Pick of Diary Events in Bath
Fri 29 Aug. Holburne Museum. Family drop-in.10.30am-12.30pm. Family drop-in workshop: Dinosaur Party. Free for children aged 3+.
Fri 29 Aug. Holburne Museum. Open late. 5-9pm. Free. The Holburne was founded in 1882 with the gift of Sir William Holburne’s collection of 16th- and 17th-century Italian and Dutch paintings, silver, sculpture, furniture, porcelain and diverse objets d’art of national and international significance. That founding gift has been augmented with a collection of 18th-century paintings by such artists as Gainsborough, Lawrence, Ramsay, Stubbs and Zoffany.
Sun 31 Aug. Parade Gardens. Live music from the Bandstand. 2-4pm. Every Sunday this summer. Today is the turn of The Big Brunch Band.
Tue 2 Sep. Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution. Queen Square. Talk: Shamanism in the Ancient World. 7.30pm. Richard Valentine. Classic texts from Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic Greece, contemporary texts from India and China, and some from the Bronze Age civilisations will be examined in the light of these investigations.
Tue 2 Sep. Old Theatre Royal Tours. Masonic Hall Trust. Guided tours every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday at 11am.
Wed 3 Sep. Mr B’s Emporium Bookshop. Free Story Time with Becky! 10am-noon. Bookseller Becky brings stories to life like no other with her incredible energy and imagination. Join Mr B’s every Wednesday.
Wed 3 Sep. Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution. Queen Square. Talk on The Sack of Bath – and after: 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm. Alex Sherman on how the collective effort of local and national campaigners saved Bath’s heritage. In the 1960s, Bath City Council set about replacing lesser Georgian buildings with modern developments. Most were out of harmony, out of proportion and, even worse, out of place. By the end of the decade, the demolition had really taken hold. Only Grade 1 buildings were safe. As the wider world realised what was going on, through articles such as those written for The Times by Adam Fergusson, national opposition intensified. The Council, though, seemed determined. How was the demolition eventually halted, what was saved that could so easily have been lost, and what’s happened since?
Thu 4 Sep. Topping & Company Booksellers. Tiny Tales – Picture Book Reading Group. 9:30-10:15am.
Thu 4 Sep. Museum of Bath at Work. Bath Railway Society talk by Bob Tiller on GB Railfreight, locomotives and the future of diesel traction. GBRF is the largest freight business in Britain, operating mainly class 66 locomotives, but also recently repowered class 69, and older 47, 57 and 92. Continued growth needs to fit in with emission regulations and environmental considerations. 7.30PM – 9.30PM. All welcome Visitors £5. Refreshments available. See https://www.bathrailwaysociety.co.uk/
Fri 5 Sep. Widcombe Social Club. Summer Quiz. Join in for a not-too-serious, but sometimes challenging, quiz with various general knowledge, picture and music rounds. There will be prizes for at least the top three teams. Teams should be a maximum of six people. The ticket price includes your choice of either Ploughman’s or Vegetarian Mezze Platter. Please make your food choice when booking tickets. Food will be served during the interval, and the bar will be open for the sale of drinks throughout the evening. Doors open 6.45pm. Quiz starts 7.15pm.
Sun 7 Sep. Bath Spa University. FotoFest 2025 four incredible photographers who will be sharing their wealth of knowledge and unique insights with attendees.
Wed 10 Sep. Widcombe Wayfarers Walking Wednesdays. Join us for a friendly stroll. 10:00am. We meet on the 2nd Wednesday of every month, starting at 10am at the west end of Widcombe Parade. Walks last between 1-2 hours and are medium paced. Come dressed for the weather, with suitable footwear and be prepared for a few climbs. Registration not necessary – just turn up!
Thu 11 Sep. Burdall’s Yard. Bath’s Welsh Speaking Group. Are you a Welsh speaker living in Bath? Perhaps you’re learning and looking to expand your vocabulary, or utilise your skills in conversation? Come along and join the Welsh speaking group that meet in our cafe every second Thursday of each month. 3.00pm.
Fri 12-Sun 21 Sep. Jane Austen Festival. The full schedule is at https://janeausten.co.uk/ These are Friday’s events which include a minibus tour of Jane Austen’s Bath; a meeting in central Library of the Sense & Sensibility Book Club; a Festival Fayre at the Bath Pavilion; a special tea at No. 1 Royal Crescent; walking tours of Bath; a dance at the Banqueting Room, Guildhall, Regency costume mandatory for this event; an illustrated talk at Theatre Royal; Regency dancing at the Guildhall; Sense & Sensibility The Musical at the Pump Room; with more at events throughout the festival.
