Free Things to Do in Bath: Parks, Walks and Museums
Free things to do in Bath: Royal Victoria Park, Alexandra Park's view, the Bath Skyline, the Victoria Art Gallery's free collection, Bath City Farm and the free daily guided walks, with times and what is free for children.
In short: the best free things to do in Bath are Royal Victoria Park (free playground, no tickets anywhere in the park), the permanent collection at the Victoria Art Gallery, and the view from Alexandra Park. The Mayor of Bath's Honorary Guides run free two-hour walks every day except Christmas Day, with no booking. Checked on each place's own website on 21 October 2026.
Free things to do in Bath, as of October 2026: eleven parks, walks, streets, galleries and tours that cost nothing, from our directory and each one's own website. Paid museums that let children in free are listed further down.
What can you do in Bath for free?
Walk the parks and Georgian streets, see the Victoria Art Gallery's collection and join a free guided walk. Here is what is free at each.
| Place | What is free | When | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Victoria Park | The whole park | All year | City Centre |
| Botanical Gardens | Entry | All year | City Centre |
| Alexandra Park | The park and view | All year | Bear Flat |
| Bath Skyline | The 6-mile walk | All year | Bathwick |
| Pulteney Bridge | Crossing it | All year | City Centre |
| The Circus | The street | All year | City Centre |
| Royal Crescent | The outside | All year | City Centre |
| Victoria Art Gallery | Permanent collection | Tue to Sun | City Centre |
| The Holburne Museum | Collection | Wed after 3pm | Bathwick |
| Bath City Farm | Entry | Tue to Sun | Twerton |
| Honorary Guides walk | A 2-hour tour | Daily | City Centre |
Which parks in Bath are free?
All three here. Royal Victoria Park is the one for families; Alexandra Park is the one for the view.
Royal Victoria Park
The city's largest park, opened by Princess Victoria in 1830. Every part of it is free, including the adventure playground with zip lines and an inclusive play unit with two ramps.
- 💷 Free, no tickets
- 🛝 Playground and skate park
- 🐕 Dog friendly
- 🚗 First hour free in on-road bays
- 📍 City Centre
Good to know: the mini golf, tennis and the Bath on Ice rink (from November) are not part of the free offer; check their prices first.
Botanical Gardens
Inside Royal Victoria Park, with a rock garden and pool, a woodland garden and a replica Roman temple. The council says there is no charge for admission.
- 💷 Free
- ⏰ Open all year
- ♿ Tarmac paths around the gardens
- 📍 Royal Avenue, City Centre
Alexandra Park
An 11-acre park on top of Beechen Cliff, with panoramic views over the city. Walk up the steep flight of steps known as Jacob's Ladder from Bath Spa station, or take the easier route along Shakespeare Avenue.
- 🌄 Viewing area
- 🛝 Play area, table tennis, petanque
- 🚻 Public toilets
- 📍 Shakespeare Avenue, Bear Flat
Where can you walk in Bath for free?
On the Bath Skyline for countryside, or round the Circus and the Royal Crescent for the Georgian city.
Bath Skyline
National Trust woods and farmland above the city, with a waymarked circular walk that has a short side trip to Sham Castle.
- 🥾 6-mile circular walk
- 📍 Starts Cleveland Walk, Bathwick
Good to know: we could not read the Trust's page today, so check its site for timings, parking and dogs before you go.
Pulteney Bridge
Robert Adam's bridge of 1769 to 1774, one of four in the world with shops along both sides. It is a public highway, so there are no tolls or tickets.
- 💷 Free to cross
- 📸 Best seen from Pulteney Weir
- 📍 Bridge Street, City Centre
Good to know: Parade Gardens has the other classic view, but our directory record says it charges for entry.
The Circus
A ring of three curved terraces begun by John Wood the Elder in 1754 and finished by his son in 1768. Thomas Gainsborough painted portraits at number 17. Stand in the middle and try the echo.
- 💷 Free, a public street
- 🔎 Look up at the carved emblems
- 📍 City Centre
Royal Crescent
Thirty Bath stone houses in one curve, built between 1767 and 1775 to the plan that also produced the Circus. Looking costs nothing; going inside No. 1 does.
- 💷 Outside free, No. 1 £16
- 👧 No. 1 free for under 18s
- 📍 City Centre
The Mayor of Bath's Honorary Guides
The Honorary Guides lead a two-hour walk round the city centre every day of the year except Christmas Day. It is free, there is no booking for the classic tour, and the guides say on their site that they do not take tips.
- ⏰ Sun to Fri 10.30am and 2pm
- ⏰ Sat 10.30am only
- 👥 Groups of 10 or more book ahead
Good to know: arrive 10 minutes early, and check the start point on their site. The Tuesday and Thursday Pulteney Estate walks end on 31 October.
Which museums in Bath are free?
The Victoria Art Gallery's permanent collection is free to everyone, every day it is open. The Holburne's collection is free on Wednesdays after 3pm.
Victoria Art Gallery
The city's public art gallery. The permanent collection and the Upper Gallery are free; just turn up or book a space online. Only the exhibitions are ticketed.
- 💷 Collection free
- ⏰ Tue to Sun 10.30am to 5pm
- 🎟️ Exhibitions £9, £12 from 20 Nov
- 📍 City Centre
Good to know: closed Mondays except bank holidays. The World of The Snowman runs from 20 November to 28 February 2027.
The Holburne Museum
Bath's art museum, whose café opens onto Sydney Gardens. On Wednesdays after 3pm the collection displays are free, and anyone 18 or under goes free any day.
- 💷 Free Wed after 3pm
- 👧 18 and under always free
- ☕ Shop and café free to enter
- 📍 Bathwick
Good to know: general admission is £16.50 at other times.
What can you do with kids in Bath for free?
Royal Victoria Park's playground, the play area at Alexandra Park and Bath City Farm cost nothing. Several paid museums also let children in free.
Bath City Farm
A charity farm on Kelston View in Twerton. Entry is free and donations are welcome; goat feed is £1 a bag, and the community café is first come, first served.
- 💷 Free, donations welcome
- ⏰ Tue to Sat 9am to 4pm
- ⏰ Sun 9.30am to 4pm
- 🐕 Dogs on a lead, not in the café
- 🚗 Small car park
- 📍 Kelston View, Twerton
Paid museums free for children: under 18s go free with an adult at the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, No. 1 Royal Crescent (up to four children per adult) and Beckford's Tower and Museum (weekends to 13 December).
Is anything free for Bath residents?
Yes. The council's free Residents' Discovery Card gives free entry to The Roman Baths and the Victoria Art Gallery. Bath Abbey is free for BA1 and BA2 residents with the card or proof of address.
Free things to do in Bath: questions
Is Royal Victoria Park free?
Yes. Every part of the park is free to enter, including the Botanical Gardens and the adventure playground, with no tickets needed.
Are there free walking tours in Bath?
Yes. The Mayor of Bath's Honorary Guides lead a free two-hour walk every day except Christmas Day, at 10.30am and 2pm (Saturdays 10.30am only), with no booking.
Which museum in Bath is free?
The Victoria Art Gallery's permanent collection is free to everyone. The Holburne Museum's collection is free on Wednesdays after 3pm.
Is Bath Abbey free to visit?
Only for BA1 and BA2 residents, with a Discovery Card or proof of address. Other adults pay £9 and children aged 5 to 15 pay £5.
Is Bath City Farm free?
Yes. Entry is free and donations are welcome. The farm opens Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 4pm and Sunday from 9.30am to 4pm.