Victoria Baths is about to inject a sense of joy to the mid-week with a whole season of Welcome Wednesdays to look forward to. Starting on 5 April and running into September, Welcome Wednesdays are dedicated to visitors, families, community groups or anyone wanting to spend time in the glorious spaces that make up Victoria Baths, and it’s free entry, from 11am to 3pm. These will be joined for the first time by Welcome Sundays, which take place on the last Sunday of the month from May to September, free entry, 12noon to 3pm.

Welcoming everyone to Victoria Baths, there will be plenty to see and do each week. Visitors can take their time to wander and explore the building, book a guided tour, and indulge in the Tea Room and Gift Shop. Whether you’re seeking a beautiful space to use your laptop for work, or catch up with a friend, Welcome Wednesdays are made for you. A place to meet up, somewhere for little ones to play, a space to study, a corner to write in or a spot to sketch, Welcome Wednesdays are what you want them to be. With a Family Friendly activity on each Welcome Wednesday within school holidays, make sure to mark them on your calendar!

There will be much excitement when the season opens on Wednesday 5 April with the reveal of the newly restored Gala Pool entrance doors. This will be the first chance to see them in all their glory, especially the stained glass panels in the double doors that take you to one of the grandest swimming pool halls in the country. On Wednesday 12 April there will be Family Friendly activities, including spring flower making, in addition to the Tea Room play area, which is available every week.

Entry to Welcome Wednesdays is free, with donations encouraged to support the work of the Victoria Baths Trust charity. In addition to hot and cold drinks and light snacks the Tea Room will be serving delicious cream teas, bookable in advance they include a fruit scone, clotted cream, jam, butter, and tea/or coffee for £5. Each week a guided tour will take place at 1pm with tickets priced at £8 (Friends of Victoria Baths and under 16s are free). For further information and booking details visit WelcomeWednesdays.eventbrite.co.uk.

Welcome Sundays (12-3pm) are a new addition for 2023. Each month Victoria Baths will host a different community partner, opening with the team from Manchester 442 with family activities on Sunday 28 May, followed by a Royal Northern College of Music quintet taking over the Female’s Pool for rehearsals on Sunday 25 June, providing a lovely soundtrack for exploring the Baths. A pop-up café in the Females Pool will serve hot and cold drinks and light snacks.

Entry is free on Welcome Sundays, although donations are encouraged to support the work of Victoria Baths Trust, and guided tours will take place at 1pm, which are £8 (Friends of Victoria Baths and under 16s are free). For further information and booking details visit WelcomeSundays.eventbrite.co.uk.

Ella Walker, Engagement Officer at Victoria Baths, says, “We hope our Welcome Wednesdays and Welcome Sundays will give people a chance to enjoy Victoria Baths as a place of cultural and community inspiration. Whether it’s a planned visit with family and friends or if you want to pop in on your own, visitors will find a friendly, warm welcome.”
Victoria Baths membership
Become a Friend of Victoria Baths for just £20 a year and free guided tours and free entry to SpringFest 2023 (Saturday 15 April, 11am to 4pm) are just some of the benefits. Email [email protected] for further details.
For further information on Victoria Baths and the work of Victoria Baths Trust to ensure that this Grade II* listed building can be preserved for the enjoyment of all visit www.victoriabaths.org.uk