The Roman Baths in Bath are a must-see attraction in this charming UNESCO World Heritage city. Dating back to the 2nd century AD, the Romans built a temple here dedicated to the Goddess Sulis Minerva, and in the 18th century, it became a popular spot for Georgian society to enjoy the waters.

As a local from nearby Bristol, the Roman Baths are my go-to place when showing visitors around Bath.

The baths, built over a natural hot spring, were significant even before Roman times. Enclosed in the 2nd century AD, they became a center for worship at the temple of Sulis Minerva, the Goddess of healing. Unlike most Roman baths, which had smaller plunge pools and limited hot water due to the high cost of heating, the Roman Baths in Bath were notable for their size and abundant hot water.

The baths served as both a public leisure center and a site of devotion, featuring a temple courtyard and an altar next to the spring. Today, the Roman Baths are surrounded by the cathedral and shops, though they originally covered a much larger area, with some remains now lying beneath the surrounding streets.

In the 18th century, the Grand Pump Room was built next to the main spring, providing a place for people to socialize and drink the health-giving spring water, a practice often mentioned in Jane Austen’s novels. The 19th century saw the uncovering of the wider extent of the Roman Baths, the reconstruction of the Great Bath’s columns and statues, and the reopening of the baths to the public in 1897.

Visitors to the bath complex receive an audio guide available in several languages, allowing them to explore at their own pace. The guide includes commentary for children and reflections by travel writer Bill Bryson.

The tour starts on the terrace above the Great Baths, featuring statues of Roman Emperors connected to England. From there, visitors can view other baths in the complex, including the smaller original King’s Bath, a sacred place with the original spring water gently bubbling. People used to throw prayers or curses written on small lead tablets into this pool, seeking the goddess’s help.

The tour continues to the Roman level of the baths, where visitors can walk around the original temple courtyard and see the Roman brick overflow channel that directed water to the nearby River Avon. Short film clips depict scenes from Roman times, bringing the history to life with characters like a Roman matron, a young family, and temple priests.

The tour concludes at the lower level of the Great Bath, where visitors can sit by the water and imagine what it was like to relax, bathe, and socialize there. It feels like an inviting open-air swimming pool.

Before leaving, it’s worth visiting the pump rooms for afternoon tea and a taste of the mineral water from the spring, served from an elegant Georgian urn. The water’s taste is not particularly pleasant, but its health-giving reputation makes it worth trying.

The Roman Baths are open daily year-round, with variable hours depending on the day and season. Standard adult tickets start at £21.50. The baths are located at Abbey Church Yard, Bath, BA1 1LZ.