The best hotels in Bath city centre

All hotels have been independently reviewed and selected. We will earn a commission if you book via the links below, but this never affects our rating.

There’s a lot to be said for staying in the centre of Bath. Doing so will mean that all the major sights and attractions, including the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, Thermae Bath Spa and key Georgian highlights such as the Circus, the Royal Crescent, Pulteney Bridge and Great Pulteney Street, will be in strolling distance. Likewise, a host of enticing cafés, pubs, cocktail bars and restaurants will also be easily reachable on foot.

Put another way, if your accommodation is located in the city centre, you may end up not using your car for the duration of your time in Bath if you’ve driven to the city, and you may not take any taxis or buses. It’s also worth noting that if you don’t stay in the centre, your accommodation may be a steep climb from the heart of the city, as Bath is ringed by hills. Here’s our insider guide to the best hotels in Bath city centre, including the top for Georgian architecture, pampering spas and brilliant breakfasts.

How we review

Every hotel in this curated list has been visited by one of our expert reviewers, who are usually hosted on a complimentary basis. They stay for a minimum of one night, test at least one meal and trial other experiences that the hotel might have to offer. We will earn a commission if you book via the links below, but this never affects our rating.

At a glance, the best hotels in Bath city centre

The best luxury hotel in Bath city centre – The Gainsborough Bath Spa
The best budget hotel in Bath city centre – Z Bath
The best spa hotel in Bath city centre – The Gainsborough Bath Spa
The best Bath city centre hotel with parking – The Queensberry Hotel

The Gainsborough Bath Spa

Bath, Somerset, England

9
Telegraph expert rating

The Gainsborough is the only hotel in Bath with access to the city’s natural thermal waters, which run not only in its acclaimed Romanesque Spa Village but also to the baths in three of the bedrooms. If that isn’t enough, the Thermae Bath Spa is right across the street. Shoppers can head to the main thoroughfare at the end of the street, and the train station about six minutes’ walk away. Back at base, the rooms and suites have an understated neo-Georgian look, with a grey-blue palette, period-style black furniture, and marble bathrooms.

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No.15 by GuestHouse, Bath

Bath, Somerset, England

9
Telegraph expert rating

This well-appointed and imaginatively designed boutique hotel is set in a Georgian Grade I-listed building on arguably the most impressive street in Bath. The original fittings and features are blended with quirky and creative touches, from chandeliers made out of earrings, to collections of kaleidoscopes and musical instruments. Rooms are fitted with Hypnos beds, eye-catching furniture and record turntables (there’s a big library of LPs to choose from). The basement spa really adds to the hotel: its facilities include a cedar wood hot tub, sauna, steam room, and post-massage ‘retreat room’. There’s a quirky bar and an elegant restaurant in the basement serving sophisticated takes on British comfort food.

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164

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• The best things to do in Bath

Harington’s City Hotel

Bath, Somerset, England

8
Telegraph expert rating

This privately owned, cosy little hotel on a delightful cobbled side street right in the centre of Bath is spread over three interconnecting Georgian houses. It’s packed with character; most strikingly, one wall in each of the 13 individually decorated rooms has beautiful, boldly patterned wallpaper (butterflies, birds and scenes from the theatre). You might also have a furry bedspread and the hotel’s own cushions embossed with “Queen St”. Though Harington’s is no bigger than many of Bath’s b&bs, it comes with a lounge and bar, and a reception manned for long hours. An unusual feature is the whirlpool tub in a little courtyard.

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122

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• The best restaurants in Bath

The Abbey Hotel

Bath, Somerset, England

8
Telegraph expert rating

Characterful Abbey Hotel Bath overlooks an open, triangular area officially called Terrace Walk but known locally as Bog Island. The property – spread over three interconnected, 18th-century, Georgian terraces – is just a hop from the main shopping precincts, prime attractions such as the Roman Baths and Thermae Bath Spa, and lots of cafés and restaurants. Inside, the look is confident, individual and full of art. Works by local artists fill public areas, notably in the stylish ArtBar which displays regularly changing exhibitions, lampshades made out of decanters and dozens of glasses hanging from the ceiling. The look continues to the 65 rooms which are divided into three themes – Print, Cinematography and Gallery.

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114

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• The best pubs in Bath

The Queensberry Hotel

Bath, Somerset, England

9
Telegraph expert rating

This privately owned, contemporary style hotel is spread over four interconnected Georgian townhouses. It’s just up from the Assembly Rooms, with the showpiece Circus a two-minute walk away. Despite its 18th-century surroundings, it has a rather modern look. Rooms are individually decorated, successfully combining modern furnishings with elegant Georgian features (sash windows, marble fireplaces). The Olive Tree, the hotel’s basement restaurant, offers some of the best, creative fine dining in Bath – which has earned chef Chris Cleghorn Bath’s only Michelin star. The slick Q bar offers a wide selection of cocktails and whiskies.

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140

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• The best luxury hotels in and around Bath

Z Bath

Bath, Somerset, England

7
Telegraph expert rating

Z Hotels has brought a touch of the urban lifestyle to the city of Bath. The boutique chain – with its affordable rates and no-frills stylishness – offers a hip and more upmarket alternative to budget brands, and is ideally situated for a short break. The rooms, though small by usual standards, offer clean, minimalist lines and comfort; the white walls are offset by occasional oak-veneered panelling and large, dark grey headboards; the very comfortable bespoke beds are made in Devon. Facilities are minimal: it’s designed to be just a temporary base, but there are noticeable touches, such as free apples and soft drinks; the bar is also licensed throughout the night.

