Bath will be filled with festive cheer this year as part of the citywide Bath at Christmas campaign, which has officially launched today. This year will see the return of some of the Christmas activities we know and love, as well as some exciting new additions.
Events and activities include the return of the popular Bath Christmas Light Trail, which first came to the city in 2020. The trail will launch on Thursday 25th November with an official Bath Christmas Light Trail Switch-On event in Milsom Street, where we will be joined by local community heroes to celebrate the start of the festive season in Bath.
After a year away, Bath on Ice will offer visitors the opportunity to have a spin around the rink and enjoy a warming festive drink in Moguls Bar, and there will be plenty of chances to meet and purchase from local makers in Abbey Quarter and at Bath Artisan Market in Queen Square.
Bath Abbey will be glowing with the addition of Luke Jerram’s popular Museum of the Moon, with Christmas carols, storytelling and moon-gazing with the Bath Astronomers taking place with the stunning seven-metre moon as a backdrop. Another new addition this year is the Elves’ Swapshop, brought to you by the Bath BID and Share and Repair Bath. Children are invited along to meet Father Christmas’s elves and swap an old toy for an upcycled toy of their choice using the fabulous Elf-O-Matic toy upcycler.
Visit the Bath BID’s Welcome to Bath website (welcometobath.co.uk/christmas) for event listings, an interactive Bath Christmas Light Trail map, and practical information to help you plan your trip, and the Visit Bath website (visitbath.co.uk/christmas) for inspirational features showcasing Bath at Christmas including a comprehensive list of events, things to do, where to eat and drink and places to stay.
Allison Herbert, Chief Executive of the Bath BID, said: “Bath is always a wonderful place to spend time, and we have been working with Bath & North East Somerset Council, Visit Bath, Milsom Place and SouthGate Bath to ensure that it’s even more magical this festive season. We are so pleased that many of Bath’s iconic buildings will be illuminated once again and are excited to be celebrating with an official switch-on event. We are also proud to be working with Share and Repair Bath on the Elves’ Swapshop, which will give children the opportunity to have a go on the Elf-O-Matic toy upcycler and shine a light on Father Christmas’s hard-working elves!
“Bath’s fantastic range of places to eat and drink are all keen to welcome people for the festive season, and the city is also the perfect place to do your Christmas shopping, with a fantastic mix of high street favourites and independent gems, and Thursday late-night shopping from 25th November. We hope that people will head into the city to experience the magic of Bath this Christmas!”
Find out more about what’s on in Bath this Christmas at welcometobath.co.uk/christmas.
Event Highlights
Bath Christmas Light Trail
25th November to 31st December
This Christmas, some of Bath’s most iconic streets and buildings will be brought to life with magical illuminations. Bath & North East Somerset Council, the Bath BID and Milsom Place have invested in spectacular monument lighting in some of Bath’s iconic streets.
The illuminations will be switched on in Milsom Street at an official Bath Christmas Light Trail Switch-On event at 5pm on Thursday 25th November, which will also see the launch of Thursday evening late-night Christmas shopping, and the city’s buildings will be illuminated from 3:30pm every day until 31st December. Visitors can browse an interactive Christmas Light Trail map on the Welcome to Bath website, to help them discover all the stunning displays.
welcometobath.co.uk/christmas-light-trail
The Elves’ Swapshop
26th November to 21st December
Father Christmas and his elves have joined the upcycling revolution! This year, they invite children to visit the fascinating Elves’ Swapshop in the Milsom Street area, where they are training the Share and Repair volunteers how to mend toys and give them a new, loving home.
Children are welcomed along to see the fabulous Elf-O-Matic toy upcycler in action by bringing an old toy to be shared with another lucky child. With the help of the Elf-O-Matic technology, the elves will make sure that the toy is safe and clean and ready for its new home. Everyone who brings in a toy can see the machine in action and will be invited to take home a new toy of their choice.
Tickets will be available for a workshop demo and a jolly singalong with the elves for children and their families, with group visits available for a maximum of eight children with two adults. Keep an eye out on this page for booking information.
welcometobath.co.uk/event/the-elves-swapshop
Museum of the Moon
19th November to 26th December
Museum of the Moon is a touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram.
Measuring seven metres in diameter, the moon features 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface. At an approximate scale of 1:500,000, each centimetre of the internally lit spherical sculpture represents five kilometres of the moon’s surface.
The installation is a fusion of lunar imagery, moonlight and surround sound composition created by BAFTA and Ivor Novello award winning composer Dan Jones.
Visit the Museum of the Moon at Bath Abbey for Christmas carols, magical storytelling and moon-gazing with the Bath Astronomers in the Abbey’s newly restored worship space.
bathabbey.org/luke-jerrams-museum-of-the-moon
Bath on Ice
12th November to 3rd January
Bath on Ice is back! Get your skates on and head to Royal Victoria Park from 12th November to 3rd January for some festive fun on the rink.
Bath on Ice’s Moguls Bar will be serving delicious food, spicy mulled wine and hot chocolate; ideal to warm up and get into the festive spirit.
After the challenging Christmas many people experienced last season, the Bath on Ice team are more intent than ever to help make this one extra special!
Artisan Makers
26th November to 19th December
From Friday 26th November to Sunday 19th December, a selection of local artisan makers will be on show in Bath’s iconic Abbey Quarter, displaying their unique crafts.
From blankets and Christmas decorations to brownies and jewellery, grab a gift for the whole family!
Complete with a Victorian Carousel, festive food and drink and live entertainment, browse Bath’s skilled makers and enjoy the sights and smells of a traditional Christmas in Bath.
welcometobath.co.uk/event/artisan-makers
Bath Artisan Market – Christmas at Queen Square
20th November to 19th December
After a break of nearly two years, Bath’s biggest independent artisan market is back and running every day from 20th November to 19th December. Head to Queen Square to discover an assortment of local artisans and makers and join in the festivities.
