Who needs a vacation abroad when you can enjoy a picturesque holiday in one of Britain’s most delightful cities? We took a dip – sorry, trip – to beguiling Bath for a stay at The Gainsborough Bath Spa. This luxury hotel offers guests a sanctuary of relaxation, style and – of course – an exclusive chance to enjoy those famous thermal waters.
As cities go, Bath has to be up there as one of the most beautiful in the UK. Cobbled streets that can all be navigated by foot; pretty parks nestled amongst the Georgian architecture; a stunning Cathedral; historic Roman baths, an abundance of independent shops and cafes fringing leafy squares… no wonder it’s a tourist hotspot as well as a UNESCO Heritage site. And that’s not even mentioning the naturally-heated spas that have drawn visitors looking to ‘take the waters’ for hundreds of years.
Clik here to view.
So it makes sense that, when visiting such a gorgeous city, you’ll want an equally impressive residence to spend time in. What could be better than a five-star luxury hotel that combines classic elegance, contemporary style, the warmest of welcomes and fabulous food and drink, all with its own Spa Village that enables guests exclusive access to Bath’s thermal waters? Sounds rather marvellous, doesn’t it?
The Gainsborough Bath Spa is a boutique hotel consisting of just under 100 rooms, located in what was once a hospital. All thoughts of a sterile, characterless interior are immediately banished on entry though – the hotel is warm, welcoming and radiates a kind of pearly, cream glow as soon as you step into the immaculate foyer. What the building does retain from its former usage are wide corridors, sweeping windows, high ceilings and satisfyingly large rooms.
Clik here to view.
The hotel is actually rather deceptive, unfurling like the petals of a blossoming flower as you move further inside. From the exterior, it looks like one of the graceful Georgian buildings made from honey-coloured Bath stone that the city is famous for. Once inside though, you realise this isn’t your average boutique hotel. The Gainsborough Bath Spa actually consists of two Grade II Listed buildings, with sweeping staircases leading up to the bedrooms or down to the Spa Village. The interior expertly marries Romanesque classical architecture with a contemporary freshness. A shining marble floor, stately white pillars, alcoves for sprays of vibrant flowers and a soothing colour palette mean you experience all the soothing restfulness of entering a spa before you’ve even got to the spa. And it smells divine.
Clik here to view.
Still have aspects of your mini-break you’ve left unplanned? Throw away the guidebook, because Steve – aka the concierge with the keys to the city – has it all in hand. He’s like Bath’s resident fixer, from a hospitality point of view at least. Whether booking you dinner at the best restaurants, advising on the most appealing route to wander around the city, or sorting you out with seats at the hottest cocktail bar in town (usually booked up for two months solid), then he is the man with the master plan. It’s just one example of how the staff here go above and beyond. Maybe it’s a West Country thing, but everyone here exudes a warm geniality that makes you feel nothing is too much of an ask.
Downstairs is where you’ll find the famous Spa Village. This is a completely dreamy oasis consisting of three thermal heated pools of various temperatures, the waters of which contain around 42 minerals, including sulphate, calcium and chloride (known to aid muscular relief as well as softening and nourishing the skin). The main pool, positioned underneath a vast glass-ceiling atrium, has jets and waterfalls for further relaxation. Covid restrictions were all fully in place and staunchly adhered to, so we felt very comfortable spending an hour shimmying between the pools. When this whole fiasco of a pandemic is over and done with I plan to return and enjoy the saunas, steam room and ice alcove, set out in a very Romanesque way so you could be forgiven for thinking you’d stepped into the Emporer’s private bathing temple. I also highly recommend indulging in one of the spa’s treatments. The signature massage also incorporates aromatherapy, and I spent a heavenly hour having all knots, stresses and aches eased from my muscles. When it comes to opportunities to truly relax and take the weight off, The Gainsborough Bath Spa excels.
Clik here to view.
As well as the spa, there are other indulges to be enjoyed in the hotel – not least the food and drink. The Gainsborough Restaurant is presided over by the talented Dan Moon and boasts three AA Rosettes. We couldn’t try his highly acclaimed cuisine as dinner wasn’t currently being served during our visit due to – you guessed it – Covid restrictions – however, we did get to enjoy a breakfast of fresh pastries, piping hot coffee and crushed avocado on toasted walnut bread, topped with a hen’s egg, toasted seeds and coriander. The Gainsborough certainly got the memo that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
This meal can be enjoyed after what will no doubt have been a restful night’s sleep in one of the chic bedrooms. These range from stylish Deluxe Rooms all the way up to the showstopping Bath Spa Suite. Or really live your bed life by hiring The Townhouse – a glorious Georgian townhouse that can be hired privately for up to five guests, complete with a kitchen, dining area and even an outdoor patio.
Our suite was a delight to stay in, complete with a view over the golden rooftops of Bath and a lounge for relaxing if we wanted to peel ourselves away from the huge bed – although to be honest, this was mostly too comfortable to leave. As soft as the proverbial cloud, it afforded us the most wonderful slumber – especially helped along by the fact we’d indulged in a couple of expertly mixed Martinis in The Gainsborough Bar before bed. Well, when on holiday…
Clik here to view.
Once breakfast has been enjoyed and you’ve blissed out in the Spa Village, it’s time to explore the city. One of the wonderful things about Bath is its size – it can be covered in a couple of hours by foot, really – but that doesn’t mean there aren’t less accessable areas on the outskirts where a lot of the hotels are located. Not so for The Gainsborough Bath Spa, which is located about as centrally as you could hope for, a mere thirty seconds from the main shopping thoroughfare. Yet because of its position tucked into one of those cobbled streets, it feels completely tranquil – a hidden oasis of a hotel reigning supreme in a city that continues to delight visitors with its warm waters and even warmer welcome.
Find out more about a stay at The Gainsborough Bath Spa by visiting their website here.
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