Roman Baths and Bath City Walking Tour
Bath
£20 | Rating 4.57 / 5 [201 ratings]
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Credit Shutterstock.com/Edward Haylan
This superbly preserved Roman baths complex is Bath’s number one attraction, drawing in excess of a million visitors per year. Built over naturally occurring hot springs around AD 60, they were in use right up until the end of the Roman occupation circa AD 400. They stand today as a testament to the remarkable sophistication of Roman society and offer a fascinating insight into Roman life.
In case you’re wondering, bathing in the baths was ended in 1978, as the borehole water is no longer considered sufficiently hygienic. If you want the modern-day Roman bath experience, the nearby Thermae Bath Spa uses the same natural spring water taken from more recently drilled boreholes.
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Destination Guide >Guided tours are only available for group bookings. Otherwise, there are informative displays, an excellent audio guide (included in the price), and original artefacts on show in the in-house museum. There’s also a special free audio guide available for children, using a Celtic Boy and a slave girl to tell their inside story of life at the baths in Roman times.
It’s open all year round, seven days a week.
The peak summer season sees hefty crowds, as do most weekends. It’s the city’s top tourist attraction, so it’s always popular. In July and August, the baths stay open until 9pm. This is a great time to visit – they’re torchlit and there are fewer crowds.
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
Bath
£20 | Rating 4.57 / 5 [201 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Bath, Somerset, United Kingdom (UK)[0.1 miles]
No need to head to the often-busy Thermae Spa to get the full benefit of Bath’s healing waters – the gorgeous Gainsborough Hotel, which shouts luxury throughout, has its own thermal pools in its in-house spa, right in the city centre.
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Bath, Somerset, United Kingdom (UK)[0.5 miles]
Slap bang in the heart of things, No 15. is one of the smartest places to stay, on arguably Bath’s grandest road, close to the city centre. There’s beautiful décor, a relaxed bar and fine attention to detail.
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Expect friendly, youthful vibes at this relaxed hotel, decorated in jewel tones and with a buzzy restaurant. The location is excellent – the city centre is a five-minute walk away.
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Bath, Somerset, United Kingdom (UK)[0.7 miles]
A bijou bed and breakfast with pretty bedrooms just a five-minute walk from the city centre – Jane Austen would approve.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
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