Bath Voice: What’s on in Bath and beyond – a pick of events in the city and nearby

Pick of Diary Events in Bath
Fri 1 Aug. University of Bath News & Media. Free public lecture by Chris Packham. The naturalist, broadcaster and environmental campaigner will be talking about how evolution shapes the world. 6.30pm. The Chancellors’ Building, University of Bath, hosted by the Milner Centre. Tickets essential – see www.bath.ac.uk/events/
Fri 1-Sun 10 Aug. Bath on the Beach. Royal Pavilion Royal Avenue. Yes, there is a beach in Bath – pop along and have a taste of the seaside without the sea.
Sat 2 Aug. American Museum, Claverton. Garden Theatre: Wind in the Willows. Pack your picnics and join Ratty, Mole, Badger, and the fantastically irrepressible Toad as they embark on the adventure of a lifetime in a wonderful garden performance by the multi-award nominated Immersion Theatre. Recommended for ages 4+. 6.30pm.
Sun 3 Aug. Parade Gardens. Live music from the Bandstand. 2-4pm. Every Sunday this summer. Today is the turn of Bristol and Kingswood Band.
Tue 5 Aug. Old Theatre Royal Tours. Masonic Hall Trust. Guided tours every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday at 11am.
Wed 6 Aug. 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.
Thu 7 Aug. Topping & Company Booksellers. Tiny Tales – Picture Book Reading Group. 9:30-10:15am.
Fri 8-Fri 29 Aug. Bath Abbey. A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Set in a wood near Athens William Shakespeare’s enduring romantic comedy will be performed in promenade style – the audience stand and follow the action of the lovers, fairies and mythical characters around the abbey. Monday to Saturday at 7.45pm. No performances on Sundays. Tickets at https://www.anticdisposition.co.uk/dream-2025.
Fri 8 Aug. The Forum. Live Tribute to Ms Rachel. 12noon. Children’s show. With millions of subscribers on Youtube, ‘Ms Rachel’ is a popular show that encapsulates the bubbly personality, sweet singing voice and educational content for children.
Sat 9 Aug. Open day at Claverton Pumping Station. Ferry Lane, Claverton, Bath. 10am-5pm. £5-£10 entrance. The Claverton Pumping Station is a rare surviving example of the technology of the Georgian Regency period.
Sat 9 Aug. The Forum. Taylormania. Tribute show to the popular American singer songwriter Taylor Swift. 7pm.
Sun 10 Aug. Parade Gardens. Live music from the Bandstand. 2-4pm. Every Sunday this summer. Today is the turn of Marshfield Band.
Mon 11 Aug. Museum of East Asian Art. Mini Monday event for children. 12noon-3pm. This summer holiday the Museum of East Asian Art is opening their doors on Mondays for a special MEAA kids’ takeover! £4.
Wed 13 Aug. 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!
Wed 13 Aug. Studio 22 22c New Bond Street. Nihongo Hanasoukai. What to learn more about Japanese language and culture? Join the Bath Beppu Friendship Association for an evening where you can learn Japanese and find out more about what happens in our twin city. 6-7pm. Book with zuckmanmieko@gmail.com
Wed 13 Aug. Jester’s Comedy Club. Newbie Night. Open mic session with a dozen develping acts designed to make you laugh.
Sun 17 Aug. Parade Gardens. Live music from the Bandstand. 2-4pm. Every Sunday this summer. Today is the turn of Apollo Wind Band.
Tue 19 Aug. Toppings Book Shop. York Street. Indie Press Reading Group. 7pm. Formerly a poetry-specific book group, aims to highlight authors from independent publishers and share Toppings’ love for indie books. They will normally gather on the third Tuesday of every month to discuss works of fiction, essays and poetry from renowned UK independent publishers and a few notable small presses. In the very first group, we’ll discuss The Question of Palestine by Edward Said – a literary and cultural critic and spokesman for the Palestinian cause. An English and Comparative Literature professor at Columbia University, he wrote twenty-two books, including ‘Orientalism’ and ‘Culture and Imperialism’. Fitzcarraldo Editions specialises in ambitious and innovative fiction and long-form essays.
Sun 24 Aug. Parade Gardens. Live music from the Bandstand. 2-4pm. Every Sunday this summer. Today is the turn of Bristol Coracao.
Wed 27 Aug. Bath Royal Literrary and Scientific Insitution. Queen Square. Talk: Becoming An Actor. 2pm. A panel of actors will discuss the options, reflect on their own experience and provide helpful advice on the audition process and taking the first steps towards a professional life as an actor. Hosted by BRLSI in partnership with the Theatre Royal Bath and Bath Theatre Academy, this interactive workshop will be essential for anyone considering applying to drama school or university in the future. Theatre Royal Bath will also be presenting their Ralph Fiennes Season and a special guest from the As You Like It company will be in attendance on the day.
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 Literrary and Scientific Insitution. 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.
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. 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.
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 Duelling in the time of Jane Austen.
Sun 14 Sep. Regency Croquet at the Rec. Part of the Jane Austen Festival. Croquet at 11:00, 13:00 & 15:00 (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, graciously 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 with others! We will start with the questions attendees suggested when booking, and then see where the discussion leads each small group. Please reserve a place to indicate you will be attending. You can also suggest a question or point to discuss during the session when booking.
Sat 20 Sep. Lansdown Cricket Clun Bicentenary Ball. 6pm-12.30am. Black tie. Contact the club as there maybe 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 – turn up on the day and join in!
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/
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. St Lukes’ Church, Wellsway. Cappella Nova: Songs of Hope and Farewell. 7.30pm. Cappella Nova say farewell to Tony Shield, our conductor and musical director, who is retiring after 24 years of music-making with the choir. In this special concert we mark Tony’s contribution with a programme based on some of our favourite music both serious and light-hearted, featuring a wide range of composers including Rachmaninov, Stanford, Elgar, Vaughan Williams and Parry. The programme also includes Britten’s celebration of Saint Cecilia – the patron saint of music. A charity concert in aid of the Genesis Trust. £15/£8 www.cappellanova.org.uk
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.