Nine of the best boutique hotels in Bath

Bath, loved for its fine Georgian architecture, Jane Austen and frisky Romans, has a damn fine collection of boutique hotels. Bath’s art and design scene is heaving with talent, and this is merrily reflected in its hefty crop of unique and rather special hotels.

Here are nine of the best.

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Best for food: The Queensbury

Neighbourhood: City centre

Creep downstairs at The Queensbury to find Bath’s only city-centre Michelin star at The Olive Tree restaurant. Headed up by Heston Blumenthal protege Chris Cleghorn, the restaurant serves such fineries as smoked eel with golden beetroot, lovage and cox apple along with a sturdy selection for vegetarians and vegans. Upstairs, the amalgamation of four sandy Georgian townhouses on Russel Street has resulted in a stylish and friendly one-off hotel run by husband and wife team, Laurence and Helen Beere.

Rooms from £99 per night
thequeensberry.co.uk

Best for location: Eight in Bath

Neighbourhood: City centre

Less is definitely more at Eight in Bath, where guests choose from just eight rooms and eight dishes in the restaurant. The compact bolthole is just a two-minute walk from the Roman baths and main shopping drag.

The concept is perfect for anyone bored of exhaustive options and expertly pushes quality over quantity. Book the spacious deluxe double for a freestanding bath with views out over cobbled streets and after dark, head to the underground bar for a cosy nightcap.

Rooms from £110 per night
eightinbath.co.uk

Best for art lovers: Abbey Hotel

Neighbourhood: City centre

With the recent reopening of Artbar, the Abbey’s love affair with local talent continues. The bar has evolved into a gallery space-come-artists’ studio with rotating collections showcasing local artists, photographers and sculptors. You’ll find paint splattered tables, “artists in residence” working on site and a cocktail menu inspired by exhibited work. Since being taken over by hoteliers KE in 2018, the Abbey has undergone an overhaul which includes stunning new rooms and Koffmann & Mr White’s – the popular brasserie from Pierre Koffmann and Marco Pierre White.

Rooms from £125 per night
abbeyhotelbath.co.uk

Best for celeb spotting: At the Chapel

Neighbourhood: Bruton

Just south of Bath, a Grade II Listed, 17th-century former chapel has been magnificently transformed into eight bedrooms around a bakery and restaurant. Its beauty owes much to furniture maker Ahmed Sidki who co-owns the property with his partner Catherine Butler. The original chapel was built on ley lines, says Catherine, who believes in its magical power of bringing people together. Breakfast in the impossibly light restaurant-come-workspace and you might just rub shoulders with regulars Pearl Lowe, Caroline Corr or Don McCullin. The croissants dangling from the door knob each morning are a nice touch.

From £125 per night
atthechapel.co.uk

Best for hipsters: No 15 Great Pulteney

Neighbourhood: City centre

Quintessential Bath meets Marie Kondo’s worst nightmare. From the chandelier made of single lost earrings to Natwest pigs, kaleidoscopes and larders bursting with sweets, fizzy drinks and ice cream, No15 is perfect for those who baulk at identikit minimalism. Made up of three Grade I townhouses, the 40-room hotel is laden with unexpected visual treats like the fragments of Georgian wallpaper visible in Bar 15.

Special night? Book the Hideout Suite, which has its own hot tub, dressing room and​ Sonos system.

Rooms from £115 per night
no15greatpulteney.co.uk

Best for escapism: Bath Priory hotel

Neighbourhood: City centre

If you want to escape the city without actually escaping the city, the Bath Priory, a sprawling 19th-century building (once part of the Bath Abbey), is far from the maddening crowds and right next to lovely Victoria Park. Room interiors evoke a grand country house and look over on the property’s four acres, including its perfectly preened gardens.

Need a shoulder rub? The Provence-inspired Garden Spa by L’Occitane features an indoor heated swimming pool with a poolside sauna and steam pod.

Rooms from £215 per night
thebathpriory.co.uk

Best for splashing out: The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa

Neighbourhood: City centre

Entering the Pride of Britain’s top 50 hotels is no mean feat, but the Royal Crescent just aced it. Ensconced on Bath’s most show-stopping street (seen on many a BBC period drama), the 45-room Royal Crescent is the place to push the boat out. Head to the spa for a bespoke Elemental Herbology treatment, or take al fresco afternoon tea or bubbly at The​ Montagu Bar and Champagne Lounge. There are wonderful views over Bath and her rolling hills, and previous guests include Amabel Wellesley-Colley and the Duke of York.

Rooms from £264 per night
royalcrescent.co.uk

Best for views: The Bird, Bath

Neighbourhood: City centre

Chandeliers, pink walls and artfully poised taxidermy: the vibe at The Bird is distinctly cheeky. It’s an impressive Victorian villa with 31 bedrooms, and one real plus point is that there is plenty of car parking which is a rarity in Bath, not to mention some stupendous views over Bath Abbey and beyond.

Formerly The County Hotel Bath, The Bird is now owned by Ian and Christa Taylor – patrons of No15 Great Pulteney Street, who are also working on the recently acquired Homewood.

Rooms from £109 per night
thebirdbath.co.uk

Best for a country pub vibe: The Methuen Arms

Neighbourhood: Corsham

Head chef Leigh Evans’ “nose to tail” philosophy means no stones are unturned when it comes to crafting the comforting menu at The Methuen Arms; all vegetables and herbs grown in the kitchen’s own garden, too. For anyone wanting hearty fodder and the ability to flop into a cloud-like bed just seconds later, the Methuen is that place.

In the village of the moment, Corsham, the hotel has 19 rooms with sleek interiors and original features: think timber flooring, exposed stone walls and country hues.

Prices from £140 per night
themethuenarms.com