Explore the hidden histories at Bath’s iconic riverside Colonnades

A unique opportunity to explore the Colonnades at Grand Parade is on offer this month as part of a project wide engagement event for the Bath Central Riverside regeneration scheme.

The engagement event, set in Parade Gardens and the Colonnades, will run from October 25 until November 1. 

There will be free entry to the Gardens and the door to the Colonnades, Undercroft and vaults under Grand Parade, and the Medieval East Gate on Boat Stall Lane.

Alongside opportunities to speak with Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Regeneration Team, there will be half-term activities including live pumpkin carving, entertainment from the Natural Theatre Company and a pop-up coffee cart.

There will be sculpture from local artists, a pop-up living maze and a winter garden installation. A digital model of the former Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution building, created by students from Bath Spa University, will also be on display.

Visitors will be invited to answer key questions relating to the six key project sites within the regeneration scheme Parade Gardens, the Colonnades, Pulteney Bridge, the Guildhall, Manvers Street and Terrace Walk.

The event runs from 9am until 5pm from Friday, October 25 to Friday, November 1.

Councillor Paul Roper, cabinet member for Economic and Cultural Sustainable Development, said: “The engagement event is an incredibly exciting opportunity to explore the past, experience lost spaces and engage with the future of Bath Central Riverside. Beyond the beautiful setting of the Gardens and the Colonnades there are hidden histories that are wating to be uncovered. By opening doors to these spaces there really is a unique chance for people to discover ‘what lies beneath’.

“With the entertainment and children’s activities on offer, it’s also going to be lots of fun for people of all ages and a perfect way to spend a day out in the school holidays.

“The public engagement will inform a 20-year Masterplan and is the first step to unlocking the potential of the Bath Central Riverside area. I hope many residents and businesses will join us on this journey from the beginning and get involved at the event.”

Bath Central Riverside was awarded £548,000 of grant funding from the West of England Combined Authority in 2023 with £232,000 of match funding from the council.