In this blog, our student wellbeing ambassador Scarlett, shares her favourite ways to enjoy Bath over the winter holidays while taking care of her wellbeing.
The build-up to the holidays is long, but exciting and fulfilling to know all our hard work - coursework, revision, deadlines - will pay off, and we can use this time to relax and revitalise ourselves. It’s important to take care of ourselves, especially if we’re staying here at university over the Christmas break, and might not see as many friends and family. Winter at Bath can be pretty magical, full of beautiful lights and cosy evenings. Here are plenty of festive ways to make the most of this amazing city and spread cheer across the holiday!
The annual University Carol Service is a fantastic opportunity to sneak into Bath Abbey – a timeless tradition, taking place inside the famously iconic building! On the 10th of December, the doors open up for visitors to take part in the festivities, with performances by the University Chamber Choir and readings by staff and students. It’s a great way to embrace community spirit before the actual holidays begin! Join us at 6 pm in Green Park for some refreshments - and a chance to connect with friends - before heading over to the service.
But before you head over to the Abbey, be sure to check out the Christmas Market. With well over 150 chalets celebrating independent businesses (and some delightful food trucks), the market is a great place to window shop, or even find stocking fillers for your loved ones! This year, I found my sister a delightful handmade gift (no spoilers if you’re reading this!), and I can’t wait to share it with her (tis the season for giving!). The Bath Christmas Market is famous for its variety, and each chalet is uniquely decorated with colourful lights - making it the perfect place to get those picturesque winter photos! Here until the 14th!
For something more adventurous, Bath Uni is heading to Longleat Stately Home, to enjoy the winter celebrations at the Festival of Lights. For fans of Wallace and Gromit (the icons that they are), or those that want to learn more about the UK’s most famous landmarks, this is truly a beautifully engaging chance to be active by journeying through spectacular lantern shows! It’s also great for the finances - cheaper than going without the university - so bring your mates and have a great time exploring!
As lectures wrap up, many of us find ourselves staying on campus over the break, and during this time it’s so important that we take care of ourselves. A great way to do this is to decorate our rooms and make them feel like home! Bath hosts plenty of creative workshops which combine cosy with festive - I can’t wait to make some Christmas decorations for my room. Using sustainable materials lets us take notice of the world around us, and learn how to reduce and reuse!
To connect with others staying in Bath over winter, going to play Christmas Party games is a lovely opportunity to socialise and meet some wonderful people! Esther Parkin opens up on the 19th of December, and the Nook in the Library on both the 20th and 27th of December provides ample opportunities to gather with friends. Here you can choose between games and crafting. As someone who loves to craft and does plenty of art for my own wellbeing, I’m so excited to relax with friends and reconnect with creatives (after so many academic deadlines!).
As we build up to Christmas day, I really can’t wait to attend the traditional Christmas lunch on the 22nd of December! As someone who may or may not have ran for the pot noodles during deadline season (shhh), having a fully cooked meal (made by someone else!) will be a great way for me to be healthy over the holiday, and a bonus is that it’s well within the budget for a university student! Plus, it’ll be such a fun opportunity to chill with mates! Book by the 11th to ensure a seat at the table.
Another great way to connect with the creatives, and with nature, is through Esther Parkin's festive Christmas Pots and Plants workshop. As a total plant lover, you will find me sat front row and centre - I absolutely love covering my uni room in greenery! Bringing the outside inside does wonders for my mental health, keeping me calm, especially during the winter months when the trees shed their leaves. Decorating something festive on the pot will bring so much joy to our rooms too!
As well as plenty of events on campus, the city has so much to offer! We don’t just have the famous Christmas market (amazing as it is), we also have the fantastic Bath On Ice - connect with friends whilst skating in the most beautiful location - Royal Victoria Park! I went last week with my friends, and while I’m no gold-medal-winning ice-skater, we all laughed so much. This was great for my wellbeing as I was able to stay active, (and learn a great deal about how not to fall over!). Booking with uni on the 28th of December gets us discounted tickets (it’s like a late christmas present!), but the rink is open until early January - plenty of opportunities to go! There’s also a visit to the historical Roman Baths on Christmas Eve - being in the delightfully festive city right before Christmas Day will truly be stunning!
Across the winter break, there are countless opportunities to stay festive and look after our wellbeing, by staying active and healthy, by learning about the Christmas season, and most importantly, connecting with friends who may also be feeling a tad lonely over the break! So many of these workshops supported me last Christmas, and I can’t wait to return to them this year, surrounded by love and cheer!
For more winter experiences, and to book, you can follow the Winter at the University of Bath webpage, and contact Student Support for more advice as we head into the festive period.
Happy holidays!
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