This page outlines our full terms and conditions for our Bath Discovery Card.
Eligibility
1. The Resident’s Discovery Card is available to adults age 18+ and children age 14+, who live within the boundaries of the Bath & North East Somerset area and pay Council Tax to Bath & North East Somerset Council or can provide another proof of residency.
2. Under 14-year-old children do not need their own cards but are included with an adult card holder.
3. Students, who are in full-time education for a minimum of one year, and are living in Bath and North East Somerset, can apply for Students’ Discovery Card.
4. Residents can check their eligibility online.
Applications
5. Discovery Card applications can be made online.
6. All applicants will be asked to select a card type adult (18+), child (14-17) or student. They will need to select whether they would prefer a physical card made from recycled plastic or a digital e-card.
7. Digital cards can be used with Apple Wallet or with a chosen 3rd party application for Android.
8. Applicants will need to select a collection location to have their photo taken and card validated. Card collection and validation can be done at any of the following sites:
- Bath
- Bath Housing, Welfare & Advice Service (previously known as the Bath One Stop Shop, Manvers Street)
- The Roman Baths
- Fashion Museum
- Victoria Art Gallery
- Keynsham
- Keynsham Library & Information Service (at the Civic Centre)
- Midsomer Norton
- Midsomer Norton Library & Information Service (at the Hollies)
9. Applicants wishing to validate more than two cards will need to book multiple slots – we cannot activate more than 2 cards in each slot.
10. Applicants are also asked to pick their preferred ID and a proof of residency documents from the approved supporting documents -list. An approved ID and an approved proof of residence showing name and address of the applicant must be presented during the visit to the chosen site in order to validate the card. These documents are accepted in both digital and paper formats.
11. The following documents will be approved as an ID:
Adult:
- Photo driving licences (ID only)
- Passport
- Expired Discovery Card
- Bath & North East Somerset Diamond Travel Card
- A signed credit or debit card
Child (14-17)
- Photo driving licences (ID only)
- Passport
- Expired Discovery Card
- Current B&NES Diamond Travel Card
- Student card
- Birth Certificate
Students: see T&Cs 17 below.
Accepted IDs and proofs of residency
12. The following documents will be accepted as a proof of residency:
Adults
- B&NES council tax bill (personal, from the last 12 months)
- Recent bill with address on it (from the last 3 months)
- Bank or mobile phone statement (from the last 3 months)
- Bath & North East Somerset Diamond Travel Card
- Correspondence from Revenues & Benefits, HMG, HMRC, NHS (from the last 3 months)
- Recent payslip with address (from the last 3 months)
- Signed rental contract (in-date)
- Letter from refuge centre e.g. Julian House
Child (14 - 17)
- B&NES council tax bill (personal/parent’s name if living at home, from the last 12 months)
- Recent utility / other bill with address (child’s name/ parent’s name if living at home, from the last 3 months)
- Bank or mobile phone statement (personal/ parent’s name if living at home, from the last 3 months)
- Bath & North East Somerset Diamond Travel Card
- Correspondence from Revenues & Benefits section, HMG, HMRC, NHS (from the last 3 months)
- Recent payslip with address (from the last 3 months)
- Letter from college or school confirming address and length of course (from the last 3 months)
13. All cards must be validated, before they can be used, including the digital Discovery Cards, which will not be accepted without a photo and validation.
14. To apply for a Discovery Card, the applicants will need an email address, as they will be emailed an order confirmation including the details of their booked card collection and validation appointment. If the applicant does not have an email address, a council email address will be used to process the application.
15. To apply for a Discovery Card, the applicants will need an email address, as they will be emailed an order confirmation including the details of their booked card collection and validation appointment. If the applicant does not have an email address, a council email address will be used to process the application.
16. After the validation, the Residents’ Adult Discovery Cards will normally be valid for 5 years and Children’s Cards for 3 years.
Students
17. Students applying for the Discovery Card must be in full time education for a minimum of one year and be a resident in Bath & North East Somerset.
