A wide range of events and activities take place in the museums and galleries of Bath & North East Somerset.
You can download the Heritage Events leaflet on the right.
Events for Children
Roman Baths
Family drop-in activities - free to Discovery Card holders. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Friday 12 July
Rhyming Roman Baths
Roam around the Roman Baths discovering ancient and modern words of wisdom. Meet our poet in residence and be inspired to add some lines to our collection of poetry.
6-8pm
Wednesday 17; 24; 31 July
Wednesday 7; 14; 21 August
Words on Wednesdays
A series of evening sessions looking at objects from the Roman Baths' collections. Handle objects at our touch tables and discover which Wednesday Word has inspired us.
6-8pm
Saturday 20 to Sunday 28 July
Saturday 3; Sunday 4 August
Saturday 10; Sunday 11 August
Saturday 17; Sunday 18 August
Saturday 24; Sunday 25 August
Saturday 31 August; Sunday 1 September
Togas and Tunics
Find out how Romans dressed and try on a toga.
10-12.30pm and 1.30-4pm
Monday 29 July-Friday 2 August
Amazing Arches
Have you seen the big Roman arches? Have a go with our wooden model and create a pop up arch using card and pens.
10-12.30pm and 1.30-4pm
Monday 5-Friday 9 August
A Head of the Game
What did a Roman's hairstyle say about them? Find out and make a wiggy wonder.
10-12.30pm and 1.30-4pm
Monday 12-Friday 16 August
Measure for Measure
How did Romans weigh and measure objects? Explore ancient weights and measures and create a Roman measuring ruler.
10-12.30pm and 1.30-4pm
Monday 19-Friday 23 August
Brilliant Bladud
What is the connection between Bath and pigs? Explore the founding myth of the city of Bath - and help us to bring the story right up to date.
10-12.30pm and 1.30-4pm
Monday 26-Friday 30 August
Wacky Weaving
How did the Romans make their clothes? Investigate how they made fabrics and have a go at weavinvg.
10-12.30pm and 1.30-4pm
Victoria Art Gallery
Family drop-in activities - free to Discovery Card holders. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Wednesday 24; Friday 26 July
Minibug Masterpieces
Explore bugs and insects in our ceramics collection. Use collage papers to create 2D and 3D bugs, snails and caterpillars.
10.30-12.30pm and 1.30-3.30pm
Wednesday 31 July; Friday 2 August
Stamp a Story
Investigate one of the most popular paintings in the Gallery, The Watersplash, and create a story about taking a goose for a walk. What happens on the way? Use stamps and special papers to illustrate it.
10.30-12.30pm and 1.30-3.30pm
Wednesday 7; Friday 9 August
Me, Myself and I
Explore our amazing pictures of people in the First Floor Gallery displays. Create a junk portrait using a range of mixed media.
10.30-12.30pm and 1.30-3.30pm
Wednesday 14; Friday 16 August
Outside Inside
Enjoy exploring our wonderful pictures of Bath houses on display in the First Floor Gallery. Create house interiors and exteriors using pastel, pen and card.
10.30-12.30pm and 1.30-3.30pm
Wednesday 21; Friday 23 August
Reflecting My World
Create a street scene featuring reflections. Use watercolours and wax resist technique.
10.30-12.30pm and 1.30-3.30pm
Wednesday 28 August
Pastel Power
Draw some furry friends. Use pastels and special paper to make drawings of rabbits, dogs and birds in the First Floor Gallery art collection.
10.30-12.30pm and 1.30-3.30pm
Fashion Museum
Family drop-in activities - free to Discovery Card holders. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Tuesday 23 July
Beaded Beauties
We have some beautiful beaded dresses on display in the Fashion Museum. Use beads and sequins to create a special design of your own.
10.30-12.30pm and 1.30-3.30pm
Tuesday 30 July
Folded Fancies from the 60s and 70s
Take a look at 20th-century fashion displays and use origami to create special miniature outfits from the 1960s and 1970s.
10.30-12.30pm and 1.30-3.30pm
Tuesday 6 August
Woolly Wonders
There are some interesting crochet designs in the Fashion Museum's collection. Use a cardboard frame and wool to create a crochet-effect design.
10.30-12.30pm and 1.30-3.30pm
Tuesday 13 August
Fashion of the Future
Fashion designers are always creating designs that are one step ahead of the clothes we see on the high street. Look at our Dress of the Year collection and use unusual materials to create something really different.
