Herschel Museum of Astronomy, Bath (must see)

The Herschel Museum of Astronomy, located on New King Street in Bath, offers a rich historical and astronomical experience. Inaugurated in 1981, it occupies a well-preserved Georgian town house that once served as the home of the renowned astronomers William Herschel and his sister Caroline. This modest five-story building, part of a terrace constructed around 1764-1770, exemplifies middle-grade Georgian architecture with its Bath stone ashlar facade, slate Mansard roofs, and distinctive sash windows.

Significant for its connection to the Herschels, who resided here from 1777, the building is where William Herschel discovered Uranus in March 1781 using a telescope he designed and built on-site. Despite William's departure in 1782, Caroline and their brother Alexander remained until 1784.

Recognized for its historical importance, the building is a grade II* listed property by English Heritage. It underwent restoration in 1981 and again in 2000, featuring period-specific wallpaper and carpets based on 18th-century designs. The building's preservation was championed by the William Herschel Society, formed in 1977, and aided by Doctors Leslie and Elizabeth Hilliard, whose contributions are commemorated by the naming of asteroid 6395 Hilliard.

The museum, managed by the Herschel House Trust and governed by the Bath Preservation Trust since July 2015, was opened on the bicentennial of Uranus's discovery. Its patrons have included the notable astronomers Patrick Moore and Brian May. The museum is split over three floors within the house, with an ornamental garden attached, and a cinema within the vaults that shows documentaries on astronomical discoveries. Under the curatorship of Debbie James, the museum offers an engaging experience through audio tours, a virtual tour for mobility-impaired visitors, and tactile books for the visually impaired.