This summer, The Roman Baths will open after hours with the launch of Summer Lates, a six-week programme of evening openings from 21 July to 31 August. Visitors are invited to explore the historic site in a new light—literally—with torchlit ambience, a pop-up bar, and a relaxed, atmospheric setting every night of the week. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings, a new specially curated programme of live music and DJ sets will add to the unforgettable experience.
Two thousand years ago, The Roman Baths was a vibrant social and cultural hub. Summer Lates revives that spirit, inviting today’s visitors to unwind and connect in the same space where Romans once gathered. From Monday to Thursday, the site will remain open until 8pm, while on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and the August Bank Holiday Monday, it will stay open until 10pm.
As dusk falls, the Great Bath will be illuminated by soft torchlight, creating a magical setting for evening exploration. Visitors can enjoy a drink from the bath-side bar or explore the site’s rich history with new evening guided tours.
Weekend evening music sessions take place beside the steaming waters of the Great Bath, offering a unique and immersive way to experience one of Britain’s most iconic landmarks. Rather than formal concerts, the performances are designed to complement the historic surroundings—subtle, ambient, and deeply atmospheric.
The music programme brings local talent into the heart of the ancient site in partnership with Bath Arts Collective. On Fridays and Saturdays, Bath Carnival and POLYMATHIC will bring vinyl DJs to the Baths including Beavs (Void Bristol), Buckley (Bacana Funk) and Monobrow (Sound Records) who will create a laid-back, uplifting vibe with an eclectic mix of Latin jazz, rare grooves, and global sounds.
Sundays offer a relaxed close to the weekend, with acoustic sets programmed by 7 Hills Festival. Performers such as Our Man in the Field, Hayden Thorpe, and Izzie Yardley will bring gentle folk, classical crossover, and singer-songwriter sounds to the space.
Councillor Paul Roper, Cabinet Member for Economic and Cultural Sustainable Development at Bath & North East Somerset Council, said:
“The Roman Baths has always been a place of gathering, and Summer Lates reimagines that tradition in a modern way. By introducing live music into this extraordinary setting, we’re creating new ways for people to connect with the site and with each other.
Bath & North East Somerset Council is proud to support cultural experiences that celebrate our heritage while embracing fresh ideas. We look forward to welcoming both residents and visitors to experience The Roman Baths in this new and inspiring way.”
Whether it’s the ambient music, flickering torchlight, discovering history, or simply sipping wine beside ancient waters, Summer Lates at the Roman Baths offers a truly atmospheric and unique evening out this summer.
The Roman Baths will be open after hours for Summer Lates from 21 July – 31 August. Monday to Thursday, the site will remain open until 8pm, while on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and the August Bank Holiday Monday, it will stay open until 10pm. Music sessions will take place beside the Great Bath from 5.30-9pm on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
For tickets and full programme details visit: www.romanbaths.co.uk
This summer, experiencing the magic of Bath after hours is easier than ever. The city’s three Park & Ride services now run until 11:30pm, Monday to Saturday—making it simple and convenient to enjoy a relaxing evening out in the city.
About Summer Lates music programme
Music sessions will accompany visits from 5.30-9pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings. Musicians will play around the Great Bath to create an ambient addition to an evening at the Baths.
Vinyl Sessions Line Up
Friday and Saturday nights offer a rich, immersive soundtrack curated by some of the South West’s favourite vinyl selectors. Beavs (Lauren Beavis) sets the tone with an eclectic blend of funk, highlife, MPB, and jazz. Buckley (Stu Matson), known for his work curating stages at Bath Carnival, Glastonbury’s West Holts, and Shindig Festival, brings a diverse musical palette of afro-boogie, Brazilian jazz and soul. DJ Fivestylez (Oli Ackroyd) taps into Bristol’s rich hip-hop, funk, and soul scene with a selection of rare gems and deep cuts. More Soup DJs deliver warm, global grooves – afrobeat, Latin soul, salsa, rare groove, roots, and jazz—while Olly Sundown pushes sonic boundaries with experimental sets via VOID Radio and the Bacana Funk collective. Prez Pete brings his freestyle-driven Latin vinyl. SWU Radio’s Awon and Pamoja Disco’s Veto share deep crates of jazz, funk, and soul, while Tim Spencer rounds off the line up with global funk and Japanese city-pop selections, fresh from Noods Radio and Rook Records. A vibrant fusion of heritage, rhythm, and community spirit—this is the soundtrack to Bath Carnival after dark.
Acoustic Sessions Line Up
Sunday nights will showcase an exceptional line-up curated by The 7 Hills, led by Matt Owens (formerly of Noah and the Whale). Headliners include John Smith, Matt Owens, Lauren Housley, Izzie Yardley, Our Man in the Field, Hayden Thorpe, and Henry Grace—many fresh from appearances at Glastonbury, SXSW, or supporting Neil Young. The programme also features a rich mix of emerging and local talent: HUSHWING, Fela Dakota, Alex Dover and Pasha Finn, Lola Lee, Richard Black, Evangeline, and Jodie Austen. Spanning folk, Americana, and alt-acoustic styles, this diverse and intimate series celebrates some of the most distinctive voices on the UK music scene today.
The Summer Lates music programme has been curated in partnership with Bath Arts Collective, Bath Carnival, POLYMATHIC and 7 Hills Festival.
Bath Arts Collective
Bath Arts Collective is a Community Interest Company dedicated to producing bold, collaborative cultural events across the city. By partnering with artists, festivals and heritage venues, the Collective creates inclusive experiences that connect Bath’s creative communities with wider audiences.
“Bath Arts Collective is proud to co-curate the Summer Lates music programme, bringing together the city’s vibrant creative scene with one of its most iconic historic landmarks. These evenings celebrate the spirit of collaboration and offer audiences a fresh, soulful way to experience the Roman Baths.”
Bath Carnival is a community-led project that delivers inclusive and accessible events alongside arts-based outreach programmes throughout the year. Stu Matson of Bath Carnival said:
“For over a decade, our events have celebrated local arts and culture against the iconic backdrop of Bath. These Summer Lates continue that tradition, with selectors from Bacana Funk—a collective we founded to bring fresh energy and greater diversity to the city’s music scene—joined by special guests to deliver a warm mix of jazz-infused beats, chilled Latin vibes, and rare soul cuts. It’s a unique listening experience we’re proud to be part of.”
POLYMATHIC designs bold, interactive audience experiences using creative technology and participatory spatial storytelling. Nigel Fryatt, Founder of POLYMATHIC comments:
“It’s brilliant to see our City embracing this kind of experience, bringing joyful, soulful music into one of Bath’s most iconic heritage spaces. The Summer Lates place the Roman Baths alongside a growing number of historic sites around the world who are reimagining how we gather, listen, and celebrate culture. We’re excited to be part of something so special.”
7 Hills
Over the last 5 years The 7 Hills has run and curated over 15 festivals in and around Bath, platforming some of the finest contemporary acts working today, always paired alongside the most exciting upcoming local talent.
Matt Owens of 7 Hills comments:
“The 7 Hills are ecstatic to be back working with Bath Arts Collective and couldn’t be more excited to be platforming some of the finest, contemporary acoustic artists in a space as prestigious and magical a setting as The Roman Baths.”
