5 Best Hotels in Bath, Bath and the Cotswolds

Right in the center of the city, a stone's throw from Bath Abbey, the owners of the Bird have taken an attractive villa-style property and transformed it into one of Bath's coolest design hotels. The 29 bedrooms are all individually styled, with handcrafted wallpapers, unique artwork, and, in many cases, views over Bath. Some rooms have freestanding copper bathtubs. Families and dogs alike receive a warm welcome. Whether you are staying here or not, it is worth having dinner in the restaurant or on the garden terrace overlooking Bath Abbey, or in one of the hotel's funky Igloos (in winter).  

Intimate and elegant, this boutique hotel on a residential street near the Circus occupies three 1772 town houses built by John Wood the Younger for the Marquis of Queensberry; it's a perfect marriage of chic sophistication, homey comforts, and attentive service. Renovations have preserved the Regency stucco ceilings and cornices and marble tile on the fireplaces, and each room is individually decorated in contemporary style. Four terraced gardens invite a summer aperitif, and downstairs is the Michelin-starred Olive Tree restaurant.

True Georgian grandeur is evident in the refurbished rooms of this Palladian-style mansion, now an elegant boutique guesthouse with one of the best addresses in Bath. Great care has been taken with the decoration and furnishing of the guest rooms, all of which come with beautiful wallpapers, antique furniture, and superb bathrooms. Service is amiable and breakfasts present a wide choice of dishes.

This small independent hotel in the heart of Bath is made up of two neighboring buildings that have been combined into one single, style-focused property, where each of the 20 rooms is individually and exquisitely designed. Homemade biscuits are provided in the rooms alongside tea and coffee. The 500-year-old cellar was originally a refectory for monks worshipping at Bath Abbey; now it's an atmospheric bar open from noon until late.

A warm, informal welcome greets all who stay at this Victorian establishment not too far from the Royal Crescent, where each room charms with period furniture, fresh flowers, and antique beds. Air-conditioned rooms have a fridge and complimentary sherry for evening relaxation. Leisurely breakfasts are encouraged; choose from scones, yogurts, and savory omelets. All the food is organic and vegetarian, and vegans and those with special diets will find their needs amply supplied.