Families looking for something different this spring and early summer can step into Bath’s darker past with The Frankenstein Experience, a new walking tour and museum adventure inspired by Mary Shelley’s time in the city.
Blending history, storytelling and immersive theatre, the experience reveals the secrets, scandals and Gothic influences that helped shape Shelley’s famous novel Frankenstein, written while she was living in Bath.
The experience begins with a one-hour guided walking tour led by the award-winning Show of Strength Theatre Company.
Families will follow lively guides through Bath’s historic streets and Regency side roads, uncovering tales of ruined reputations, hidden lives and dramatic events that fed into Shelley’s imagination.
The tour explores where Mary Shelley lived and the world she knew, offering a fresh way to see familiar streets through a darker and more mysterious lens.
After the walk, the adventure continues at Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein on Gay Street.
Visitors can explore the multi award-winning museum on a self-guided visit, discovering the story of Mary Shelley and the legacy of Frankenstein through immersive exhibits and atmospheric rooms.
The museum experience features unusual artefacts, dramatic soundscapes and sensory effects designed to bring Shelley’s story and her famous creation vividly to life.
The full experience lasts up to two hours and combines live performance with museum exploration, making it ideal for families with older children who enjoy history, literature and a touch of spookiness.
Organisers recommend the experience for children aged 12 and over.
Dates and bookings
Dates have been announced for April and May, with all tours starting at 3pm.
In April, tours run on 4th, 9th, 12th, 16th and 18th.
In May, tours take place on 3rd, 24th, 28th and 30th.
Tours start outside Sally Lunn’s, 4 North Parade Passage, Bath BA1 1NX, and finish at Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein, 37 Gay Street, Bath BA1 2NT.
Tickets are priced from £24 per person and must be booked in advance.
Each tour is limited to a maximum of 25 people, and group bookings are available.
Perfect for curious teens, book lovers and families looking for a memorable holiday activity, The Frankenstein Experience offers a unique way to explore Bath’s literary and Gothic history.