10.30-12.30pm and 1.30-3.30pm
Tuesday 20 August
Magazine Mix-up
Have you explored the gloves on display in our Glove Stories exhibition? Use magazine collage to create a deisgn in the style of John Galliano's amazing newsprint gloves.
10.30-12.30pm and 1.30-3.30pm
Tuesday 27 August
Cloche Hat, Posh Hat
Decorate and accessorise traditional hat designs into something modern by adding colour, pattern and 3D elements.
10.30-12.30pm and 1.30-3.0pm
Guided Tours
Victoria Art Gallery
Art Store Tour
Explore the parts of the Gallery other people don't reach by enrolling for a conducted tour of the vaults at 12.00-12.45pm. Free but book in advance on 01225 477232.
Wednesday 14 August
Wednesday 11 September
Wednesday 16 October
Art on Mondays
Free talks for blind and visually impaired visitors,10.00-11.30am.
Monday 15 July - War and Rumours of War
Monday 9 September - Fake or Fortune
Monday 14 October - James Tower Centenary
Collection Highlight Tours
Discover the stories behind our principal treasures with Dr Chris Davies. 1.00-1.45pm. Free, no booking required.
Wednesday 7 August
Wednesday 4 September
Wednesday 2 October
Lunchtime Exhibition Tours - War and Rumours of War
Free to Discovery Card and exhibition ticket holders
Every Thursday, 18 July to 5 September, 12.30-1pm
Special Events
Roman Baths
T'ai Chi on the Terrace - Roman Baths
Weekly sessions led by qualified private instructor Paddy Nisbett. Sessions at 8.00am. £4 per session, call 01225 477773 to book.
Tuesday 2 July - 3 September
Fashion Museum
Saturday Sketching
Sketch the beautiful objects on display on display in our A History of Fashion in 100 Objects exhibition, with suggestions of key spots of interest from the curators. Sketching materials are provided. Ask at the ticket desk. Free with Museum entry. First Saturday of every month 10.30am-12.30pm.
Bath Knitting and Crochet Guild
Monthly knitting and crochet session which takes place in the Assembly Rooms. Free to attend, all levels welcome. Second Saturday of every month, 10-12noon.
Classes for Adults:
Bespoke Embroidery: Inspired by 1690s Crewelwork Petticoat
Recreate a ship motif on an historic crewelwork petticoat with Deborah Wilding.
Saturday 20 July, 10.00-4.00pm
Bespoke Embroidery: Inspired by 1600s Gauntlet Gloves
Recreate the decoration on a beautiful tabbed gauntlet glove with Kate Barlow.
Saturday 3 August, 10.00-4.00pm
Bespoke Embroidery: Inspired by 1700s Embroidered Waistcoat
Learn how to recreate an embroidered bird motif using silk shading techniques with Kate Barlow.
Saturday 17 August, 10.00-4.00pm
Bespoke Embroidery: Inspired by 1850s Court Waistcoat
Recreate the stunning floral decoration on a man's court waistcoat with Deborah Wilding.
Saturday 7 September, 10.00-4.00pm
Bespoke Embroidery: Inspired by Jane Austen
Make a lavender bag using traditional whitework techniques from the time of Jane Austen with Deborah Wilding.
Saturday 21 September, 10.00-4.00pm
Tickets £84, plus £30 for materials payable in cash on the day. Book at www.royal-needlework.org.uk/courses. All attendees need to be comfortable climbing two flights of stairs.
Victorial Art Gallery
Artists' Talks
Bernard Ollis
Free, booking essential at victoriagal.org.uk/ollistalk
Saturday 24 August, 5.30-6.30pm
Peter Brown
Free to Discovery Card and exhibition ticket holders.
Saturday 30 November, 12-1pm
Out and About
Saturday 13 July
Midsomer Norton Arts Festival
Get creative with us, Roman style, as part of this family art festival.
12-4.30pm, The Hollies, Midsomer Norton
Saturday 20 July
Festival of Archaeology: The Deathly Secrets of Sydney Gardens
Pleasure Gardens were very popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. Little did people know what lay beneath their feet! In 1793 the tombstone of a Roman priest was discovered in what is now Sydney Gardens. Join us as we investigate death and burial through the ages.
11-3pm Sydney Gardens, Bath
Thursday 19 September
Lansdown North Local History Store
Explore the weird and wonderful objects from the spa collection. Join a treat of a tour at 11am or 2pm. Booking essential, phone 01225 477773.
Lansdown Playing Fields North
