Busking

Busking and other forms of street entertainment are part of the Bath ‘experience’, creating an enhanced atmosphere and providing pleasure to many people, both local residents and visitors. Buskers and Street Entertainers in Bath are asked to follow a Code of Practice, which can be downloaded below.

On occasion, however, particularly for people living or working in the city centre, busking may be intrusive, annoying, indecent and offensive. As a result, the Local Authority, Bath BID and the Police receive many complaints about the volume and sometimes the nature of busking and street entertainment.

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 noise in the street from musical instruments may be a statutory nuisance and the Local Authority is able to take legal action to abate the nuisance and prohibit or restrict its recurrence; this may include the seizure of musical instruments and amplification equipment.

PLEASE NOTE: THE COUNCIL DOES NOT LICENCE BUSKERS

If you encounter problems with Street Entertainers/buskers please contact the following people:

For matters relating to obstruction of the ‘public highway’ and offensive behaviour, please contact the Police 01275 818181 

For matters relating to noise control please contact Bath & North East Somerset Council 01225 477563

The Voluntary Busking Code of practice can be downloaded here.