Welcome to Beckford’s Tower & Museum
Writer. Collector. Builder of Towers. Outcast. Exploiter. Owner of enslaved people.
Who was William Beckford? In the newly restored Tower and Museum we tell his story – taking in the view from all perspectives.
What’s on at Beckford’s Tower
Circus festivals; creative workshops; expert talks; nature walks; and family activities. Find out what we’ve got planned at Beckford’s Tower and Museum.
Plan your visit to Beckford’s Tower and Museum
Opening times, how to get here, accessibility, and everything else you might need to know about visiting Beckford’s Tower and Museum.
Please be aware that the Museum and landscape explores subjects of abuse, enslavement and exploitation
Getting here
Beckford’s Tower is located slightly outside the centre of Bath, but can be reached easily, on foot or by bicycle. There is also an extremely convenient bus service from Milsom Street, with stops located very close to the main entrance of the Tower.
Address, opening times and admission
Address
Beckford’s Tower and Museum
Lansdown Road
Bath
BA1 9BH
Opening times
14 February 2026 to 25 October 2026:
- 10am to 5pm
- Open Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays
- Last admission 4.30pm
31 October 2026 to 13 December 2026:
- 10am to 4pm
- Open Saturdays and Sundays
- Last Admission 3.30pm
Please note: The Grotto car park will be locked one hour after last admission
We are able to accommodate private behind-the-scenes group tours outside of normal opening times when booked in advance – please email [email protected] to enquire.
Admission
Museum tickets are available on the door, although we recommend booking online to avoid disappointment.
Getting here on foot
A walking map with directions is available here.
From Bath city centre, head north up Lansdown Road following signs for Bath Racecourse. At St Stephen’s Church junction, keep left and continue up hill. Beckford’s Tower is on the left of the road, accessible by the drive opposite Granville Road, past the Hare and Hound pub.
The walk takes around 45 minutes. The What3Words location for Beckford’s Tower is ///popped.smoke.lush.
Circular walks
There are a number of longer scenic routes for walkers which can include a visit to Beckford’s Tower, more information can be found https://www.bathscape.co.uk/activity/more-self-guided-walking-trails/
Getting here by bicycle
There are cycle racks located at the Grotto entrance to the Tower, where bicycles may be securely locked during your visit. The accessible WC at the grotto entrance, along with the WC in the museum may be used by cyclists to change if this is required, just speak to a member of staff.
To find more cycling routes you can use this Route Planner.
Getting here by e-scooter
TIER e-scooters are a fun way to explore Bath. Look out for the e-scooters and e-bikes at parking stands across the city. You can, for example, pick one up at Bath Spa railway station, just one of many Parking Zones in the city, all clearly marked on TIER’s app.
Getting here by bus
Catch the Park and Ride bus (no. 31) from Milsom Street bus stop, which runs every 15 minutes. If arriving in Bath by train, leave by the main entrance of Bath Spa station, cross the road, and follow St Lawrence Street, Stall Street, then Union Street up to Milsom Street. The bus stop is on the right hand side.
The bus journey takes about 8 minutes. Ask the driver when you board if you can alight at the Lansdown Cemetery bus stop directly outside the Tower.
For more information, see the timetable on the First Bus website.
Getting here by car
Where a car visit is necessary, whether to visit the Tower, or for an event, we recommend that visitors share cars wherever possible, as parking is extremely limited.
We have three standard visitor car park spaces plus one blue badge space at the Grotto car park. We have one blue badge space and one EV charging space at the Tower car park.
From Bath city centre, head north up Lansdown Road following signs for Bath Racecourse and Lansdown Park and Ride. At St Stephen’s Church junction, keep left and continue up hill. Beckford’s Tower is on the left of the road once it plateaus, past the Hare and Hound pub.
Beckford’s Tower has a small car park at the Grotto end of the site, however the number of spaces is limited. A much better solution is to use the nearby Lansdown Park & Ride service (payable on site – see prices here), which is a 10-15 minute walk from the tower.
For more information, see the timetable on the First Bus website.
For electric vehicle owners there is a charging point located at the Tower car park, What3Words reference ///economies.person.spine. Please contact a member of staff if you wish to use this.
Accessibility
There is a dedicated disabled parking space in the Grotto car park, What3Words reference ///economies.person.spine.
Disabled parking is also available at the main Tower car park, opposite Granville Road.
Please contact [email protected] to book this in advance or call 01225 460705.
The Museum is located on the first floor of the Tower building and access is up a flight of stairs. The Tower itself has 154 steps to the Belvedere at the top.
Awards and recognition
Since our refurbishment project and relaunch in 2024 Beckford’s Tower has achieved the following commendations:
- AABC Conservation Awards 2026 – Finalist
- 2025 Georgian Group Architectural Award – ‘Restoration of a Georgian Building in a Landscape’
- Bath Bristol and Somerset Tourism Award 2025/2026 – ‘Small Visitor Attraction of the Year’ – Gold
- Bath Bristol and Somerset Tourism Award 2025/2026 – ‘Accessible and Inclusive Tourism’ – Bronze
Explore the collection at Beckford’s Tower and Museum
Please note that the Museum’s collection includes objects that William Beckford purchased using proceeds he gained from the transatlantic slave trade.
Learning & community engagement
Our Learning and Education team welcome primary and secondary school trips in Bath. We also deliver outreach, family learning, higher education support, workshops, community events and more.
Sustainability
As part of the 2024 ‘Our Tower’ project, we retrofitted the historic building in order to introduce sustainable renewable power sources and to future-proof the Tower.
We also made the Tower more accessible by introducing visual and tactile aids, disability friendly toilets, and wider footpaths.
Download the free guide
The free guide to Beckford’s Tower and the surrounding landscape provides a wealth of extra information and features to enjoy during your visit. We recommend that you download this in advance of your visit.
Bath Preservation Trust Museums in Bath, UK
In addition to Beckford’s Tower, Bath Preservation Trust has three other Museums in Bath:
Support Us
Learn more about our charity’s work and how you could support us through membership, a one-off donation or a legacy gift.