Pulteney Cruisers Ltd

The Pulteney Weir itself is the real draw here - that elegant Georgian engineering spanning the Avon just below Bath city centre. Pulteney Cruisers Ltd runs boat trips from the weir, giving you a proper float down the river away from the tourists clogging up the high street. It's the sort of thing you'd only do if you're staying nearby, but it works brilliantly if you are.

The boats launch right from the weir platform, so you get that initial thrill of being on the water almost immediately. The Avon's genuinely lovely through this section - tree-lined, wide enough to feel proper rather than cramped, and you'll see Bath from angles most visitors miss. The trip itself isn't long, but it breaks up a park holiday nicely when walking gets old.

Families with younger kids will find it refreshing; there's enough novelty in just being on water to keep them entertained. Anyone who's hiked around Bath Mill Lodge Retreat or Campwell Farm nearby will appreciate a gentler afternoon doing something different. The whole thing's free of faffing about - turn up, get on, head out.

Timing-wise, you're looking at an hour, maybe ninety minutes all in. Go in decent weather; being stuck on a small boat in drizzle loses its charm fast. It's not a major attraction in itself, but as part of a longer Bath visit, it's well worth the slot. Check ahead for current operating hours and whether bookings are needed - these independent operators can be a bit fluid with their schedules.