Discover the haunted history and ghostly legends of the Roman Baths in Bath, where ancient springs and sacred rituals echo through time
Bath is one of Britain’s most beautiful cities – all honey-coloured stone, sweeping Georgian crescents, and postcard-perfect views. But beneath the polished elegance lies something ancient… and unsettling.
At the heart of the city are the Roman Baths, a world-renowned monument built around a hot spring that has bubbled for millennia.
People have gathered here for healing, worship — and, some whisper, contact with something otherworldly.
Even now, visitors occasionally leave with more than memories. They leave with stories.
A sacred spring before the Romans
Long before Rome laid its imperial hands on Britain, the steaming spring in Bath was already hallowed ground.
To the local Dobunni tribe, it was sacred — a physical link to the divine. Rising at a consistent 46°C, the spring was believed to be the domain of Sulis, a Celtic goddess of healing, justice, and perhaps even prophecy.
Pilgrims offered treasures to her: jewellery, coins, and personal tokens, cast into the waters in hope or desperation.
The spring was a place of power — both revered and feared.
The Romans arrive — and bring their gods
When the Romans arrived in the 1st century AD, they didn’t suppress the old beliefs — they absorbed them.
Sulis was merged with Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and war, and a new deity emerged: Sulis Minerva.
Around her, they built a grand bathing and temple complex, christening the settlement Aquae Sulis — “the Waters of Sulis”.
The baths were not merely a place to cleanse the body. They were a site of ritual.
Pilgrims came from all corners of Roman Britain, seeking health, guidance, or vengeance.
Hundreds of lead curse tablets have been recovered from the spring — scrawled pleas for Sulis Minerva to strike down thieves, betrayers, or lovers.
They lie now in museum cases, the handwriting still legible after nearly two thousand years.
Ghosts in the steam
With so much emotion soaked into the site — healing, cursing, pleading — it’s little wonder that spectral tales have clung to the Baths like mist on a winter morning.
The most enduring figure is the Lady in White.
Some say she lingers just beneath the surface of the Sacred Spring, motionless and pale.
Others claim she vanishes the moment you truly look.
Her identity remains unknown: a Roman noblewoman? A lovelorn pilgrim? Or someone driven by despair, her spirit forever held in the spring’s warm grip?
Staff and tourists alike have reported chills that defy the heat, whispers with no source, and a strange heaviness in the air.
Some describe a peaceful stillness. Others speak of unease — as though the place remembers too much.
Visit… if you dare
Today, the Roman Baths are among the UK’s most visited heritage sites.
While bathing is no longer allowed, you can walk the ancient pavements, gaze into the same spring waters, and read the very curse tablets once flung in anger or hope.
The museum houses relics from across the centuries — including the iconic Gorgon head from the temple pediment, and countless offerings retrieved from the depths.
Most come for history. Some come for healing. But a few leave wondering if they brushed against something older. Something watching.
Stand beside the Sacred Spring, steam rising around you, and listen.
You may just hear more than water.
Planning your visit to the Baths at Bath
- Location: Roman Baths, Abbey Church Yard, Bath BA1 1LZ
- Website: www.romanbaths.co.uk
- Entry: Ticketed entry, advance booking recommended
- Accessibility: Mostly accessible; some uneven Roman flooring
- Best time to visit: Early morning or late afternoon for a quieter, more atmospheric experience
Have you ever felt a chill at the Roman Baths? Share your story in the comments below!
