Extended opening hours at the Roman Baths for Torchlit Summer Evenings

The historic site takes on a magical atmosphere once the daylight fades and the flickering torches are lit

The Roman Baths will stay open until 10pm every evening this summer, offering visitors a chance to soak up the special atmosphere around the torchlit Great Bath.

Torchlit Summer Evenings will run from June 16 to August 31 2018 (last admission 9pm).

The historic site takes on a magical atmosphere once the daylight fades and the flickering torches are lit. Visitors can walk around the Great Bath where people bathed nearly 2,000 years ago, see the ruins of the Temple of Sulis Minerva where Roman worshippers gathered, and wander around the Roman Baths museum. Evening visitors will also benefit from reduced ticket prices after 5pm.

Last year, the series of late nights was extended by two weeks and attracted a record number of visitors, with 55,203 people visiting in the evening, up from approximately 40,000 in 2016 and 33,000 in 2015.

Admission to the Roman Baths is free for Bath and North East Somerset residents with a Discovery Card, and last summer 1,171 local people used their Discovery Cards to visit in the evening.

Councillor Paul Myers (Conservative Midsomer Norton Redfield), Cabinet Member for Economic and Community Regeneration, said: “Torchlit Summer Evenings are a wonderful opportunity to explore the Roman Baths by torchlight after the daytime crowds have gone. I hope that lots of residents will use their Discovery Cards again this year to experience an evening at the Roman Baths for free.”

The Pump Room restaurant will be open late for dinner and drinks, with live music every evening. Last orders 9pm. Please call 01225 444477 or email events.bath@searcys.co.uk to book. The Roman Baths Kitchen offers a more informal setting with alfresco dining. Reservations can be made on 01225 477877 or email rbk@searcys.co.uk.

The Roman Baths shop will stay open every day until 9.45pm.

Visitors can combine a visit to the Roman Baths with a breakfast, lunch or dinner package or a trip to nearby Thermae Bath Spa, where they can bathe overlooking the twinkling lights of the city as the sun goes down. All packages can be booked through Visit Bath on 01225 614 420 or online.

For more information, visit the Roman Baths website here.