Mary Shelley's House of Frankenstein, at 37 Gay Street in central Bath, is a multi-sensory museum and escape room attraction telling the story of how a teenage Mary Shelley came to write Frankenstein while living in the city. Museum tickets start from around £10.94 per person booked online, and it's worth it if you want an immersive, slightly theatrical take on local history rather than a conventional museum of cabinets and labels.
The real history behind it
Bath genuinely has a claim to being Frankenstein's birthplace. Mary Shelley lived in the city as a teenager and was present in Bath while working on the novel, which was published in 1818 when she was just 20. The House of Frankenstein museum is built around that connection, telling the story of Shelley's life, the writing of the book, and the cultural afterlife of her monster across four floors of the Gay Street building.
What's inside
The museum is described by its operators as a "multi-sensory" experience rather than a traditional walk-through of display cases, mixing sets, lighting and sound across four floors to tell the Frankenstein story and its connection to Bath. Visitor reviews consistently mention the atmosphere, including an unnerving monster statue, and the museum has drawn attention for how immersive it feels relative to its size. A basement walkthrough adds a creepier, more theatrical layer for visitors who want it, and it's included as an optional extra on some ticket types.
Escape rooms and other options
Beyond the standard museum, the venue runs escape rooms themed around the Frankenstein story, bookable with or without full museum entry. There's also a theatrical walking tour option, the Frankenstein Experience, run with Show of Strength Theatre Company, which combines a guided walk through Bath's darker history with museum entry. In October, the venue runs After Dark Horror Nights as a seasonal, more intense version of the experience.
Prices and opening hours
Museum tickets start from around £10.94 per person when booked online, with group discounts of over 20% available for museum-only tickets for parties of five or more. Escape rooms start from roughly £14-27 per player depending on the format and whether museum entry is included, and the theatrical Frankenstein Experience walking tour and museum combination is priced at £21 per person. The museum is open Sunday to Friday from 11am to 5.30pm, and Saturdays from 10am to 5.30pm. Always check the official site for current prices and hours before booking, since both can change seasonally.
Is it worth it?
If you want a quick, free history fix, you can get the headline story, that Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein while in Bath, from a guidebook or a plaque. The museum earns its ticket price if you want the fuller story told through an immersive, theatrical setting rather than a few paragraphs of text, and it's a genuinely different option from Bath's Georgian and Roman-focused attractions if you want to break up a day of architecture and spa history with something stranger.
Getting there
37 Gay Street sits in central Bath, within easy walking distance of the Circus and the Royal Crescent, so it combines naturally with a wider walk around the city's Georgian architecture. See our what is Bath famous for guide for the wider context, or our things to do with teenagers in Bath guide if you're looking for an activity that suits an older age group specifically.
Frequently asked questions
Did Mary Shelley really write Frankenstein in Bath?
Shelley lived in Bath as a teenager and was in the city while working on the novel, which was published in 1818. The House of Frankenstein museum is built around this local connection.
How much does Mary Shelley's House of Frankenstein cost?
Museum tickets start from around £10.94 per person online, with escape rooms, theatrical tours and combination tickets priced higher depending on the format. Check the official site for current prices before booking.
What are the opening hours?
Sunday to Friday, 11am to 5.30pm, and Saturdays 10am to 5.30pm, though it's worth confirming current hours on the official site before visiting, since seasonal events can affect them.
Is the House of Frankenstein suitable for children?
It leans atmospheric and occasionally unnerving, with reviewers specifically mentioning a monster statue and a creepy basement walkthrough, so it suits older children and teenagers better than young kids.
Are there escape rooms at the House of Frankenstein?
Yes, themed escape rooms are available with or without full museum entry, priced separately from standard museum tickets.
Where is the House of Frankenstein in Bath?
37 Gay Street, in central Bath, within walking distance of the Circus and the Royal Crescent.