Topping our ranking of Britain's best Roman towns, charming Bath rose from the ancient settlement of Aquae Sulis, founded by the Romans in AD 44. When the Romans conquered Britain, the thermal springs beneath what is now Bath were already known to the local Celts, who believed the goddess Sulis presided over their therapeutic waters.

The Romans equated Sulis with their own deity Minerva, and these blended beliefs formed the basis of a vast religious spa complex built around AD 70, which became famous throughout the empire. Today, the Roman Baths (pictured) are a renowned tourist attraction, though unfortunately you're not allowed to take a dip.

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