Tips for Visiting the Roman Baths
First of all, Bath is gorgeous. Second, the Roman Baths are a MUST-visit. Third, you’ll need some tips for visiting the Roman Baths to make sure your day is as perfect as the city itself.
These ancient baths are located in the city of Bath, which happens to be the only city in the UK that is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
I didn’t know what to expect when visiting the Roman Baths that are supplied by a sacred hot spring below the city, but there are some things I wish I knew first and some things I would do differently.
So check out this list of tips if you plan on visiting the Roman Baths.
Tips for Visiting the Roman Baths in Bath
Arrive Early (or right before close)
This is a no-brainer to most people, but some still don’t know.
If you want to get all of the good shots, then you need to get there at opening.
If you buy your ticket online, then you don’t have to mess about with paying at the ticket desk, so that saves you about 5 minutes of time and you can get your people-free pictures!
I also seem to enjoy my visit to a location that isn’t overcrowded… but doesn’t everyone?
You can also visit towards closing time and you’ll get fewer crowds. You have to remember the majority of people visiting are those doing a bus tour from London. So once the bus tour crowds have gone, it’s a lot more peaceful.
Visit During Off Season
This should also be a no brainer, but this place gets busy.
Even during off season, there’s still bus loads of people that start arriving by 10am.
The best time of the year to go has to be the second week of September. You still get great weather and all the schools are back in session (international and national), so you have the better chance of getting fewer people there while you enjoy your visit.
Unfortunately, some people can’t travel during the off-season due to kids in school or work, but it’s not the end of the world! Just follow the previous tip for visiting the Roman Baths… arrive early or right before closing time.
Also try visiting on a weekday, you’ll avoid the “weekend break” crowd and it’s a few pounds cheaper! Win-win!
It Takes Forever to Get to the Bottom of the Great Bath
Seriously.
You walk around the top of the Great Bath and you get really excited to walk to the bottom and then you realize there isn’t a staircase that goes downstairs, but it’s an elaborate maze of artifacts, information boards and staircases.
Skip the Museum
Don’t worry, you can still visit the museum… but hear me out…
You enter at the top of the Roman Baths outside of the Great Bath and then you head inside to the multi-level museum.
If you want the “people-free pictures” at the bottom of the Great Bath, then you need to weave through the museum.
It can be a little confusing if you are trying to rush and beat the crowd, but follow the signs and keep walking down and you will get to the bottom.
Once you have your pictures, you can go back into the museum and take your time looking at everything in there.
No Tripods
You can take as many pictures are you want and you can bring your big fancy camera, however, you cannot set up a tripod.
So the only way you’re going to get those shots by yourself is if you have a travel buddy or you find a really nice person that is hopefully a photographer that will take multiple pictures of you. (We can only dream, right?)
Set Aside a Couple of Hours
This isn’t a place that you can visit in 30 minutes or an hour, and why would you??
You are spending about $20.00+ on an entry ticket, so wouldn’t you want to take your time and explore every inch of this place?!
YES.
So set aside 2-2 1/2 hours of exploring this place.
Don’t Forget to Taste the Water
Before you exit, there is a room with what looks like a giant sink with a constant flow of water.
That’s the sacred spring water.
It’s okay to drink the water, but just know that it tastes terrible… in my opinion (and a lot of other people there with me that day).
First of all the water is hot, second the water contains 43 different minerals, giving it a… unique taste.
Are you visiting the Roman Baths or planning a trip to Bath? Lemme know in the comments below!!
Save Tips for Visiting the Roman Baths on Pinterest!
If you skip the museum to get better pictures, do you back track to get back to the museum or exit and re-enter?
I always back track, I honestly don’t think you would be able to exit the baths and re-enter. The last time I was here, I got my photos real quick at the bottom and then made back up to the start of the museum before it started getting busy!