The Roman Baths, Bath is set to welcome visitors back from 6 July. Following Government’s announcement earlier this week that heritage sites can reopen, the Roman Baths team are working to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for visitors in line with physical distancing and industry guidelines. Due to the confined spaces within the museum, a two-metre physical distance rule will be maintained for the time being and kept under review.
Key measures include limiting visitor capacity to 30%, pre-booking all admissions and delaying the return of group visitors for at least two months after opening. Local residents and Discover Card holders will be warmly welcomed but will also need to pre-book a free ticket online.
One-way routes with two-metre markers will be in place, as well as screens in reception areas, staff marshalling at key points to ensure physical distances are maintained, and an increased cleaning regime. Visitors will be reminded to keep their distance and wash their hands regularly, and toilet facilities will be managed to allow safe access to one person or family group at a time. Audio guides will be leaned thoroughly between each use and visitors will be able to use their own headphones if they wish.
Opening hours will be adjusted to 10am – 5pm with last entry at 4pm to allow staff safer travel times to work. Wednesday mornings from 10am – 11.30am will be reserved for visitors with additional accessibility needs.
Councillor Paul Crossley, cabinet member for Community Services said, “It is fantastic news for residents and visitors that the Roman Baths can open its doors once again and we are looking forward to welcoming people back. However, we must continue to do all we can to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the same time as providing a great visitor experience.
“Although we have to reduce the number of people we can safely admit at any one time and unfortunately cannot yet accommodate groups, our ‘new normal’ at the Roman Baths should not detract from people’s enjoyment of this internationally renowned heritage site. We will have a keen focus on hygiene as well as social distancing, so we ask for visitors’ cooperation in keeping two metres apart on one-way routes as well as washing their hands regularly.
“Reopening the Roman Baths is another important step forward in opening the whole city back up for visitors supported by our pavement widening and traffic restriction measures that will allow people to socially distance as they travel around the city. These measures will in no way impair visitors’ access to the city’s car parks from which it is only a short walk into the city centre.”
For more information please visit romanbaths.co.uk.
