Park · BA1 2NR · Free

Victoria Park, Bath

57 acres. Free. Always open. Bath's main public park — botanical garden, children's playground, boating lake, and the best flat grass in the city. Adjacent to the Royal Crescent. 10 minutes' walk from the centre.

57 acres

Park size

Free

Always

9 acres

Botanical garden

10 min

From centre

Victoria Park — essential information

Location
Royal Avenue, Bath, BA1 2NR
Entry
Free
Size
57 acres
Founded
1830 (opened by Princess Victoria)
Nearest stop
Royal Avenue — 5 minutes' walk from city centre
Parking
Charlotte Street car park (Charlotte Street, BA1 2NE)
Botanical Garden
Free, within the park, 9 acres
Open
All year, 24 hours — always open

What's in Victoria Park

The Botanical Garden

9-acre botanical collection within the park. Over 5,000 plant species. Particularly strong on rare trees and a walled Mediterranean section. Free and always open. Best in May–June (roses and perennials) and September–October (autumn colour). The enclosed sections have benches and are good for sheltered sitting on a warm day.

Children's playground

Large adventure playground near the Charlotte Street car park entrance, suitable for ages 2–12. Free. Features climbing frames, slides, and a sandpit. Gets very busy on school holidays and weekends — arrive before 11am for quieter conditions. Adjacent to the playground is an area of flat grass suitable for younger children and pushchairs.

Boating lake

The ornamental lake in the park's north section. Pedalos available to hire at weekends and during school holidays. The lake is a wildlife habitat — ducks, moorhen, and seasonal waterfowl. The path around the lake is fully accessible and flat. Good viewpoint looking back towards the Royal Crescent from the far side of the lake.

Skate park

Concrete skate park near the Charlotte Street entrance. Free. Open to all abilities and ages. Helmets strongly recommended. Popular with local teenagers and young adults. The park is particularly busy in summer evenings. There is no formal booking or supervision.

Open grassland and tennis courts

Large open grassland areas used for informal sports, picnics, and the annual Bath Balloon Fiesta. Bookable tennis courts (pay and play) near the Royal Avenue entrance — check bathnes.gov.uk for current pricing. Flat sections near the Royal Crescent end of the park are most popular for picnics in summer.

Royal Crescent viewpoint

The south side of the park borders the Royal Crescent lawn. Walking across the park gives you a view of the Royal Crescent from a distance — the 30-house crescent framed by the lawn and the park behind. This is a classic Bath photographic composition. No entry fee. The Royal Crescent is directly accessible from this end of the park.

Events in Victoria Park

May

Bath Balloon Fiesta

Annual mass balloon launch from the park. Usually late May bank holiday weekend. Free to attend. Balloon launches are weather-dependent.

Various

Bath City Runs

Several charity and organised runs use the park as a start/end point. Parkrun every Saturday 9am (free, self-timed, register at parkrun.org.uk).

Summer

Outdoor cinema

Screen on the Green events during summer — check local listings for dates. Ticket-based events.

Summer

Park concerts

Occasional free or low-cost concerts in the park during Bath Festivals season (usually May/June and July).

See all events: what's on in Bath this weekend

Victoria Park with children

Victoria Park is the best free option in Bath for families with children. The playground (free), boating lake (seasonal pedalo hire), and open grass areas make it a full half-day. Combine with the Botanical Garden, which is engaging for older children. See our full family guide for more Bath options.

Bath with kids guide →

Staying near Victoria Park?

The Royal Crescent Hotel (rated 5*) is directly adjacent to the park entrance. Mid-range central hotels are a 10-minute walk. Compare options for your dates.

Bath hotels →

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Victoria Park Bath — frequently asked

Is Victoria Park Bath free?
Yes — Victoria Park is entirely free to enter and use. The botanical garden within the park is also free. There is no entry fee at any time. The pedalo hire on the boating lake is charged (seasonal, weekends only). Tennis courts require a booking fee. Everything else — playground, skate park, botanical garden, grassland — is free and always open.
Where is Victoria Park Bath?
Victoria Park is at Royal Avenue, Bath, BA1 2NR. It is approximately 10 minutes' walk from Bath city centre and 5 minutes from the Royal Crescent. The nearest car park is Charlotte Street car park (BA1 2NE). The park has multiple entrances: Royal Avenue (main entrance, Royal Crescent side), Marlborough Lane (west side), and Julian Road (north side). All entrances are free.
Is there a children's playground at Victoria Park Bath?
Yes — Victoria Park has a large free adventure playground near the Charlotte Street car park entrance, suitable for ages 2–12. The playground includes climbing frames, slides, and a sandpit. It is open daily and always free. The playground gets very busy on school holidays and sunny weekends. The park also has an open grass area suitable for younger children next to the playground.
What is the Botanical Garden at Victoria Park?
The Royal Victoria Park Botanical Garden is a 9-acre botanical collection within Victoria Park. It contains over 5,000 plant species, including rare trees, a Mediterranean walled garden, and seasonal borders. Free entry at all times. Best visited May–June for roses and perennials, and September–October for autumn colour. The garden is particularly tranquil on weekday mornings.
How do I get to Victoria Park from Bath city centre?
Victoria Park is a 10-minute walk from Bath city centre. From Bath Spa station: walk north up Stall Street, through the centre, past Bath Abbey, and follow Upper Borough Walls then Westgate Street towards Gay Street, and up to the Royal Avenue entrance — approximately 15 minutes. Alternatively from the Roman Baths: walk up Gay Street (10 minutes). There is no bus directly to the park — walking is the easiest option.

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