Strand Lane 'Roman Baths'
the fake roman bath that fooled everyone
A mysterious old plunge bath in a hidden lane, long sold as Roman but probably a Tudor curiosity, viewable for free through a window.
Free to visit · Temple · Temple · WC2R 2NA
Opening: Viewable through the window any time · interior by NT arrangement
Hidden down a forgotten lane near the Strand is a small brick plunge pool that for two centuries was advertised as an ancient Roman bath, even getting a mention in a Dickens novel. The romantic claim was almost certainly invented to draw paying visitors, and historians now think it is most likely a Tudor or Stuart cistern.
Either way it is a genuinely old and atmospheric survivor, fed by a spring and cared for by the National Trust. You can peer in for free through a window onto the lit chamber any time, a strange little time capsule tucked away just yards from the modern bustle of the Strand.
Getting there: Down narrow Strand Lane off Surrey Street, near Temple station.
Best time to go: Daytime when the lit window shows the bath clearly.
Insider tip: Press the light switch by the viewing window if it is dark, it illuminates the bath inside. The full interior can be visited by arrangement with the National Trust, but the free window view shows you the bath clearly.
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide