Roman Baths, Bath

Bath exists because of this spring. The Romans arrived around 60 AD, found geothermal water rising at 46°C, and built the most elaborate religious spa complex in northern Europe above it. The Great Bath — a lead-lined swimming pool fed by the same spring water — has been uncovered, surveyed, and visited for 2,000 years. It is the reason Bath is on the map, and the only thing in the city that genuinely justifies the queues.

Key facts

£22–31

Adult ticket

Children 6–18: £20

Roman Baths, June 2026

46°C

Spring water temperature

Same source as Thermae spa

Bath & NE Somerset Council

1.2M+

Annual visitors

Bath's most-visited attraction

Visit Bath, 2025

Tickets and prices (2026)

Ticket type Price Note
Adult £22–31 Advance booking recommended; walk-up available
Child (under 6) Free No ticket required
Child (6–18) £20 Must be with an adult
Concession £27 Students, over-60s, disabled visitors
Family (2 adults + up to 3 children) £83 Best value for groups with children

Prices as of June 2026. Check romanbaths.co.uk for current pricing before visiting.

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What to see

The Sacred Spring

The source: 46°C geothermal water rises here at over a million litres per day. The Romans named the goddess Sulis Minerva and built a temple above this point around 60–70 AD. The gilded bronze head of Sulis Minerva, discovered in 1727, is displayed nearby. This is the oldest part of the site.

The Roman Temple

The temple pediment — a carved stone face of Medusa (or Sol Invictus, scholars disagree) — is one of the finest surviving examples of Romano-Celtic sculpture in Britain. The temple stood here for over 300 years before the bath complex was buried under Norman and medieval Bath.

The Great Bath

The centrepiece: a lead-lined swimming pool filled with geothermal spring water at 46°C, open to the sky. Victorian engineers uncovered this in 1878–1894. The bathing was colonnaded and roofed in Roman times — the open-sky view is modern. The green colour of the water is algae; it is not filtered or treated.

The East and West Baths

Smaller pools used for different temperature bathing. The Romans maintained a sequence of cool, warm, and hot rooms (frigidarium, tepidarium, caldarium) similar to a modern spa circuit. The underfloor heating system — hypocaust — is visible in several sections.

The Museum Collection

Over 12,000 curse tablets, coins, and offerings thrown into the spring by Roman visitors are displayed in the museum. The curse tablets — lead sheets inscribed with pleas to Sulis Minerva — are the highlight. They cover theft, romantic disputes, and commercial grievances. Many are still legible.

Practical advice

When to go: Opening time (9:00 or 9:30 depending on season) is the quietest slot. Weekend afternoons from June to September are the most congested — the Great Bath viewing terrace becomes difficult to navigate. Evening opening in peak summer (the baths are lit with torches in July and August) offers a completely different atmosphere and shorter queues.

How long to allow: 90 minutes to 2.5 hours. The audio guide runs approximately 90 minutes at the suggested pace; most visitors complete it in under two hours. The museum collection — particularly the curse tablets — deserves a separate 30 minutes if you are interested in Roman social history.

The Pump Room: The Pump Room restaurant sits directly above the Roman Baths and serves as the original Georgian tea room of Bath. Afternoon tea and morning coffee are a natural extension of a Roman Baths visit. The Pump Room Orchestra plays on most days. It is expensive; book in advance or queue at opening.

Photography: The Great Bath is the primary shot — best light is morning. The golden torchlit evening opening creates better atmosphere for photography than daytime. Tripods are not permitted; smartphone shots work well given the ambient light levels.

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Frequently asked questions

How much do Roman Baths tickets cost?
Roman Baths tickets cost £22–31 for adults, £20 for children aged 6–18, and free for children under 6 (June 2026 prices). Family tickets (2 adults + up to 3 children) are £83. Concessions (students, over-60s, disabled visitors) are £27. Tickets are available online and at the door; booking in advance is recommended in summer.
How long does a visit to the Roman Baths take?
Allow 1.5 to 2.5 hours for a thorough visit to the Roman Baths. The audio guide (included in the ticket price) covers about 90 minutes of content; most visitors do not complete it in full. The main Roman Bath, the Sacred Spring, the temple area, and the museum collection take around 90 minutes at a comfortable pace. Add 30 minutes if you're reading the curse tablet translations in detail.
Do you need to book Roman Baths tickets in advance?
Advance booking is strongly recommended for summer (June–September) and school holidays. The Roman Baths is Bath's most-visited attraction; weekend morning slots in peak season book out. Weekday visits are easier to walk in to, but advance booking is still faster. Tickets are available at romanbaths.co.uk and via GetYourGuide.
Can you swim in the Roman Baths?
No. The Roman Baths are an archaeological site and the water is not treated or filtered — bathing is not permitted. For geothermal bathing in Bath, Thermae Bath Spa (five minutes' walk from the Roman Baths) uses the same natural spring water and allows swimming in its rooftop pool and indoor thermal baths. Sessions from £40.
What are the best times to visit the Roman Baths?
Opening time (9:00 or 9:30 depending on season) is the quietest slot — arrive 15 minutes before opening. Evenings in July and August (the Roman Baths open until 21:00 or 22:00 in peak season) are atmospheric and less crowded than daytime. Avoid weekend afternoons from June to September: peak crowd times are 11:00–15:00.
Is the Roman Baths audio guide worth it?
Yes. The audio guide is included in the ticket price and is one of the better examples of the format. Bill Bryson recorded commentary on the history and archaeology. The guide works at your own pace and covers sections that would be easy to miss without context. Children's version also available.
What is near the Roman Baths in Bath?
The Roman Baths sit adjacent to Bath Abbey in the city centre. Thermae Bath Spa is a 5-minute walk (thermal bathing in the same spring water). The Pump Room restaurant is directly above the Roman Baths — afternoon tea or morning coffee is a natural extension of the visit. Pulteney Bridge is 8 minutes' walk. Sally Lunn's (oldest house in Bath) is 3 minutes' walk.

Getting there: Abbey Churchyard, Bath BA1 1LZ. A 10-minute walk from Bath Spa station. Nearest car park: SouthGate (BA1 1AP), 5-minute walk. The Roman Baths are in the pedestrian zone — no direct car access.

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