Herschel Museum of Astronomy
ENTRY
from £11
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Bath
What it’s like
Step into the actual Georgian house where William Herschel spotted Uranus from his back garden.
This is the house where Uranus was found. William Herschel spotted it in 1781 using a telescope he'd built himself in the workshop, and the back garden where he did it is still there for you to wander round, bench and all. Inside you get twelve rooms of Georgian house, Caroline Herschel's actual visitors' book, and a "Top 10 Treasures" trail that gives kids something to hunt for rather than just trailing round after you reading wall text.
Forty-five minutes covers the house comfortably, though the garden and gift shop tend to pull people in for longer once they've done the rooms. There's a free app, Bloomberg Connects, that adds a digital tour if your kids like poking at a screen as much as the exhibits. It's £12.50 for an adult and under-18s go in free with a paying grown-up, and the ticket doubles as an annual pass, so if you fall for the place you can go back within the year for nothing.
The catch, and it's a proper one: this is a historic building with no lift, so six of the twelve rooms and the garden are only reachable by stairs. Buggies and mobility scooters aren't allowed inside either, to protect the furniture, so you'll want a sling or reins if you've got a toddler who won't walk the whole way round. There's no on-site parking, with the nearest pay and display about five to ten minutes' walk off.
If you've got a child who gets overwhelmed easily, they've clearly thought about it: sensory bags with ear defenders and fidget toys are available to borrow, and quiet visits can be arranged with a bit of notice. Booking online is recommended to guarantee a slot, but you can turn up and take your chances too.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- No set age range, but under-18s go free with a paying adult
- Last entry
- 16:00 (4pm)
- Booking
- Online booking recommended to guarantee entry, but walk-ups available
- Parking
- No on-site parking. Charlotte Street car park 150m-10 minutes walk away, pay and display
- How long to allow
- 45 minutes to explore comfortably, but some visitors linger in the garden and gift shop
- Wheelchairs
- Manual wheelchairs permitted. Mobility scooters and buggies not allowed
- Dogs
- Assistance dogs only, must be under control, on lead with tabard/harness where possible
- Getting there by bus or train
- Bath Spa railway station approx 15 minutes walk
- Parties
- Event hire available for exclusive group tours and walled garden celebrations
- Worth knowing
- Tickets double up as annual passes, allowing free return visits within 12 months
- Your ticket doubles as an annual pass, so you can pop back free within 12 months
- Hang on to your receipt for annual pass proof, lost ones can't be reissued
- Local residents get 25% off with a free Discovery Card, and ArtFund members get 50% off
- Bath Spa station is about a 15 minute walk if you're coming by train
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£12.50 for an adult, £11 concessions. Under-18s get in free if they're with a paying adult, and carers go free too.
Do we need to book?
Booking online is recommended if you want to guarantee entry, but walk-ups are fine when it's quiet.
How long should we plan for?
The house takes about 45 minutes to explore properly. Add on extra time if the garden bench or the gift shop catch your eye.
Is it OK for a toddler?
Buggies aren't allowed inside, so you'll need to carry or wear a toddler round the house. There's no set age range given, but under-18s are free with an adult.
Can we bring a pram or wheelchair?
Prams and mobility scooters can't come inside, though manual wheelchairs are fine. It's not step-free, six rooms and the garden are stairs-only, and there's a virtual iPad tour for those upper floors instead.
Is there parking?
No parking on site. Charlotte Street car park is the nearest, about five to ten minutes' walk, pay and display.
What time's last entry?
Last entry is 4pm, with the museum open 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Sunday, plus Mondays in the school holidays.
Is the museum closed at any point?
It shuts on 25th and 26th December. It can also close occasionally for school visits or group bookings.
Do you cater for autistic or neurodivergent visitors?
There's a social story to help plan the visit, a sensory map, and sensory bags to borrow from reception (you'll need to leave ID). Quiet visits can be arranged with advance notice.
Can you hire it for a party or event?
They do event hire for exclusive group tours, and the walled garden can be booked for celebrations.
Are dogs allowed?
Only assistance dogs, and they need to be on a lead, ideally with a tabard or harness.
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