Mary Shelley's House of Frankenstein

Why Bath

Mary Shelley was in Bath in 1816 and worked on Frankenstein while living in the city, which is the hook for this attraction. The townhouse at 37 Gay Street tells her story alongside the novel's, using vintage objects, curious artefacts and rooms designed to be heard and felt as much as seen. The centrepiece is a towering monster figure recreated from Shelley's own text.

What to expect inside

The house spreads over four floors, and the mood darkens as you go. Lighting is low, the soundtrack is unsettling and some scenes are deliberately disturbing. The basement holds an immersive walkthrough themed on a scientist's experiments gone wrong, and it also hosts escape games, which can be booked with or without museum entry. Tickets are bought online through the attraction's booking site, with group deals for larger parties.

Planning your visit

Gay Street runs up from Queen Square towards the Circus, so this fits neatly into a walk around Georgian Bath. The Jane Austen Centre is practically next door, which makes for an odd but enjoyable pairing of two very different writers. Under-16s are ticketed as children, but the content is pitched at older kids rather than little ones. The team also runs a Frankenstein walking experience and special late openings around Halloween.

Highlights

• Four floors on Mary Shelley and Frankenstein
• An 8ft monster recreated from the novel's text
• Immersive basement walkthrough
• Escape games bookable with or without museum entry
• Next door to the Jane Austen Centre

Good to know

• Book tickets online; group tickets are discounted
• Some scenes are dark and disturbing, so it is best for older children and adults
• Child tickets cover ages 6–15; adults are 16+

Frequently asked questions