Victoria Art Gallery

Include a visit to the family-friendly Victoria Art Gallery in your day out in Bath. With free entry to its permanent collection, this art gallery in the very centre of the historic city is a great way to introduce children of all ages to the world of art.

Throughout the year, young visitors are welcomed with gallery trails, worksheets and art trolleys – all are free – and additional drop-in activities for families are organised during school holidays. Before you visit, check the website to find out what’s on. There is pushchair access via the gallery’s side door and lift access to the first floor. Free child carriers and baby changing facilities are available.

The Victoria Art Gallery’s collections were formed in the main as a result of gifts and bequests going back over 100 years and date from the 15th century to the present day.

The first-floor Gallery has been restored and houses Bath & North East Somerset’s collection of paintings, sculpture and decorative arts. The Decorative Arts collection is made up of interesting pottery dogs, British porcelain, Bohemian glass and Georgian drinking glasses.

In the Upper Gallery, visitors can see pieces spanning hundreds of years of art history along with still life, landscapes and portraiture. Bath was famous for its portrait painting in the late 1700s and it was common for wealthy visitors to sit for a portrait when coming to the city to enjoy the spa. The collection also includes more recent works with a local connection by teachers at Bath Academy for Art in the 1950 and 1960s, renowned as one of the leading art schools of the day.

There is also a temporary exhibition on the ground floor for which there is an admission charge. Admission to the temporary exhibition is £4 for adults and free for children aged 6-16 years. A saver ticket to the Fashion Museum, Roman Baths and Victoria Art Gallery is available. Please see the website for further information.