Royal Mineral Water Hospital
Bath, South West England
For millennia, Bath’s mineral waters have been reputed for their healing powers, and the grand Royal Mineral Water Hospital building—known locally as “the Min”—reflects that long-standing medical history. A listed landmark in the heart of Bath’s UNESCO-listed center, the building is no longer used as a hospital, and is now being redeveloped into a luxury hotel.
The basics
The former Royal Mineral Water Hospital is one of Bath’s most distinctive historic landmarks. Built nearly three centuries ago, the building is hard to miss, thanks to its grand, colonnaded facade. The landmark has been closed as a medical center since 2019, and in the future will be reborn as a 167-room luxury hotel, complete with spa and hotel.
While visitors can’t currently go inside the building, the landmark is still worth stopping to admire, either independently or as part of a walking tour of Bath’s UNESCO-listed heart. To learn more, you can also visit the Bath Medical Museum, hosted in the Old Hetling Pump Room just a few minutes away on foot.
Things to know before you go
- While the building can be reached via level pavements, the sidewalks are narrow, which may restrict some wheelchair access.
- This landmark is a perfect stop for architecture lovers and those with an interest in medical history.
- Because the building is under a protracted period of construction, it may be covered in scaffolding or otherwise inaccessible.
How to get there
The Royal Mineral Water Hospital is located at Upper Borough Walls in the heart of the city’s UNESCO-listed center. It is just 10 minutes on foot from Bath Spa station, the city’s major transit hub. Numerous bus lines frequent the area, and the landmark can also be reached via taxis or rideshare services.
When to get there
The Royal Mineral Water Hospital is not currently open to visitors, though you’re welcome to swing by at any time to admire its exterior. Aim to visit on a sunny, good-weather day, so you can capture photos of its details and linger outside.
Bath Medical Museum
To supplement your visit the Royal Mineral Water Hospital building—and to learn more about its centuries of history, as well as other notable facts and stories from Bath—head to the Bath Medical Museum. The museum displays a range of artifacts, and even offers visitors the chance to explore a 3D virtual tour of the Min.
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