Bath's Hot Springs are a vital piece of our city's geology, history and future. Use this page to learn about them.
The Bath Hot Springs rise in the centre of the city. These natural springs deliver around 1.3 million litres of mineral-rich water every day. It's generally understood that the water comes from the rain falling on the Mendip Hills nearby. The water infiltrates the limestone beneath and flows north. It then flows beneath the North Somerset coal field which reaches a depth of 2.5km where the water gets hotter. The water then rises up through fractures in Jurassic rock beneath the city, emerging at a temperature of 40C or above.
There are three separate hot springs in Bath:
- The King's Spring, the largest and most significant spring which rises within the Roman Baths Museum
- Hot Bath Street (Hetling) Spring located 150m west of the King's Spring
- Cross Spring (located 150m west of the King's Spring)
Protecting and monitoring the springs
These springs are so special to Bath that they always have been, and continue to be, at the centre of economic, social and cultural developments in the city. We have a duty of care to protect the springs because they are so important to the city and its vitality.
Bath was originally made responsible for the Hot Springs in 1591, in a Royal Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I. As a council, we are now responsible for protecting and monitoring the springs. The springs are further protected by the 1982 County of Avon Act and we monitor them for their mineralogy, microbiology, chemical composition, and physical characteristics.
Excavation, piling operations or boreholes
If you are planning any sort of excavation, piling operation or boreholes local to the Hot Springs, please refer to our web page on the County of Avon Act where you can check if your planned works are within a protected zone or make an application to conduct certain works.