Sat 13 Sep. Bath Abbey. Concert. London Concertante. The concert will feature a programme of opera favourites by composers including Puccini, Verdi, Mozart, Rossini, Bizet, and Delibes. Arias and overtures will be performed by London Concertante alongside three guest vocal soloists: soprano Claire Wild, mezzo-soprano Flora McIntosh, and tenor Dominick Felix. 7:30pm.
Sat 13 Sep. Pride & Prejudice at Bath Abbey. Part of the Jane Austen Festival. 7.30pm. Step into the world of Jane Austen and experience the timeless romance of Pride and Prejudice like never before, in the breathtaking setting of Bath Abbey. https://bathboxoffice.org.uk/whats-on/pride-and-prejudice-at-bath-abbey/book
Sat 13 Sep. Jane Austen Festival: Grand Regency Costumed Promenade. Part of the Jane Austen Festival. Meeting at 10am with the walk at 11am starting from the Royal Crescent Lawn. To take part buy your wristband at the Jane Austen Centre, put on your costume and join 2,000 people dressed in Regency style, to stroll through the city for approximately 1 hour ending at Parade Gardens. Regency costume mandatory for this event.
Sat 13 Sep. Newbridge. River Avon. The Big Avon Paddle to help support the social lives of people with learning disabilities within our community. The Boathouse, Newbridge Road, Bath, BA1 3NB. Timings on the day are as follows from 8.30am. All abilities and ages are welcome. Canoes, Kayaks, paddle boards and more. There’s a shorter 1.5-mile loop or a longer 4.5-mile loop, both heading downstream towards Saltford and back to The Boathouse. You can bring your own canoe, paddleboard, Kayak, or anything else safe, floatable, and paddleable. Various crafts available to hire.
Sat 13 Sep. Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution. Queen Square. Poetry workshop: 2pm-4pm. Stanza 25: poetry workshop led by Sue Boyle. A series of poetry workshops throughout 2025.
Sun 14 Sep. Living history event Holburne Museum Grounds. Part of the Jane Austen Festival. A Whole Campful of Soldiers from 10am. Featuring His Majesty’s 33rd Regiment of Foot accompanied by the Coldstream Guards. Visit their encampment at the Holburne Museum and experience a whole campful of soldiers with authentic drill displays, music and talks presenting life at war: 1pm, Music and Songs in the Army. A demonstaration of music from the period performed by the 33rd Foot, 12pm and duelling in the time of Jane Austen.
Sun 14 Sep. Jewish Cemetery Open Day. The burial ground is located in Combe Down on Bradford Rd by the roundabout entrance to Mulberry Park, 1 Greendown Place BA2 5DD. 10am to 4pm, entrance free. About 100 people from Bath’s 18th and 19th century Jewish community are thought to be buried in this peaceful semi-secret place behind high walls. There is a printed guide – or if you bring your smartphone you can find out about the history of the community and find biographies for the people buried there with an online guide. The burial ground is located in Combe Down. Bus no 2 from Bath Railway Station stops close by. Free parking along Bradford Rd. Wheelchairs can come down the steps via a ramp (though the ground is uneven once inside).
Sun 14 Sep. Regency Croquet at the Rec. Part of the Jane Austen Festival. Croquet at 11am, 1pm & 3pm (duration 1hr 30mins) at the Bath Croquet Club, Great Pulteney Street, Recreation Ground, BA2 4DS (entrance via Great Pulteney Street. The Regency sport with equipment and introductory instructions provided, enjoy a relaxed game of croquet, followed by post-match refreshments in the Croquet Pavilion. Refreshments included in the ticket price. Tickets £25.
Mon 15 Sep. Central Library: Pride & Prejudice Book Club.. Part of the Jane Austen Festival. 2pm. Free. You are welcomed to Jane Austen Festival book club, hosted by Bath Library. We will be discussing Pride & Prejudice in small groups, so bring your copy along and come prepared to chat and share your thoughts. Tue 16 Sep. Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution. Queen Square. Talk: Journeys of (Re)Discovery: Renaissance Academies & their Archives. With Carlotta Paltrinieri. How do archives unlock the mysteries of Renaissance academies and their role in shaping society? 7:30-9pm.
Fri 19 Sep. Burdall’s Yard. Instant Wit. There’ll be sketches, songs and general silliness – all based around audience suggestions. 8pm.
Sat 20 Sep. Lansdown Cricket Club Bicentenary Ball. 6pm-12.30am. Black tie. Contact the club as there may be some individual places available. All tables sold.
