
Welcome to our take on a brief history of Bath, where we explore exactly how it came to be the gorgeous spa town that it is today. Bath is famous for its beautiful Georgian-style buildings made of the local honey-coloured stone, the Roman Baths Museum, the River Avon snaking through the city centre, and much more. Read on to find out how Bath grew from a small settlement, to a Roman spa resort, then the great social scene of the 1700s, and finally became the beloved tourist destination that it is today.
Celtic
The Celts were the native British people who had been living in Bath for hundreds of years before the Romans arrived around 40AD. It was them who discovered the natural hot springs, which they would often visit – not to bathe, but instead to worship. They believed that one of their goddesses, Sulis, resided in the hot springs, and built a temple for her where they would make offerings and ask her to grant wishes. Offerings included swords, shields, armour, and coins. This is also the time when the legends about the healing powers of the waters of Bath started, miraculously curing the leprosy of the mythical Bladud and his herd of pigs, allowing him to come out of exile and go on to become King of Britons. His story has survived for over one thousand years and still draws people to the city of Bath to this day.
Roman
The Romans had a huge impact on Bath, since they were the ones to build the baths which gave the city its name. Their knowledge and technology allowed them to harness the power of the hot springs, constructing the public baths complex which included pools with various temperatures, saunas, massage parlours, gymnasiums and a temple. Here, they worshipped a special goddess, Sulis Minerva, a mix of the local Celtic deity and an imported Roman one. This reflects how the Romans operated, merging their culture and traditions with the local ones instead of trying to suppress them. They named the town Aquae Sulis, meaning “the waters of Sulis”, and it became a popular spa destination until the decline of the Roman authority in Britain around the start of the 5th century AD.
Mediaeval
Although Bath was no longer a much-visited location, it remained a small but bustling city. The Roman Baths were no longer in use and sank into obscurity, though the hot springs were still known and used. In 1189, Bath was granted a market charter, having become an important centre for the wool and cloth trade which powered Britain’s economy. The Abbey in Bath dates back to 1088, but most of the current structure comes from renovations in the 1500s – which took over a hundred years to complete! During the Reformation, the abbey’s out-buildings were destroyed and its monastic grounds confiscated, leaving the central church still standing. The oldest house in Bath today dates back to the 1480s and is now known as Sally Lunn’s, with a tearoom, kitchen museum and 500 year old architecture for visitors to admire.
Georgian
The Georgian era in the 1700s was a renaissance for Bath. Inspired by the stories of the healing powers of the water, Queen Anne, who suffered from gout, began regularly visiting the city to alleviate her aches and pains in the baths. This started a trend of visiting the city amongst the nobles of Britain and gradually Bath developed a bustling social scene, with wealthy visitors coming not only to take on the waters, but also for the drinking, gambling and parties. The Royal Mineral Water Hospital was built to treat ailing visitors, and Bath’s population, along with its popularity, skyrocketed. This influx of wealth and status led to most of the old city being torn down and rebuilt in the trendy neo-classical Georgian style, resulting in Bath becoming one of the best examples of a Georgian city in Europe.
Modern
Nowadays, Bath is designated a UNESCO World Heritage City, and with its extensive history and varied attractions, remains a top tourist destination. Some people come for the Roman Baths, which were rediscovered beneath the built-up Georgian structures in 1878 and can still be seen in the museum today. Although bathing there is no longer possible, the Thermae Bath Spa still welcomes guests to the hot spring waters. Others come for the stunning neoclassical architecture that have made the city the perfect filming location for historical movies and TV shows, including “Les Misérables” and “Bridgerton”. There are also several popular annual events, including the Jane Austen festival, Bath Christmas Market and more that attract over 6 million tourists to this gorgeous, historic city every year.
Book your tour today
Thank you for reading. If this brief history of Bath has inspired you to visit this lovely city yourself, check out the amazing Stonehenge and Bath Full Day Tour from London that we offer. We hope to welcome you to Bath soon and look forward to seeing you on tour!