There’s no denying that Bath, in Somerset, is one of the UK’s most beautiful cities, and the perfect place to enjoy an indulgent weekend getaway. Any visit here promises to whisk you straight back in time, whilst offering a vibrant taste of British culture, decadent fine dining cuisine and an array of high-end designer boutiques and shops. And where better to check in for a luxurious couple of nights than the opulent five-star Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa?
Built all the way back in the 1700s, it has long been seen as the city’s leading luxury hotel – but in recent years, it has seen fierce competition from the likes of The Gainsborough, The Queensberry and The Bath Priory. Nevertheless, it continues to stand out as Bath’s finest hotel due to its incredible location, sumptuous interiors, Michelin-quality food and faultless customer service.
Here, we take a look at how it has cooked up the perfect recipe and has retained its prestigious status.
The iconic location
Amongst the rolling hills of Somerset is Bath, one of the country’s most charming and historic cities. A timeless retreat that embodies the classical stories that inspired Charles Dickens and Jane Austen, Bath’s Georgian architecture is a magnet for international visitors. The city is also steeped in history that dates back to Roman times, and is home to the world famous Roman Baths – well preserved thermal baths on a site that also features extensive ruins and an interactive museum that will transport you straight back to ancient times.
As if that wasn’t enough to convince you on location, the hotel itself is located on one of Bath’s most prestigious streets, Royal Crescent. The stunning Royal Crescent architecture is a Georgian masterpiece, which was designed by world famous architect John Wood the Younger and completed in 1775, and the distinctive sandy-hued stone of the Royal Crescent has stood the test of time surprisingly well.
Today, Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Grade I listed building of the hotel really does exude the grandeur of historic British architecture at its very finest. The hotel is right in the centre of this rather magnificent row of Palladian beauties, at numbers 15 and 16 to be exact. External signage is discreet due to local compliance, which makes you feel as though you are entering an elegant private residence, and not a luxury five-star hotel.
The hotel looks across beautifully manicured lawns to Bath’s Royal Victoria Park. When it comes to locations, every facet is utterly sublime – in fact, this has got to be one of the most iconic hotel locations in the UK.
Historically important sights and attractions – including the Roman Baths, as well as the Assembly Rooms – are a ten-minute walk from the hotel, via the nearby ring of awe-inspiring townhouses known as The Circus (another architectural gem that needs to be seen to be believed).
The gorgeous interiors
A recent refurbishment has given one of Bath’s most prestigious hotels some added levels of modern luxury, but despite this, the hotel has successfully retained its majestic charm and quintessentially English look and feel.
The inside of the building really is an interior designer’s dream, with high ceilings that are edged with ornate cornicing, period portraiture, panelled walls, decorative wall plates, with draped curtains, funky blinds and antique furniture all adding an additional sense of opulence.
The luxury rooms and suites
The hotel offers 45 individually designed rooms and suites to choose from, all of which are as beautifully presented as you’d expect from such a classy hotel, with period features like ceiling roses and cornices standing out amid more modern artistic flourishes and pastel-coloured wallpaper. Each room provides an exclusive and intimate feel, with quintessentially English décor that’s in keeping with the rest of the hotel; they really are the height of luxury.
The 11 luxurious suites, as well as the Deluxe Bedrooms, Heritage Bedrooms, Master Bedrooms and Family Master Bedrooms, have recently been thoughtfully renovated, with colour palettes based on historical Georgian tones by Farrow & Ball.
I stayed in the newly renovated Deluxe Suite, which had a magnificent view over the Royal Crescent lawns. The suite’s elegant colour palette (white, light and darker shades of blue, grey and brown) is based on historical Georgian tones by Farrow and Ball and the nature–inspired design and contrasting modern elements worked beautifully together. The addition of original antique furniture added an extra dose of character, with a stunning white fireplace providing a real focal point to the room.
But the standout feature was the four-poster bed, which makes these suites the perfect choice for couples looking for a romantic weekend getaway.
When booking a suite category, you can order a selection of hot drinks and snacks straight to your room, which is a handy added bonus.
The Michelin level food
Bath is a real haven for foodies, with a huge variety of great restaurants to pick from. The city is currently home to one Michelin star restaurant, The Olive Tree – which is located in the Queensberry hotel. But it could also soon be ready to welcome its second Michelin star restaurant, courtesy of Montagu’s Mews – the Royal Crescent Hotel’s sensational casual fine dining eatery.
Montagu’s Mews opened its doors back in April of 2023 following an extensive refurbishment, having previously been known as the Dower House Restaurant. The interiors have been given a joyful injection of colour, with pinky terracotta and natural greens leading the way. Meanwhile, a new patio terrace has been added for alfresco dining.
Overlooking the hotel’s gardens, the 3AA Rosette restaurant is named after Elizabeth Montagu, who once used the building to run the women’s literary discussion group the Blue Stockings Society.
Shelley Reiner – director of London based interior design company ‘Suited’ – was appointed to lead this creative project, and her colourful concept sets the scene for award-winning dishes from award-winning head chef Martin Blake and his team. With a strong focus on locally sourced ingredients, he is passionate about incorporating quality produce from nearby farmers and suppliers into his menus, showing off the best that Bath and the surrounding areas have to offer.
