The Roman Baths visitor rules boil down to this: you can bring a small backpack (up to 30 litres) and a sealed water bottle, but large luggage, pushchairs, food, and pets other than trained assistance dogs all have to stay outside. The site is open daily from 9am to 6pm, with last entry at 5pm, and most people spend 90 minutes to two hours inside.
The Roman Baths get over a million visitors a year, and the rules exist mostly to protect a 2,000-year-old site with narrow walkways, uneven Roman paving, and one genuinely irreplaceable body of water. Here is exactly what's allowed, what isn't, and the handful of questions every visitor asks before they go. For the wider question of ticket prices and whether to visit the Baths or Thermae Bath Spa instead, see our guides to the Roman Baths and Roman Baths vs Thermae.
What you can bring in
- A small backpack or daypack, up to 30 litres, which you keep with you the whole visit
- Water in a sealed, secure bottle
- Wheelchairs, mobility scooters, walking sticks and other mobility aids
- Trained assistance dogs
- A baby carrier rather than a pushchair (see below)
Sensible, flat footwear is worth the effort too. The floors around the Great Bath and the lower Roman levels are original or near-original stone, and they're often damp and uneven.
What you have to leave at home
- Large rucksacks, suitcases and other luggage (there's no cloakroom on site, so use left-luggage facilities elsewhere in the city first, such as those at Bath Spa station)
- Food and drink other than water in a sealed bottle, including alcohol
- Pushchairs and buggies
- Pets other than trained assistance dogs
- Large sports equipment or wheeled shopping trolleys
- Drones, flags, banners and anything the security team judges a risk
Every visitor passes through a walk-through security scanner at the entrance in Abbey Church Yard, and bags may be searched, so it's worth arriving a few minutes before your booked slot to allow for this.
Can you touch or drink the water?
No. The water in the Great Bath is untreated, has been sitting in lead-lined Roman conduits, and is neither safe to touch nor to drink. Visitors are asked not to reach into the Great Bath at any point, and you can't swim in it either, despite how tempting the steaming green water looks on a cold morning. If you want the genuine hot-spring experience, that's what the rooftop pool at Thermae Bath Spa up the road is for.
Pushchairs, buggies and small children
Because of steep steps and narrow walkways through the museum, pushchairs aren't allowed beyond the main reception hall, where they have to be left before you go round. The Roman Baths recommend a baby carrier instead, and lend out a limited number on a first-come, first-served basis. If you're planning a visit with a very young child, it's worth reading our separate guide on the Roman Baths with a baby or toddler before you book.
Photography and filming
Handheld photography, including flash, is allowed throughout the site for personal use. Tripods aren't permitted, except for disabled visitors using them in the Great Bath and Terrace areas by prior arrangement. Commercial photography and filming need permission and a fee arranged in advance with the museum, and can only take place outside normal opening hours.
Audioguides and how long to allow
The self-guided audioguide is included in admission and comes in thirteen languages: English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Ukrainian. There's also a children's version narrated by Michael Rosen in English, French, German, Mandarin and Ukrainian. Most visitors are told to allow 90 minutes to two hours to see everything at a comfortable pace, longer if you plan to linger over the museum displays or catch one of the costumed guide talks.
Opening hours and last entry
The Roman Baths are open daily from 9am to 6pm, last entry 5pm, every day of the year except Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The only standing exceptions are an early close on 24 December (last entry 4.15pm) and a later 10am opening on 1 January, so it's worth double-checking the exact date you're visiting on the official site.
Quick reference table
| Item or question | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| Small backpack (up to 30L) | Yes, keep it with you |
| Sealed water bottle | Yes |
| Food, hot drinks, alcohol | No |
| Pushchair | Left in reception hall only |
| Baby carrier | Yes, recommended instead |
| Pet dog | No, assistance dogs only |
| Handheld photography and flash | Yes |
| Tripod | No, except pre-arranged disability access |
| Touching or drinking the water | No |
| Large luggage or suitcases | No, no on-site storage |
Getting there and around the rules on the day
The entrance is in Abbey Church Yard, right next to Bath Abbey, and it's under ten minutes' walk from Bath Spa station. If you're driving, note that Bath's clean air zone charges apply to higher-emission vehicles in the city centre, which our Clean Air Zone guide explains in full, and central car parks fill up fast in summer, covered in our honest Bath parking guide.
You can leave the site and come back later the same day if you need to, just ask a member of staff on your way out so they know to expect you. Payment on site is accepted by card and contactless; it's best to assume cash isn't the easiest option, though the shop and cafe areas vary.
Questions people ask
Can I bring a backpack into the Roman Baths?
Yes, a small backpack or daypack up to 30 litres is fine and you keep it with you throughout the visit. Larger rucksacks and suitcases aren't allowed and there's no on-site cloakroom.
Is there a cloakroom or luggage storage at the Roman Baths?
No, there's no cloakroom on site. If you're arriving with large bags, use a left-luggage facility elsewhere in the city, such as at Bath Spa station, before you visit.
Can I bring a pushchair into the Roman Baths?
No, pushchairs and buggies have to be left in the main reception hall because of steps and narrow walkways. Staff can lend you a baby carrier instead; our guide to visiting with a baby or toddler covers this in more detail.
What are the Roman Baths' opening hours?
9am to 6pm daily, with last entry at 5pm, for most of the year, including the current autumn period. The site closes early on 24 December and opens later on 1 January, and it's shut entirely on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, so check the date you're visiting if it falls near the holidays.
Can I touch or drink the water in the Great Bath?
No. It's untreated, has run through lead-lined Roman conduits, and isn't safe to touch or drink. You also can't swim in it. For an actual hot-spring soak, Thermae Bath Spa nearby is the option.
How many languages is the audioguide available in?
Thirteen: English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Ukrainian, plus a separate children's version in five of those languages.