Visiting the Roman Baths in Bath, England
Originally built centuries ago by the Romans as a spa / bath retreat, Bath in England is still one of the most beautiful, historic, and visited cities in England.
The
Romans came here when they invaded Britain because of the hot springs
that bubble up from the earth. The local people thought this place had
spiritual significance, and when the Romans came, they felt the same and
dedicated this site to Minerva, the goddess of wisdom. Despite being on
the edge of the frontier, the city grew to become a major religious and
cultural center. People came from all around to pray to Minerva and use
the baths, which they believed had special healing powers. (I tested
this theory. They don’t!)
After the Roman Empire crumbled, so too
did the baths of Bath. Over the centuries, the Roman structure collapsed
and the city was built over them. Medieval leaders eventually
constructed their own baths, and pilgrims came to the hot springs in
order to be healed of various ailments. Time and construction hid the
original Roman structure, a new spa was constructed nearby, and life in
Bath went on.
In the early 19th century, the owners of the house
on top of the original baths hired a crew to find the source of water
leaks and stumbled upon the ancient structure. Subsequent digging
revealed the whole complex, and soon excavations were underway to
unearth this historic treasure.
Today, most of the structure has been unearthed, though archaeologists suspect there are still a few more buildings in the area.
Now, everyone wants to visit Bath to check out these ancient Roman baths in England! It’s the most popular thing to do here.
The
ancient Roman baths are inspiring. Since the city is built on top of
them, you enter from street level, where a terrace lets you look down
into the baths, which are over six feet below the ground. The
preservation techniques employed here are excellent, and this is one of
the best-preserved Roman sites I’ve ever seen.
The audio tour, which is narrated by famed travel writer Bill Bryson,
gives an amazing level of detail and information. The displays do a
wonderful job of explaining the history of Bath, the Roman occupation,
the significance behind all the artifacts, and the excavation process. I
always hate walking away from historic sites with questions, but Bath’s
displays and audio tour are so complete that I had none.
I’m
always amazed by Roman engineering, especially their sewer and aqueduct
system. It’s amazing that a people primitive in so many ways could build
piping, heating, and sewer systems that were so complex. The history
geek in me finds it all fascinating.
The
city’s allure isn’t just the Roman baths, though, but also the historic
abbey, where famed philosopher Thomas Malthus is entombed. Plus, the
town is beautiful, and most of the buildings are as they appeared a few
centuries ago. I don’t know what architectural style they’re built in,
but if I had to guess, I’d say “pretty.” There’s also a museum that
contains 600 oil paintings and over 5,000 pieces of art of other
mediums. (And, like all national museums in England, entrance is free
though it costs 4 GBP to see the large exhibitions!)
One of the
real highlights for me was the river in town. Parks line the Avon River,
and people lounge out with picnics as the famous Pulteney Bridge
overlooks a little cascade in the river. The bridge is covered with
shops and reminded me of the covered bridges in Florence.
All over England,
people kept telling me, “Ohh, you’ll like Bath. It’s really nice.” They
were right. The only thing I didn’t like was my camera battery dying
halfway through my trip, leaving me far short of all the pictures I
would have taken. Bath is a real gem.
How to Get to Bath, England
For a day trip, trains run from London
take around 90 minutes and run until late. Round trip fare starts at 60
GBP. Buses from London take about 2hrs 30min and cost between 7-21 GBP.
If you have a car, it’s about a 2hr 30min drive from London.
If
you’re coming from nearby Bristol, the trip is only around 25 minutes by
car. Trains from Bristol run regularly and take around 15 minutes,
costing 5-10 GBP each way. Buses from Bristol will take closer to an
hour and cost between 2-7 GBP each way.
How to Visit the Roman Baths in England
The Roman Baths are right in the center of Bath on Stall St. The entrance is in Abbey Church Yard. Opening hours vary depending on the season:
- January-February: 9:30am-5pm (you can stay unil 6pm)
- March-June 20th: 9am-5pm (you can stay unil 6pm)
- June 21st-August 31st: 9am-9pm (you can stay unil 10pm)
- September-October: 9am-5pm (you can stay unil 6pm)
- Novemeber-December: 9:30am-5pm (you can stay unil 6pm)
Admission costs 16.50 GBP for adults with discounts available for students, children, and seniors. Audio guides are free.
Tips for Visiting Bath
To make the most of your trip to Bath and a visit to the Roman Baths, here are a few helpful travel tips:
- Eat at the pubs – Bath is home to some delicious (but expensive) restaurants. If you’re on a budget, you can find cheaper meals at the pubs and taverns. You’ll get a bit more local flavor this way, and meals will be closer to 10 GBP instead of 20 GBP at a standard restaurant.
- Walk everywhere – Bath isn’t a big city. save yourself some money and just walk everywhere.
- Couchsurf – There are plenty of couch surfing hosts to be found if you’re looking to lower your accommodation costs and stay with a loca. just make sure to send requests early as the summers can get busy and many locals are away on holidays.
- Time your visit – Get to the baths right when they open or right when they close to beat the crowd. Also, try to visit during the week instead of on the weekend. This will give you a much less crowded experience.
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