Rainy day in Bath

Almost entirely undercover — the walkways, museum galleries, and the Roman remains are all roofed. The outdoor section (the Great Bath itself) is open to rain, but only one part of the experience. Probably the best rainy-day anchor attraction in Bath.

Entirely indoor except the rooftop pool — which is heated to 40°C and actually more enjoyable in cold or rainy weather. Pre-booking essential and often required a week or more in advance. The steam rooms, waterfall shower, and indoor pools are all inside. Rain makes the rooftop experience better, not worse.

Free for the permanent collection. Gainsborough, Turner, Stubbs, and decorative arts in a Palladian villa at the end of Great Pulteney Street. The café (charging separately) is a good shelter option on a wet afternoon. Temporary exhibitions are ticketed.

Free. British and European paintings from the 15th century, strong on 18th-century Bath portraits. Completely sheltered — a good 45-minute option in the centre near Pulteney Bridge. The building is small but the collection is well-curated.

The fan-vaulted ceiling and the wall memorial tablets take 30–45 minutes to see properly. Completely dry and open to visitors every day (Mon–Sat 10am–4pm; limited access during services). Heritage Vault exhibition included with the suggested donation.

Covers Austen's time in Bath, 1801–1806. Small but well-presented. The Regency Tea Room on the ground floor is good for wet-afternoon afternoon tea — a short wait but serves without booking. Gay Street, central location.

A Georgian townhouse restored to 1776 interiors. Entirely indoor. Shows how the upper-class residents of the Royal Crescent actually lived — furniture, domestic arrangements, and upstairs-downstairs social structure. Tuesday–Sunday 10:30am–5:30pm.

The only museum dedicated to the art of building a city. Includes a 1:500 scale model of Bath and explains how the Georgian streets were financed and constructed. Seasonal opening — check museumofbatharchitecture.org.uk. Countess of Huntingdon's Chapel, BA1 1JW.

Covered market in the Guildhall building (Market Place, BA1 1LA). Independent food stalls, local producers, bakers, cheese. Monday–Saturday. Good for a late morning browse and cheap lunch (from £3). The entrance from High Street is through the main Guildhall archway.

If the rain extends to the evening: Komedia Bath has weekend shows and a weekday programme. Stand-up, cabaret, and club nights. Booking essential — komedia.co.uk/bath. Westgate Street, central location.