The Roman Baths








Bath was founded upon natural hot springs with the steaming water playing a key role throughout its history. Lying in the heart of the city the Roman Baths were constructed around 70 AD as a grand bathing and socialising complex. It is now one of the best preserved Roman remains in the world.
1,170,000 litres of steaming spring water reaching 46 °C still fill the bathing site every single day. The Romans believed that this was the mystical work of the Gods but we now know that the water source, which comes from the King’s Spring, fell as rain water around 10,000 BC.
Visit The Great Bath, the magnificent epicentre to the complex and walk on the ancient cobbled pathways as the Romans did 2,000 years ago. The Great Bath that lies below street level can also be viewed from the Terrace, which is adorned with statues and shadowed by the great Abbey. Other chambers to explore include the remains of the ancient heated rooms and changing rooms as well as tepid and plunge pools.
Be sure to pick up an audioguide and listen to fascinating commentary as you slowly make your way around the site. These are available in twelve different languages, with special guides for children. A special English speaking audio guide narrated by Bill Bryson is also available and offers witty thoughts and observations on all things Roman.
Venue Type:
Heritage site, Museum
Additional info
Audioguides available in twelve languages at no extra cost.
Pump Room restaurant open for morning coffee, light lunches and afternoon tea, with music by the Pump Room Trio.
Roman Baths Kitchen open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks.
Lift and wheelchair access to 90% of the site.
Discounts for Groups
The entire collection of the Roman Baths is a Designated Collection of national importance.
Some of the best known finds from Roman Britain are to be found amongst the 50,000 objects in the Roman Baths Museum. The collections include objects from the mesolithic to the present which tell the story of seven thousand years of human activity around Britain's only hot springs, which are the heart of the World Heritage Site at Bath.
The Roman Baths and Temple of Sulis Minerva are among the finest Roman remains in Britain. At the hot spring, the Celtic and Classical worlds met in a magnificent complex of stone buildings used for worship, cleansing and healing. The museum, below the 18th century Pump Room, contains the monumental remains of these buildings and evidence of the people who used them.
Collection details
Social History, Decorative and Applied Art, Coins and Medals, Archives, Archaeology
Key artists and exhibits
- Beau Nash
- Designated Collection

Party in the City: Museums at Night
- 18 May 2018 6-9pm
Enjoy live music, find out more about the Roman Baths and experience the torchlit Great Bath.
Included in admission price. Tickets are not available online but can be bought at the front desk on arrival. Free to Resident Discovery Card holders.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
Admission
Included in admission price
Website
https://www.romanbaths.co.uk/events/museumsatnight
Roman life KS2
This 60 minute explorer sessions looks at general aspects of Roman life. Handle Roman artefacts for either bathingk, buildings & technology or cooking & food. Add 2 choices from 'Togas and tunics', 'Write on' or 'Marvellous mosaics'.
How to obtain
Book in advance on 01225 477785
Meet the Romans KS2
This 60 minute interactive sessions explores hisotry, literacy, numeracay and art. It is ideal for years 3 and 4. It is an opportunity to tour real Roman artefacts! Why not try the 'counter challenge' and take a view on the past.
How to obtain
Book in advance on 01225 477785
Roman Baths Museum Walkthrough
http://www.romanbaths.co.uk/walkthrough.aspx
The Roman Baths is below the modern street level and has four main features, the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple, the Roman bath house and finds from Roman Bath. The Georgian Pump Room is on the ground level. This interactive site plan has details of the different areas of the site, along with photographs and examples of archaeological finds.
Roman Baths Teachers Pack, KS1 and 2
http://www.romanbaths.co.uk/temp/RomanBathsTeacherspack.pdf
This pack aims to help teachers plan a lively self-guided educational visit to the Roman Baths. It includes ideas to use in pre-visit, on-site, and follow-up activities.
Teaching sessions are also available in response to National Curriculum and QCA units. Details can be found on our website or by ringing 01225 477785.
This material is adaptable for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 pupils, providing a wide range of cross-curricular topics. We suggest that you pick and choose from these activities according to your topic focus, the time you have available and your own students.
Welcome to Aquae Sulis - secondary
This 60 minute session looks at the archaeology of the Roman baths and temple and the people who came to Aquae Sulis. It includes a short presentation and oppportunites for artefact handling.
How to obtain
Book in advance on 012225 477785
The Roman Baths
Stall Street
Bath
Somerset
BA1 1LZ
England
Website
Enquiries
romanbaths_enquiries@bathnes.gov.uk
Group Bookings
romanbaths_bookings@bathnes.gov.uk
Telephone
Enquiries/Group Bookings
01225 477785
Pump Room restaurant
01225 444477
Fax
Enquiries/Group Bookings
01225 477743
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