No.15 by GuestHouse

Rooms

There are 37 rooms, and all are one-offs. They vary from 'cosy' top-floor boltholes to sumptuous suites with high ceilings, free-standing bathtubs and tall windows over Great Pulteney Street. Where you pick on the scale will depend on budget and availability.

We liked the restrained elegance of the Henrietta Rooms, with their khaki palette, cut-glass chandeliers and playful stencils; patches of deliberately unplastered wall "tell the building's story". A touch grander are the Pulteney Rooms, with bold artworks and extra sitting area (whose sofa can be made up as a bed). And in the huge, garden-level Hideout, half the space is a private marble mini-spa, with 3-foot-deep hot tub and a glassed-in steam room.

At the other end of the scale are the Small Guest Rooms, up in the attic in what were once the servants' quarters. These are somewhat low-ceilinged, but very cosy and cleverly designed courtesy of Martin Hulbert - the man responsible for the cabins aboard the QE2. Indeed, the beds reminded us of a ship's berth (albeit a very comfy one), and we liked the views over the city's rooftops. Some of these rooms interconnect for families.

In between come the Guest Rooms, five of these in a separate coach house across the rear courtyard. Some have in-room bathtubs (if you're travelling with a less-than-intimate friend, take note), or striking patterned wallpapers by Rossiters of Bath. Others boast marbled bathrooms or copper handbasins.

All rooms have superb Hypnos mattress (generally kingsize), toasty duck-down duvets, and Dyson hairdryers, as well as superfast WiFi.

Features include:

• WiFi

Eating

A generous continental breakfast with additional cooked options is served in the hotel's restaurant, whose calming cream walls are adorned with assorted portraits, antique soup ladles and a pair of beautiful paper wigs. Superior touches include silver cutlery, loose leaf teas, goji berry granola, shakshuka with sourdough, and spiced Bloody Marys if you need a pick-me-up.

For lunch and dinner, Bath abounds with brilliant eateries - over 30 within 15 minutes' walk. When we last visited, we enjoyed Sotto Sotto (Italian), Cau (for steak), Porter (upscale British), The Mint Room (veggie) and Acorn (veggie).

Or you could happily stay put at the hotel's intimate and imaginatively named Restaurant, which serves an all-day menu of fresh, seasonal dishes. Starters might include a salad of Somerset mozzarella, heirloom tomatoes & hand-foraged wild garlic; mains could be Old Spot shoulder steak with crispy pork belly, summer slaw & chimichurri. We applaud their preference for local suppliers, such as Buxtons (for sustainably reared meats) and Bertinets (for artisanal breads and pastries).

Features include:

• Children's meals
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• You're in the heart of Bath's handsome Georgian centre, surrounded by stately mansions, grand curving arcades, soaring churches (including the fan-vaulted Gothic Abbey), and the Roman Baths which gave the city its name
  
• The city also excels for retail therapy: we love the bohemian outlets of Walcot St (try the Fine Cheese Co and Avenida homewares), the Victoriana of the Guildhall Market, and the brilliantly bespoke bookshop, Topping & Company
  
• Just along Great Pulteney St is the superb Holburne Museum: small but packed with eclectic portraits, maiolica, sculptures, silver and china, plus leafy gardens outside
  
• Sample the hotel's excellent spa: our 60-minute body and neck massage was expertly delivered
  
• Alternatively, the city's Thermae Spa offers multiple steam rooms and a rooftop pool, but can get crowded

  Activities on site or nearby include:

  • Hiking
  • Nightlife
  • Shopping / markets
  • Wine tasting

Kids

Children of all ages are warmly welcomed. There are connecting rooms and the lift is handy for parents with a pushchair. There is a library of bedtime books to choose from, and you can ask for a play tipi to be set up in your room, with wooden toys and books, as well as an Instax camera to borrow for your kids to capture some snaps of their time in Bath. My kid was particularly thrilled by the pantry where he could help himself to yummy treats.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

Families of 4 should book interconnecting rooms (Small Guest Rooms and one Guest Room). For smaller families, some larger Guest rooms have a sofa which can pull out into a narrow double bed - best for 2 younger children or 1 older one. All Guest Rooms and larger can fit a cot.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

No. 15 Great Pulteney is in the historic city of Bath, midway between Pulteney Bridge and the Holburne Museum, and in easy walking distance of the Abbey, Roman Baths and other key sites.

By Air:
Bristol (32km) has limited flights from UK and Europe; otherwise try London Heathrow (165km). From Bristol airport you can take a taxi or bus to Bath; from Heathrow we recommend the train from Central London.

By Train:
Bath has good rail links from London Paddington and from the southwest. From the station, it's a short taxi ride or a 10-min walk.

By Car:
The hotel has a small private car park just off Henrietta Mews. Parking is pre-bookable, there's a nightly charge.

Detailed directions will be provided when you confirm a booking through i-escape.com.

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