Sun 21 Sep. Victoria Park. Mini Prom. Part of the Jane Austen Festival. 12noon (duration 35 mins – 1 hour). Meet: At the Victorian Park Bandstand, the other side of Royal Avenue to the Royal Crescent. Meet for an informal stroll through Victoria Park and the Botanical Gardens, ending in front of the Royal Crescent for one last 250th birthday photo to celebrate the end of the 2025 Jane Austen Festival. Costume recommended, this event will take place in all weathers. Please keep to the pavements and adhere to all 21st Century traffic rules. Free Event – no booking required – just turn up.
Tue 23 Sep. Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution. Queen Square. Talk on the artists of the Renaissance. 7.30pm.Earthly Delights: the artists of the Renaissance, with Jonathan Jones the Guardian art critic asks ‘What exactly was the ‘Renaissance’?
Fri 26 Sep-Sun 5 Oct. Bath Children’s Literature Festival. The festival has teamed up with Longleat Estates. This year marks the 18th anniversary of Bath Children’s Literature Festival, which was founded in 2007 by John and Gill McLay, who remain artistic directors.
Sat 27 Sep. Bath Abbey. Confessions of a Composer with Sir John Rutter. 7pm. Details: www.bathabbey.org/
Sat 27 Sep. St Luke’s Church. Concert. 7.30pm. Entry by programme £10.00 cash only. Accompanied children free. Programme: Dvorak’s Serenade for strings plus music by Sibelius and Grieg.
Sun 28 Sep. Bath Abbey. Evensong directed by Sir John Rutter. 3.30pm, sung by the Abbey choirs of Boys, Girls and Lay Clerks. Details: www.bathabbey.org/
Sun 28 Sep. Bath Cats and Dogs Home Charity ‘Wag’ Walk: All dogs and their owners as well as their friends and families are welcome. Starting from the rescue centre in Claverton, Bath, the two walking routes feature a two-mile flat route or a five-mile walk along the National Trust Bath Skyline with more challenging terrain. The walk finishes back in the grounds of Bath Cats and Dogs Home where walkers can collect their dog-friendly goodie bags and enjoy the refreshments and activities available in the field. To register for the Wag Walk visit Bath Cats & Dogs Home: Wag Walk 2025 Registration costs £15 for the first dog and £5 each for other dogs. Fri 17 Oct. 3SG Volunteer Fair. 11am – 3pm. Apex Hotel, Bath. Curious about volunteering? Drop into the Volunteer Fair to explore 40+ local charities, discover flexible volunteering opportunities, and find your perfect way to give back in your community. Free entry, no booking needed – just turn up and get inspired! bit.ly/VOLFAIR25
Fri 17 Oct-Sun 26 Oct. Bath Film Festival. During the festival, the beautifully inventive city of Bath in South West England is filled with film fans coming together for an indulgent programme of previews, special events, Q&As, documentary features, silent films with new live scores, shorts and of course the IMDb Awards. Loved by audience members, volunteers and local businesses, FilmBath Festival has been running since 1990. See https://filmbath.org.uk/schedule
Fri 7-Sat 15 Nov. Bath Mozartfest. Concerts in Bathwick, The Forum, Guildhall and Bath Abbey celebrating the composer with links to the city.
Thu 27 Nov-Sun14 Dec 2025. Bath Christmas Market. Yes – Christmas is only weeks away.
Picks of Diary Events outside Bath
Wed 3-Thu 4 Sep. Melksham Food & River Festival. Organised by the Festival Committee with support from the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust and the Wiltshire Youth Canoe Club.
Sat 6 Sep. Morton Show. Moreton-in-Marsh for a traditional agricultural show.
Sun 7 Sep. Bristol Krazy Races at Victoria Park. All day. Watch 40 handmade, gravity-powered soapboxes tackle the course to see who is the fastest – and who actually makes it to the finish without crashing.
Tue 16 Sep. Bristol Cathedral. Book launch: Cloister. 6pm-7.30pm. College Green, BS1 5TJ. Film-maker Will Fraser uses his home city, Bristol, as the setting for his first novel: a cathedral-set thriller meets coming-of-age drama. Join him for a unique reading from Cloister, interspersed with music performed by the cathedral organist, the head chorister and progressive rock icon Mishkin Fitzgerald, singing the blues. Come early for Choral Evensong at 5.15pm. Tickets: £4 includes a complimentary glass of wine. Box Office: https://bristol-cathedral.co.uk/event/will-fraser-cloister/
Sat 20 Sep. Axbridge Carnival. The small town in Somerset hosts an afternoon procession of family friendly floats through the narrow streets from 2pm known as the Blackberry Carnival. A fun fair adds colour and noise in the town’s square. Old school entertainment.
