Season guide · Bath · United Kingdom
Bath in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Unknown author, Public domain
Quick answer
The Christmas Market in early December, then quiet streets, low prices and the rooftop thermal pool steaming in cold air. Expect highs up to 9°C (48°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F), with about 36 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 2°C (36°F) to 9°C (48°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 36
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8°C (46°F) | 2°C (36°F) | 13 | 8.3 h | 1/5 |
| February | 9°C (48°F) | 2°C (36°F) | 10 | 9.9 h | 2/5 |
| December | 9°C (48°F) | 3°C (37°F) | 13 | 7.9 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 9°C (48°F) against a yearly 15°C (59°F), and 36 of the year's roughly 130 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- December: Bath Christmas Market continues (usually until mid-December)
Good choices for winter
Historic site · City Centre
Roman Baths
Arrive at opening or come in the late afternoon in summer to avoid the midday tour groups, and use the free audio guide.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Experience · City Centre
Thermae Bath Spa
The only place in Britain where you can bathe in natural thermal spring water, this modern spa combines restored historic buildings with a glass-walled block.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Couples
- Views
- Rainy day
- After dark
Museum · Bathwick
Holburne Museum
Walk on through Sydney Gardens behind the museum to the Kennet and Avon Canal bridges.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Upper Town
Jane Austen Centre
A Georgian townhouse on Gay Street, close to where Austen lived in 1805, tells the story of the author's Bath years and the city's role in Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, with costumed guides and a Regency tearoom upstairs.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
Gallery · City Centre
Victoria Art Gallery
Pop in on a rainy hour between the Abbey and Pulteney Bridge.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
Day trips in winter
- Castle Combe (About 30 minutes by car) — A southern Cotswolds village of honey-coloured stone cottages around a market cross and a bridge over the By Brook, often called one of the prettiest villages in England.
- Stonehenge (About 1 hour by car or coach tour) — The prehistoric stone circle on Salisbury Plain, begun around 5,000 years ago, with a visitor centre and reconstructed Neolithic houses.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Bath?
It is a trade-off: The Christmas Market in early December, then quiet streets, low prices and the rooftop thermal pool steaming in cold air. The best months overall are May–June and September.
+What is the weather like in Bath in winter?
Highs of up to 9°C (48°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F), with about 36 rainy days over the season.