Bath is known for symmetry, refinement and Georgian grandeur. But beneath its honey-coloured façades lies something far older — a story shaped by sacred waters, Roman ritual and centuries of shifting power.
Long before it became a stage for 18th-century elegance, Bath stood at the edge of empire as a place of devotion and divine appeal. Steam rising from mineral springs drew pilgrims, soldiers and seekers in search of healing, justice and favour from the gods.
Today, the city remains layered — beautiful above ground, complex beneath it.
The Bath Ghost Walk explores those layers after dark, revealing the empire, ambition and unexplained reputation woven through the city’s past.
At the centre of Roman Bath stood Aquae Sulis — a temple and bathing complex dedicated to Sulis Minerva. Here, ritual offerings were cast into steaming waters, and written curse tablets appealed directly to the divine for justice.
These springs were not leisure facilities. They were sacred spaces.
Later medieval legend told of the exiled British king Bladud, said to have discovered the restorative powers of the waters when his diseased pigs recovered after wallowing in the mud — a tale blending myth, landscape and enduring memory.
Even now, water defines Bath’s identity — both physically and symbolically.
In the centuries following Roman rule, Bath’s prominence declined before gradually re-emerging within the developing Anglo-Saxon kingdom.
By the early medieval period, the city had become associated with royal and ecclesiastical influence, and later the Abbey emerged as a centre of religious and civic authority.
Pilgrimage, monastic patronage and subsequent reformations shaped both the spiritual life and physical fabric of the city.
Periods of consolidation, dissolution and rebuilding left visible and cultural marks upon Bath’s urban landscape — reinforcing its identity as a place repeatedly reshaped by faith, governance and power.
By the 18th century, Bath had transformed into one of Britain’s most fashionable cities.
Architecture became theatre.
Reputation became currency.
Elegant crescents and terraces created symmetry and spectacle, yet beneath refinement lay rigid codes of behaviour, ambition, scandal and quiet unrest.
Fortunes were made and lost in assembly rooms.
Status dictated opportunity.
Appearances were carefully managed.
To walk Bath after dark is to glimpse the contrast — beauty shaped by power.
Layered through Bath’s historic streets are locations long associated with unexplained encounters. Accounts of footsteps in grand interiors.
Apparitions reported near historic landmarks.
Unusual sensations in buildings that have witnessed centuries of devotion, ambition and loss.
Whether interpreted as atmosphere, psychology or something less easily explained, these stories persist — woven into Bath’s folklore and reputation.
During the walk, we visit carefully selected historic locations connected to documented accounts and enduring local reports.
At selected points, guests may observe or take part in gentle paranormal investigation using recognised equipment. Participation is always optional and respectfully guided.
This is not a theatrical ghost tour.
No jump scares. No scripted performance.
The Bath Ghost Walk is an immersive, research-driven experience rooted in:
• Documented history
• Archaeological context
• Landscape interpretation
• Folklore and recorded accounts
• Small group interaction
Founded in 2022, Extours has grown across the South West by delivering heritage experiences that prioritise accuracy, atmosphere and meaningful engagement with place.
Bath: Empire, Elegance & the Unexplained is the next evolution — a carefully curated way to experience the city after dark.
Experience Bath differently — through its empire, elegance and unexplained layers.