Christmas in Bath – Christmas markets, what’s on and more!

The Bath Christmas Market is one of the largest and prettiest in the UK, with over 200 market stalls set in the squares and cobbled streets around Bath Abbey. For 18 days the city is taken over by local artisans, festive foods, twinkling lights and Christmas music.

It’s a celebration that draws visitors from far afield to enjoy the picturesque Georgian city. I travelled the short distance from Bristol to Bath to explore the market, meet up with friends and soak up some of the atmosphere of Christmas in Bath.

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Bath Christmas Market – South Gate Bath shopping

After a comfortable journey to Bath with National Express, my walk from the bus station took me through South Gate Bath. This pedestrianised area for Bath shopping has many of the big high street brands.

In the centre of the shops at Brunel Square, they had created a Festive Forest. Cosy little cabins were surrounded by woodland animals. Lights shot like sparkling snowflakes from the tree.

I walked through the wide Magical Wardrobe doorway and watched the kids having fun in the giant snow globe. Parents were quick to capture the perfect photo opportunity this created.

The Apres Ski Bar at the Abbey Hotel in Bath

A little further was the Abbey Hotel Bath, a beautiful boutique hotel with honey stone Georgian facade. Their restaurant, Koffmann & Mr. White’s, is a collaboration of Pierre Koffmann and Marco Pierre White.

This brasserie-style restaurant offers the best of British and classic French cooking. The hotel had really gone to town on the Christmas theme, with their Apres Ski Bar outside the entrance looking very cosy.

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I took a peek inside and admired the Alpine ski lodge theme with fake fur throws and twinkling lights. Just the sort of hearty festive mood that you’d look forward to, after a day on the slopes.

At the end of the Apres Ski Bar lodge was a fun snow globe to stand behind and take your social media selfie. The steady queue of photo takers was a testament to the Instagram effect!

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Christmas Market in Bath – around Bath Abbey

Soon I reached the heart of the Bath Christmas Market, in the squares and streets around Bath Abbey. The market seems to get bigger and better each year and takes place between late November and mid December.

The stalls here tend to be by local makers and businesses, with a selection of handmade gifts and foodie treats. You’ll find good things to eat and drink with your friends when you meet at the market.

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You won’t go far without passing a stand selling mulled wine or cider, wafting the enticing alcoholic aroma of Christmas through the air. There were sweet treats of fudge, chocolates and cakes as well as lots of local cheese producers.

Throughout the different locations of Bath there are over 200 different stalls. The market has expanded over the years, with stalls extending up Milsom Street.

If you visit Bath for a few days around the Christmas period, I recommend that you take the City Sightseeing Bath Hop-on-hop-off Bus Tour.

I especially enjoyed wandering around the Abbey Church Yard, bordered by Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths. It makes a pretty picture with the tower of the abbey rising above the market.

There was plenty of space to stand with your mulled wine by one of the barrels. Two toy soldiers on stilts strolled around, posing for photos and selfies with the crowd of shoppers.

Read more about Christmas in the West Country: Christmas in Bristol – 10 ways to feel festive

Bath Christmas Market – Abbey Green Bath

Another atmospheric spot was Abbey Green, surrounded by old Georgian houses and a little tucked away in the oldest quarter of Bath. Around the cobbled square, the stalls made a circle around the central plane tree, which was lit up with gently changing colours.

While I was there, a choir was setting up to sing some carols and other Christmas music, making a very festive atmosphere. These squares and the adjoining areas of Abbey gate Street and York street are the prettiest and most atmospheric areas of the market. Stalls are set among the narrow cobbled lanes and surrounded by old houses.

Bath Abbey at Christmas

I walked through to the more open area of Stall Street, which is the start of the main shopping street of Bath. High street shops led up the hill to Union Street and Milsom Street.

In front of Bath Abbey itself and the Roman Baths there was an enormous Christmas tree with twinkling lights. In front of the Christmas tree was an ever changing roster of street musicians performing everything from opera to jazz.

In front of the Roman Baths on Stall Street, a brass band was playing jingle bells. There seemed to be different music and entertainers in every part of the market.

Check the Bath Christmas Market website for which entertainment is taking place each day. There’s everything from school choirs to brass bands, rock choirs to light operatic groups.

