Roman Baths Museum

Lonely Planet review

The Roman Baths Museum is one of England's most popular attractions and can be overrun in summer. Ideally, visit early on a midweek morning and allow at least an hour to fully appreciate it. The monumental remains are some of the best preserved in Britain.

Your first sight is that of the Great Bath from the Victorian gallery terrace. Head down to water level and along the raised walkway to see the Roman paving and lead base. A series of excavated passages and chambers beneath street level lead off in several directions and let you inspect the remains of other smaller baths and hypocaust (heating) systems, while an audio guide explains the details. One of the most picturesque corners of the complex is the 12th-century King's Bath, built around the original sacred spring; 1.5 million litres of hot water still pour into the pool every day. You can see the ruins of the vast 2000-year-old Temple of Sulis-Minerva under the Pump Room, and recent excavations of the East Baths give an insight into its 4th-century form.

Head outside to Bath St and note the convenient arcading constructed so bathers could walk between the town's three sets of baths without getting wet. At the end of Bath St stands the Cross Bath where Mary of Modena, wife of James II, erected a cross in gratitude for her pregnancy in 1688. Opposite is the Hot Bath, the third bath built over Bath's hot springs. These two historic sites have been restored and, together with the Hetling Pump Room, are now part of the Thermae Bath Spa (Tel: 331234; www.thermaebathspa.com; Hot Bath St). Massively over budget and beset by legal problems, Bath's privately run and superbly designed complex finally opened in August 2006. The facilities are wonderful but demand is intense so be patient if you would like to indulge.