Roman Baths

The Roman Baths now comprise one of the best-preserved ancient Roman spas in the world. Unfortunately, they're also a must-see item on everyone's itinerary, and the summertime crowds can reach titanic proportions - to avoid the worst crush, visit as early or late in the day as possible, and steer clear of July and August - sightseeing in a camera-wielding human stampede isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Assuming you manage to get in, you'll be handed an audioguide (narrated by actress Juliet Stevenson and author Bill Bryson), or you can hang around for one of the hourly tours. The centrepiece of the complex is the magnificent Great Bath a huge 1.6m-deep hot pool, lined with lead sheets and encircled by pillars that would once have supported an enclosing roof. Excavated passages lead to the East and West Baths, complete with original pilae (tile towers allowing the circulation of hot air). The King's Bath was built in the 12th century around the original sacred spring; 1.5 million litres of hot water still pour into the pool every day. Elsewhere you can see the Roman version of a sauna in the Laconicum, as well as the cold-water Circular Bath. There's also a small museum displaying archaeological finds, including a huge collection of votive coins thrown into the spring, as well as stone fragments from the lost Roman temple.