Victoria Art Gallery Bath

Inspire future artists at Victoria Art Gallery. Located in the centre of Bath, the gallery houses a richly diverse collection where young learners can experience and engage with art first hand. Artworks include landscapes, portraits, still life, prints and sculptures. Works by Gainsborough and Constable are displayed alongside contemporary pieces by artists such as Gillian Ayres, Paul Klee, and Grayson Perry. A rare, original Tudor portrait of Henry VIII is one of the highlights of the collection.

Our learning programme, closely aligned with the national curriculum, aims to inspire young artists, and cultivate a lifelong interest in arts and crafts. 

New for 2025 is, a dedicated art room learning and engagement studio for schools and community groups. We have expanded our learning programme to offer more for schools, families and community groups. Enhanced facilities include a an art room where we can use a wide range of art techniques and , materials to make  finished pieces for students to take home. 

The Lower Gallery’s changing exhibition programme provides an opportunity to learn touring shows or curated displays featuring rarely seen works. In 2025, the renovated and rehung permanent collection will present the Upper Gallery in a new light.

Free visits and learning sessions are available to UK schools, where 30% or more of pupils receive free school meals. See website for more information.

Art and Design Bath
Design and Technology Bath
Victoria

Art is for everyone, because it helps us see the world in new ways. We provide a range of creative, interactive, fun and accessible activities for all ages.

Our learning programme is closely linked to the national curriculum and is designed to encourage an interest in arts and crafts to last a lifetime. Explore our special resources and art club tutorials on our learning pages:

https://www.victoriagal.org.uk/learning-life

We have an LOtC quality badge.

Don’t just study art – make it! Explore our art and history sessions for schools. We work with you to decide on how to best help with your topic work to inspire a love of creativity and making things.

We offer a range of teaching sessions See our website for up to date information https://www.victoriagal.org.uk/schools

International Students:

We have activities for international students studying English. We worked with Languages United, a local language school, to create activities to do before a visit, during a visit, and after a visit. Students with an intermediate level of English will benefit more from the resources.

The material is intended to be adaptable to language level. We suggest that you pick and choose from these activities, according to your topic, language focus, time available and your own students!

We cater for normal class sizes.

We provide all materials and resources for self-guided and facilitated visits. 

Pre visit: we have teacher’s packs available to kick-start student learning linked to themes within the collection; portraits, landscapes and narrative art. 

During their visit school groups can either book a self-guided or a facilitated visit, all exhibition trails and engagement materials are available for use. 

Post-visit: follow up with viewing in-depth videos and research about the artworks.

Photography is allowed in the upper gallery and some lower gallery exhibitions.

We can provide risk assessments when a session is booked.

You can contact our Community Engagement Officer: 01225 477211 or email: heritage_learning@bathnes.gov.uk or Lindsey_braidley@bathnes.gov.uk

For up-to-date opening times, prices and discounts, please visit our website:

https://www.victoriagal.org.uk/making-booking

There are no clothing requirements – but if you are taking part in an art activity, you may like to bring art aprons.

We recommend bringing a first aider with you.

Lunchroom available – it will be the same space as where you have created your art works!.

There is a Gallery shop on the ground floor.

Level access is via our ramped entrance on Bridge Street. A lift is available with space for one wheelchair at a time.

Pressing a button on the outside of the building in Bridge Street automatically opens the doors for wheelchair users. There is an accessible toilet on the first floor.

A lift is available with space for one wheelchair at a time. It has a capacity of 8 people, a weight limit of 630Kg, dimensions measuring 1.38m long x 1.11m wide, and a doorway measuring 0.8m wide.

For our current opening dates and times, please see the visit page of our website. We will update this page when we are able to open.

https://www.victoriagal.org.uk/opening-times

For recent visitor feedback, please visit our website:

https://www.victoriagal.org.uk/

Scroll down to your experiences for the most recent feedback.

Heritage and culture should be available to all. To make our school visits even more accessible, we are offering free visits and learning sessions to schools across the UK where 30% or more of pupils receive free school meals.

To be eligible for the fund, schools must be a state funded primary, secondary, or special school or unit.  Schools must demonstrate that they are a state funded primary, secondary, or special school and have 30% or more of children in receipt of free school meals (FSM).  The fund covers the cost for general admission as well as a facilitated teaching session. 

Proof is not required of 30% threshold on booking but spot checks will take place and invoices will be issued if the eligibility criteria is not met. 

To make your booking or find out more, please contact heritage_learning@bathnes.gov.uk