The spot in front of The Lodge is where many of the choirs and bands assemble. You can enjoy local beers from Bath Ales in this pop-up pub, a cosy place to relax if you get a bit too chilly walking around.

If you want to enjoy some food tastings, walk down Bath Street towards the Thermae Spa Baths, lit up in a rainbow of colours. Many of the stalls here seemed to be offering delicious things to eat and drink.

From here the market continues up the hill with further stalls on Union Street and Milsom Street. There’s also a piano sponsored by The Piano Shop Bath, that anyone can play, to encourage spontaneous music making.

If you’re coming from London to see the Christmas market, you may enjoy this full day Stonehenge and Bath full day tour

Christmas in Bath – What else is on?

I didn’t have time to see everything festive that’s on in Bath during the run up to Christmas, but if you are visiting look out for;

Bath on Ice and Glow in the Dark Mini Golf – In Royal Victoria Park, an outdoor ice rink and crazy golf course illuminated with fairy lights and glow-in-the-dark golf balls.

The Festive Family Artisan Market – Located in Queens Square on each of the Saturdays during the Bath Christmas Market. Activities for all the family, with Kids Cafe and festive storytelling. Find Christmas arts and crafts workshops, local makers and tasty street food.

Christmas at Bath Abbey

After meeting a friend for the evening, I popped back the next day to Bath Abbey, founded as a Benedictine Abbey in the 7th Century. Although I’ve visited Bath many times I’d never been inside.

Visits are free, although a donation at the entrance is encouraged and is used to support the maintenance of the building dating back to the 16th century.

I especially admired the impressive fan vaulted ceiling, a masterpiece of stone work designed to draw the eye up towards God.

During the days of the Bath Christmas market, there are festive guided tours up the 212 steps to the top of the tower. At the top enjoy views over the Christmas Market and a hot chocolate or mulled wine.

Bath Abbey is hosting many festive concerts and carol services. More details of all the Christmas concerts and services are available on the Bath Abbey website.

The Roman Baths in Bath

Although my visit to Bath was short, I couldn’t leave Bath without visiting the city’s major attraction, the Roman Baths. The natural hot springs on this site encouraged the growth of the Roman town of Aqua Sulis, with a temple dedicated to the Goddess Sulis Minerva. Her golden head is on display at the baths.

In the 18th century the curative and mineral rich properties of the spring water, made Bath a fashionable resort to come and take the waters for bathing and drinking. After your visit to the Roman Baths, you may like to have tea in The Pump Rooms. This was a fashionable meeting place mentioned by Jane Austen in her novels set in Bath.

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I recommend you allow an hour or two exploring the different parts of the Roman Baths. Be sure to visit the museums packed with archaeological finds. This bring sto life how people lived in the Roman settlement of Aqua Sulis.

Great Bath and Outdoor Plunge Pool

The highlights for me were are the Great Bath with an outdoor plunge pool of still water, the sacred spring dedicated to the goddess Sulis Minerva where the warm water bubbles up from underground, and the Temple Pediment with an animation showing how it would have looked in Roman times.

I enjoyed the random conversations with costumed characters around the pool asking me whether I’d come for a facial of swan’s fat, the films that show the fashionable Roman lady with her elaborate hair style and the chance to pull a face at the metallic taste of the spring water which you can drink at the end of the visit.

The Roman Baths in Bath Website | Open Monday-Friday 10-6 pm/Weekends 9-6 pm | Adult entry £20.50 weekday/£23.50 weekend | Family Ticket £53 weekday/£63 weekend

Visiting Bath by National Express coach

I visited Bath with National Express who operate coaches to Bath from Bristol, London and other destinations such as Chippenham, Street, Wells, South sea, Swindon and Southampton.

National Express is the largest operator of scheduled coach services in the UK operating services linking 900 destinations, so it’s an ideal choice to use during the festive season to visit Christmas Markets or meet up with family and friends.

My journey from Bristol was comfortable, with leather seats, charger points, toilets, a guaranteed seat and plenty of luggage space. Prices are competitive, but the best thing is that you can leave the car at home and relax knowing that you will arrive in the centre of town, with no worries over where to park.

Book your trip to Bath and other destinations on the National Express Website.

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This article is sponsored* by National Express who invited me to experience the Christmas Markets in Bath and write about what I enjoyed.

* More info on my policies page

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com – Read the original article here

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