Roman Baths

Over het museum

The Roman Baths are built around a natural hot spring. In about AD 60–70 the Romans built a temple to the goddess Sulis Minerva beside the spring, combining the local deity Sulis with the Roman goddess Minerva. A small town, Aquae Sulis, grew up around the temple, and a bathing complex was added to it over roughly three centuries. Pilgrims and residents bathed there, and many threw coins and other offerings into the Sacred Spring. The baths were used until Roman rule in Britain ended in the early 5th century, after which the buildings decayed and were buried by silt and flooding.

Bath became a fashionable spa town in the 18th century, and the Grand Pump Room was built beside the old spring so that visitors could drink the waters. A gilt bronze head of Minerva was found nearby in 1727, and later building work and excavations gradually uncovered the Roman remains. The concert hall that forms the present visitor entrance was designed by J. M. Brydon and finished in 1897.

Today the baths are cared for by Bath and North East Somerset Council. Visitors walk through the Great Bath, the Sacred Spring, the remains of the temple courtyard and the heated rooms, and see the museum collection, which includes the Minerva head, parts of the temple pediment with its Gorgon head, about 130 curse tablets and the Beau Street Hoard of Roman coins.

Hoogtepunten

• Great Bath and its terrace
• Sacred Spring, where offerings were thrown
• Gilt bronze head of Sulis Minerva
• Temple pediment with the Gorgon head
• Roman curse tablets
• Beau Street Hoard of about 17,660 Roman coins

Vaste collectie

• Great Bath and Sacred Spring – The main bathing hall and the hot spring around which the Roman temple town grew, with the Roman bathing rooms and temple courtyard.
• The collection – Finds from Aquae Sulis, including the gilt bronze head of Minerva, parts of the temple pediment with the Gorgon head and the Roman curse tablets.
• People of Aquae Sulis gallery – A gallery about the people of the Roman town, with the Beau Street Hoard of about 17,660 Roman coins found in 2007.

Opgericht

1897

Beheerder

Bath & North East Somerset Council

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Prices depend on the date and on whether the day is a weekday, a weekend or a bank holiday. The prices shown are the lowest, for weekday advance booking from 1 November to 18 December 2026. From 1 September to 31 October 2026 the adult advance price is £26.50 on weekdays and £29 at weekends and bank holidays. Tickets bought on the day cost £2 more than advance tickets. Residents of Bath and North East Somerset with a Discovery Card and full-time students of Bath Spa University, the University of Bath and Bath College (with student ID) enter free. Children with a Blue Peter badge enter free with a paying or concession adult.

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie

About 90% of the site is accessible to wheelchair users, but there are some steps. There is level access from the Abbey Church Yard entrance to most ground-floor areas and level access to the shop from Stall Street. Four lifts serve the mezzanine, the lower museum, the Great Bath and the East Baths; no more than four wheelchair users can be on the lower levels at one time, so visitors should phone 01225 477785 in advance. There is one accessible toilet near the entrance and one at the start of the King's Bath corridor. One motorised scooter is available for visitors whose own scooter is wider than 1200 mm; it cannot be reserved. Audio guides work with hearing aid T-switches, and a free British Sign Language guide and a more descriptive audio guide are available, with tactile models and Braille panels. Sensory bags can be borrowed for a refundable £10 deposit. Blue Badge holders can use three-hour spaces on Cheap Street. Assistance dogs are welcome.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Kinderwagenvriendelijk: niet aanwezig
• Verschoonruimte

There is a free children's audio guide and two family activity trails, one for pre-school and one for primary-school children. A children's activity book costs £5 at the welcome desk. Costumed Roman characters appear at times. Pushchairs must be left in the reception hall because of steps and narrow walkways, and baby carriers can be borrowed in limited numbers. Baby changing is at reception and at the end of the visit. Breastfeeding is welcome.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The Roman Baths are next to Bath Abbey. A clean air zone charge applies to some vehicles, including older coaches. Bike stands are at the junction of Stall Street and York Street, and Sustrans National Cycle Route 4 passes through Bath.

Service & horeca

• Restaurant
• Museumwinkel
• Garderobe: niet aanwezig
• Wifi

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the site. The Pump Room Restaurant is known for afternoon tea. The shop sells books, jewellery, prints, homeware and local products. There is no luggage or coat storage; only backpacks up to 30 litres may be taken inside and must stay with the visitor. Toilets are at reception and at the end of the visit.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten
• Zakelijke evenementen
• Bruiloften / trouwceremonies

The Pump Room, the Terrace above the Great Bath and the Reception Hall are used for dinners and receptions outside opening hours. The Kingston Room and the Drawing Room take up to 24 guests in boardroom style or 40 in theatre style. Wedding ceremonies can be held beside the Great Bath before the baths open.

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