Herschel Museum of Astronomy

Herschel Museum of Astronomy

Herschel Museum of Astronomy
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
19 New King Street is a delightful and unique example of a fully restored modest Georgian townhouse. It was home to the astronomer and musician William Herschel and his sister Caroline. Particularly evocative features include Herschel’s workshop, his music room and a charming 18th Century formal garden where, with a telescope of his own construction, Herschel discovered the planet Uranus in 1781.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

Top ways to experience Herschel Museum of Astronomy and nearby attractions

The area
Address
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • Janice C
    Taunton, United Kingdom83 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth a visit.
    We both found this a very interesting small museum, with a great deal of information about the Herschels & astronomy, with instrument displays & lots to read. There is also a feminine centred video by an actress playing Caroline Herschel, which you can take or leave (it plays in the cellar area on a loop, but it does give a lot of information in a digestible way, particularly for children.) The workshop is fascinating & the rooms give a real sense of the times &, having visited No1 Royal Crescent the previous day, it was interesting to see inside a much more modest dwelling. The enthusiastic staff are very welcoming & knowledgeable. Only downside is it is rather hard to find!
    Thanks for the fantastic and thorough 5* review. So pleased you enjoyed your visit to our museum. Hope you can visit us again in future.
    Written 2 December 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 27 November 2023
  • musketeer1645
    Exeter, United Kingdom275 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful view into the past
    I'm not a great fan of astronomy but my partner is very interested in the subject so we went to have a look. Even for me it was fascinating. We arrived part way through an excellent introductory talk by one of the volunteers who look after the museum. There is masses to see here although it helps if you have an interest in astronomy, history, music, mechanics, people... you get the idea. For me it was well worth a couple of hours to explore the history of the Herschels and of Bath.
    Thanks for the brilliant review! So glad you enjoyed your visit.
    Written 6 April 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 30 March 2024
  • Karonius w
    Stotfold, United Kingdom47 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Awe inspiring for those interested in Science and history.
    Awe inspiring little museum. Well worth a visit if you enjoy the science of astronomy but also the history of the Georgian way of life. To stand in the very back garden where Herschel first observed Uranus and effectively doubled the size of our known solar system was humbling. The lady looking after the place was knowledgeable and really friendly and the whole experience was lovely. Definitely a hidden gem in walking distance of the city centre.
    What a lovely review, thank you so much! I do hope you can visit us again soon.
    Written 6 April 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 1 April 2024
  • Italianismo
    London, United Kingdom10 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A family finding fame and fortune in Georgian Bath
    This is a charming small museum inside a Georgian town house with period furniture. It was the home of the musician and astronomer William Herschel (the discoverer of the Planet Uranus) together with his sister Caroline and brother Alexander. They had fled war in Hanover and hoped to make a living from making and teaching music in Bath but ended up becoming astronomers and makers of state of the art telescopes. The staff are very friendly and happy answer questions. There's a lot to see, and hear, and it's delightful way to spend an hour or more.
    Thank you for the fantastic 5* review! Very thorough and informative. Really pleased you enjoyed your time in our little museum. Thanks again for reviewing.
    Written 27 April 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 25 April 2024
  • David M
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A lesser known attraction in Bath.
    This Museum is excellent and tells the story of the man who discovered the planet Uranus. Although a small museum laid out on three floors of a period house, there is plenty to see and read and an interesting audio visual film running in the basement. Highly recommended.
    Thank you for the brilliant review! I do hope you can come and visit us again soon.
    Written 31 May 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 30 May 2024
  • Cynthia L
    Granite Bay, California24 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    For the polymath
    Well presented information about the brilliant Herschel family. Space is not accessible for the disabled. Well made models of Herschel telescopes, great display of tools used for the original telescopes construction. Nice display of period astronomical devices. Very helpful staff provided great introduction to the home.
    Many thanks for your kind review. I'm glad you enjoyed your visit. As a townhouse museum, accessibility is a challenge for us, but we try and make our museum as accessible as possible for all. We have a dedicated accessibility page on our website which outline's accessibility to the building for visitors, including access to virtual tours of the house and collection. Thanks again for reviewing. I do hope you can visit us again soon.
    Written 22 June 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 9 June 2024
  • SyrinxSounds
    Victoria, Canada1,414 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    On the Spot
    I loved this place, but I was also aware that a few of my travel partners were not sharing in that enthusiasm. The difference? We have a tendency to geek out over astronomy and music ... They don't. For us, this is a touchstone location. Not so for the others of our group. I appreciated that the museum didn't attempt to do too much. A few well chosen musical items and a few well chosen astronomical items, and just enough daily life items to feel grounded. Be aware that the stairs are narrow and steep, plentiful and essential. Not a good place for mobility challenges. But there is no place on earth you can go to stand on the spot from where the planet Uranus was first glimpsed.
    Thanks for your review, Mary. I'm pleased you enjoyed your visit. We try and play to the strengths of our small museum and it's famous former occupants. As a historic house, accessibility can be a challenge, however we try and make our museum as accessible as possible for all and have lots of information on this on our website. Thanks again for your review and I do hope you can visit us again soon.
    Written 12 August 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 18 June 2024
  • Mami & Mini Traveller
    Llanelli, United Kingdom18 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Love space? Love music? Love learning? This is a must-visit!
    MiniTraveller's review: I loved this because space is my passion. I would definitely recommend to space lovers. My favourite part of this trip was the constellation trail, I would definitely recommend to younger visitors. My second favourite part was the basement, where they had a video called "Ask an Astronomer" on. Also in the basement was wool, constellation sheets and plastic needles so you could make constellation art. I couldn't see any downsides, it was very quiet and educational. Would definitely visit again. MamiTraveller's review: What a hidden gem! This unassuming townhouse hides a treasure trove of information about the Herschels, particularly the discovery of Uranus (or, to call it by its original name, "George"!). I loved that plenty of space and time was dedicated to Caroline Herschel and her achievements. As Mini said, the basement area was brilliant, with the "Ask an Astronomer" video and plenty of activities. We also saw into the garden where the planet was discovered, and learned so much in one small house. Perfect for space fans, music fans and anyone keen to learn something new on their trip to Bath! The price was great, no complaints here, and the website provides plenty of information about accessibility. We wouldn't hesitate to visit again!
    Thank you so much for your lovely reviews Mini and Mami! So pleased you had such great visits. Come back and visit us again very soon.
    Written 19 August 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 13 August 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles487 reviews
Excellent
279
Very good
160
Average
37
Poor
6
Terrible
5

