Bath or surrounds - two teenage boys activities/suggestions

[Sandgroper]

Hi

We are on holiday in Bath right now. Looking for ideas for two teenage boys, for tomorrow and .Friday.

So far we have wandered around Bath and had unch, Roman Baths, Guided Walking tour around city, did movies at Tivoli yesterday, canal bike ride Bradford on Avon to Bath and back. All the things we wanted to do. DH thought Bristol might be interesting (he has been before).

Looking for something they might like to do in or around Bath. We tried booking indoor karting but had trouble with it so gave up.

Any locals have any ideas? Thanks

I second Bristol, lots of sightseeing and shopping. The mini golf in the main shopping centre is pretty decent too.

The weather doesn't look too bad for the rest of the week. Have you taken them here:

www.bathonthebeach.co.uk/games-2

It might be too late to organise, but there is an artificial surf lake called The Wave near Cribbs Causeway. I think you'd need a car for that, really.

The train to Bristol (Temple Meads) takes about 15-20 minutes. Look at VisitBristol for ideas.

It is easy enough to walk from the station to the floating harbour (not sure if the ferry is running), but catch number 8 bus if you want to get up to Clifton (suspension bridge, camera obscura and cliff viewing area).

If you have access to a car then this is local for go karting
www.m4karting.com/

Bristol has electric scooters for hire

Escape rooms? Bath or Bristol

We the Curious science museum in Bristol, right next to the harbour for lunch/dinner

Victoria Park (Bath) adventure golf - well regarded crazy golf
www.exceltennisbath.co.uk/adventure-golf

I seem to remember that you need at least a provisional driving licence to rent the Voi scooters.
You've probably already tripped over them in Bath!

Stand up paddle boarding on the canal. I think you can book via air bnb.

www.thewave.com/

waterpark.org/things-to-do/watersports/

I’d also suggest Bristol, you’re also near Longleat

@madcats ah, fair enough. DD was telling me about them but didn’t mention age limits or licence requirements 🤷‍♀️

Longleat is a great idea, something for everyone,

I always think bath is a bit crap for kids, they don't like the Georgian thing so much! Bristol recently had upfest graffiti festival - I should think you can still follow a trail to see. But more urban and teen friendly in bris! The train is only ten mins from bath.

Bristol is a good call, prebook museum (free but was limited tickets last month

If weather improves drive out to clevedon marine lake, great swimming and was only refilled on the high tide this weekend so clean again

Swimming at Farleigh Hungerford.

Hire a day boat on the canal.

An hour away by car you've got the Cotswold water park jam packed full of activities (though not sure how fully booked stuff is this late notice), otherwise as pp have said - you can hire boats in Bath which is fun. Have you been to the American museum? That's really good (though depends on your teenage boys, I loved it at that age). Bristol is good for some people - plenty of shopping, has escape rooms etc. Not my cup of tea but plenty enjoy it!

National Trust Prior Park in Bath and Dyrham Park on the A46. Westonbirt Arboretum is nice for a wander.

swimming, or other attractions on this website

Weather is awful today so you might like to try an Escape Room. Or if you are coming into Bristol the M Shed (museum) is free, indoors, and can keep you occupied for a few hours.

Climbing walls at St Werburghs (Bloc and The Climbing Academy), roped and Bouldering.

@gogohm

If weather improves drive out to clevedon marine lake, great swimming and was only refilled on the high tide this weekend so clean again

@gogohm has the water been tested since the refill? It never does well in hot weather and my god daughter has been very ill from swimming the day before it was drained?

Catch the train to Temple Meads Station in Bristol. Catch the ferry from the back of the station (you can get a hop on hop off ticket).
Visit:-
the SS Great Britain
M Shed
The Underfall Yard
We The Curious
Do a Banksy tour

If you have a car:-
Congo Falls crazy golf at Stockwood golf club
Avon Valley Railway at Bitton
Concorde museum at Patchway

Bit further afield:-
Haynes Motor Museum near Yeovil
Fleet Air Arm museum near Yeovilton
Helicopter museum/beach/pier at Weston Super Mare

There's always tenpin bowling at the Sports centre across the river on North Parade? The sports centre is run by Better. If your boys are remotely into swimming, the Uni has a 50 metre pool (where the gold medal olympic relay team train). The campus might be worth a look around if they are wondering about Uni (If challenged, just say you are trying to get to Sham Castle).

There is a dry ski slope out at Churchill (not too far from the Cheddar Gorge).

If you are stuck for Christmas present ideas for the family, there are still spaces this week to try glassblowing baubles: www.bathaquaglass.com/glass-blowing-activities-and-courses.html

If you need any sports kit, John Moore Sports near Pulteney Bridge carries a pretty good range or Running High (the park run has restarted on Saturday mornings).

Thanks so much all you locals for the fab range of activities, places to visit. Think that Bristol might be a goer and we have a car so other places easy to get to. Am off to do some research.

Today we did the Roman Baths in the am which they did enjoy once they got into it , followed by bribery Japanese for lunch and the free Mayor Blue Badge guides walking tour in the pm, (which I can thoroughly recommend). This they sort of enjoyed but my younger DS said we (meaning him and his older DB) are the only ones that don’t have grey hair😮. This was followed by more bribery at the sweet shop near the Abbey. Still they said they had a good day overall!

Have to say the traffic is still insane, DH insists driving into Bath even though we are staying a 10 minute bus ride away. DH and I visited 26 years ago and I don’t think it has improved😂.

I do love Bath though and happy to be celebrating my 25th wedding anniversary here on Friday. Thanks everyone

House of Frankenstein is a newly opened museum in Bath, meant to be quite a good immersive experience.

I went up in the roof of the abbey with my son. he moaned about doing it pre visit, but we both enjoyed it. you see the bells and some amazing views. not for anyone with claustrophobia or bad knees

In Bristol take a wander through North Street and surrounds in Bedminster, the upfest graffitti festival is ongoing and there are some amazing murals going up. In particular the one on the side of the Tobacco factory.

The suspension bridge and observatory and cave in Clifton are good and the natural slide just in front of the observatory (terrifying if youre an adult but do it anyway!).