It goes without saying that every visitor to the city of Bath, a world heritage site, needs to visit the Roman Baths, that gave the city its name. The springs have been an attraction of the city for centuries, with the first shrine on the site said to have been built by the Celts in honour of Goddess Sulis. When the Romans arrived in the town they called Aquae Sulis during the 1st century, they built the temple for Minerva and the Bath complex. Since the Romans, the Baths have gone through a series of redevelopment efforts, the latest being the £ 5.5 million project in 2011 to preserve the Baths for the next 100 years.
View of Bath Abbey from the Terrace
Visitors to the Roman Baths museum are given an audio guide, which lets one go through the museum at one’s own pace and the choice of selecting what details one wants to hear more about. From the entrance and ticket area, I walked on to the terrace of the Roman Baths, with the 19th century statues of Roman emperors and governors of Britain lining it, and had my first glimpse of the Great Bath.
The Great Bath
Before descending the stairs to the different museum exhibits, a glance through a window gives a glimpse of the sacred spring. According to a poster at the museum, the hot water in the spring rises at a rate of 1,170,000 litres each day at 46°C. This natural phenomenon was attributed to the Goddess Sulis Minerva during the Roman times and there was a temple next to the spring, dedicated to the Goddess.
the Sacred Spring
The exhibit area of the museum starts with the ‘Meet the Romans’ section, which had models of how the Baths would have looked during the Roman times. I enjoyed the film projections on how daily life at the Baths would have looked like then.
I next walked to the area with the temple pediment, where one can sit in the small amphitheater style seating area and listen to the audio guide explain the features of the surviving front of the temple in front of you.
Temple pediment
The floor below leads to different interesting sections of the Roman Baths that have survived. It is amazing that the plumbing and drainage system installed during the Roman period is still largely in place and continues to direct the spring overflow to the original drain and onto River Avon.
Sacred Spring
Spring overflow
Roman Drain
Plunge Pool
The various artifacts showcasing life during the Roman times is very intriguing, particularly the numerous curse tablets that have been unearthed. The curse tablets had been thrown into the pool by visitors and most curses were against thieves who had stolen the clothes or other personal belongings of the bathers while they were in the pool.
The most atmospheric area of the museum is the Great Bath area, which is enhanced by the costumed characters, based on real people who lived and worked at Aquae Sulis 2000 years ago, strolling around the pool.
Great Bath
Emerging from the Roman Baths museum, one comes across the famous Pump room.
Pump Room
Quite hungry after spending the afternoon enjoying my exploration of the Roman Baths museum, I made my way over to North Parade to Sally Lunn’s historic eating house and museum.
I decided to try out the mushroom toast trencher, with half a Sally Lunn bun topped with herb mushrooms and their historic mushroom ketchup/gravy. The trencher meal was served on a plate fortunately, instead of the trencher bread serving as a plate as it would have centuries ago.
After my delicious and filling dinner, I made my way down to the basement where the Sally Lunn’s kitchen museum is.
According to the museum’s website, this is the original kitchen that Solange Lyon, aka Sally Lunn, a Huguenot refugee worked in when she came to Bath in 1680. She made her brioche buns in this kitchen and sold them, around the neighbourhood, in a basket.
The menu of the old eating house is now focused on meals and snacks with the famous Sally Lunn bun and is certainly a place worth visiting and having a meal.
Disclaimer: The Bath Tourism Office kindly gave me a complimentary pass to Bath and regional attractions, for the purpose of this post. This pass allowed me free entry to the Roman Baths. All opinions are my own and I only recommend experiences I have enjoyed.
[I am linking this post to The Weekly Postcard and Cultured Kids January 2017]
Perspectives Quilt 
Nice post mam ☺️☺️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Neha.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You welcome mam well my name is Diksha Sinhmar …Mam Rome seems beautiful …☺️☺️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, Diksha, my name is Ahila. I was confused by your email address, accompanying your comment, which mentions Neha Choudary. The Roman Baths in this post are in Bath City, England and are fascinating indeed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ok mam its means this beautiful place present in England . I wanna ask one thing why they name that place Roman bath when i read a title of your post and see such a beautiful image I thought that roman bath is place which present in Rome ☺️☺️☺️☺️ but thanks for telling me its actual place
LikeLike
Mam its really beautiful bath city
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I visited Bath as a teenager so I really need to go back. I would also like to try the Sally Lunn’s restaurant/museum, it sounds really interesting. Thanks for sharing on #TheWeeklyPostcard!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sally Lunn’s restaurant and museum is indeed a place worth visiting. So, I hope you do revisit Bath!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Romans surely knew how to bathe in style! I haven’t seen anything in England beyond London, but I will go back for sure. The Roman Baths are definitely a must see. Have a wonderful travel year in 2017. #TheWeeklyPostcard
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Anda! I loved visiting Bath and some of the other towns in Somerset during this visit.
LikeLike
🙂 I visited it too:) nice photos!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Tanja. The Roman Baths was the first museum I visited in Bath 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
We visited the Roman Baths but didn’t have time to see or eat at the Sally Lunn house. That meal looks very yummy. I’ve never had mushroom ketchup and have read that it used to be much more prevalent.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was the first time I had mushroom ketchup and I had expected the consistency to be thicker but it was light and tasted more like mushroom gravy. The meal was tasty and the rest of Sally Lunn’s trencher menu sounded great as well.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Wessex Guided Tours.
LikeLike
I’ve never been to the baths at Bath, they look wonderful. I’m now looking at the calendar to see if we can visit this year …..
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you do visit Bath this year, Catherine. I am hoping to revisit Bath some time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
From the baths to the restaurant, it really is like stepping back in time. Amazing that the old plumbing is largely intact. #culturedkids
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is amazing that the old plumbing is largely intact but it seems to be the case with very old irrigation systems across the world. In Sri Lanka, some of the largest water reservoirs still in use was built around 2000 years ago.
LikeLike
I’ve really enjoyed reading your posts from Bath. The Roman Baths look fascinating – and I visied Sally Lunn’s once, many years ago. I still remember how tasty the bun meal was! Thanks for joining in with #CulturedKids
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Nell. I found my visit to Bath very fascinating and hope I get to revisit some time.
LikeLike
Aren’t the baths so wonderfully civilised considering when they were built. So indulgent. I loved my visit to Bath. I had a 6 month posting in Bristol and took the opportunity to explore.
#culturedkids
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bath is indeed a lovely city to explore. I didn’t get to visit Bristol this time as I focused my stay in Bath but I think I would like to explore it some day as well. Would you recommend including Bristol in a trip to south west England?
LikeLike
I loved Bristol. It’s a very foodie city so ideal for a girls’ weekend or a couples getaway. The Harbour Festival is a lively date and reason to visit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Harbour festival sounds lovely. If I revisit England during July, I will try to visit Bristol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If I visit Bath, I am going straight to the baths! I like all the details you have provided. Really nice place. The food looks delicious too. #CulturedKids
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Roman Baths and No 1 Royal Crescent are my favourite museums in Bath. They are so well preserved and presented. You would certainly enjoy both, Ruth.
LikeLike
Wonderful photos… they bring back memories! Bath is such a wonderful city for walking around in!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Adam. Glad the post brought back lovely memories for you.
LikeLiked by 1 person