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• The best spa hotels in and around Bath

Dukes

Bath, Somerset, England

8
Telegraph expert rating

This b&b occupies two Grade I listed, 18th-century townhouses. Once private homes, they were knocked together to form a hotel in 1919. The façade on Edward Street, with its double-bow frontage and pretty fanlight over the front door, is particularly striking. Inside, long sash windows and creaky floors abound, and furnishings are largely in keeping with the Georgian era. There are 17 attractive rooms which vary in style – some have coordinated, floral-patterned curtains and wallpaper; others have oriental-style prints. Rooms on the lower floors typically have high ceilings and long sash windows, while those on the top floor are cosier.

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133

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• The best bars in Bath

The Francis Hotel

Bath, Somerset, England

7
Telegraph expert rating

The Francis occupies a side of Queen Square, one of Bath’s most notable architectural set pieces. The hotel takes its name from its first owner, Solomon Francis, who started taking paying guests in one of the houses in 1858. In the Second World War, much of the building was badly damaged by German bombs, though you wouldn’t know it from the subsequent restoration. Notable features of its fun, contemporary take on the Regency style mix modern chandeliers, an old grandfather clock, two-tone button-back armchairs and peacock-patterned wallpaper. The style continues to the rooms; Feature rooms also have a four-poster bed. For meals, there’s Boho Marché, a Moroccan/Andalusian/French-styled café/restaurant.

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105

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• The best hotels in Bath

The Yard in Bath

Bath, Somerset, England

8
Telegraph expert rating

A chic and tastefully designed new hotel close to the centre of Bath that has been revamped from top to toe out of an 18th-century coaching inn. The creation of young owners Esther Newman and Ed Haskins – London emigrées who have left jobs in PR and property to become hoteliers. They live in an apartment in the hotel and are fully hands on, chatting engagingly with guests, serving breakfast and so forth. They are passionate about their new venture and all things Bath which is very refreshing to see. it is laudably central: key sights such as The Royal Crescent and Roman Baths are about seven minutes’ walk away, and lots of cafés, bars and restaurants are even closer.

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127

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• The best hotels in Somerset

Hotel Indigo Bath

Bath, Somerset, England

8
Telegraph expert rating

The hotel takes up a Grade I-Listed terrace of honey-coloured Bath Stone, laid out in the 1740s by John Wood the Elder, the city’s premier Georgian architect. The address – South Parade – is a quiet cul-de-sac in the city centre. The excellent restaurant, The Elder, is a major draw and though facilities are limited (no spa, for example), sights such as the Roman Baths and Pulteney Bridge are under five minutes’ stroll away. The style pairs classic Georgian style with playful touches such as avant-garde Regency-style portraits. The atmosphere is more informal and trendier than most of Bath’s other upmarket hotels.

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110

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Eight

Bath, Somerset, England

8
Telegraph expert rating

A townhouse hotel set on an atmospheric pedestrian lane and a beautiful cobbled square, right in the heart of Bath. The contemporary-styled bedrooms are spread over two characterful old buildings, the intimate restaurant is excellent, and you can expect first-rate, personal service. The entrance to the Roman Baths is about a minute’s walk away, the city’s main shopping thoroughfare hardly any further. Eight’s main building lies on North Parade Passage, a paved thoroughfare with lots of other tempting places to eat and drink: Sally Lunn’s, Bath’s most famous tea shop, is right next door. Around half of the bedrooms are 50 yards away in a handsome townhouse overlooking Abbey Green, a cobbled square shaded by an ancient plane tree.

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• The best restaurants and cafés in Bath

Apex City of Bath Hotel

Bath, Somerset, England

8
Telegraph expert rating

Bath’s biggest hotel, with 177 bedrooms, is a modern four-star in the city centre. It has plenty to entice couples, families and businesspeople, who come for the slick rooms, pool, and excellent location opposite Green Park Station. This former railway station is now home to a farmer’s market on Saturday mornings, while the Roman Baths, Thermae Bath Spa and shopping areas are within 10 minutes’ walk. The open-plan restaurant, with its orange leather banquette seating, bare wood tables and light shades that resemble sliced pumpkins, feels like a colourful version of a canteen, while the large and informal bar/lounge area, with blue and green leather sofas and high tables with plug sockets for charging laptops, functions as a multi-purpose spot.

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Frequently asked questions

Where can I find parking in Bath city centre?

The car parks on Avon Street, Charlotte Street and Manvers Street offer both short-stay and long-stay parking. Other car parks in Bath city centre offer short-stay parking only. Charging points for electric vehicles are available at Charlotte Street Car Park. Some areas of the city centre allow on-street parking. There are several Bath hotels with parking, including on-site parking, valet parking or vouchers for on-street parking.

Contributions by Simon Horsford

The best hotels in Bath

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The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa

HOTEL
Bath, Somerset, England

9
Telegraph expert rating

This luxury hotel encompasses two townhouses in Bath’s showpiece Georgian crescent, plus a large …

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£
300

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No.15 by GuestHouse, Bath

HOTEL
Bath, Somerset, England

9
Telegraph expert rating

This is Bath’s hippest upmarket hotel. Its many highlights include a knock-out position on Bath’s…

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164

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The Queensberry Hotel

HOTEL
Bath, Somerset, England

9
Telegraph expert rating

Spread over four townhouses on a well-to-do street in Bath, The Queensberry is independently run …

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140

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