Roman Baths
Roman Baths
Abbey Church Yard
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
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 audio guide and listen to fascinating commentary as you slowly make your way around the site. These are available in 8 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:
Museum, Heritage site, Archaeological site, Sacred space
Additional info
Audioguides available in 8 languages at no extra cost.
Pump Room restaurant open for morning coffee, light lunches and tea, with music by the Pump Room Trio.
Lift and wheelchair access to 60% 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
T'ai Chi on the Terrace
- 13 January — 17 March 2015 *on now
A great way to start the day in the setting of the Roman Baths. £4 per session or £38 for 10 sessions
Suitable for
- 18+
Admission
Call 01225 477 773 to register for these sessions
Website
Beau Street Hoard Talk
- 10 February 2015 From 2:30pm
Illustrated talks by members of the Roman Baths team. If your group or society would like a talk, contact romanbaths_enquiries@bathnes.gov.uk or telephone 01225 477 773
Suitable for
- 18+
Website
Denarius designs
- 16 — 20 February 2015
Have an opportunity to get up close to Roman coins and design a coin of your own. Sessions run between 10am-1pm and 2-4pm.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
Admission
Free activity with normal admission charges
Website
Tunnel Tours - Roman Baths
- 18 February 2015 11am-12:30pm
Be part of a guided tour of some of the tunnels under this historic site
Suitable for
- 18+
- 14-15
- 16-17
- 11-13
Admission
Normal admission charges apply. Please ring 01225 477 773 to book. Not suitable for children under the age of 10 and some restrictions on children under the age of 14 - please enquire
Website
Beau Street Hoard Roadshow
- 19 February 2015 11am-4pm
Find out how they were discovered, look in detail at some of the coins and make a replica coin to take home
Suitable for
- Any age
Admission
Talk at 2.00pm
Website
Beau Street Hoard Roadshow
- 21 February 2015 11am-3pm
Find out how they were discovered, look in detail at some of the coins and make a replica coin to take home
Suitable for
- Any age
Admission
Talks at 11.30am and 2.00pm
Website
Tunnel Tour - Roman Baths
- 25 February 2015 11am-12pm
Be part of a guided tour of some of the tunnels under this historic site
Suitable for
- 11-13
- 14-15
- 16-17
- 18+
Admission
Normal admission charges apply. Please ring 01225 477 773 to book. Not suitable for children under the age of 10 and some restrictions on children under the age of 14 - please enquire
Website
Silver science
- 14 March 2015 2-6pm
Join our science specialists in a festival of investigation and discover the science behind our amazing hoard of Roman silver coins. Last entry is 17.00
Suitable for
- Any age
- Family friendly
Admission
Free activity with normal admission charges
Website
Hands-on science
- 16 — 20 March 2015
Join our science volunteers to find out some amazing science facts and handle original artifacts from the Roman Baths collection
Suitable for
- Any age
- Family friendly
Admission
Free activity with normal admission charges
Beau Street Hoard Talk
- 18 March 2015 From 2pm
Illustrated talks by members of the Roman Baths team. If your group or society would like a talk, contact romanbaths_enquiries@bathnes.gov.uk or telephone 01225 477 773
Suitable for
- 18+
Website
Tunnel Tour - Roman Baths
- 18 March 2015 11am-12:30pm
Be part of a guided tour of some of the tunnels under this historic site
Suitable for
- 11-13
- 14-15
- 16-17
- 18+
Admission
Normal admission charges apply. Please ring 01225 477 773 to book. Not suitable for children under the age of 10 and some restrictions on children under the age of 14 - please enquire
Website
Tunnel Tour - Roman Bath
- 25 March 2015 11am-12:30pm
Be part of a guided tour of some of the tunnels under this historic site
Suitable for
- 11-13
- 16-17
- 18+
Admission
Normal admission charges apply. Please ring 01225 477 773 to book. Not suitable for children under the age of 10 and some restrictions on children under the age of 14 - please enquire
Website
Time for Tompion - Pump Room, Bath
- 29 March 2015 9-10am
Find out about the world famous Tompion clock with Roman Baths and Pump Room Manager, Stephen Clews, as you enjoy a two course breakfast. £15 each
Suitable for
- 18+
Admission
£15 each. Call 01225 477 773 to book
Eagle's eye view
- 30 March 2015 10am-4pm
An opportunity to look at the animal designs on Roman coins and make an imperial eagle. Sessions are run between 10am-1pm and 2-4pm.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
- Family friendly
Admission
Free activity with normal admission charges
Website
Tunnel Tour - Roman Baths
- 15 April 2015 From 11am
Be part of a guided tour of some of the tunnels under this historic site
Suitable for
- 11-13
- 14-15
- 16-17
- 18+
Admission
Normal admission charges apply. Please ring 01225 477 773 to book. Not suitable for children under the age of 10 and some restrictions on children under the age of 14 - please enquire
Website
Beau Street Hoard Talk
- 16 April 2015 From 7:30pm
Illustrated talks by members of the Roman Baths team. If your group or society would like a talk, contact romanbaths_enquiries@bathnes.gov.uk or telephone 01225 477 773
Suitable for
- 18+
Website
World Heritage Day
- 19 April 2015 10am-4:30pm
Join in our celeration of World Heritage at Prior Park Landscape Garden. One of the reasons why the City of Bath is a World Heritage Site is because of its landscape setting. From Prior Park Landscape Garden there is a magnificient view of the city. Take part in a variety of activities for all the family:
Meet Ralph Allen the creator of Prior Park, take part in some Georgian games, see early photographs of the garden and find out more about this special place.
Suitable for
- Any age
Where
Prior Park Landscape Garden
Ralph Allen Drive, Bath, Somerset, BA2 5AH
Bath
Somerset
BA2 5AH
Admission
Free event for Bath & North East Somerset Resident Discovery Card holders and members of the National Trust otherwise normal admission charges apply.
Website
Beau Street Hoard: money bags from Roman Bath
- 22 April 2015 7:30-9:30pm
Richard Abdy, British Museum Curator of Roman coins will give a free public lecture
Suitable for
- 18+
Admission
Book a place on eventbrite.co.uk
Website
Tunnel Tour - Roman Baths
- 22 April 2015 11am-12:30pm
Be part of a guided tour of some of the tunnels under this historic site
Suitable for
- 16-17
- 11-13
- 14-15
- 18+
Admission
Normal admission charges apply. Please ring 01225 477 773 to book. Not suitable for children under the age of 10 and some restrictions on children under the age of 14 - please enquire
Website
Beau Street Hoard Symposium
- 23 — 24 April 2015
For more details and to book a place, please visit www.romanbaths.co.uk
Suitable for
- 18+
Admission
Please go to www.romanbaths.co.uk to book a place
Website
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
Bath Bubbles
http://www.romanbaths.co.uk/htmlContent/game.htm
A cartoon computer game guiding a Roman character through the bath house, collecting objects and carrying out tasks until he can finally relax in the natatio. Make sure to keep paying the furnace slave, or the baths will go cold and you will lose!
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
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