It’s official – the new Bath World Heritage Centre is open to the public. The visitor centre aims to showcase Bath as a UNESCO World Heritage City, exploring everything from its Roman roots to its stunning Georgian architecture. 

The Centre was built on the back of £5 million in funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. It’s part of the Archway Project, which also aims to create a state-of-the-art Roman Baths Learning Centre. The project aims to celebrate Bath’s unique history and heritage, and breathe new life into the Victorian spa buildings surrounding the Roman Baths. 

Now that it’s open after a May 2022 launch, the Bath World Heritage Centre expects to attract around 100,000 visitors a year. 

If you’re planning a visit soon, we’ve put together a quick guide covering everything you need to know about Bath’s hottest new tourist attraction. 

Where is the Bath World Heritage Centre?

You’ll find the centre at 10 York Street, just on the corner with Swallow Street and across the road from the Roman Baths. This makes it ideal if you’re planning a day in Bath hitting all of the main tourist sites, as you can see both in the same afternoon. 

The BWHC sits within a classic Georgian building made from distinctive Bath stone, surrounded by some of the most stunning architecture in the city.  

Entry and opening times

The first thing to know is that it’s completely free to get into the Bath World Heritage Centre. This means you can pop in any time you like, for as long as you like. 

From April to October, the Centre is open from 9.30am to 5pm every single day, including Sundays.

In winter, from November to March, opening times from Monday to Sunday are 10am to 4pm.  

What’s inside? 

The Bath World Heritage Centre tells the story of the city through a range of interactive exhibits and fascinating displays. It’s particularly good for families, with lots of activities for children to engage with. 

Visitors will learn about:

• Bath’s natural hot springs – the geothermal waters underneath the city, which make it a spa town 
• Roman remains found in Bath
• Georgian architecture and town planning
• The social setting of Bath as a popular Georgian spa town
• Bath’s natural landscape setting, surrounded by beautiful countryside.

You’ll find there are plenty of friendly and knowledgeable staff on hand to give you the lowdown on Bath’s history and heritage. They can also provide you with free walking trails and guides, to help you get out and explore all of Bath’s best bits. 

Last but not least, there’s the Bath World Heritage app. This is a must-have for any first-time visitor to Bath, as it has all kinds of features to help you get around and engage with the city. This includes a GPS map, trails, bespoke itineraries and even augmented reality characters to collect along the way. 

Planning a Bath sightseeing adventure? Check out our fabulous choice of self-catering apartments in Bath city centre. All come with parking, and most are within just a short stroll of Bath’s best attractions, including the World Heritage Centre.