18. The application process is the same as for other card types, see above.
19. The students can use the following IDs and proofs of residency which must show the name and the address of the applicant:
Accepted IDs
- Photo driving licences (ID only)
- Passport
- Expired Discovery Card
- Bath & North East Somerset Diamond Travel Card
- A signed credit or debit card
- Photo Student ID
Accepted proofs of residency:
- B&NES council tax bill (personal, from the last 12 months)
- Recent utility or other bill (with name and address, from the last 3 months)
- Bank or mobile phone statement (with name and address, from the last 3 months)
- Bath & North East Somerset Diamond Travel Card
- Correspondence from Revenues & Benefits section, HMG, HMRC or NHS (from the last 3 months)
- Recent payslip with address (from the last 3 months)
- Signed rental contract (in-date)
- Letter from college confirming B&NES home address and length of course (from the last 3 months)
20. The Student Discovery Cards are normally valid for one year.
Using the Discovery Card
21. Holders of Resident's Discovery Cards will have a complimentary entry to the Roman Baths, Fashion Museum and Victoria Art Gallery in Bath during normal opening hours. The Resident's Discovery Card must be presented at the ticket desk to gain the free entry.
22. An adult holder (age 18+) of a Resident's Discovery Card may also bring to the Roman Baths, Fashion Museum and Victoria Art Gallery up to 4 children aged 17 or under. No photographs are necessary for children visiting with a cardholder.
23. Child cardholders are not permitted to bring other children under the age of 18 on their card.
24. Children under 14, who live in Bath and North East Somerset, can get a complimentary entry, even if they are visiting the Heritage Sites together with an adult who lives outside Bath and North East Somerset, doesn’t have a Discovery Card and pays for entry. In this case, the child should bring along their parent’s or guardian’s Discovery Card.
25. When visiting the Heritage Sites, children under 14 must be always accompanied by an adult (age 18+).
26. Children under 14, who live in Bath and North East Somerset, can get a complimentary entry, even if they are visiting the Heritage Sites together with an adult who lives outside Bath and North East Somerset, doesn’t have a Discovery Card and pays for entry. In this case, the child should bring along their parent’s or guardian’s Discovery Card.
27. Discovery Card holders will also get discounts and offers from our partners. Please see more details on our Resident's Discovery Card page.
28. All rights of admission are reserved by participating attractions.
General
29. The Resident's Discovery Card is not transferrable and may only be used by the person whose name and photograph appears on it. The Card may be confiscated if it is used by anyone fraudulently and will not be re-issued.
30. Resident's Discovery Cards will usually be valid for 5 years (for adults 18+) and for 4 years (for children ages 14+) from the date of issue. Children should renew their cards and change them to adult or student cards when they turn 18 years old. Resident's Discovery Cards can be renewed max. one month before the Card's expiry date. Cards may be withdrawn at any time at the discretion of Bath & North East Somerset Council. The Card remains the property of Bath & North East Somerset Council.
31. Discovery Card holders, who move out of Bath and North East Somerset and would like to remove their details from Discovery Card database, should contact us by email at discovery_card@bathnes.gov.uk (preferred) or by post to Discovery Card Enquiries, Stall Street, Bath, BA1 1LZ.
32. If the Card holders move within Bath and North East Somerset, they should inform us about their change of address to discovery_card@bathnes.gov.uk (preferred) or by post to Discovery Card Enquiries, Stall Street, Bath, BA1 1LZ, so we can update their contact details.
33. There will be a charge of £5 to replace lost or damaged cards. You must supply proof of identity and address for the re-issuing. You can also download a digital card for free.
34. The expired Discover Cards can be recycled.
35. The Resident's Discovery Card is not valid as a form of identification for any reason other than for use at the participating attractions.
36. Your personal details are held on the Resident's Discovery Card database supplied by Gateway Ticketing Systems. These details will not be passed on to other organizations.
37. We are not able to update the Card holders’ information using records held by other sections of the Council.
38. Your contact details will be used only for important communications and notifications regarding Discovery Card. If you wish to receive any marketing communications and promotional information about offers and discounts linked to Discovery Cards, please sign up to our Discovery Card newsletter.
39. We reserve the right to change these terms and conditions at any time.
40. All rights of the Discovery Card and the Discovery Card Scheme are reserved by Bath & North East Somerset Council.