Families looking for things to do in Bath this October half term can enjoy a host of creative and educational activities from Bath Preservation Trust, with everything from autumn art and storytelling to pinhole cameras and planetarium shows.
Activities will be taking place at No.1 Royal Crescent, Beckford’s Tower and the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, as well as special planetarium sessions at Bath Central Library.
Autumn leaf printing at No.1 Royal Crescent
Get creative with the colours of autumn at No.1 Royal Crescent, where children can use oil pastels and felt tips to make beautiful leaf prints and rubbings.
The nature-inspired activity offers a fun way for young visitors to celebrate the season while exploring one of Bath’s best-known historic houses.
When: Saturday 24 October – Sunday 1 November, 10am–4.30pm
Cost: Free with museum entry. Children enter the museum free with a paying adult.
Booking: Drop-in activity.
Matchbox Stories at Beckford’s Tower
Young writers can take inspiration from William Beckford and the atmospheric surroundings of Beckford’s Tower at a special Matchbox Stories workshop.
Beckford was a writer as well as a collector, and the session will use his 1786 Gothic novel Vathek as inspiration for children to create their own book.
Taking place inside the Tower, the workshop encourages young imaginations to make the most of their historic surroundings – including its striking spiral staircase – to develop their own stories.
When: Thursday 29 October, 10.30–11.30am
Where: Beckford’s Tower, Lansdown Road, Bath, BA1 9BH
Age: 5–12 years
Cost: £3 per child
Booking: Pre-book at beckfordstower.org.uk/whats-on/
Make a pinhole camera at the Herschel Museum
The Herschel Museum of Astronomy will be inviting families to explore the science of photography by making their own pinhole camera.
Inspired by the museum’s Photology: Early Experiments in Photography exhibition, the simple device offers children the chance to discover a different way of looking at the world.
When: Saturday 24 October – Sunday 1 November, 10am–4pm
Cost: Free with museum entry. Children enter the museum free with a paying adult.
Booking: Drop-in activity.
Planetarium shows at Bath Central Library
The Herschel Museum of Astronomy is also heading to Bath Central Library for a day of family planetarium shows on Wednesday 28 October.
Planetarium Storytime invites younger stargazers to look up at the night sky inside the planetarium dome while enjoying stories about stars and planets. The session is recommended for children aged four to seven.
For older children, Stories in the Sky explores myths and stories associated with constellations from around the world, as well as helping families discover what they can see in the night sky.
When: Wednesday 28 October, with multiple show times
Where: Bath Central Library
Cost: £5 per person
Booking: Pre-booking required at herschelmuseum.org.uk/whats-on
Recommended ages: Planetarium Storytime 4–7; Stories in the Sky 7+
With hands-on crafts, creative storytelling and a journey through the stars, the programme offers plenty of opportunities for families to combine half-term fun with discovering more about Bath’s history, science and heritage.
For more information about Bath Preservation Trust and its museums, visit the Bath Preservation Trust website.
