Available Attractions to those with Mobility Issues in Bath

Whether you are undertaking a tour of the West Country or spending a short stay in Bath itself, taking time to enjoy this city will reward you with a warm welcome. The city's sites and activities offer a varied and enriching experience for everyone.

Even before entering any building, the Georgian architecture is worth admiring. The city has some significant examples of this type of building work, one of which is The Royal Crescent, built from 1767-1774. It is considered a masterpiece of architecture for its day. It was designed by John Wood the Younger and is famous for its awe-inspiring Palladian façade with 114 Ionic columns.

There is a luxury hotel, some beautiful residences and a museum to complete your stay here, the museum representing what life would have been like in the 18th century. It is recognised globally as a piece of Georgian grandeur and is accessible to those using mobility scooters or wheelchairs in all but 4 rooms, offering a step-free route around most of the available attraction. There is an adaptive toilet on the ground floor.

The Royal Crescent is a majestic architectural ensemble, showcasing a sweeping arc of 30 houses built in the classical Georgian style. The Royal title was bestowed after the Duke of York spent some time there.

The Roman Baths display an altogether different type of architecture and are well-preserved thermae in the city itself. After the construction of a temple here, between 60 and 70 AD, its presence attracted a small community, and then settlement, known as Aquae Sulis. The baths were designed and built in the 1st century and is 90% accessible to wheelchair users. Admission is normal price for a disabled patron, and the carer comes in with a complimentary ticket. This free entry offer can be taken advantage of by booking in advance, through the Roman Baths’ Customer Service Team.

The make-up of the baths is separated into 4 main features. One is the Sacred Spring; another is the Roman Temple and thirdly there is the Roman Bath House. Finally, you can observe some artifacts from the original settlement in the on-site museum. It is open for viewing but visitors cannot enter the water.

Solely for those over the age of 16 there is a building known as the Thermae Bath Spa, which is wheelchair accessible making use of ramps, lifts and sloping corridors to all places except shop no.8.

Available in this building, which was reopened in 2006, are two natural thermal baths, one being an open-air roof-top pool and the other an indoor pool. Here, you can enjoy the therapeutic waters heated to 34 degrees Celsius. Also within the structure is a large Wellness Suite, containing two aromatic steam rooms, an Ice Chamber, Infrared Sauna and a Celestial relaxation room. There is a somewhat more intimate facility known as the Cross Bath which is an open-air thermal bath and can accommodate up to 10 people.

If you are looking to use the contemporary New Royal Bath, this can have some spaces available for the time of your arrival but to avoid disappointment an advanced booking is recommended. You can make use of this facility for up to two hours and it is also possible to allot your time here by requesting a treatment package as well.

The church that is now known as Bath Abbey has been within the city since Saxon times. What now presents itself dates from 1499 and is one of the last ecclesiastical buildings in England built in the perpendicular style. The fan-vaulted ceiling and many memorials on the walls and floor make for compelling viewing while if you are able, a climb to the top of the tower rewards you with magnificent vistas over the city.

The Abbey is wheelchair accessible for all parts of the ground floor and the Abbey shop. The entrance door has a width of 50 inches. Once inside, the Discovery Museum and toilets are accessible via ramps and lifts. The entrance fee includes entry to the heritage centre too.

The Heritage Centre does a wonderful job of explaining why Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some of the reasons for this are the hot springs, the Roman remains, evidence of the Georgian lifestyle and architecture, not to mention the beautiful, verdant setting of the city itself. Obtainable is a free map of all the components of why Bath has its World Heritage Site status.

Part of Bath’s literary heritage includes luminaries such as Jane Austin and Mary Shelley. The Jane Austin Centre is partially wheelchair accessible, the ground floor provides access via ramps, but the first floor is only reachable by stairs, and this is where the Regency Tea Room is. Jane Austen's life in Bath is reflected in her novels, all of which mention the city, with Northanger Abbey and Persuasion being primarily set there.

Close to the Jane Austin Centre is Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein which offers a multi-faceted attraction which may give a glimpse into Shelley’s tragic life, an insight into galvanism, (ideas about how to bring bodies to life using electricity) and how the novel and its central character came into being. With its accessible attractions and unique historical sites, Bath offers an unmissable experience for all visitors.