5 reasons to visit The Bath Festival 2024

The Bath Festival is a week-long celebration of the city’s books and music. Read on to find out the highlights of this amazing event in our top five reasons to head to The Bath Festival this year.

1. Party in the City

The opening night of The Bath Festival is the city’s biggest free party! On Friday 17th May, from 5pm till late, experience live music, including jazz, folk rock, classical, acoustic, swing, soul and more. Music will ring out from churches and chapels, like Bath Abbey, St Michael’s Without and St Swithin’s Church. Enjoy performances at museums and galleries, including the Holburne Museum, Victoria Art Gallery and BRLSI. Pubs and bars, cafes and shops will also be hosting live music. Green Park Station and Parade Gardens will be filled with stages and stalls for outdoor music.

2. Poetry and Performance

Bath will be vibrant with artistic expression, and you can come together with poets and performers at special gatherings held at various locations throughout the city! Hear folk and saxophone music at Aidan O’rourke & Brighde Chaimbeul’s show or listen to the captivating poems, spoken by author Salena Godden. Also on the agenda is live organ improvisation and more events, in gorgeous venues across the city.

3. Health events

In The Bath Festival’s 'How To Feel Better' series, you can attend their seven events that focus on self-improvement. With both physical and emotional health included, you can learn from stimulating events all curated to help you feel better. This topic kicks-off with Dr Federica Amati on The Science Of Eating For A Lifetime Of Health. This continues with more events that cover running, women’s health, fashion, happiness and that little (or big) voice that tells us we’re an imposter!

4. Book Club

The Bath Festival loves books! With their Book Club events you can hear about your favourite books or find inspiration for your to-be-read list. Hear first-hand from the authors about their projects such as novelists Jennie Godfrey and Susan Fletcher who will be chatting to guest curator Joe Haddow about their new books. A myriad of genres will be showcased with a diverse set of writers so this is sure to spark interest in both readers and writers.

5. Walking Tour: Bath on Screen

Blue Badge Tour guides will take you on an exciting and knowledgeable walking tour where you will find out how filming works in Bath. Behind-the-scenes information will be shared while you tour the different filming spots around Bath’s scenic Georgian streetscapes. You will complete this walking tour being well-versed with the backdrop to famous shows and films such as Netflix’s Bridgerton, Warner Bros’ Wonka and Channel 4’s First Dates.

For a range of worthwhile activities and events, visit The Bath Festival for an extravaganza journeying through a range of genres in the best music, literature and artistry Bath has to offer. Running from Friday 17th May to Sunday 26th May this year, find out more about what’s on, and secure your spot - CLICK HERE!