Bath: Christmas Capital of the South West

The beautiful World Heritage City of Bath is an ideal place to beat the winter blues and is fast-becoming synonymous with the festive season, making it popular for pre-Christmas breaks. Visitors to Bath this winter will be in for a treat with the country’s favourite Christmas Market returning to the spectacular setting between the Roman Baths and Bath Abbey, and plenty of festive events and activities for all the family to enjoy.

The beautiful World Heritage City of Bath is an ideal place to beat the winter blues and is fast-becoming synonymous with the festive season, making it popular for pre-Christmas breaks. Visitors to Bath this winter will be in for a treat with the country’s favourite Christmas Market returning to the spectacular setting between the Roman Baths and Bath Abbey, and plenty of festive events and activities for all the family to enjoy.

Bath Christmas Market 

28 November – 15 December
The beautiful Bath Christmas Market is the biggest Christmas shopping event in the South West region consisting of more than 150 beautifully decorated wooden chalets, each selling a variety of high-quality products such as Christmas decorations, gifts, toys, clothes, household and festive food. The 18 day event has a wonderful romantic atmosphere, with tempting fare and gentle entertainment befitting the time of year, helping to build the anticipation of the celebrations to come. Set in the picturesque streets and squares surrounding Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths, there couldn’t be a more perfect setting for a Christmas Market in the UK. www.bathchristmasmarket.co.uk.

While the official Christmas Market takes place, shopping fever will reach across the city with smaller markets joining in the festive cheer. The Guildhall Market – the oldest shopping venue in the city – will be hosting a Christmas Market held under three large heated marquees. Shoppers will discover a wide selection of stalls with gifts, craft items, food, wine and much more. Milsom Place will also have a Christmas Market with festive stalls in the beautiful Octagon, formerly a Georgian chapel, located between Milsom Street and Broad street right at the heart of Bath’s premier shopping zone. Both markets will run from 28 November to 15 December, alongside the official Bath Christmas Market.

Ice rink at Royal Crescent 

22 November – 5 January
For the second year in a row, Bath will have an open air, real ice rink in the stunning setting beneath the iconic Royal Crescent. The rink will be in the city from 22 November to 5 January and will be beautifully lit up after dark making it an ideal choice for a fantastic, family festive activity.

The Holburne Lantern Procession 

28 November
Celebrate light at the darkest time of the year with the Holburne Museum’s annual lantern procession. Spectators will be able to enjoy a dazzling spectacle of hundreds of hand-made withy and tissue lanterns being carried through the streets of Bath to the sound of a world music beat.

Light to light at the Holburne Museum 

4 December – 5 January
Light to Light has been designed specifically for the Holburne by lighting designer and artist Patrick Woodroffe. The Museum garden will host a spectacular display of LED lights of varying brightness and colour to create a rich and layered bed of light that ripples and dances to a sound track compiled and created by English composer Matt Clifford. Over the last forty years Patrick Woodroffe has produced lighting designs for an extraordinary collection of people including ABBA, Take That and The Rolling Stones as well as special events including the opening and closing ceremonies of the London Olympic Games. Put on your ‘silent’ headphones and immerse yourself in a performance of colour, light and sound.

Christmas at the American Museum 

28 November – 22 December
Christmas is a special time at the American Museum and a great time for families to visit. Unique handmade decorations can be found throughout the Museum, festive decorations and gift ideas in the museum shops, and winter warmer treats served in the café. Rooms at the museum will be decorated in traditional design with the jewel in the crown a magnificent seventeen foot Nordman Fir tree. Dominating the Central Hall the tree will be covered with over 1,000 lights and ornaments that have been handmade by museum staff members and volunteers.

Carols by Candlelight 

18 – 20 December
The City of Bath Bach Choir will bring the magic of Christmas alive with three consecutive nights of carols and Christmas music, performed at the candlelit Pump Room in December. Returning for its 67th season, to perform a mixture of traditional and modern, serious and light-hearted Christmas carols, this has increasingly become one of the most popular events in Bath’s Christmas celebrations.

A Georgian Christmas at No. 1 Royal Crescent

25 November – 15 December
Following major building work to re-join No. 1 Royal Crescent’s servant’s quarter with the original house, the museum has created a wonderfully vital picture of life in 18th Century Bath with each room an exquisite example of Georgian interior design. Come and see a festive and spectacular display of beautiful floral arrangements and marvel at the visual richness of Georgian dining at Christmas. From sumptuous sweets and jellies to wholesome pies, meats and fish. Entry also includes a free Christmas trail for children.