The winners were announced on Thursday 1 December at a ceremony at the Winter Gardens in Weston Super Mare.
Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “We are thrilled to have won these prestigious awards, which recognise the hard work put in by our staff year-round to provide an award-winning experience for all of our visitors. The awards cap a great year for the Roman Baths, which was named Number 1 UK attraction and Number 8 best-rated attraction in the world by Tripadvisor earlier this year.”
The past year has seen many exciting developments at the Roman Baths. A new Roman Gym area opened in October 2021, revealing excavations never before seen by the public. With projections and new interpretation, the Gym gives visitors the chance to explore how the Romans kept fit and healthy, learn about Roman medicine, and see the remains of an ancient sauna (laconicum).
The Roman Baths Clore Learning Centre opened earlier this year, giving school children and local community groups a chance to learn about the fascinating history of Roman Britain where it actually happened. The innovative new Investigation Zone allows children to have a go at being archaeologists, excavating replica Roman remains in a mock-up archaeological trench and recording their findings using an app.
The Roman Baths and Pump Room is a unique wedding venue, where couples can exchange vows in one of the world’s greatest ancient monuments. Ceremonies take place beside the steaming Great Bath, with a choice of reception venues including the grand Pump Room. The Council’s Heritage Services department works closely with contracted caterer Searcys to deliver amazing events with a strong focus on local sourcing and sustainability.
Every effort is made to ensure that the Roman Baths is as accessible as possible to disabled visitors. Ninety percent of the historic building is accessible to wheelchair users. British Sign Language guides are available for deaf or hearing impaired visitors, and there are fully descriptive audio tours and tactile models to help blind and partially sighted visitors explore the site. Information is provided for autistic visitors and those experiencing potential claustrophobia. The Baths also offers quiet evenings throughout the year, where neurodiverse visitors can enjoy a quieter experience.
Winners from the Bristol, Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards will be entered into corresponding categories of the South West Tourism Awards. Winners from the South West awards will then be selected to represent the region in the national VisitEngland Awards.