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Archaeological site · Bath, Inglaterra
Roman Baths
The Roman bathing complex built in the 1st century around the only hot thermal spring in Great Britain, with the Great Bath of greenish water, the temple of Sulis Minerva and the museum. It is part of Bath's World Heritage.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Roman Baths
The Termas Romanas de Bath are in the city centre, next to the abbey, above the hot spring that gave rise to the city. The water emerges from the ground at about 46 degrees, in a volume of more than a million litres a day, and the Celts already venerated the spring before the Romans arrived. Around the year 60 the Romans built there a temple to the goddess Sulis Minerva and a complex of baths that operated for about 300 years, in a town they called Aquae Sulis.
The heart of the visit is the Great Bath, a rectangular pool of greenish water, surrounded by columns and by a terrace with statues of emperors and Roman governors added in the 19th century. The water is not suitable for bathing. Below street level are the Sacred Spring, where the water bubbles up, the remains of the temple, with the pediment of the Gorgon’s head, the hot and cold bathing rooms and the underfloor heating system.
The museum houses the gilded bronze head of Sulis Minerva, coins thrown into the spring and the curse tablets, small lead plates on which the Romans asked the goddess to punish anyone who had stolen their clothes or belongings. Actors dressed as Romans circulate along the route, and the Portuguese-language audio guide is included.
At street level, the Pump Room, a Georgian hall from 1795, operates as a restaurant and tea room, with a fountain where you can taste the thermal water.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
1h30 to 2 hours, with the audio guide.
Best time
Right at opening on a weekday, or in the late afternoon when tour groups have left. In summer the opening hours often extend into the evening, and the Great Bath is lit by torches. Buy a timed ticket in advance on the official website.
How to get there
They are in Abbey Churchyard, in central Bath, about a 5-minute walk from the Bath Spa train station and the bus station. The Abadia de Bath is on the same square.
Tip
Take the visit in the late summer afternoon, when torches are lit around the Great Bath. Taste the thermal water at the Pump Room fountain at the end of the route; the taste is mineral and strong.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Roman Baths
Can you enter the water of the Termas Romanas?
No. The water of the Grande Banho is untreated and not suitable for bathing. To bathe in the thermal water, go to the Thermae Bath Spa.
At what temperature does the water emerge?
Around 46 degrees Celsius, at the Fonte Sagrada, with a flow of more than one million litres per day.
What are the curse tablets?
Lead plates with requests to the goddess Sulis Minerva to punish thieves and enemies, thrown into the spring by the Romans. They are on display in the museum.
Is there an audio guide in Portuguese?
Yes, the audio guide included with the ticket usually has a Portuguese version.