What’s on in Bath in November 2026 starts with three nights of fireworks in the first week and ends with the Christmas Market opening on Thursday 26 November. In between there is a David Suchet play at the Theatre Royal, the ice rink opening in Royal Victoria Park, a drone show over the racecourse and Remembrance Sunday at the Abbey. For a group of 8 to 20 it is one of the easier months to plan around, because the big things are on fixed dates and the city is quieter than it will be in December.
Every date below comes from the organiser’s own site or from Visit Bath’s listings, checked on 20 October 2026. Events move, so confirm with the organiser before you book travel.
Fireworks: 5, 6 and 7 November
Bath spreads Bonfire Night across three evenings, which suits a group arriving on a Friday. The Rotary display at the Rec is the city-centre one and the only one you can walk to from the pubs.
| Date | Event | Timings and tickets (organiser’s site, checked 20 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Thu 5 Nov | Bonfire Night at Park Farm, Kelston (Bath Soft Cheese) | 5pm to 7pm, according to Visit Bath’s listing |
| Thu 5 to Sat 7 Nov | Fireworks to Music, Avon Valley Adventure Park, Keynsham | 5pm to 9pm each night, according to Visit Bath’s listing |
| Fri 6 Nov | Fireworks Night, Bath Racecourse, Lansdown | Gates 5pm, hot air balloons 6.45pm, fireworks 7.30pm, ends 9pm; first-release adult tickets £9, under-13s free, according to Bath Racecourse |
| Sat 7 Nov | Bath Rotary Charity Fireworks Fiesta, the Rec | Gates 4.30pm, entertainment 5pm, launch 6pm, ends 6.30pm; advance tickets only, early-bird adult £10 and child 5 to 15 £4.50 plus booking fees, under-5s free, no parking on site, according to the Rotary Club of Bath via Bath Box Office |
| Sat 7 Nov | Fireworks at King Edward’s School, Bathampton | Evening display set to music, according to Visit Bath’s listing |
| Sat 7 Nov | Bonfire Night at Bath City Farm | 4.30pm to 7.30pm, free, no fireworks but a view over the city, according to Visit Bath’s listing |
For a group, the Rec is the simplest. It is a few minutes from the Abbey, the display is over by half past six, and dinner afterwards is a short walk. The Rotary event says it often sells out and there are no tickets on the gate, so buy before you travel. The racecourse on the Friday is the bigger spectacle, with balloons before the fireworks, but it is up on Lansdown, so plan a taxi or the Lansdown Park and Ride.
Remembrance Sunday, 8 November
Bath Abbey holds Remembrance services each year and the city centre is busy and quiet at the same time that morning. The Abbey’s general opening hours are 10am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm on Saturday and 1pm to 3.30pm on Sunday, with last entry thirty minutes before closing, according to the Abbey’s site. If your group wants to look inside on a Sunday, the afternoon is the only window.
Theatre and shows through the month
- The Sea, with Jennifer Saunders, runs at the Theatre Royal main house until 7 November.
- Murder in the Cathedral, with David Suchet, runs 10 to 21 November.
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time runs 24 to 28 November.
- Arthur opens at the Egg, the Theatre Royal’s children’s theatre, on 19 November and runs to 3 January.
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer drone light show is at Bath Racecourse on Saturday 21 November.
Those Theatre Royal dates are from the theatre’s what’s-on page, checked 20 October 2026. For a group, book early and ask the box office about group rates, because the main house sells well for a name like Suchet.
The Christmas run-up starts on 19 November
The city flips to Christmas in the third week of the month, a week before the market opens.
- Walking with the Snowman, a trail of twelve large Snowman sculptures across the city centre, runs from 19 November to 28 January, according to the Bath BID.
- Bath on Ice, the real ice rink in Royal Victoria Park, opens on 20 November and runs to 3 January 2027. The organiser’s listing on Visit Bath gives adult tickets at £16.50 and 10 per cent off bookings of ten or more, which is the first group discount of the season.
- The World of The Snowman exhibition opens at the Victoria Art Gallery on 20 November, according to the Bath BID.
- Bath Christmas Market opens on Thursday 26 November and runs to Sunday 13 December. Opening hours are 10am to 7pm Monday to Wednesday, 10am to 8pm Thursday to Saturday and 10am to 6pm on Sunday, according to the organiser.
The opening weekend of the market, 26 to 29 November, is also the one to watch for trains: the organiser warns of planned engineering work affecting services from London on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November. Our Christmas Market guide has the rest.
Rugby, and things to check before a November trip
Bath Rugby’s November fixtures are on the club’s site, and the big home game of the winter is just outside the month: Bath v Bristol Bears at the Rec on Friday 4 December, kick-off 7.45pm, according to the club’s on-sale page. Tickets went on general sale in October and the club said on 20 October that more than 85 per cent had gone. If a group wants that one, buy now. Our match day guide covers getting to the ground.
- No.1 Royal Crescent is closed from 16 to 28 November 2026, according to the museum’s visit page, so plan a different museum that fortnight. The Holburne Museum is open daily 10am to 5pm.
- The Roman Baths have published autumn hours to 31 October; check the winter hours on their site before you set a time. Groups of fifteen or more get a discount but need to book at least two working days ahead.
- The Park and Ride runs until 11.30pm Monday to Saturday and 6pm on Sundays, according to Travelwest. There is no parking at the Rec for the fireworks.
Where a group stays in November
November is still a quiet month for the houses outside Bath, which makes it a good time for a cheap weekend before the market crowds arrive. Topside House sleeps twenty with a hot tub, Upside House fourteen, and the School Rooms Estate in Box twenty, six miles from the city. The hot tub matters more in November than in any other month.
FAQ
Which fireworks night in Bath is best for a group?
The Rotary Fireworks Fiesta at the Rec on Saturday 7 November, because it is in the centre and finishes early enough for dinner. Buy tickets in advance; the organiser says there are none on the gate.
Is the Christmas Market open in November?
Yes, from Thursday 26 November, according to the organiser. The first weekend is busy, and there are engineering works on trains from London on 28 and 29 November.
Can we skate as a group?
Bath on Ice opens on 20 November and gives 10 per cent off bookings of ten or more, according to the organiser’s listing. Book a session in advance; the organiser says pre-booking is essential over the festive period.
Is November a good month to visit Bath with a group?
Yes. The first three weeks are quiet, prices are lower than December, and the fireworks give the weekend a fixed point. From 26 November the city fills quickly.
Next step
Pick your weekend around the fireworks on 6 and 7 November or the market from 26 November, then sort the house. Our where to stay for groups page explains the options, Stay Near Bath has the houses in Box and at Downside, and Celebrate Near Bath sorts the wider collection by group size. The full year is on our Bath events calendar.