Visiting

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Opening Times

Beckford’s Tower and Museum is now closed until further notice as we undertake capital works (made possible by the National Lottery Heritage Fund) to transform the museum, restore the Tower and reconnect the landscape. There will be opportunities to engage with the conservation work, so please keep an eye on our social media pages or sign up to our newsletter for further information.

Keep an eye on this site for news about news and events.

Getting here

On foot
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 once it plateaus, past the Hare and Hound pub.

The walk takes around 45 minutes. OS reference: ST681744

By car
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 outside the main entrance of the building with space for 8 cars – this is currently out of use as building works are ongoing. Access to the car park is a sharp turn off Lansdown Road by the Tower Cottage.

Further parking is available in the cemetery lay-bys along Lansdown Road.

By bus
Catch the Park and Ride bus (no. 31) from Milsom Street bus stop, which runs every 15 minutes.

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.

Or alight at the Hamilton House bus stop and continue up the road on foot for 5 minutes.

Or alight at the final stop/the Park and Ride car park and travel back down the road on foot for 5 minutes.

For more information, see the timetable on the First Bus website.

Group Visits to the Tower

Groups will be welcome at the Tower by arrangement, when we reopen.  Larger groups can be managed by staggered entry and exit.

Visits for groups can include a guided tour from the Tower Curator, a talk tailored to your group’s specific interests, and activities for schools.

For more information contact us on tower@bptrust.org.uk.

Children wearing hi-vis vests talking to a volunteer

Accessibility

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.

A panoramic tour of the Tower and Museum on CD is available on request. Please contact the museum for further information.

Talks

The Tower Curator, Dy Amy Frost, regularly gives talks and lectures to groups about the life and work of William Beckford and after lockdown, will be happy to travel out to your group.

Lectures include:

  • The Life of William Beckford
  • William Beckford and his Tower in Bath
  • The Rise and Fall of Fonthill
  • William Beckford the Collector
  • Beckford and Architecture
  • William Beckford and the Gothic

If you are interested in booking a lecture, please contact us at tower@bptrust.org.uk

Venue Hire

Looking for somewhere a little bit different?

Beckford’s Tower and Museum is the ideal place to hold a graduation photograph session, marriage proposal, or even a wedding.

Hiring the Tower for a small event can include a guided talk or talk from the Tower Curator.

To discuss the possibility of hiring the Tower after we reopen, contact us at tower@bptrust.org.uk

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