(Our Thermae Bath Spa)
Back in 1987, UNESCO gave Bath its first World Heritage inscription for its architecture, its setting, its Roman remains, and social history. That means we’ve a 40th anniversary coming up in 2027.
However, this year is the fifth anniversary of its second World Heritage inscription as one of the Great Spa Towns of Europe.
How fitting that next month Bath will host the General Assembly of The Great Spa Towns of Europe, as the group of eleven spa towns will all be celebrating five years as a combined UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A city with a rare double heritage inscription, Bath is a striking example of a UNESCO World Heritage Site that uses its heritage as a solution to managing the changing needs of the city. Its historic character attracts tourists, residents, investors, businesses and film crews and retains the city’s distinctive identity. In 2026, Time Out named Bath as the happiest city in the world, based on its Best Cities with Intrepid Travel survey of more than 24,000 residents worldwide.1
With around 5,000 listed buildings and nine registered parks and gardens, Bath is renowned for its iconic Georgian architecture and picturesque landscape setting.2 The city attracts over 5 million visitors a year, who add an estimated £470 million to the local economy and support 10,000 jobs.3
The General Assembly will gather an international network of Mayors, Site Managers and experts in heritage, conservation and tourism. The group will celebrate their shared European spa heritage and discuss the future of these exceptional spa towns as places to work, live and visit.
The meeting will place Bath at the centre of a timely conversation about how World Heritage cities can protect their authenticity and integrity while managing change: supporting the wellbeing of residents and visitors, adapting to a changing climate and remaining thriving places to live and work.
Bath’s Double UNESCO Status
Bath is known for its double UNESCO World Heritage status: a testimony to the exceptional significance and uniqueness of the city. Bath was inscribed in 1987 (becoming the only city in the UK to be designated as a World Heritage Site in its entirety) and again in 2021 as one of The Great Spa Towns of Europe (the only British spa town included in the prestigious group). Its recent World Heritage Site Management Plan, a UNESCO requirement, is a ground-breaking document combining the two inscriptions into a single strategy – likely the first of its kind in the history of UNESCO World Heritage.
Part of an International World Heritage Site
The Great Spa Towns of Europe is a ‘serial, transnational’ World Heritage Site. It is made up of 11 spa towns in seven countries across Europe: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, France, Germany, Italy and the UK. These spa towns are the most authentic examples of the European spa phenomenon of the 18th– 20th centuries, when visitors flocked to towns with mineral and thermal springs to ‘take the cure’.
With cultures and classes mingling in an unprecedented way, these health resorts not only pioneered modern wellness tourism but also became the setting for advancements in society, art, architecture, music, literature, medicine, science and politics that have shaped European culture over centuries. Hosting the December meeting will shine a spotlight on Bath’s place within this international network and reaffirm the city’s connection to a European tradition that continues to shape Bath today.
Heritage as Part of the Climate Solution
Bath’s iconic Georgian buildings have stood and adapted for hundreds of years, and their roofs commonly have a hidden valley which offers scope for installing solar panels without compromising their historic appearance and character.
Bath has exemplar projects that reduce the carbon emissions of its historic buildings. The city’s natural thermal waters are used to heat Bath Abbey; a Local Listed Building Consent Order will make it easier to install solar panels on listed buildings; and a specialist conservation officer at Bath & North East Somerset Council, funded through a partnership, advises residents on retrofitting their homes.
As well as reducing emissions, World Heritage cities need to adapt to a changing climate. As part of the General Assembly, delegates will take part in a workshop dedicated to climate change. The session continues The Great Spa Towns of Europe’s ongoing work with Preserving Legacies, a global initiative supported by National Geographic Society that helps heritage sites adapt to climate change. Bath, alongside Spa, Vichy and The Great Spa Towns of Europe Association, have been working with Preserving Legacies since April 2025.4 Their programme develops knowledge, networks and introduces the latest innovations to reduce the impacts of climate change.
Chiara Ronchini, Secretary General of The Great Spa Towns of Europe, said:
“Bath is iconic far beyond the UK, not only for its heritage but for the inspiration it gives our whole network. This year, the Busan Declaration added collaboration as a sixth ‘C’ to the World Heritage Strategic Objectives. For The Great Spa Towns of Europe, collaboration has always come first, and Bath shows this well, from managing its two inscriptions as one to sharing its work on climate change.”
Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, said:
“Bath’s double UNESCO status and remarkable heritage puts our city in a special position internationally. We’re proud to welcome the other Great Spa Towns of Europe to Bath and to share ideas about protecting our heritage for future generations, while ensuring the city continues to thrive.”
http://www.greatspatownsofeurope.eu
Ruth Malloy, Mayor of the City of Bath, added:
“Having been involved with The Great Spa Towns of Europe since its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021, I feel especially proud that Bath and North East Somerset Council will host the 9th General Assembly of the GSTE Association in December. I look forward to welcoming delegates from the other ten component spa towns to our beautiful City of Bath, not only as a colleague but also as the current (799th) Mayor of Bath.”
