Yes, you can do a paint-your-own pottery session in Bath itself, at Crockadoodledo in Larkhall, a short walk from the city centre. Pottery starts from £21 for something small like a mug, plus a £5 studio fee per adult (£4 for children and students), and your piece is glazed and fired for collection two to three weeks later. There's also a second option just outside the city, Flourish at Glenavon Farm between Bath and Bristol, with a wider price range and a longer four-week firing turnaround.
Crockadoodledo, Larkhall: the in-city option
Crockadoodledo has run its pottery painting studio in Bath since 2003, now based at 4 Lambridge Buildings in Larkhall Village, close enough to the centre to walk from most places to stay. You pick an unpainted piece from a wide range of crockery, vases, money boxes and seasonal items, hand paint it with non-toxic water-based paints over a session that typically runs around two hours, and staff handle the glazing and firing afterwards in the studio's own kiln.
Pricing works in two parts: a studio fee of £5 per adult or £4 for children and students, which covers materials and processing, plus the price of the pottery piece itself, starting from around £21 for something like a mug and rising to about £60 for a large platter or jug. Firing and glazing takes roughly two to three weeks, and you'll get a text when it's ready to collect; if you're not local, postage via Royal Mail can be arranged instead.
Opening hours vary by season: Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm in school term time (Sunday and Tuesday by appointment only), and Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm during school holidays and half term. Call 01225 442 700 to book or check current availability, since walk-in space isn't always guaranteed.
Flourish, Glenavon Farm: the option between Bath and Bristol
If you don't mind a short drive, Flourish runs a pottery painting barn at Glenavon Farm, roughly between Bath and Bristol, behind its Flourish Home & Lifestyle shop. Pottery here ranges more widely in price, from about £10.50 up to £55, with painting and firing included in that price. You pay a £5.50 deposit per person when booking (a £5 non-refundable deposit plus a 50p admin fee), which is deducted from the final price of your pottery when you arrive. Firing takes about four weeks, longer during busy periods and school holidays, and the studio is cashless, so bring a card.
Comparing your options
| Crockadoodledo (Bath, Larkhall) | Flourish (Glenavon Farm) | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | 4 Lambridge Buildings, Bath BA1 6RS | Glenavon Farm, between Bath and Bristol |
| Pottery price range | From about £21 to £60 | From about £10.50 to £55 |
| Extra fee | £5 adult / £4 child studio fee | £5.50 deposit per person, deducted from price |
| Firing time | 2-3 weeks | About 4 weeks |
| Payment | Card and cash accepted | Cashless only |
| Best for | A session within walking distance of central Bath | A cheaper entry price if you're happy to drive a little further |
What to expect either way
Both studios work the same basic way: choose a piece, paint it yourself with guidance from staff if you want it, and come back weeks later once it's been glazed and fired, rather than taking a finished piece home the same day. That gap catches first-timers out, so if you want a gift ready for a specific date, book with enough lead time before it, not the week before you need it. Both also run children's parties, hen parties and group bookings, so it's worth calling ahead if you're planning something bigger than a casual visit.
Other creative things to do nearby
If pottery isn't quite what you're after, our cookery classes in Bath guide covers another hands-on activity in the city, and our escape rooms guide is worth a look if you want something group-based and indoor for a rainy day.