The eastern edge of Bath city centre can be a distracting place. Around Pulteney Bridge, the bustle of the indoor market meets the swirl of traffic heading into town. The River Avon which surrounds the city centre passes over a weir, creating a low roar that draws visitors to the banks of the river. This is a lively area of town, with large hotels, traditional pubs and restaurants lining the route down to Bath Spa station. It can be hard to find a quiet family friendly spot, unless you cross over Pulteney Bridge into the more relaxed district of Bathwick.

On the opposite side of the river, follow steps down from the bridge to reach Beazer Gardens. A small municipal park right on the river bank, Beazer Gardens is remarkably tranquil in comparison to the streets above. The centre piece of the Gardens is an elaborate, open air stone maze, with a Roman themed mosaic at the centre. The maze and gardens make a great diversion from exploring the city centre. Other attractions in Bathwick include the Recreation Ground, home of Bath’s successful rugby union team, and the start of the Kennet & Avon Canal, a Victorian canal system that links the Avon with the River Thames.

A boat trip is a good way to learn more about the city of Bath and to enjoy the pleasure of a boat trip. You can board the boat from Pulteney Bridge. The boat trips are scheduled every eighty minutes between April and October. The round trip lasts one hour. The way back is usually accompanied by the crew and the driver’s commentaries about the places of interest on the way.

Bath Weir was built in 1975 to protect the city from flood risks, since the river Avon has strong currents. The Weir has an attractive horseshoe shape. The Pulteney Bridge with its shops is just above it. Bath Weir is best viewed from Grand Parade street and it is a perfect spot to relax with a take-away coffee from the nearby coffee shops.

The Bath Sweet Shop is a great place to buy sweets. It is a small, old fashioned, traditional shop with a vast selection of sweets. Here you will find all the delicious sweets you can only imagine, in lots of glass jars and at good prices. Make sure you pop in for a look. Gobstoppers, shoe laces, popping candy and chocolate buttons - your kids will be happy.

Opened in 1805, The Theatre Royal in Bath remains one of the largest provincial theatres in the UK. Located in the busy Seven Dials area of Bath city centre, the theatre hosts touring plays, musical performances and stand up comedy. The theatre is also the centre of Bath’s renowned Shakespeare Festival, which takes place throughout the month of March. The theatre complex also houses two smaller studio theatres – the Ustinov Studio, which hosts an annual puppetry festival, and The Egg, a newly opened children’s studio which runs regular arts and theatre workshops for children and families.

The Theatre Royal is one of several fine examples of Georgian architecture in the city of Bath. The main theatre building was originally built in 1720, and was designed by architect Thomas Greenway. Local socialite Beau Nash was the first resident of the building, before it was converted into a theatre in the early 19th century. Rebuilt after a fire in 1863, the ornate red and gold interior of the theatre’s 900 seat auditorium was restored as part of a complete overhaul of the theatre in 2010. The Rivals, a play set in Bath’s Georgian heyday, premièred to commemorate the theatre’s restoration and reopening.

There are landmarks across Great Britain named after its longest serving monarch, Queen Victoria – but Royal Victoria Park was the first to bear her name. Opened in 1830 when the then Princess Victoria was just 11 years old, the 57 acre public park is typical of the municipal gardens that appeared in wealthy cities in the 19th century. Aiming to offer entertainment, social spaces and the tranquillity of nature within one space, the park is a popular destination for tourists and local residents to this day.

Royal Victoria Park is situated to the northwest of the city, a ten minute walk from the centre. The Royal Crescent is five minutes away, and overlooks the park from the edge of Lansdown Hill. The park boasts an extensive ornamental garden with a monument to Victoria at its centre. A boating pond is a popular spot to spend an afternoon, whilst the large public playground is perhaps the park’s highlight. A large, constantly updated collection of unique and creative play equipment, it caters for all ages, from sand pits to skateboard ramps. The park hosts several outdoor family events in summer, including the popular Hot Air Balloon festival, when the Bath skyline is lit up by colourful hot air balloons launching from the park.

The Bath Aqua Theatre of Glass is one of Bath’s most unusual attractions. A fully operational glass works, the Theatre of Glass offers visitors the opportunity to watch live glass blowing demonstrations – and even try it for themselves. Situated amongst the art galleries and second hand stores of Walcot Street, the Theatre of Glass offers an alternative to the busier attractions in the centre of the city. The workshop uses distinctive turquoise glass, made by adding copper oxide to the mixture, is a nod to the copper found in Bath’s warm springs, which changes the colour of the water in the city’s famous Roman Baths.

From Monday to Saturday, the Bath Aqua Theatre of Glass holds glass blowing demonstrations at 10.15am, 12.15pm and 3.15pm. The demonstrations are £4 for adults, £2.50 for concessions and £10 for a family of four. At 11.15am and 2.15pm the workshop holds interactive demonstrations, including a question and answer session with the glass blowers, and for an extra £2, the chance to create a glass souvenir to take home with you. The workshop is closed on Sunday. Throughout the year, there are also occasional workshops where you can learn how to make stained glass ornaments.