Bath, England - The Roman Baths

After our chaotic start to the day, our London road trip continued with a 156-kilometer drive to Bath. The city was established as a spa by the Romans in 60 AD, named Aquae Sulis, or "the waters of Sulis." The pictures in my pamphlet looked incredible, and with a full stomach of sandwiches, I was ready to enjoy the scenic ride.

My friend was driving, and I, in a moment of glorious leisure, chose the backseat. The road was smooth, the sun was out, and before I knew it, I slipped into "napping mode." It’s a talent, really, to be so content you just… power down. I am not proud of it, but my body has a mind of its own.

The Great British Road Trip, Part 3: A Sandwich-Fueled Nap to Roman Grandeur

Thankfully, my mode deactivated after about 30 minutes, just as we entered the city of Bath. It looked nothing like London. In fact, it looked different from every other UK town I’d seen. The architecture was stunning, a testament to the Romans who left their indelible mark all over the place.

Me (waking up): "Wow, this place is amazing! What did I miss?" 

Friend: "Only the entire drive from London. You slept through it all." 

Me: "I was just... conserving energy for the Roman grandeur. See? I'm already a strategic thinker."

Despite the city’s scenic beauty, we were here for one thing: The Roman Baths. A major tourist attraction, it receives more than one million visitors a year, and we were determined to add our names to that list.

An old church

The Roman Baths: Our Quest for a Ticket & a Sacred Spring

We were delighted to find a parking spot quickly, a small victory after our earlier struggles. We rushed toward the entrance, only to be greeted by a queue for tickets. Thankfully, it wasn’t too long, but our impatience was at an all-time high. It was already 4 PM, and Stonehenge was still on our list for the day.

We finally entered and were immediately awestruck by the sheer beauty and architectural genius of the Roman era. The way they designed their buildings, the details, it was all incredible. The Roman Baths are made up of four main parts:

• The Sacred Spring

• The Roman Temple

• The Roman Bath House

• The Museum holding finds from the Roman Bath

The air was filled with a sense of history that felt both ancient and surprisingly vibrant.

Feeling Like an Emperor & the Genius of Roman Engineering

As we walked through the different sections, we entered the main bathing area, where Roman kings used to relax. It's amazing to think about the techniques Roman engineers used. I learned that hot water from a natural spring still rises at an incredible rate of 1,170,000 liters each day at a temperature of 46°C. It bubbles up into the King’s Bath, which was built in the 12th century A.D.

I had to test it myself. I reached out and touched the water, and to my amazement, it was still warm enough for a bath, despite the chilly English weather. It is no wonder the Romans believed this natural phenomenon was the work of gods. They dedicated a great temple to the Goddess Sulis Minerva, a deity with healing powers.

The Roman Baths

Goddess Sulis Minerva

Natural Hot Spring

Painting depicting Kings on their way to Bath

I almost felt like a Roman emperor as I wandered through the history, completely amazed by the Roman engineers' work. "Boys did well," I muttered to myself. It was already 5:30 PM, and my Roman spirit was rudely interrupted by the reality of my travel itinerary. We were late. Again.

I left my emperor persona behind and rushed toward the car. Stonehenge was calling, and we had to make it there on time, which at this point felt less like a goal and more like a heroic, impossible quest.