Visitor numbers reach 25 year high at Roman Baths

26th January 2012

The Roman Baths welcomed 975,000 visitors through its doors in 2011 – the highest number for 25 years – according to figures released by Bath & North East Somerset Council.

The Council has implemented a series of improvements to the site, through its Roman Baths Development programme, to enhance the visitor experience – including making it more accessible for all. This has resulted in exceptionally high visitor recommendation, encouraging many more people to visit the site in 2011. The Council is now focusing on quality rather than quantity – ensuring that visitor numbers are kept at a level that continues to offer a pleasing environment for all to enjoy. 

Councillor Cherry Beath (Lib-Dem, Combe Down) Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, said: “The Roman Baths has become ever more popular since the new developments were completed, and it is a testament to the hard work of all the staff involved, and the effectiveness of new measures to enhance the experience, that visitors last summer did not perceive crowding to be too high, as exit surveys show.

“We certainly have no intention of resting on our laurels as our investment is continuing. Future projects include delivering step-free access to the Temple Courtyard, underneath the Pump Room, which will make the site 90% accessible to everyone and improve the presentation of the finest piece in the museum’s collection – the life-sized gilt bronze head of the goddess Sulis Minerva.

“However Bath & North East Somerset Council is not trying to increase visitor numbers yet further. It anticipates welcoming 875,000 visitors in 2012, 100,000 fewer than 2011, which will give every person a high quality visitor experience without them facing significant overcrowding.  The tourism industry will be disrupted this year due to the Olympics, Europe-wide recession and other factors, so we believe that this is a realistic objective.”