Some cities are good at keeping children occupied but Bath as a city is rather good at making them doubly curious. From 25 September to 4 October 2026, the Bath Children’s Literature Festival 2026 brings authors, illustrators, storytellers and young readers together across the city. There is plenty to choose from, whether your idea of a good Saturday involves Greg James and Chris Smith at the Guildhall, stepping into the world of Skandar with A.F. Steadman, or discovering the magic of live drawing with former Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell. But the festival is only part of the reason to come to Bath while the city itself feels like an extension of the stories.
A festival day, with Bath around it
One of the pleasures of the festival is the variety. Younger readers can settle in for Elmer Storytime, aspiring writers can try a creative writing masterclass, while older children might prefer fantasy, comics or even a Doctor Who quiz. So if you are wondering- what can children do at the Bath Children’s Literature Festival? Quite a lot, as it happens. You might make an event the centre of the day, then wander into Bath for lunch afterwards. The Guildhall, The Forum, The Mission Theatre and The Holburne Museum put you in different parts of the city, so there is always an excuse to explore somewhere new between events. And Bath is wonderfully compact for this. Walk a little further and you are among Georgian streets, independent shops, cafés and some of the city’s most recognisable landmarks. For families looking for things to do in Bath with kids, much of the pleasure comes from simply having all these experiences within easy reach.
Let the city tell its own stories
The Roman Baths are perhaps the most obvious place to begin. Beneath the city is a world of Roman rituals, ancient architecture and stories that are nearly two thousand years old.
Bath Abbey brings another chapter, while the Circus introduce the grandeur of Georgian Bath. For younger visitors, these aren’t simply buildings to admire. They are invitations to imagine who lived here, what the city sounded like and what might have happened before you arrived.
Then there are the less formal moments- wandering through Royal Victoria Park, finding a bookshop, stopping for hot chocolate or settling somewhere for lunch while everyone compares the day’s favourite story.
Make room for the adults, too
The beauty of bringing children to Bath is that the city doesn’t ask the adults to compromise.
While the festival provides plenty to keep young readers engaged, there are galleries to browse, Georgian architecture to admire, independent shops to explore and restaurants worth making an evening reservation for.
The result is a family weekend in Bath that feels like a proper city break rather than a children’s activity holiday. A morning with authors can become a long lunch; a festival event can lead to an afternoon in a museum; a walk through the city can finish with dinner somewhere everyone will enjoy.
Is Bath a good destination for a family weekend? It certainly makes a convincing case. The city has enough history, culture, food and space to keep everyone interested without requiring the weekend to revolve entirely around the festival.
For families looking to make the most of their stay, The Great British Sunday Roast at The Roseate Villa Bath offers another reason to linger. Served every Sunday from 1 PM–9 PM, the roast brings together traditional roasts, seasonal produce and all the familiar trimmings, making it an easy way to round off a family weekend in Bath around the table.
Stay in the story
The Roseate Villa Bath makes for a fitting base for the weekend for your family too. Set across two Victorian houses overlooking eight acres of Henrietta Park, the Villa gives you a quieter setting to return to while keeping Bath’s centre close at hand.
The Roman Baths, Bath Abbey and Jane Austen Centre are all around a five-minute walk away, and Henrietta Park is right outside. After a day spent listening to authors, exploring the city and discovering new books, there is something rather lovely about returning to the Villa, leaving the day’s adventures behind and having a little time together.
For families, the hotel becomes part of the experience rather than simply somewhere to sleep. There is the park for a stroll, comfortable spaces to retreat to and the city just beyond the garden. For anyone wondering where should I stay for the Bath Children’s Literature Festival?, the Villa puts the festival and the city within easy reach.
It is also worth considering when looking for the best family hotel Bath has to offer: somewhere that works for the whole family, while still feeling like a proper Bath stay.
Come for the stories, stay for Bath
The Bath Children’s Literature Festival provides an excellent reason to visit in early autumn, but the appeal of the weekend extends well beyond the programme.
If you have been wondering what events are on at the Bath Children’s Literature Festival’sprogramme, it ranges from author appearances and storytelling to creative workshops, live drawing, comics and more, giving families plenty of ways to shape their visit around the interests of the readers they are travelling with.
Because perhaps that is what makes Bath such a good destination for book lovers- the stories don’t seem to stop even when the event does.