The Roman Baths run torchlit evening openings most summers, usually from mid-to-late July through the end of August. Branded in recent years as "Summer Lates," the event keeps the site open after normal closing time, with the Great Bath lit by torchlight, live music at weekends, and optional guided evening tours. It's included in standard admission rather than a separate ticket.
What Summer Lates actually is
Rather than a one-off event, Summer Lates is the Roman Baths' regular summer extension of opening hours, running on most evenings across the season rather than a single date. The headline draw is seeing the Great Bath after dark, lit by torches rather than daylight, which gives the site a noticeably different atmosphere from a daytime visit. Exact dates move slightly year to year, so check the Roman Baths' own site for the current season's calendar before you plan around it rather than assuming it matches a previous year.
What to expect on a weeknight vs a weekend
- Weekday evenings tend to be quieter, with a bar beside the bath itself for a drink while you look around.
- Weekend evenings typically add live music sessions, generally running in the early evening, plus the option of a guided evening tour at set times (recent seasons have offered these around 6pm and 7pm).
- Allow enough time: the museum portion is substantial, so plan on at least an hour before you reach the torchlit Great Bath itself, rather than rushing straight through.
Tickets and what's included
Evening entry during Summer Lates is covered by your standard Roman Baths admission rather than requiring a separate torchlit-evening ticket. Optional extras, such as a guided evening tour, may carry their own booking slot even if there's no extra charge beyond admission. Ticket prices change, so check the Roman Baths' official site for current adult, child and family pricing rather than relying on an older figure.
Getting there in the evening
If you're driving in, Bath's Park and Ride services have historically run later into the evening during the summer season specifically to cover events like this, so check current Park and Ride hours for your visit date rather than assuming daytime hours apply. For the wider picture on reaching the Roman Baths and the city centre without a car, see our guide to getting around Bath without a car.
Planning around it
Summer Lates is worth building an evening around rather than squeezing in after a full day of sightseeing elsewhere, since the museum alone takes real time to see properly. If you're trying to decide when to visit the Roman Baths generally, our guides on how long you need at the Roman Baths and the best time to visit to avoid the crowds cover the daytime side of the same planning question.
At a glance
| Summer Lates (torchlit evenings) | |
|---|---|
| When | Roughly mid/late July to end of August each year (dates vary by season) |
| What's lit | The Great Bath, by torchlight |
| Weekend extras | Live music, optional guided evening tours |
| Weeknight extras | A bathside bar, generally quieter |
| Ticket | Covered by standard Roman Baths admission |
| Time needed | At least an hour before reaching the torchlit bath |
FAQs
When are the Roman Baths' torchlit evenings? They typically run from around mid-to-late July through the end of August each year, branded in recent seasons as Summer Lates. Exact dates shift slightly year to year, so check the official Roman Baths site for the current season.
Do you need a separate ticket for the torchlit evenings? No. Evening entry during Summer Lates is covered by standard Roman Baths admission, though some optional extras like guided evening tours may need their own booking slot.
Is there live music during the torchlit evenings? Recent seasons have included live music sessions at weekends, alongside a quieter weeknight atmosphere with a bathside bar.
How long should I allow for a torchlit evening visit? Allow at least an hour to go through the museum before you reach the torchlit Great Bath, since the museum portion takes real time to see properly.
Can I drive to the Roman Baths for a torchlit evening visit? Yes, and Park and Ride services have historically extended their hours during the summer season to cover evening events, so check current Park and Ride times for your visit date.
Is the torchlit evening the same every night during the season? No. Weeknights tend to be quieter with just a bathside bar, while weekends typically add live music and optional guided evening tours.