As well as a spa town, in its history Bath was also very famous as a religious centre. This was because of the magnificent Abbey that is still situated in the heart of the town.

Bath Abbey is open to the public daily but times vary so check in advance. Entry to the main Abbey is free, but a donation is requested. Entry to the Heritage Vaults costs around or adults.

There has been a church on this site since at least the 7th century. However the building that you can see today dates primarily from the 15th century, although traces of an earlier Norman church can still be seen in the Norman Chapel.

During the reformation in the 16th century the abbey suffered at the hands of Henry VIII and fell into disrepair, however within a few decades restoration work began.

Since then the Abbey has been carefully modified and preserved, the result of which is today’s superb building with its breathtaking interior.

There are numerous monuments and memorials to Bath’s past residents within the church. And the elaborate exterior is also worth a second glance - the west front is said to be based on a dream of Jacob’s Ladder that Bishop Oliver King had in the 15th century.

The Bath Abbey Heritage Vaults opened in the Abbey in 1994, and these contain an excellent exhibition about the history of the Abbey and the importance of religion in Bath’s history.