Exhibitions

Capturing the Cosmos: Astrophotography by the Bath Astronomers

The exhibition will allow visitors to compare drawings William Herschel and his son, John, made of observations from their telescope to photographs of the same celestial objects taken today. This series of digital reproductions of historic drawings, kindly provided by the Royal Astronomical Society and Royal Society, demonstrates the contrast between how observations would have been recorded over 200 years ago and how we capture them now.

The Most Tiresome Place in the World: Jane Austen & Bath

In 2025 No.1 Royal Crescent will celebrate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth with the exhibition, The Most Tiresome Place in the World: Jane Austen & Bath.

Illustrating Austen

In the 250th anniversary year of Jane Austen’s birth, our autumn display will offer audiences the chance to see the artwork behind their favourite Austen novels. 

Centring around Austen’s stories and the characters she created, Illustrating Austen will demonstrate how our favourite characters came to life on the page and have evolved through the years, reflecting the changing times and new audiences.

Dreams of the Everyday: Paintings by Winifred Nicholson & Andrew Cranston

This compelling exhibition arrives in the south, having opened at The Pier in Orkney in June. It brings together the paintings of Winifred Nicholson (1893–1981) and Andrew Cranston (b. 1969), curated by the designer and collector Jonathan Anderson, in collaboration with Andrew Cranston and the gallerist Richard Ingleby.

Bath Bottled: A Sparkling History

Did you know that Bath has a long history of Fizzy Drinks Manufacture? Discover the fascinating story of Bath’s bottled drinks industry in Bath Bottled, a new pop up exhibition opening at the Museum of Bath at Work! From bustling bottling factories to bubbling sacred springs, Bath Bottled uncovers the history of Fizzy drinks manufacture in Bath, the use of spring water, flavourings, marketing and the people behind the product. The exhibition offers visitors of all ages a chance to explore:

• The entrepreneurial beginnings of local inventors, the working lives of factory employees and conditions in the factories within the Bath area.
• A brief history of mineral water in soft drink production and its links to Bath’s famed springs.
• Original and recreated recipes for old-fashioned fizzy drinks, including Hot Tom and Bath Punch.
• A look at Marketing of drinks and how this has changed and developed over the last 100 years.
• A playful, hands-on section for younger visitors, including interactive activities for children.
• A creative showcase of contemporary label designs by local Bathonians, inspired by the city’s own iconic Bowler bottle labels, showcasing some of Bath’s artistic talent.

In Bloom

Discover how flowers have inspired generations of artists across East and Southeast Asia through a display of floral-themed objects from the Museum’s collection, shown alongside the work of contemporary artists and makers.