The Roman Baths
The Roman Baths, at the heart of the City of Bath World Heritage Site, consists of the remarkably preserved remains of one of the greatest religious spas of the ancient world. It attracted around 1 million visitors last year, making it one of the most visited ancient monuments in the UK.
The main tourist attraction in Bath, The Roman Baths attract around 1 million visitors per year, making it one of the most visited ancient monuments in the UK.
The City’s unique thermal springs rise at the centre of the site and the Baths still flow with natural hot water. Visitors can explore the remains of the Temple of Sulis Minerva – the Roman Goddess of wisdom and healing – and the massive bathing complex which the Romans built next to the Temple and its sacred spring. They walk on the original Roman pavements which were built around the magnificent Great Bath. The museum collection includes a life-size gilt bronze head of the Goddess and ancient objects found in the hot spring.
Run by Bath & North East Somerset Council, The Roman Baths has just completed a £5.5 million redevelopment which has brought the best of modern interpretation to the site, transformed accessibility and helped to preserve it for the next 100 years.
The displays now feature stories of first to fourth-century Romans and Celts who are known to have lived or worked here, with a cast of characters who are encountered in video, audio and real life reinactment.
Full interpretation is provided in 12 languages (English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish) via hand held audioguides available to everyone at no extra cost. In addition, written information is available in 32 languages, from Swahili to Welsh. The site has been particularly successful in attracting East Asian visitors, who have a tradition of hot springs and a great interest in ancient sites, and more than 50,000 Mandarin–speaking people visited the Roman Baths in 2013.
Access has been transformed by the introduction of two new lifts, more seating, better hand-rails and fewer steps. There is new interpretation for blind people and British Sign Language users.
'Beaneath My Feet' App:
This free app features a map of the area around the Roman Baths, which includes Abbey Church Yard, Kingston Parade, Stall Street and York Street. When users click on points on the map, information pops up about each location, along with images relating to the artefacts, buildings or even human remains that have been unearthed there. Click to download the app for Apple or Android devices.
