When we are imagining the glorious city of Bath in the month of May, we have in our minds Franz Haydn’s String Quartet in B flat Op 76 no.4, resonantly curling through the air as one steps onto a terrace overlooking the honeyed skyline of Bath. The scent of spring blossoms drifts in with the breeze, and somewhere nearby, a festival stage is being set. This is May in Bath — elegant, enchanting, and full of things to fall into.
And with the Spring Bank Holiday falling on Monday 26 May 2025, there is no better excuse to escape for a long weekend.
Why Spend a Spring Weekend Getaway in Bath?
Late May is one of the loveliest times to visit Bath. The city is in bloom, the days are long, and there’s just enough warmth in the air to enjoy outdoor strolls without a coat.
The extra day off makes it easy to stretch a two-day break into something slower, deeper, and infinitely more enjoyable.
Two Festivals in One City!
May brings not one, but two major festivals to Bath and the city is all the more alive for it. You can follow the music, stories into another world, or just wander into a blissful reverie in a beautiful city. Here’s what to look forward to:
The Bath Music Festival | 16–25 May 2025 – One of the oldest and most celebrated music festivals in the UK.
Choral masterpieces: Music by Palestrina and Byrd, performed in the majestic Bath Abbey.
Chamber music: Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn and more from world-class string quartets.
Solo performances: Guy Johnston takes on all six of Bach’s cello suites; pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason headlines The Forum.
Unusual gems: Baroque from Ensemble Molière, and a genre-hopping musical ‘Juke Box’ by Elena Urioste and Tom Poster.
The Bath Literature Festival | 17–25 May 2025
An unmissable event for book lovers, thinkers, and the culturally curious.
Authors: Jojo Moyes, David Baddiel, Ruth Jones, Reeta Chakrabarti, and more.
Genres: Poetry to politics, cookery to crime fiction.
Don’t miss: The Lunchtime Lecture Series — short, sharp and fascinating talks daily at 1pm.
Debut authors and fresh ideas, it’s as inspiring as it is enjoyable.
Party in the City | Friday 16 May 2025 – The unofficial launch night of festival season and Bath at its most energetic.
2,000+ performers across 40+ venues
Free music everywhere: from Bath Abbey to local pubs, parks and pop-up spaces
A brilliant mix of jazz, folk, classical, funk, and everything in between
Entirely free to attend
Stay Somewhere That Feels Like Part of the Story
After a day spent immersed in chamber music at Bath Abbey or listening to brilliant minds at the Literature Festival, return to the quiet charm of The Roseate Villa Bath, your sanctuary and the best luxury hotel in Bath’s city centre. Set across two beautifully restored Victorian townhouses, the Villa offers a rare blend of old-world elegance and thoughtful modern touches.
Sink into a bespoke Hypnos bed, sip something crisp in the garden, or dine al fresco at Henrietta Bar and Garden, where the spring menu is a celebration of the season’s best and the finest spread of afternoon tea, the best in Bath. Just minutes from the Roman Baths and the heart of the festival venues, yet blissfully tucked away beside Henrietta Park, it is perfect for those who seek not just a stay, but a pause — graceful, unhurried, and quietly exquisite.
Make the most of spring in Bath with an indulgent stay and book directly for April and May to enjoy upto 15% off your room, along with a complimentary breakfast each morning — best savoured overlooking the garden, with a good book in hand.
Book your stay with the same joyful urgency you feel when a string quartet hits that perfect, heart-stirring harmony — you’ll want to be there before the first note fades!