Bath Hotels

Best places to stay in Bath

Bath city centre is beautiful and compact, extending away from the station in impressive, historic terraces, almost fully encircled by the River Avon. Any of the streets in and around the thermae spa are handy for shopping and taking the waters – think Westgate Street, James Street West, New Bond Street or George Street.

Equally, you can head towards The Royal Crescent, Monmouth Place and Royal Victoria Park to be in Bath’s most elegant and storied district. Walcot and Great Pulteney Street are equally well-heeled. For budget stays, further from the hustle and bustle, step outside the Bath ring road and try the area around the University or Bear Flat. Bath is hugged by the Cotswolds, so you can also stay in the countryside and nearby villages (in budget-friendly or luxury accommodation) and make an easy day trip into the city.

Where to stay to be near the popular attractions

Walcot and Great Pulteney Street have easy access to many of Bath’s most popular museums like the Holburne Museum, No.1 Royal Crescent, The Museum of East Asian Art, Mary Shelley's House of Frankenstein and the Jane Austen Centre.

The Royal Crescent is also ideally placed for museum access, as well as walking distance from Royal Victoria Park and the Botanical Gardens with the temple of Minerva. In the centre, near the station and Bath College, you’re in the perfect spot for Bath Thermae Spa, the theatre and Parade Gardens, not to mention the Southgate shopping centre and swathes of independent shops, pubs and restaurants.

Where to stay with your family in Bath

Bath is a thoroughly family-friendly city, and you can’t really go wrong in the city centre. Some areas right in the centre can get loud and busy (with shoppers during the day and nightlife once the sun sets), so you may prefer to head out to the quieter realms of Walcot, near Henrietta Park or even Royal Crescent. Staying beyond the golf course and botanical gardens, Weston Road is also very quiet, with no nightlife.

Where to find cheap hotels in Bath

For cheap accommodation that’s still within walking distance from the central shopping district and spa, head west, towards the university. The Travelodge Bath Waterside is an ideally located two-star hotel close to the river, with simple, modern rooms for under £70/night. You can also find rooms for £80–90/night at The Royal Hotel, offering surprisingly grand accommodation for the budget, right outside the station.

Where to stay as a solo traveller

Solo travellers looking for central accommodation at budget-friendly prices (£70–80/night) can do no better than The Black Fox on St James’s Parade. This 18th Century is just steps from the thermal spa and the Roman baths and offers modern bedrooms, luxuriously designed bathrooms and a slap-up breakfast or pub dinner. Plus, the inn prides itself on its selection of craft beers.

For a more Instagram-able (albeit less budget-friendly) option, try Hotel Indigo. It’s a trendy boutique hotel with cool decor that blends modern textiles with original features, and some very statement wallpaper. The Elder restaurant has the cosiness of a pub with an elevated British menu.

Spa Therapy

Since the Romans set foot in the city, life revolved around the three geothermal springs and The Roman Baths built to reap the benefits of this natural phenomenon. Take a dip in the magnificent Great Bath and check out the view from the Terrace.

For more modern facilities, take a dip in the warm, mineral-rich waters at Thermae Bath Spa, Britain's only natural thermal spa. Along with the natural hot springs, you'll find several steam rooms, spa treatment options, and an open-air rooftop pool which offers panoramic views of Bath. You'll find plenty of hotels in Central Bath if you want to be close to the baths and Bath Abbey.

Elegant Architecture

The city's elegant Georgian architecture includes the sweeping Royal Crescent and The Circus (a curve of impressive townhouses around a circular space), which are both worth a look. Meanwhile, medieval Bath Abbey never fails to impress visitors – spot the angels climbing up the stone ladder on the Abbey's west side.

Jane Austen's Bath

Discover the effect Bath had on the writing of Jane Austen (one of the city's most famous residents), at The Jane Austen Centre. Fans of the author will love this small museum, giving you a snapshot into life in Georgian England through costume, films and live guides. When you're done you can grab tea and cake in the Regency Tea Rooms on the second floor.

Spectacular for Sport

Sports fans can spend the afternoon or evening at Bath Racecourse, just outside the city centre at Lansdown Hill. If you've booked yourself a cheap Bath hotel, this is a great place to splash your spare cash. Along with the regular race fixtures, look out for special events held here including the Real Ale Festival Racenight and the glamorous Ladies Day.  If you're fanatical about football and rugby, why not catch a local game at Bath Rugby or Bath City Football Club.

Show Time

Experience a unique atmosphere at the Theatre Royal Bath, one of the oldest working theatres in Britain (it's also supposedly haunted). Choose from a programme of top drama, comedy opera, West-End productions and the annual Christmas pantomime. You can also enjoy dinner under the original vaults of this historic building at the Vaults Restaurant.

Hotels with gourmet restaurants in Bath

If you fancy staying in possibly England’s chicest city and not even leaving your hotel for five-star cuisine, make a beeline for The Queensberry. This characterful townhouse is just a ten-minute walk from all the essentials (the Royal Crescent, Bath Thermae Spa and the best shopping streets), yet its Michelin-starred restaurant might well make you want to stay in.

Sample The Olive Tree’s unique approach to fine dining with either the FOUR, SIX or NINE tasting menu – there are vegetarian and vegan tasting menus, too – and experience a whirlwind adventure with flavour. The rooms are colourful and indulgently decorated, and the charming Q Bar is the perfect spot to round off the evening.

Spa hotels

The Gainsborough Bath Spa is one of the most famous spa hotels in the country and the crowning jewel of Bath’s spa scene. It’s the original way to ‘take the waters’ in Bath, tapping into the thermal hot springs. You’ll have access to three thermal pools in the iconic bath house, plus a thermal shower, relaxation terrace and private treatment rooms. The rooms and suites are sleek and luxurious, and there’s a brasserie, bar and afternoon tea room.

Exceptional hotels

Hotels in Bath don’t get much more iconic than the Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, located on the city’s most famous (and probably most photographed) street. The five-star retreat couldn’t be more central, and yet it’s a haven of tranquillity, with an acre of gardens and a luxurious spa with pools, steam and sauna and myriad treatment options.

The rooms are modern and the decor playful, with nods to the building’s history and elegant touches. Dining in Montagu's Mews is a refined affair, or you can book an exquisite afternoon tea or lighthearted picnic spread for the gardens in summer.

Luxury Hotels in Bath

The Bath Priory Hotel and Spa could sit at the top of any category – it’s a luxurious five-star spot with a gourmet restaurant, fabulous spa and all set in idyllic grounds. The historic Georgian house and its manicured gardens house luxury rooms with four-posters, oak panelling and open fires – not to mention deep bathtubs and gorgeous views.

You’ll unwind in The Garden Spa by L'Occitane, with its indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, steam room and many treatments. The celebrated restaurant serves modern French dishes with exciting seasonal ingredients and presented delightfully.