Thermae Bath Spa: Taking the tropical waters in Bath
Share
In my mind spas are usually associated with upmarket hotels. Not so in Bath where the wonderfully democratic Thermae Bath Spa is membership free and harks back to true meaning of spa-ing – to take the waters.
The city of Bath is built on three natural springs which amazingly still pump out over one million litres of mineral rich water every day – rising to the surface at a warming 45 degrees Celsius.
For anyone with the even the tiniest sense of history, there’s a joy in the living history of Thermae Bath Spa which links directly back over 2000 years. In AD 43 the Romans started the development of ‘Aquae Sulis’ as a sanctuary of rest and relaxation. Ever since the site has been used in some kind of way to take the waters. That is up until the 1970s when it was left derelict for some 30 years.
Thermae Bath Spa opened in August 2006 after a Lottery Grant from the Millennium Commission. It involved the restoration of five historic buildings and the creation of one new building of striking contemporary architecture, the New Royal Bath, by famed architect Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners.
There’s a stunning open-air, rooftop pool which features a combination of warming whirlpools, neck massage jets and airbeds. When the sun is shining you definitely need shades. I was there in April and it felt like the Med, except that you have stunning views of Bath’s famous stone houses, the Abbey spire with the Cross of St George fluttering proudly and seagulls swooping overhead. Wonderfully surreal! The atmosphere on a Saturday afternoon is like a lively café. In the evening it’s super romantic.
One floor down there’s an immense sci-fi like steam room. Four glass circular pods offer wonderful infusions of frankincense, lavender or eucalyptus mint in which to steam. There’s a huge monsoon shower in the centre and footbaths by the side.
On the ground floor is the Minerva Bath, named after the Roman Goddess of Health and Wisdom. It’s here that you can see how clever Grimshaw has been in using what is essentially a glass box to show through the incredible surviving architecture. It feels like swimming in a museum.
You can choose from over 50 spa, health and beauty treatments from aromatic Moor mud wraps to Caviar facials. Thermae Bath Spa’s signature treatment is the Watsu, performed in the ‘Hot Bath’. Taking the ‘wa’ from water and the ‘tsu’ from shiatsu, it’s a manipulation and massage performed in the water – the only one of its kind in the UK done in natural mineral waters.
Entry to Thermae Bath Spa costs £22 minimum for two hours. Many packages are available. For more information call 0844 888 0844 or visit www.thermaebathspa.com
Getting there: First Great Western offers regular rail links to Bath Spa (www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk)
Useful links
Thermae Bath Spa
Average customer rating
awaiting 5 vote(s)...
Email
Why Register?
