Bath is a good city for a wet day. Duck into the Roman Baths, warm up in the Thermae Bath Spa rooftop pool (adults only), browse the free Victoria Art Gallery, or head out to the American Museum. Here are seven indoor things to do in the rain, current for 2026, with what's free.
Most of Bath's headline sights are under cover, so a downpour needn't spoil a visit. Free options are marked.
1. The Roman Baths
Photo: romanbaths.co.uk
Abbey Churchyard. The city's must-see is mostly indoors, so it's a natural rainy-day choice: the Great Bath, the temple and the museum, with a good audio guide. Book a timed slot. From about £27.50.
2. Thermae Bath Spa
Photo: thermaebathspa.com
Central. There's no better place to be in the rain than the naturally warm, open-air rooftop pool, steam rising around you. A two-hour session is from about £42.50. Note it's adults only (16+).
3. Victoria Art Gallery
Photo: victoriagal.org.uk
Bridge Street. Free permanent collection (charge for special shows), right by Pulteney Bridge. A compact, dry cultural stop in the heart of town.
4. American Museum and Gardens
Photo: americanmuseum.org
Claverton Manor, edge of the city. A hands-on museum of American history and folk art in a manor house, open Tuesday to Sunday from mid-February to the end of December. A good half-day out of the wet. ££.
5. Herschel Museum of Astronomy
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
New King Street. The Georgian townhouse where Uranus was discovered, now a small museum, open Tuesday to Sunday. A quiet, quirky hour out of the rain. £.
6. Bath Aqua Glass
Kingsdown studio (note: it moved from Walcot Street in late 2025). Watch glass-blowing demonstrations or book a make-your-own experience. A warm, hands-on option; booking recommended.
7. Covered shopping and a long lunch
SouthGate and Milsom Street. When all else fails, Bath does browsing well: the SouthGate centre is covered, and a long lunch or an afternoon tea (try the Pump Room) is a fine way to sit out a shower. Mostly free to wander.
The honest alternative
For a free wet day, the Victoria Art Gallery plus a wander round the covered shops and a bakery lunch will see you through at no cost. Save the Roman Baths or a Thermae session for when you want the rain to actually add to the experience, which, in a steaming rooftop pool, it genuinely does. For families, note Thermae is adults-only; see Bath with kids.
FAQs
What can you do in Bath when it rains?
Plenty indoors: the Roman Baths, the adults-only Thermae Bath Spa (its rooftop pool is wonderful in the rain), the free Victoria Art Gallery, the American Museum, the Herschel astronomy museum, Bath Aqua Glass, and covered shopping with a long lunch or afternoon tea.
Is Thermae Bath Spa good in the rain?
Yes, arguably better. The open-air rooftop thermal pool is a highlight in any weather, and being in warm water with rain falling around you is part of the appeal. Note the spa is adults-only (16+), and a two-hour session is from about £42.50.
What free indoor things are there in Bath?
The Victoria Art Gallery's permanent collection is free, and browsing the covered SouthGate shopping centre and the streets around Milsom Street costs nothing. Many of Bath's museums charge, but the gallery is the reliable free indoor option.
Is the Roman Baths indoors?
Largely yes. The route around the Great Bath, the temple, the sacred spring and the museum is mostly under cover, making it a solid rainy-day choice. Book a timed slot, ideally for the morning when it's quietest.