Roman Baths

The Roman Baths in Bath, Somerset, England, are among the best-preserved Roman remains in Britain, built around 70 AD around the country's only hot springs. The complex sits beside Bath Abbey in Abbey Churchyard, below the level of the modern city. Visitors follow a route that starts on the Terrace overlooking the Great Bath, a lead-lined pool surrounded by columns and statues, with green-tinted water that steams in cooler weather. Below street level, walkways pass the Sacred Spring, where water at about 46 degrees Celsius rises at around a million litres a day, the Temple of Sulis Minerva with its carved pediment, and the remains of the hypocaust heating system. The museum displays include the gilded bronze head of Sulis Minerva, curse tablets thrown into the spring, and coins offered to the goddess. A free audio guide, available in many languages, includes commentary by the author Bill Bryson, and costumed characters appear on selected days. A visit takes about 90 minutes to two hours. Bathing in the Roman water is not allowed, though the Pump Room next door serves a glass of the spa water to taste, and the modern Thermae Bath Spa a short walk away offers a rooftop pool fed by the same thermal supply. Good photographs come from the Terrace above the Great Bath and from pool level at dusk during summer evening openings, when torches light the site. Crowds peak between 11:00 and 15:00, particularly in July, August and school holidays, and queues can form at the entrance. Opening at 09:00 or visiting after 15:00 gives quieter galleries. The Roman Baths combine well with Bath Abbey, Pulteney Bridge and the Royal Crescent in a single day. Tickets are cheaper when booked online. Parts of the route are cramped and slippery when wet.