The Roman Baths has responded to demands from international visitors by extending the range of languages available in its popular audio guide service for children.
The children’s audio tour – featuring handsets which help bring the heritage site to life and make it more engaging for children – was originally only available in English. A French language version was introduced in response to requests from students visiting from France, and then German families also started asking for the children’s tour in their native tongue.
Katie Smith, Visitor Services Manager for Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Heritage Services, said: “We have had lots of fantastic feedback from visitors saying how much their children have enjoyed the children’s audio tour.
“It’s not just the children who are enjoying the tour but the adults also like to dip in and out to hear what their children are listening to. They then find they are enjoying the animated commentaries as much as their children!”
The Acoustiguide handsets feature some interactive quiz questions which are also proving extremely popular with children visiting the Roman Baths. Recent comments made in the visitors’ book include:
- “A really great exhibition. My son (10yrs) and me liked it very much.”
- “It was very good when we were given German (audio guides) so we could, without problems, follow all.”
- “The children’s audio guide is a really fantastic service. Thanks.”
Councillor Cherry Beath (Lib-Dem, Combe Down), Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development, said: “We’re very pleased to have made our children’s audio guide interpretation available in French and German in response to visitor feedback. The handsets help to enhance the visitor experience at the Roman Baths and make Bath & North East Somerset Council’s distinctive heritage attractions even more accessible to all.”
The audio guides are included in the visit at no extra charge and are the main method of interpretation at the Roman Baths. The Roman Baths was the first attraction in the world to include audio guides as part of admission, which means that Bath and North East Somerset residents visiting with Discovery Cards also receive them free of charge. Nearly all visitors to the world-famous heritage site take advantage of the audio guide service, which is also available for adults in English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Russian and Mandarin.
