MARY SHELLEY'S HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN

When Mary Shelley first wrote the Gothic novel, 'Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus', hardly anybody knew who she was or anything about her work. But since then, both Mary and her novel have become such a success, that she now has a plaque commemorating her life located on the side of her home in Chester Square, London, as well as a highly-rated tourist attraction in Bath, Somerset, that honors her legacy.





Well, according to Booking.com, Bath ranks as the number one place for UK summer holidays in 2021. So with a little luck, you'll get a chance to check it out sometime this year and see what its newest major attraction is all about.

Who's Mary Shelley? Even though she's famous for writing the 1818 novel, 'Frankenstein', Mary also wrote a number of other books too, such as 'Mathilda' (1819), 'The Last Man' (1826), and 'History of a Six Weeks' Tour' (1817). In addition to this, Mary edited and promoted the romantic works of her husband, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and gave birth to four children. She was born on the 30th of August, 1797, and died on the 1st of February, 1851.

What's inside her house of Frankenstein? In total, there are four floors for people to explore, including one dedicated to Mary's tragic past, another that highlights her monster in popular culture, a third floor focused on relevant history, as well as an immersive basement experience, featuring a disorientating walkthrough that reveals the unhallowed practices of a deranged scientist. Mary's house also contains unusual artefacts, vintage items, interactive multi-sensory environments, ominous audio and visual effects, and some scenes of a disturbing nature, like an 8ft version of the monster, for instance, recreated exactly as Mary imagined in her novel.

Is the house COVID-19 compliant? Yes, yes it is, as COVID safety protocols have been placed throughout the building, all of which comply with UK Government guidelines in regards to social distancing and other such matters.

Why is Mary's house in Bath when she lived and died in London? Mary first came up with the idea behind Frankenstein while she was on holiday near Geneva, but she wrote most of it while living in the historical city of Bath.

Where in Bath is Mary Shelley's House of Frankenstein located? It's located at 37 Gay Street, Bath, Somerset, BA1 2NT, and it's open every day from 10am to 6pm (last admission 5pm), although times may vary throughout the year.

How much does it cost to enter? For adults 16 and over it'll cost £15.50, for children aged between 6 and 15 it's priced at £12.50, and for students it's slightly more at £12.80. Group concessions are also available for parties of 5 (£68.00), 6 (£78.00), 8 (£100.00), and 10 (£120.00), plus families of 3 (£38.30) and 4 (£53.00) can enter for a set fee.

Anything else worth mentioning?  Well, I suppose I should say that I've visited Bath on several different occasions, and each time I went, I found it to be a really wonderful city. Not only because it's where Frankenstein was born - partly, anyway - but because it also has a number of other historical attractions, ranging from an ancient Roman Bath to a regal Royal Theatre.

For further information, please feel free to check out the official Website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter pages for Mary Shelley's House of Frankenstein.