There are plenty of things to do in Bath now that there's a chill in the air, the days are shorter, and crunchy, golden leaves are carpeting the ground. Here are a few reasons to visit the city over the next few months...

Celebrate All Things Foodie

Discover autumn flavours in Bath, one of the UK’s best foodie destinations. Savouring Bath offers tours visiting suppliers around the city with their Local Flavours, Guilty Pleasures and Food Heroes walks. Book a tour before Saturday 18 November, when tours will take a break until March 2024.

Bathtoberfest brings a range of ale trails, talks, tours and tastings to the city from 29 September until 8 October, with pubs, distilleries and beer shops across the city getting involved.

You can also discover a wide range of cuisine, from Michelin-starred dining at The Olive Tree, to comfort food at Pieminister. Don’t forget our local specialities either, including the famous Sally Lunn bun or luxurious afternoon teas.

• Discover more food and drink in Bath

Image - The Marlborough Tavern

Get Ready for Curtain Up

Theatre Royal Bath have a fantastic series of performances lined up this autumn. Watch legendary stage and screen actor Brian Cox in The Score (12 - 28 October), a fast-paced fly through of all 144 episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer (30 - 31 October), beautiful dance performances in Rambert (2 - 4 November), or slapstick fun in Peter Pan Goes Wrong (6 - 11 November). You can also enjoy a range of family-friendly shows at The Egg Theatre. View the full autumn programme here.

Other highlights this autumn include Sh!t-Faced Shakespeare - Much Ado About Nothing at Komedia (25 October), Sheila's Island at Rondo Theatre (1 - 4 November), Komedia's 15th Birthday and Free Music Festival (10 November) and Marmen Quartet at Wiltshire Music Centre (15 November).

• See what's coming up in our Events Calendar

Image - Theatre Royal Bath

Marvel at Mozart

Bath Mozartfest return from 10 - 18 November with a dazzling programme of classical concerts, performed in the splendid surroundings of Bath and its historic buildings.

Image - Bath Mozartfest

Indulge in all things Austen

In Autumn, Georgian Bath comes alive with a multitude of Jane Austen experiences. Find out more about the author's life at the Jane Austen Centre, or retrace Jane’s steps in Bath on the Jane Austen Trail or a walking tour, and get to know the elegant city which provided inspiration for two of her six published novels.

• Jane Austen's Bath

Pick a Pumpkin or Two

For a fun-filled family day out, why not go pumpkin picking near Bath? Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park’s Pick Your Own Pumpkin Patch is also open until 29 October, with special Pumpkin Patch Nights too.

You can also explore autumn trails at Prior Park Landscape Garden, Dyrham Park or Westonbirt Arboretum, or the stunning grounds at Bowood House.

• More half term and family events

Image - Prior Park Landscape Garden

Steady Yourself for Scare Season

Bath is ready for a seriously spooky Halloween, from ghost tours and scare mazes to a terrifying house of horrors at After Dark in Mary Shelley's House of Frankenstein. You can also take on their themed escape rooms or get some friends involved to try and solve The Body in a Suitcase Challenge.

There are also plenty of Halloween-themed activities at the American Museum and Gardens or Wookey Hole Caves.

• More Halloween events and activities

Image - Mary Shelley's House of Frankenstein

Marvel at Firework Displays

Remember, remember the 5th of November... spend Bonfire Night at one of Bath's magnificent displays. You'll also find numerous local firework displays in towns and villages near Bath.

• Fireworks displays in and around Bath

Image - Fireworks at Avon Valley

Soak up the Spa Water

As the nights draw in, what better way to spend an evening than at Thermae Bath Spa, watching the sun set over the glorious landscaped hills? There’s nothing like feeling the early chill of the autumn air on your face as you’re immersed in the steaming thermal waters! 

Thinking of booking a relaxing autumn spa break in Bath? Take a look at our latest special offers, or discover eight of the best spa hotels in Bath.

Image - Thermae Bath Spa

Catch a Movie

FilmBath Festival takes place from 19 - 29 October, at venues across the city. Enjoy nine days filled with previews, special events, Q&As, F-Rated, LGBTQ+, documentary features, shorts, and of course, the IMDb Awards. If you like great films, then welcome home: this is the place for you.

• Discover more of Bath’s film connections and learn what's been filmed in the city.

Image - FilmBath

Get Arty and Be Inspired

Don't miss the stunning Gaia at Bath Abbey, in place until 29 October.

Admire beautiful artworks at the Victoria Art Gallery’s autumn exhibition, Gail Mason: The Unseen Landscape, or experience some unusual perspectives in When Dreams Confront Reality: Surrealism in Britain.

The Bath Contemporary Artists' Fair returns to Green Park Station on 8 October and 11 November, and Roseberry Road Studios, Bath's newest exhibition space, hosts a major retrospective of past and new works from Terry Flaxton, one of the UK's foremost video artists from 7 to 29 October.

Image - Victoria Art Gallery

Need more ideas for planning your autumn break to Bath?

• Autumn activities in Bath
• Experiences in Bath
• Places to Stay With Kids in and Around Bath