Founded in Roman times around naturally occurring hot springs, the city of Bath is one of the UK’s most popular mini-break destinations, and home to a wide choice of accommodation options including numerous charming B&Bs.
(Photo: Wentworth House / Courtesy Booking.com)
Located in the West Country and named after its Roman-built baths, the city attracts huge numbers of visitors every year, many of whom choose to stay in one of its many delightful Bed and Breakfasts rather than at traditional hotel. Often family-run and set within architecturally interesting buildings dating back centuries, Bath’s B&Bs combine comfort and charm in equal measure. We’ve picked some of the best that the city has to offer.
Wentworth House
Situated a brisk 15-minute walk outside of Bath proper, Wentworth House benefits from almost an acre of its own well looked-after grounds and offers eye-pleasing views out to the surrounding countryside. The rooms here are oh-so-cosy and traditionally furnished, and come with TVs, hairdryers, and tea/coffee-making facilities. The full English breakfast served each morning has received rave reviews, though probably best enjoyed after, rather than before, taking advantage of the outdoor swimming pool set within the vast grounds of the property. Free on-site parking provides convenience for guests with their own car. The historic Roman Baths are just over a mile away.
The Henry Guest House
(Photo: The Henry Guest House / Courtesy Booking.com)
Just steps from the Abbey and Roman Baths, this is one of the city’s most centrally-located accommodation options. Set within a beautiful Georgian building, it features seven guest rooms decorated in contemporary yet classic style and with plenty of home comforts including digital flat-screen TVs, tea-coffee-making equipment and daily room service. Family rooms are also available. Fresh pastries are served during the daily à la carte breakfasts and a minimarket is available too so guests can pick up snacks and essentials on-site. For those arriving by train, the property is also conveniently situated a couple of minutes on foot from the city’s main railway station.
Hill House
Converted from a pub in a terraced Georgian building near the city centre, this boutique-style B&B is stylish yet homely, with breakfasts eaten communally around a single table and owners on hand with advice on local attractions and excursions. The halls, stairs and breakfast room are tastefully furnished with paintings, photos and objets d’art, along with an understated mix of antiques and modern pieces. Rooms are also adorned with a hotch-potch of antiques, art and modern furnishings, while some have seating areas, fireplaces, swagged curtains, and wooden panels. Key sights such as the Royal Crescent and Circus are a five-minute stroll away, and one end of Camden Crescent, a less well-known Georgian landmark, lies across the street. Guests must be aged 12 or over.
Devonshire House
(Photo: Devonshire House / Courtesy Booking.com)
Characterised by a boutique level of service, with plush, comfortable rooms, this B&B is located a 20-minute walk from the city centre and specialises in the kind of attention to detail more typical of a 5-star hotel. The fact that it’s still family-run, though, means you have the best of both worlds: luxury with a human touch. As for amenities, all guest rooms come with a TV, DVD player, tea/coffee-making facilities and a fan, along with a sprinkling of the owner’s quirky art finds. Communal areas include a living room with an oversized sofa that’s ideal for unwinding after a day’s sightseeing. The green expanses of Linear Park and Alexandra Park are both 5 minutes away on foot.
Oldfield House
A large Victorian-style B&B about 10 minutes on foot from central Bath, this property instantly catches the eye with its honey-coloured stone that’s so typical of the city. A long hallway and stairway finished with dark green patterned carpeting and cream-coloured walls lend a homey, intimate touch, while common areas include a lounge and a well-maintained yard surrounded by trees and dotted with outdoor furniture. Guest rooms are individually decorated in different styles and colours. Cooked English breakfasts are served each morning and there’s also a computer for guest use, a DVD collection, and free on-site parking.
Glenade
(Photo: Glenade / Courtesy Booking.com)
There’s something almost impossibly cosy about the Glenade, representing as it does, one of the most attractive aspects of Bed & Breakfast culture: that you’re getting a genuine peak behind the net curtains of local residential life. All of this, plus the tangible benefits of a garden and sun terrace affording scenic views, WiFi throughout, luggage storage space, free private parking, and continental breakfasts every morning combine to make this an enticing accommodation choice. The Roman Baths and many of the city’s other main attractions can be found just over a mile away.
The Cedars
(Photo: The Cedars / Courtesy Booking.com)
An outlier among Bath’s more historic B&Bs and guest houses, The Cedars is set within a modern, architecturally innovative house and is an ideal base for those whose tastes run more stylish and contemporary than cosy and traditional. It is, nevertheless, exceedingly comfortable, while the greeting you’ll receive from the staff brims with good old-fashioned courtesy and friendliness. A few miles outside of central Bath, in the beautiful village of Bridgerton, a stay here can be as much about stomping through nearby fields as exploring the area’s famous Roman heritage. Amenities include free parking and guests can enjoy a continental breakfast served directly to their room each morning. Next door, the Crown Inn offers lunch and evening meals.