Martin’s contemporary dishes change with the seasons and focus on quality, simplicity and clean execution. Notable inclusions on the winter menu include Whaddon Grove farm lamb with salt-baked beetroot and black garlic, and Cod with cockles and shellfish vinaigrette, with a selection of desserts available to satisfy sweet cravings at the end of the night.
The talented chef has been at the helm since 2021 and creates delicious “farm to fork” dishes curated with love and passion. Diners can choose from a selection of tasting menus, à la carte options and a more casual, all-day bar menu.
Originally from Frome, Somerset, Martin’s ethos focuses on simplicity, clean execution, and quality ingredients, leveraging strong relationships with local farmers to create dishes with the freshest seasonal produce, from the a la carte and seven-course tasting menus to afternoon tea.
The chef, who has previously worked at the likes of Bowood Hotel, Homewood and Bath Priory, told me: “You’ll see a lot of influence from local suppliers within my menus, local dairies and farms in particular. The food itself isn’t overworked or over complicated. We’re not trying to be like anyone else, we just cook food that excites us, food that we would like to sit down and eat.”
The classic tasting menu offers the perfect showcase of Martin’s incredible cooking skills, taking you on a culinary journey that is packed with original flavours, incredible textures and eye-catching presentation.
Menu highlights included the flavoursome 30-day aged Longhorn beef tartar, which is served with a Bath ale hollandaise and IP8 vinegar and the succulent Whaddon Grove lamb, which comes with a delicious rich dollop of curd, courgetti and basil. Both dishes are a real celebration of modern British cooking and showcase the abundance of fantastic local produce available on Martin’s doorstep. For those with a sweet tooth, the baked vanilla cheesecake with poached peach and raspberry is an indulgent treat that is sure to impress.
Vegan and vegetarian alternatives are available alongside the classic tasting menu, so all tastes and diets are catered for.
The sommelier was fantastic, super knowledgeable and perfectly paired the dishes with some interesting wines from up and coming producers from the likes of Hungary and Slovenia to enhance the dining experience even further.
A coveted Michelin star and a fourth AA Rosette is surely not too far away for the restaurant, and would be the least that Martin deserves.
Breakfast is also served here, with a continental buffet complemented by cooked dishes (the Full English is rather special), eggs and waffles. The afternoon tea, which consists of perfectly pretty cake morsels and scones, is certainly more inventive than most, with subtle nods to the wonderful city of Bath.
The hotel’s bar, which is just adjacent, is the perfect setting to enjoy a pre-dinner glass of champagne and an after-dinner cocktail or coffee. The cocktail menu is particularly noteworthy, and includes a selection of inspired creations crafted with local botanicals and small batch spirits, from the woody Suze the Day – a combination of Suze, Peychaud’s Bitters, lime and Champagne – to the floral Jane Austen Martini, which combines wild camomile-infused Pod Pea Vodka, Green Chartreuse, vanilla and pineapple. But of course, if you’re in the mood for something a little simpler, there’s a comprehensive list of beers and wines to choose from, too.
The stunning spa
The spa is surprisingly small considering the fact that the Royal Crescent is marketed as a spa hotel. However, what it lacks in size, it certainly makes up for in bespoke detail. The unique, 40-foot indoor swimming pool is overlooked by the most incredible chapel windows and has a door that leads directly from the water out to the courtyard beyond. It’s quite stunning, and very pleasing on the eye.
It also offers a plethora of treatments to enjoy as well as more first-class facilities including a vitality pool with massage jets, sauna and fully equipped fitness room. And once you’ve had the chance to fully unwind, you can relax in the tranquil Taittinger Spa Garden and order a light meal or an indulgent afternoon tea.
Sublime service
The staff are refreshingly helpful, humble and human, and really help to feed the hotel’s rather relaxed, laid-back vibe. They are very down-to-earth, but experienced and polite. The Hungarian sommelier (as mentioned above) was a particular delight and a big asset to the hotel. A valet service will take care of your car on the Crescent as well.
Prestigious Green Key accreditation
A huge selling point about The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa, if you’re a conscious traveller, is its dedication to giving back, and its sustainability credentials are also rather impressive. The hotel’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme has seen it set and achieve a number of ‘giving goals’ – and in 2022, it set up the Green Team to uplevel its sustainability efforts, culminating in the hotel being awarded the prestigious Green Key accreditation.
The Green Key award is the leading standard for excellence in the field of environmental responsibility and sustainable operation within the tourism industry, and is given only to businesses whose premises adhere to the strict criteria set by the Foundation for Environmental Education – so it’s no small feat.
The hotel’s social and environmental commitments of giving back are at the centre of all that it does, which is yet another reason to book a stay this autumn.
The resident cat
The hotel even has its own four-legged guest (non-paying I’m hoping) in the shape of a rather cute cat named Alfie. He is owned by a lady who lives on the Royal Crescent, but apparently enjoys the quietness of the hotel and the endless strokes from the guests. He even has his very own chair and is rather partial to a drop of cold milk. We don’t think he bites.
Factbox
Address: The Royal Cresent, 16 Royal Cres, Bath BA1 2LS
Phone: 01225 823333
Website: royalcrescent.co.uk
