[Artist’s impression]
Hooray for Bath BID. Thanks to them, the city will be getting a festive glow-up this Christmas.
The Bath Business Improvement District (BID) has unveiled an ambitious five-year plan to transform how we celebrate Christmas, bringing twinkling lights and joyful activations across the city.
Allison Herbert, CEO of the Bath BID, said: “We have launched a new five-year programme of Christmas lighting starting this year. Bath is famous for its fabulous world-class Christmas market, and this year, we want to add more reasons to visit the city.”
Over the next five years, the Bath BID will steadily grow its collection of Christmas lights across the city with the help of The Festive Lighting Company. Working on a theme of ‘Understated Elegance ’, the new lighting will bring out the best of Bath’s stunning architecture.
“We’re incredibly proud to be part of the team behind Bath’s Christmas lighting for the next five years. There’s nowhere quite like Bath and helping to add a touch of sparkle to the architecture is exactly the kind of work we love,” said Jonathan Bradford, Director of the Festive Lighting Company.
As another first, Bath BID is also bringing a giant sculpture trail to the city for Christmas. “Walking with the Snowman” will feature 12 larger-than-life representations of Raymond Briggs’ beloved Snowman©. Families will be encouraged to seek all 12 across the whole city centre between 19th November and 28th January.
The trail ties in with Victoria Art Gallery’s The World of The SnowmanTM exhibition, running from 20th November 2026 – 28th February 2027 and a screening of The Snowman accompanied by a live orchestra by the Bath Philharmonia on 19th December at The Forum Bath.
Bath BID is also calling on businesses across the city to join the fun through window displays, events or their own Snowman-themed flourishes.
And for younger fans, the excitement doesn’t stop there; families will get the chance to meet the Snowman in person on 19th and 21st November, created in collaboration with Rainbow Productions.
A huge thank you goes to the businesses helping bring the “Walking with the Snowman” Trail to life: Bath Abbey, Victoria Art Gallery, Thermae Bath Spa, Wylde Jewellers, SouthGate Bath, The Apex City of Bath, Visit West, and the Fudge Factory.
Nicholas Wylde, owner of Wylde Jewellers, said: “This is the third year running that we’ve been proud to sponsor a Bath BID trail, and it never gets old. Bath has given so much to us as a business, and trails like “Walking with the Snowman” are a wonderful way to give something back to the city and the families who visit it.”
Christmas Lights details (Streets being illuminated)
· Milsom Street
· New Bond Street
· Old Bond Street
· Burton Street
· Upper Borough Walls
· Union Street
· Cheap Street
· Westgate Street
· Stall Street
· Bath Street
· York Street
· Abbeygate Street
· Pulteney Bridge
· Southgate Street
· Abbey Green & Bath Abbey
“Walking with The Snowman Trail” details:
· Dates: 19th November 2026 – 31st January 2027
· Locations: Various locations across the city
· Details: 12 Statues of The Snowman will be placed in locations across Bath city centre for people to find and engage with
· More information will be released on the Welcome to Bath Website.
· A competition will be announced soon
Meet the Snowman details:
· Dates: 19th and 21st November 2026
· Locations:
| 19th November | 4.30 pm | SouthGate Shopping Centre, Bath, BA1 1AQ |
| 6 pm – 7 pm | VIP Launch at Victoria Art Gallery, Bridge Street, Bath, BA2 4AT | |
| 21st November | 11.30am & 12.30pm | SouthGate Shopping Centre, Bath, BA1 1AQ |
| 2pm & 4pm | Bath Abbey, Bath, BA1 1LT |
· Details: The Snowman will be making personal appearances at intervals throughout the day/at intervals on the dates of 19th and 21st November.
· More information will be released on the Welcome to Bath Website.
