Advertisement

Thermae Bath Spa has reopened to tourists – and it's blissfully crowd-free

thermae bath spa - getty
thermae bath spa - getty

Yesterday I enjoyed a lovely wallow in Bath's natural thermal waters while gazing over the city's Georgian rooftops to the abbey and the green and hilly countryside beyond.

Thermae Bath Spa reopened on September 1 for the first time since lockdown. It is a vital part of Bath's tourist economy, attracting around 270,000 visitors in a typical year and a key reason why many people choose Bath for a city break.

The spa will be operating at a third of its usual capacity to allow for social distancing. A happy consequence of this arrangement is that there will be fewer bathers at any one time in the wonderful, open-air rooftop pool and the indoor Minerva Bath, the complex's other main pool.

However, the steam rooms and infrared sauna are not open, and neither is the Cross Bath, a smaller, historic bath often booked by private groups such as hen parties.

Pre-Covid, most visitors had to queue to get in to Thermae Bath Spa. Now everyone is advised to book ahead for a timed slot (call 01225 331234 – there's no online booking facility).

"On-the-day walk-ups may be possible," says Peter Rollins, the spa's director of marketing and communications. "But on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, our busier days, we expect all slots will fill up with pre-bookings."

You can book either a Thermae Aqua session (£35-£40pp), which allows you to use the two main pools for two hours, or a Thermae Revive package (£80pp), which, in addition to access to the pools, includes a 50-minute massage from a choice of five options. There are no other treatments available at the moment.

Staff are kitted out in visors. As a visitor, you're expected to wear a face covering in the changing rooms and if you're having a massage, but not in the pool areas. Towels, robes and flip-flops are provided, as normal.

The whole experience feels safe and very enjoyable.

thermaebathspa.com