Blackth0rn
Bristol, UK1,379 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022
A small museum just a few minutes stroll from the centre of Bath, it’s the house where the Herschel’s lived and discovered Uranus from their small garden. Exhibits are a mixture of genuine items that they used, manufactured replicas and other old items that they “might have used”. Although spread over three floors, it’s quite small with just a couple of rooms on each floor. If you’re really interested in astronomy then I suppose it’s interesting enough, but there’s not real enough there for someone with a more casual interest. Much of the top floor is given over to the Herschel’s other interest (music) and there is a selection of books for sale. The main issue I had with it was the price – I thought £9.50 for the size of the establishment and the time spent there was far too expensive. Half that, and it would have been a more positive review.
Written 10 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review. The Herschel Museum of Astronomy contains lot of the objects that have come from the Herschel family, some of which might have been used by them, as you say. The ambiguity comes from the fact that while some objects have been recorded as belonging to William, Caroline or Alexander, some of them have a more vague history and could have been used by them, but equally could have been used be another member of the family. Alternatively, some labels of this type refer to objects without a Herschel connection, that are displayed to give an idea of what their lives were like. Music was the Herschel's profession and how they made a living. It is an important part of their story in Bath and is crucial to the wider narrative. You may expect the museum to be entirely about astronomy due to its name, but the museum tells the story of the Herschel family and their lives, a good half of which was devoted to music. We would love our museum to be bigger, but it is a site specific museum, as the family actually lived there, so we are confined to the size of the building. We do have a lovely little garden and I hope you checked our our Herschel 200 exhibition and Caroline Herschel art installation. I'm sorry you felt our museum was too pricey, we compare our prices to those of similar attractions to ensure we remain comparative and competitive. Thank you again for reviewing and I do hope you decide to visit one of our other museums, No.1 Royal Crescent or Beckford's Tower.
Written 30 September 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

ChaCha_Trips
Worthing, UK11 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
If you're looking for a non pretentious museum that shows you more of what it would have really been like to live in a house like this in the 1700s whilst mapping stars and building mirrors for telescopes and living in all in one, that's what you'll get here. It was brilliant. A short visit is enough to see everything. The gentleman there on the day gave us lots of extra bits of information to help guide us through the house. Super interesting. if you have a spare half hour and a mild interest in astronomy, then you'll love it.
Written 15 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Chris W
Liverpool, UK132 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
Maybe a little overpriced, but the staff are very knowledgeable and friendly and it's a fascinating little museum.

I'm a bit of an occasional star gazer so was keen to visit this small museum. It was great to learn more about William Herschel, his sister Caroline and their brother Alexander.

In a nutshell, the Herschels came to Bath from Hanover to play their music (they were all musicians and singers).

In his spare time, William was passionate about astronomy and, together with Alexander, built their own telescopes, acknowledged to be of excellent quality.

