Bath Assembly Rooms

Free

The Grade I listed Assembly Rooms, which was a social hub frequented by Jane Austen and Charles Dickens during Bath’s Georgian-era heyday.

The building is maintained by the National Trust and the rooms are used primarily as events venues and have also been used as filming locations for period dramas including the film adaptations of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey (1986) and Persuasion (1995).

The Assembly Rooms were mentioned in Austen’s novels Northanger Abbey and Persuasion and Charles Dickens also referred to the Assembly Rooms in his novel, The Pickwick Papers.

What to see at the Bath Assembly Rooms

The Assembly Rooms comprise four rooms: the Ball Room, the Tea Room, the Octagon Room and the Card Room. The rooms are noted for their opulent chandeliers and they are also home to an art collection that portrays high society in 18th-century Bath.

During Bath’s heyday in the 18th century, the Ball Room would host balls twice a week with between 800 and 1,200 guests at a time.

There would be an intermission during the ball where guests would withdraw to the Tea Room (also known as the Concert Room). During the Georgian period, the Tea Room would also open to the public on Sundays.

The three Chandeliers adorning the Tea Room in the Bath Assembly Rooms. (Photo: Glitzy queen00 [CC BY-SA 3.0])
The three Chandeliers adorning the Tea Room in the Bath Assembly Rooms. (Photo: Glitzy queen00 [CC BY-SA 3.0])
The Ball Room and Tea Room were linked by the Octagon Room, which was designed as a space for mingling, playing cards and listening to music. A newer Card Room was added to the complex in 1777 and is now used as a cafe.

The Octagon Room at the Bath Assembly Rooms. (Photo: Glitzy queen00 [CC BY-SA 3.0])
The Octagon Room at the Bath Assembly Rooms. (Photo: Glitzy queen00 [CC BY-SA 3.0])

Visiting the Bath Assembly Rooms

The Assembly Rooms are located above the Fashion Museum at the northern end of the city centre. Most points of interest are within walking distance and The Circus, the Museum of Bath Architecture, the Museum of Bath at Work, the Museum of East Asian Art, the Jane Austen Centre and No. 1 Royal Crescent are all no more than a five-minute walk from the museum.

The Fashion Museum is located in the basement of the Grade I listed Bath Assembly Rooms. (Photo © 2024 Rover Media)
The Fashion Museum is located in the basement of the Grade I listed Bath Assembly Rooms. (Photo © 2024 Rover Media)

Admission to the Assembly Rooms is free of charge. However, the rooms are used primarily as an events venue and, depending on the event schedule, not all rooms may be accessible to the public.

There are no comments yet.

Submit your review

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Plan your next trip to England with us

Planning a trip to England? englandrover.com is your independent source of travel information with information about how to get around, what to see and do and where to stay on your next trip to England.

Plan your next trip to England with us

Planning a trip to England? englandrover.com is your independent source of travel information with information about how to get around, what to see and do and where to stay on your next trip to England.

The South

The Midlands

The North

Back to England Rover home

Copyright 2018–2024 Rover Media Pty Ltd

Back to England Rover home

Copyright 2018–2024 Rover Media Pty Ltd

Login

Register

Your personal data will be used to support your experience throughout this website, to manage access to your account, and for other purposes described in our privacy policy.

Already have account?

Lost Password

Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.