The Roman Baths, in the heart of the city of Bath in Somerset, are among the best-preserved Roman monuments in northern Europe. Here rises the only natural hot spring in Britain, and the Romans built a great bathing complex and a temple dedicated to the goddess Sulis Minerva. The Great Bath, the large pool of green water surrounded by columns and statues, is one of the iconic images of England. Together with the whole city of Bath, the baths are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
History
According to legend the spring was discovered by the British prince Bladud, who was cured of leprosy by bathing in the warm mud. The Celts considered it sacred and dedicated it to the goddess Sulis. After the Roman conquest, around AD 60 to 70, the Romans built Aquae Sulis here, identifying the local goddess with Minerva. For four centuries the sanctuary and the baths drew pilgrims and the sick from all over the province.
After the Romans left, the buildings collapsed and were buried in mud. In the Middle Ages the baths continued to be used in a simpler form, and in the 18th century Bath became the most fashionable spa town in England, frequented by high society and described in the novels of Jane Austen. In those years the Pump Room was built. The Roman baths themselves were only rediscovered and excavated from 1878.
- AD 60-70The Romans build Aquae Sulis
- 1727The gilt bronze head of Minerva is found
- 1799The Grand Pump Room is completed
- 1878Excavation of the Roman baths begins
- 1987The city of Bath becomes a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- 2006Thermae Bath Spa opens, where you can bathe
What to see
The Great Bath
The visit, with an audio guide, begins on the Victorian terrace, adorned with statues of Roman emperors and governors, overlooking the Great Bath. Then you go down to the Roman level and walk along the original edges of the pool, still lined with the lead laid by the Romans. The water, green with algae, is not for swimming.
The Sacred Spring and the temple
From the Sacred Spring the water rises at about 46 degrees: more than a million litres flow out every day. The museum displays the remains of the temple of Sulis Minerva, with its famous pediment showing a Gorgon's head with a moustache and snakes for hair, and the splendid gilt bronze head of the goddess, found in 1727. Very curious are the curse tablets, small sheets of lead on which visitors asked the goddess to punish those who had robbed them, for example of clothes left behind while bathing.
The other baths
The route continues through the bathing rooms, with the caldarium, tepidarium and frigidarium, the underfloor heating systems and the smaller pools. Reconstructions and projections show Romans washing, chatting and praying.
The Pump Room
At the end you reach the Georgian Pump Room, today an elegant restaurant with live music. Here you can taste the spa water, rich in minerals and with a distinctive flavour.
Practical information
The baths are open every day, except at Christmas; tickets have timed entry and it is best to book online. In summer they also open in the evening, with torches lit around the Great Bath. To bathe in the warm water, go to the modern Thermae Bath Spa, a few steps away. Opening times and prices are on the official website.
Getting there
- By train: from London Paddington to Bath Spa in about an hour and a half; 5 minutes' walk from the station.
- By air: Bristol Airport is about 45 minutes away.
Nearby
- Bath Abbey, right next door, the Royal Crescent and the Circus; see Bath.
- Bristol, with the SS Great Britain.
- Stonehenge and the garden of Stourhead.
Tips
- How long: at least two hours.
- When to go: all year round; early morning or summer evenings avoid the crowds.
- A tip: after your visit, treat yourself to a swim on the roof of Thermae Bath Spa: the water is the same the Romans used.