From the back garden of this town house William and his sister Caroline would record the stars in the night sky using their home-made telescopes and it was here that he discovered a new planet which he named George after the monarch George III.

I don't want to give any more away but if you have an hour to spare it's well worth visiting and learning the rest of the story.
Written 7 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Robert Carrington
31 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
This was our 3rd visit to the Herschel Museum to savour the atmosphere of the house, garden and to explore the astronomy and music connections. We love to spend time in each room and enjoy the satirical "cartoons". Some new exhibits, but the film shown downstairs wasn`t available through COVID restrictions. A fascinating place to visit but try to book first. We did find it a bit expensive though.
Written 6 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mami & Mini Traveller
Llanelli, UK18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Family
MiniTraveller's review:

I loved this because space is my passion. I would definitely recommend to space lovers.
My favourite part of this trip was the constellation trail, I would definitely recommend to younger visitors. My second favourite part was the basement, where they had a video called "Ask an Astronomer" on. Also in the basement was wool, constellation sheets and plastic needles so you could make constellation art.
I couldn't see any downsides, it was very quiet and educational. Would definitely visit again.

MamiTraveller's review:

What a hidden gem! This unassuming townhouse hides a treasure trove of information about the Herschels, particularly the discovery of Uranus (or, to call it by its original name, "George"!). I loved that plenty of space and time was dedicated to Caroline Herschel and her achievements.

As Mini said, the basement area was brilliant, with the "Ask an Astronomer" video and plenty of activities. We also saw into the garden where the planet was discovered, and learned so much in one small house. Perfect for space fans, music fans and anyone keen to learn something new on their trip to Bath!

The price was great, no complaints here, and the website provides plenty of information about accessibility. We wouldn't hesitate to visit again!
Written 13 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your lovely reviews Mini and Mami! So pleased you had such great visits. Come back and visit us again very soon.
Written 19 August 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

macedonboy
Glasgow, UK186,803 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2021
This museum exhibits the life and time of Herschel family, especially William Herschel and his sister Caroline. I was looking forward to this as I love Physics and Astronomy. The Museum of Astronomy is probably a slight misnomer as the museum is half house museum and, equal parts Hershel Family and astronomy, I especially enjoyed the Workshop displaying the types of instruments and tools Hershel would've used.
Written 12 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ShantySpoon
Didcot, UK33 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2021 • Couples
This small museum recreates the townhouse owned by William Herschel as he would have used it, during the time he discovered a passion for astronomy, and with siblings Caroline and Alex, discovered the planet Uranus.

The museum gives a lot of space to examining Caroline, who has been overshadowed by her brother and nephew John in the past. Her own outstanding achievements and contributions to astronomy are placed front and centre, and it's clear that William, for all his innovation, wouldn't have got very far without her dedication, organisation, and Saint-like patience!

Worth a visit for anyone interested in the history of science or astronomy, and particularly the overlooked contributions of women in these fields.
Written 29 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Katerina S
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022
Herschel Museum of Astronomy is a small museum with plenty information about amazing person as William Herschel and his sister Caroline Herschel can be. Absolutely fascinating story of two siblings, who contributed so much to astronomy as we take today as general knowledge. We had not have many information about the museum and we will rate it very high based on our experience during our stay in Bath. We would highly recommend the visit.
A learning trail for children booklet is very well done. Would recommend it for family with older children.
Written 16 February 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review and for recommending us so highly! Really glad you enjoyed our children's trail too.
Written 21 May 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Richard J
7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Couples
Lovely self guided tour of William Herschel's home. The lady (volunteer) who greeted us was very enthusiastic and gave us a brief overview of Herschel's life.
The house was set out really well with lots of information showing the equipment and techniques he used to study astronomy, including musical instruments during his previous time as a musician.
A really interesting museum to visit. An unassuming building which you could easily walk right past if you're not looking for it. Thank you for an enjoyable visit
Written 12 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank for your brilliant and informative 5* review. Glad you found our hidden gem!
Written 18 March 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Daniel L
Swansea, UK56 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Solo
Had a interest in astronomy and being as it was a rain,y day was look8 g for something indoor and was a short walk from my hotel.
Was politely greeted when getting my ticket and the lady was very informative. 3 floors and a small garden to explore the life of Herschel who discovered The planet Uranus and house had many artefacts of his life and a video room to learn more about his history. A lilltle hard to find without google maps and reasonably price would definitely recommend a visit
Written 28 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks very much for your great review, Daniel! So pleased you enjoyed your visit.
Written 29 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Showing results 1-10 of 465
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

HERSCHEL MUSEUM OF ASTRONOMY (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

All Bath HotelsBath Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Bath
All things to do in Bath
RestaurantsFlightsHoliday RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesCar Hire