The Best Luxury Hotels to Book in Bath, England

Stay in historical surroundings at the Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa in Bath
Stay in historical surroundings at the Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa in Bath | Courtesy of The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa / Expedia
Nicholas Grantham

Once the famed playground for the rich and famous, Bath has been entertaining the great for millennia at the Roman Baths. Declared a Unesco World Heritage site in the late 1980s, Bath is home to extravagant Georgian architecture, inviting eateries and bars, and a vibrant cultural scene. With grandeur being a central theme of the city, we’ve listed some of the top hotels in Bath – bookable on Culture Trip – for you to choose from on your next visit.

1. The Roseate Villa Bath, for the personal touches

Hotel

A grey-and-cream guest room at the Roseate Villa Bath with grey-toned floral wallpaper
Courtesy of The Roseate Villa Bath / Expedia

Technically, this luxury hotel in Bath is a B&B, but it’s a particularly high-end version with 21 rooms over two Victorian buildings and excellent service. It’s well situated for tourists – just an eight-minute walk from the Roman Baths and 15 from the rail station. Its location on the northeast side of the city is charming, too, with leafy streets and Victorian townhouses. Ask for a room with a view of Henrietta Park.

2. Dorian House, for a classy pad

Luxury, Guesthouse

A beautifully carved four-poster bed at the Dorian House
Courtesy of Dorian House / Expedia

This luxury hotel in Bath is in an impressive Victorian villa, around 15 minutes from the city centre. Featuring antique pieces within an overall modern style concept, it has luxury touches throughout, including four-poster beds and claw-foot or slipper baths. Breakfast – including home-made jams, local bread and cheese, and a full English that’s fully delicious – is served in the Orangery overlooking the Japanese-style gardens.

3. The Ayrlington, for an organic breakfast

Hotel

The Bath stone exterior of the multistorey Ayrlington with landscaped grounds in the foreground
Courtesy of The Ayrlington / Expedia

Another Victorian gem, this top Bath hotel has a listed stone building dating back to 1874 and is surrounded by gorgeous gardens. It’s a true boutique hotel, with 19 bedrooms featuring characterful pieces, Egyptian cotton sheeting, LCD TVs and Bose SoundLink Mini speakers; some also have four-poster beds. Wake up to an organic home-cooked breakfast before walking five short minutes to the sights in the city centre.

5. The Bath Priory, for a five-star stay

Spa Hotel, Luxury

An elegant guest room at the Bath Priory with a canopied four-poster bed and other wood furnishings
Courtesy of The Bath Priory / Expedia

Part of the award-winning Brownsword hotel group, this five-star hotel in Bath is the perfect respite from the bustling city centre nearby. Dating back to the Georgian period and keeping much of the charm and opulence, the Bath Priory prides itself on having exquisitely designed rooms, each named after a different flower and featuring ensuite marble bathrooms, L’Occitane toiletries and quality Vispring beds as standard. In addition to the wonderful lodgings, the Priory’s pride and joy is the award-winning restaurant, offering arguably the best French cuisine in the city.

6. The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa, for all-round excellence

Hotel

Shaded seating and loungers dotting the lush grounds at the Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa
Courtesy of The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa / Expedia

Found in one of the top landmarks in Bath, the Royal Crescent, it’s no surprise that the hotel bearing the same name is one of the best lodgings in the city. It occupies two former residences in the crescent, and the hotel’s heritage can be seen in everything from the architecture and beautiful interiors to the attentive staff. With one of the most visited attractions in Bath on your doorstep, you’ll feel like you’re right at home in this historical city.

7. The Queensberry Hotel, for fine food

Hotel

Chic room at the Queensberry Hotel with a salmon-pink love seat
Courtesy of The Queensberry Hotel / Expedia

A certain eccentricity, synonymous with Bath, runs through every fibre of the Queensberry Hotel. Opened by experienced hoteliers Helen and Laurence Beere in 2005, the hotel has become one of the most renowned in the city. On top of its many attributes, the in-house restaurant, the Olive Tree, happens to be the only Michelin-starred restaurant in Bath and is well worth a visit in its own right. The rooms are expertly crafted, and the staff are extremely welcoming and attentive.

8. No15 by GuestHouse, for high-class cocktails

Hotel

A guest room at No15 by GuestHouse with little decorative figurines
Courtesy of No15 by GuestHouse / Expedia

Voted hotel of the year for Bath, Bristol and Somerset in 2019, No15 by GuestHouse offers attention to detail in every aspect. The hotel sits on one of the most resplendent streets in Bath and is just a short walk from most of the city highlights. With a full-fledged spa offering many treatments and an in-house bar with a carefully curated cocktail menu, you might not want to leave this hotel in Bath at all. The rooms are thoughtfully put together, incorporating individual artistic flourishes, and the staff are friendly and knowledgeable about the local area.

9. The Gainsborough Bath Spa, for creature comforts

Spa Hotel, Hotel

A blue-tiled indoor thermal pool with columns at the Gainsborough Bath Spa
Courtesy of The Gainsborough Bath Spa / Expedia

The first UK offering from the lauded YTL hotel group, the Gainsborough finds itself in a lavish Grade II-listed building with access to the world-famous thermal baths. With elegant interiors created by the acclaimed Champalimaud Design, the hotel weaves together the building’s history with all the modern trappings of 21st-century luxury, including heated bathroom floors, Nespresso coffee machines and flat-screen HDTVs as standard. Be sure to book in a dip in the naturally heated, mineral-rich pools for which the city is best known and to which the hotel has exclusive access.

10. Francis Hotel Bath, for a historic gem

Hotel

A lovely lounge at the Francis Hotel Bath with plush velvet seating and patterned wallpaper
Courtesy of Francis Hotel Bath / Expedia

Designed and built by famed local architect John Wood the Elder, the Grade I-listed Francis Hotel comprises seven adjacent townhouses and has been welcoming guests for nearly 150 years. The ultra-comfortable four-poster beds are swathed in Egyptian cotton, and the bathrooms have exclusive White Company toiletries. This hotel in Bath is just a short walk from the famous city landmarks and has a wonderful in-house restaurant offering a terrific afternoon tea.

Sarah Warwick contributed additional reporting to this article.

Want to discover more? See our guide to the best hotels in Bath, or check out these boutique places to stay, and book now on Culture Trip.

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