If you’re staying at our Bath City Centre hotel, you’re only a couple of minutes’ walk away from the famous Thermae Bath Spa. It’s the only place in Britain where you can bathe in naturally warm, mineral-rich waters, just as the Romans did 2,000 years ago.
Legend has it that Prince Bladud was cured of leprosy after bathing in the hot, muddy waters of the spa. Overcome with joy by his miraculous recovery, Bladud founded the city of Bath around the springs in 863 BC. Fast forward to AD 43, when the Romans began to develop Aquae Sulis – their name for Bath – they did so as a sanctuary of rest and relaxation, not a military town, as with most Roman settlements.
Bath has a rich history when it comes to rest and relaxation. Thermae Bath Spa brings these legendary hot springs right into the present day with a contemporary building made of glass and Bath stone, which houses the two natural thermal baths, and a suite of other facilities. These include steam rooms, an ice chamber and an infrared sauna.
Of the two thermal baths, the most popular is the open-air rooftop pool. It commands incredible views of the city, particularly Bath Abbey, which is just a stone’s throw away – having said that, please don’t throw things at Bath Abbey. It’s been through enough, already. The other pool is the indoor Minerva Bath, which is named after the Roman goddess of health and wisdom. It’s the larger of the two thermal baths, and feels so modern it’s easy to forget that you’re bathing in the same mineral-rich waters people have enjoyed for millennia.
On the second floor, you’ll find the Wellness Suite and its state-of-the-art facilities. You can relax and unwind by taking a pew on the traditional stone seating of the Roman Steam Room, where the steam is infused with the aroma of flowers. The Infrared Room looks like something out of a science fiction movie. But, if you’ve got any aches and pains, it’s the perfect place for you, where soothing infrared waves of light are transmitted deep into muscles and joints. On the other hand, the Ice Chamber sounds like some sort of torture method but there’s no need to fear. It’s designed to help with circulation, close your pores and gently exfoliate your skin. Then there’s the Celestial Relaxation Room, which features five heated loungers where you can sit back and immerse yourself in a dreamlike environment.
In total, there are more than 40 spa treatments and packages for you to choose from if you fancy being pampered during your stay in Bath. Plus, you don’t need to worry about any joining or membership fees; guests are more than welcome.
