Roman Baths, Bath

The Roman Baths is the number one site in the town. They are, after all, one of the best-preserved Roman sites north of the Alps and at the very heart of the site is the Sacred Spring. It's hot water gushes out at a temperature of 46 Degrees Centigrade (by heck, that's warm) and it's been doing this for thousands of years.

In the past this natural phenomenon was beyond human understanding and so it was attributed to the Gods. In Roman times a great Temple was built next to the Spring dedicated to the goddess Sulis Minerva, a deity with healing powers. The mineral rich water from the Spring supplied a magnificent bath-house which attracted visitors from across the Roman Empire.

I found this 'religious' side to it quite interesting, making it more than just 'another' spa. It is all very well explained on the audio-guide which is used to accompany your visit (Free audio tours are available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and Japanese.)
There are also hourly tours of the Roman Baths are free.
The Roman Baths is not wheelchair accessible. However, wheelchair users are admitted free to the Terrace overlooking the Great Bath.

Well worth the entry fee of nine pounds 50p

In the pump room of the Roman Baths (you can enter this part for free) is posistioned a rotund gentleman who dispenses the famous Bath Spa water.

The last time I visited the man in question, in impressive 18th century garb, charged 50pence for each glass. It may have wonderful properties and contain 43 minerals, but I refuse to cough up for something - even if it stops me from coughing up !

Come to the city of bath must visit the historical Roman Bath which built by the roman's itself during the medieval period.
Hot spring on the pool still exist but no ONE allowed to touch the water eventhough reportedly to cure chronic disease.

The Roman Bath is a pool of hot water from a thermal spring which was thought to have healing power. However, nowadays the water is a bit green. You can not touch the water (although we did) because of the meningitis scare. The site has 4 areas the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple, the Roman bath house and finds from Roman Bath. It is considered a world heritage site.

One of the coolest things in Bath is the Roman Baths. It is cool to see these hot spring and how the romans design huge baths to use them. You can also sample some of the spring water after touring the baths.

These baths are really rather famous and are well worth the £9.50 (8.50 concessions) entry fee.

I've been here twice and have learnt something new each time. It's pretty cool to stroll through the museum, into the different areas of the baths and imagine what it was like to be a local in the days the baths were in use in Roman times.

As well as the history of the area, it gives an insight into Roman life in Britain more generally. The Baths are still full of steaming water but try to take a dip and you'll be in trouble! Apart from the algae that grows on the water due to the sunlight getting in, it's prohibited.

If you don't see anything else in Bath - the Roman Baths are the one thing you should see. After all, the city was named after it!

The entrance is a little obscured but the experience of seeing actual Roman Baths is amazing. The Baths are still warm (I put my hand in though you're not meant to - Rebel!) and the audio that you can get (Free) is great. It runs you through the history, uses and scenes from the baths.

I can't reccomend this place enough - it's great if you like history.

The Roman Baths simply cannot be missed if you visit Bath. If you can only spare two or three hours in the city, do try and spend them at this UNESCO World Heritage site.

These are the best-preserved Roman baths in the world and offer the chance to look back at the Roman way of life in a way you simply would not experience anywhere else. It is believed that worship at the hot spring that flows into the Bath goes back to long before the Romans. When the Romans came, they built baths and temples on the site to worship Sulis Minerva, and there are fascinating computer reconstructions in the museum that show you how the site developed over several hundred years. It's amazing to walk around and think that you are following in the footsteps of men and women who bathed and socialised here almost 2000 years ago. Parts of the complex are so well-preserved that it's hard to believe it is really that old.

The baths also played a key role in the 18th and 19th centuries, when Bath was THE place to be seen. People came to the city for to take the waters and to bathe for their health, and you can learn more about this during the tour.

I last visited in March 2005, and found that the experience had been much enhanced since my previous visit in 1997. A hand-held audio tour is included in the admission price, just key in the relevant number when you see the sign, and the commentary will explain all about the part of the baths you are in. There are fascinating artefacts on display throughout the museum dealing with all aspects of Roman life. Look out for the curses that the Romans used to write and toss into the springs to bring misfortune on those who had wronged them!

An adult ticket is £9.50, and I thought it was worth every penny. I'd recommend you allow a good couple of hours for your visit to really make the most of it. And if the weather is wet, it's a good place to go because it's all undercover (great if it's a cold day too, because you see the steam rising up off the water - very mystical!)