There’s a reason Bath is one of the first names that comes to mind when people plan a festive getaway. Golden Georgian streets, a glowing abbey, the aroma of mulled wine drifting between the market chalets: the city seems to have been designed with Christmas in mind.
Christmas in Bath 2026 is shaping up to be a particularly good one. The famous Christmas Market returns, an ice rink pops up in Royal Victoria Park, The Snowman steps off the page and into the Victoria Art Gallery, and there’s plenty more besides, from an outdoor Nutcracker trail to a festive fun run.
Here’s our guide to the highlights, and a suggestion for where to rest your head after all the excitement.
Christmas in Bath 2026: Key dates at a glance
| Event | Dates | Where |
| Bath Christmas Market | 26 Nov – 13 Dec 2026 | Bath city centre |
| Bath on Ice | 20 Nov 2026 – 3 Jan 2027 | Royal Victoria Park |
| The World of The Snowman™ | 20 Nov 2026 – 28 Feb 2027 | Victoria Art Gallery |
| The Nutcracker trail | Weekends 28 Nov – 13 Dec, then daily 19 Dec – 3 Jan (closed 24 & 25 Dec) | Prior Park Landscape Garden |
| Mental Elf Festive Fun Run | Sunday 29 Nov 2026 | Odd Down Sports Ground |
Bath Christmas Market 2026
No guide to Christmas in Bath would be complete without the Bath Christmas Market, which runs from Thursday 26 November to Sunday 13 December 2026. It was named Best UK Christmas Market in 2024, and it’s easy to see why.
More than 200 wooden chalets fill the Georgian streets around Bath Abbey, selling handmade gifts, tree decorations, local food and drink, and plenty of things you didn’t know you needed. Between the stalls you’ll find some of the city’s best independent shops, cafés and bars, so you can duck inside to warm up whenever you like.
Good to know: the market is open Monday to Wednesday 10am–7pm, Thursday to Saturday 10am–8pm, and Sunday 10am–6pm. Leave time to linger into the evening, when the chalets and the city’s festive lights glow against the Bath stone.
Bath on Ice at Royal Victoria Park
If you’d rather glide than browse, head to Bath on Ice, which returns to Royal Victoria Park from 20 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Around 1,000 square metres of ice sits beneath glowing lights, with festive tunes to skate to.
There’s more to it than the rink. Try Glow Golf, a round of night-time mini golf with glow-in-the-dark balls, then settle into the heated Moguls Alpine Bar for wood-fired pizza, festive cocktails or spiced mulled wine. Don’t fancy skating? The spectator area and bar are free to enter, so non-skaters can still enjoy the atmosphere. Skating sessions run hourly from morning until evening, and pre-booking is essential over the festive period.
This season also brings student nights, themed days and limitless skate sessions, so keep an eye on the website for what’s on during your visit.
The World of The Snowman™ at Victoria Art Gallery
Fans of the much-loved winter story will want to visit The World of The Snowman™ at the Victoria Art Gallery on Bridge Street, from 20 November 2026 to 28 February 2027.
This family-friendly exhibition brings The Snowman and his friends to life inside Bath’s public art gallery, making it a lovely indoor option when the weather turns. Full details are still to be announced, so check the gallery’s website for the latest information before you go. Because it runs well into February, it also works for a post-Christmas break once the crowds have thinned.
The Nutcracker at Prior Park
For something a little more theatrical, The Nutcracker at Prior Park invites you to explore the lower garden of this National Trust landscape while the classic story comes to life along an outdoor trail. It’s designed to enchant children and grown-ups alike.
The trail runs at weekends from 28 November to 13 December, then daily from 19 December to 3 January (closed 24 and 25 December). It’s free with standard admission, last entry is 3pm, and the Tea Cabin serves festive treats including mince pies and hot chocolate. Wrap up warm, take your time over the views, and finish with something hot to drink.
Bath Mind’s Mental Elf Festive Fun Run
Want to burn off a few mince pies before you’ve eaten them? On Sunday 29 November, the Mental Elf Festive Fun Run takes over Odd Down Sports Ground, raising money for the local charity Bath Mind.
It’s open to all ages and abilities, with a 2km or 5km route to choose from. Every runner gets a finisher’s medal and goody bag, and there’s a local marketplace, free children’s activities, a café and a raffle for everyone to enjoy afterwards. Runners and spectators alike will find it a cheerful, community-spirited way to start the festive season, and it supports a good cause.
More festive fun in and around Bath
Once you’ve ticked off the headline events, there’s plenty more to fill a long weekend:
- Christmas at the Roman Baths: enjoy a drink from the pop-up bar every weekend, and pick up Roman-inspired gifts in the museum shop.
- Pantomime at Theatre Royal Bath: Beauty and the Beast is a firm family favourite.
- Peter Pan on Ice at The Forum: a festive spectacle for all ages.
- Carols and concerts at Bath Abbey: including Handel’s Messiah with Bath Choral Society on 4 and 5 December.
- Father Christmas’s Grotto at the Holburne Museum: open from 27 November to 23 December.
- Light trails and winter wonderlands nearby: Christmas at Westonbirt Arboretum, Winter Wonderland at Wookey Hole and The Festival of Light at Longleat are all within easy reach.
- National Trust at Christmas: Dyrham Park, just outside Bath, is another pretty festive day out.
For the full list, the Visit Bath Christmas events page is updated regularly.
Where to stay for Christmas in Bath
A Christmas break is all the better when you have somewhere warm and welcoming to come back to.
Toghill House Farm is an historic guesthouse and working farm on the outskirts of Bath, on the edge of the Cotswolds, and the city centre is only around five minutes away by car.
The house dates back to 1691, when it served as a resting place for monks travelling between Glastonbury and Malmesbury, and it was restored as a working farm in 1861. Today it offers traditional bed and breakfast with plenty of character.
Why guests love Toghill House:
- Characterful, comfortable rooms in the main farmhouse or the barn conversion, each decorated to reflect the history of the building. See the rooms for details.
- Far-reaching views over the River Severn, the Bristol Channel, the hills of Wales and the Brecon Beacons.
- A traditional English breakfast to set you up for a day of market stalls and skating.
- Easy, relaxed practicalities: on-site parking, a laundry room, a pretty courtyard, and a warm welcome for well-behaved pets.
- A taste of country life: wander the marked walking routes and say hello to the sheep, horses, bantams and Shetland pony, plus the farm’s friendly cats and dogs.
After a busy day among the festive crowds in the city, there’s something very restful about retreating to a quiet farmhouse in the countryside. You can enjoy Bath’s evening lights and a leisurely dinner, then head to a comfortable bed rather than a long journey home.
The village of Wick, about a mile away, has a pub and restaurant, and the pretty village of Castle Combe is only five minutes’ drive from the farm. If you fancy a day out beyond Bath, Bristol’s waterfront and the Cotswolds are both within easy reach.
Toghill House Farm offers 10% off when you book direct, and a 3-nights-for-the-price-of-2 winter offer. Check the booking page for current availability and terms.
Check availability and book your stay at Toghill House Farm, or call the team on 01225 891261.
Toghill House Farm, Freezing Hill, Wick, near Bristol, BS30 5RT.
NOTE: Event dates and details are correct at the time of writing but may change. Please check each organiser’s website before you travel.