As Somerset’s largest city, Bath is a versatile spot for frazzled Londoners looking for a bit of respite. With its cobbled streets, it mixes the low-key city vibes of some of Europe’s coolest locations - and all you need to do is jump on a train.
You’ll also find plenty of lush greenery just a stone’s throw from the city centre, so visitors get the best of both worlds with hardly any hassle.
Planning a trip? The recently opened Eight in the heart of Bath city centre is up there with one of the best places to stay to get the most out of your visit.
Where is it?
When it comes to location, Eight nails it in two very big ways: it’s pretty, and it’s very practical. Situated down a cobbled side-street in Bath’s old town, it immediately evokes the city’s rich history as a regency period hotspot, so you can watch the world go by and pretend you’re in a Jane Austen novel. It’s also a stone’s throw from all of the action, making it the perfect bolthole to get around and see the best that the city has to offer; the Roman Baths are just a few minutes away, and the main train station is just a five-minute walk, so you’ll never need to rush.
Style
This independent boutique hotel is based around a simple but effective concept: it’s a converted townhouse and restaurant, with eight rooms and eight dishes. In a building that dates back to the 1400s, it stylishly combines modern decor with historic architecture, meaning guests feel part of a slice of history without missing any of the mod cons. The big Georgian bay windows that frame the restaurant and reception downstairs nicely frame what might otherwise feel like quite dainty rooms; they’re also great for people watching.
Each of the rooms are tastefully decorated with a mix of simple soft furnishings with the odd quirky print thrown in, giving a splash of colour. Given they are each tucked around a winding central staircase, they are deceptively big in size too. Each room has its own en-suite, and the biggest room, on the first floor, has a bath in the bedroom (and a TV that magically rises out of the bottom of the bed at the press of a button).
Food & drink
It might be small in size, but Eight’s restaurant feels buzzy in the evening - a sign that it’s one of Bath’s places to be. The menu makes use of locally sourced ingredients from coast, field and forest, and changes regularly according to what it is in season. Each plate is medium-sized, so guests can taste as much of what’s on offer as possible (no one will judge if you go for all eight), and the friendly and knowledgeable staff will happily recommend the right wine to pair with each dish. On this visit, the wild mushroom feuillete was the perfect early-spring warmer, followed by ballotine of rabbit and pan-seared breast of Guinea fowl (these were shared, but I would have happily eaten all three to myself).
The restaurant adapts pretty seamlessly for breakfast the next morning, its big windows allowing the room to fill with gentle morning light rather than the moody evening atmosphere. There’s a continental breakfast on offer, with coffees and juices, but with a restaurant as good as this one it’s really the cooked menu you should be ordering from.
Extracurriculars
There’s plenty to see in Bath, but having a well-located base makes it all doable. The historic Roman Baths are just round the corner, next to the Pump Rooms (where you can have afternoon tea or try a glass of the restorative spa water); opposite you’ll find Bath’s magisterial cathedral. Walk slightly further afield and you’ll find the botanical gardens and the famous Royal Crescent. If the latter gives you extreme house envy then make sure you head to No 1 Royal Crescent, a museum showing what it’s like inside one of these glorious giant regency townhouses. Other highlights include the Victoria Art Gallery and Bath Fashion Museum, and culture fans may want to make the trip to Theatre Royal Bath, which regularly hosts productions touring after West End runs as well as staging its own shows. And if you don’t mind seeing grown adults dressed up in silly costumes, the Jane Austen Centre will do its best to bring her novels to life.
Bath - in pictures
How to get there
A train from London Paddington to Bath Spa station takes a very reasonable 90 minutes.
Best for
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Its central spot makes it an almost unrivalled choice for anyone looking to see as much of the city as possible in a short space of time - history and culture fans will be well catered for.
Details
Prices start from £105 a night, breakfast included; eightinbath.co.uk