Bath Attractions for Children

(Bath, North-East Somerset, England, UK)



If you are visiting Bath with children, then your options really depend on whether or not you want to leave the city. At Victoria Park there is a great playground and miniature golf course, while approximately a ten-minute drive away is the expansive Avon Valley Country Park.

Slightly further from Bath is Bristol Zoo, which resides within the Clifton area of the city and is roughly 30 minutes away, by bus or car. The zoo itself is relatively compact, covering an area of around 12 acres / 5 hectares, and dates all the way back to 1836. Further attractions within reach include the Wookey Hole Caves near Wells, the Longleat Safari and Adventure Park on the outskirts of Warminster, and the caves of Cheddar Gorge, where an afternoon cream tea at one of the surrounding cafes is almost obligatory.


Bath Attractions for Children

Bristol Zoo and Gardens

Address: Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3HA, England
Tel: +44 (0)117 973 8951
Situated 23 km / 14 miles from central Bath, Bristol Zoo remains one of the most popular tourist attractions for children visiting the south-west of England. Over the past few decades, the animal enclosures have been revamped and greatly improved, with the seal and penguin coast now featuring an underwater viewing area. In total there are more than 7,000 animals on exhibit, including lions, pygmy hippos, reptiles, insects, fish, gorillas, monkeys, lemurs, red pandas and birds. Children will be sure to enjoy the playground, seasonal face-painting and ice creams. If you want to have lunch here, then the café has an open-air terrace overlooking a lawned area. When you leave, you have to exit through the gift shop, passing by some very cute and tempting cuddly toys.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 17:30 (closes at 16:30 during the winter)
Admission: charge, discounts available for children and families, children under three years old are free

Avon Valley Country Park

Address: Pixash Lane, Bath Road, Keynsham, Bristol, England
Tel: +44 (0)117 986 4929
Residing within the picturesque Avon Valley, this popular park is to be found on the very outskirts of Bath, being just 7 km / 4.5 miles from the city, in the direction of Bristol. Families will find an outdoor adventure playground, a children's indoor play centre, riverside trails, rare-breed farmyard animals, barbecue facilities and rowing boats on the large pond. There are also fishing lakes, a miniature railway, horses and ponies, and even a number of friendly llamas and wallabies.
Open hours: Tuesday to Sunday, Spring to Autumn - 10:00 to 18:00
Closed: Monday, except public holidays
Admission: charge, discounts available for children

Bath Attractions for Children

Wookey Hole Caves

Address: Wells, Somerset, BA5 1BB, England
Tel: +44 (0)1749 672243
Wookey Hole is a great place to visit when the weather is a little on the inclement side, since the majority of the attractions are either indoors or underground. Based near the medieval city of Wells and approximately 32 km / 20 miles from Bath, this huge network of illuminated caverns features large underground lakes and rivers, and giant stalactites and stalagmites, with guides providing lively commentary as you explore the caves. Wookey Hole also features an old-fashioned working paper mill powered by a waterwheel on the River Axe, a Victorian arcade with slot machines, a dinosaur valley, soft play areas, a mirror maze, a large theatre with seasonal shows, a restaurant, picnic areas and a gift shop, where you can purchase locally made cheese matured in the caves themselves.
Open hours: daily, summer - 10:00 to 17:00, winter - 10:30 to 16:30
Admission: charge, discounts available for children aged between four and 16 years old, children four years old and under are free

Longleat Safari and Adventure Park

Address: Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 7NW, England
Tel: +44 (0)1985 844400
Longleat provides a good day out for all of the family and is best known for its naturalistic safari park, where you can drive through paddocks of giraffes and zebras, monkeys, lions, tigers, rhinos and wolves. After your safari adventure, your choice of possible activities include a guided tour around Longleat House, a boat trip to see Gorilla Island and the sea lions, a ride on the miniature railway, two animal-based attractions - the Jungle Kingdom and Animal Adventure, and a children's Adventure Castle, complete with treetop walkways and a splash zone. You may also like to find your way out of the longest maze in the world, check out the bat cave, or simply enjoy a picnic on the banks of the lake. If you are planning a visit to Longleat, do bear in mind that sunny summer weekends can be incredibly busy, and if you choose the basic ticket (valid for just one day), you will need to arrive very early if you want to see everything. Annual passes are now available, although these are quite expensive and require multiple visits to make this anywhere near good value for money.
Open hours: daily, April to early November, seasonal winter weekends
Admission: charge, discounts available for children

Victoria Falls Adventure Golf

Address: 2 Queen's Parade, Bath, Somerset, BA1 2NJ, England
Tel: +44 (0)1225 425066
Victoria Falls Adventure Golf is a popular miniature golf course based at the Royal Victoria Park, within the city centre. This small 18-hole course includes rushing waterways, waterfalls and refreshments, with the surrounding parkland and nearby Royal Crescent both providing stunning backdrops.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to dusk
Admission: charge, discounts available for children

Cheddar Caves and Gorge

Tel: +44 (0)1934 742343
Cheddar Gorge is situated some 40 km / 25 miles from central Bath and comes with many appealing attractions for tourists holidaying in this area of Somerset. Visitors will find two illuminated caves, once called home by a large group of people roughly 9,000 years ago. Cheddar is the biggest gorge in Britain and boasts scenic countryside and walking trails, while the local Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company is the perfect place to pick up a souvenir, and perhaps some freshly baked cheese straws. When visiting, keep your eyes peeled for the wild goats that live here, often seen perched high up on the rocks, or simply wandering across the road.

Other children's attractions nearby Bath include: