer spa day at The Bath Priory, beginning with a treatment, followed by time in the tranquil spa, pool, rock sauna, and steam room. Complete the experience with a two-course lunch in The Pantry. In August, the Thermae Bath Spa will kick off a year-long programme of 20th birthday celebrations.
ACCOMODATION NEWS
Parade Hotel will open in Bath this September. Combining Georgian elegance with modern comfort, this new boutique hotel will be situated on North Parade, just steps from the city’s vibrant centre and cultural landmarks. The hotel will feature 49 beautifully designed rooms and suites, as well as a bar for drinks and light bites and a relaxing courtyard spa, with plans for an additional destination restaurant in phase two of the development.
For further information and inspiration on Summer in Bath go to Summer In Bath - VisitBath.co.uk
