While

While
it’s possible to experience the Roman city of Bath on a day trip from London, a weekend bolt is a more leisurely option –
especially if it includes a stay at the characterful No. 15 Great Pulteney on the
town’s most iconic street. Feeling more like a home-away-from-home
than a boutique hotel (if your home is equipped with chandeliers,
pink porcelain bathtubs and views over chocolate-box buildings),
No. 15 is as intriguing as its city, and perfectly located for
exploring Bath’s charms.

Hidden behind the neoclassical facade of Great Pulteney Street,
the hotel blends with the extravagant and eccentric history of the
grand avenue, which counts Jane Austen and William Wilberforce as
former residents. Designed with a sense of fun, every room,
corridor and stairwell offers a unique feature or artwork that will
get entice you beyond the confines of your room.

Rooms

Each of the hotel’s 40 generous rooms are individually designed,
incorporating eclectic curios, bespoke wallpaper and murals from
local artists while retaining a sense of old-world glamour. If the
cosy doubles with touches like cashmere mattresses, dolls’ houses
concealing Nespresso machines and dainty china cups aren’t
luxurious enough, book the Hideout Suite, which features its own
steam room and hot tub.

What’s for breakfast?

Served up in Café 15, a light and airy dining room lined with
antique apothecary shelves (complete with labelled bottles), the
morning meal is a relaxed but satisfying affair of assorted
pastries, cereals and toast on the continental buffet and classic
hot dishes like eggs benedict and omelettes on the hot breakfast
menu.

How about lunch and dinner?

Head back down to Cafe 15 for a relaxed dinner of seasonal fare
– if you’ve left any room after a traditional English afternoon tea
in the sitting room. A nice touch for anyone who gets peckish long
after bedtime is also the hotel’s larder – a kitchenette open to
all guests and well-stocked with drinks, snacks and ice cream.

Is there a bar?

There sure is, and you’ll want to pay it a visit to check out
the quirky cocktail menu. Not only is it printed on a set of
playing cards for a quick game of “Go Fish” while you drink, but
the sips themselves are wonderfully creative – try the Major’s
Medicine, with cognac, marmalade vodka, maple syrup and cardamom
kept warm over a flame, to cure any winter woes.

Amenities

If the 10-minute walk to the Thermae Bath Spa is too much for
you, pop down to No. 15’s own offering, where you’ll find a
cedar-wood hot tub, sauna and steam room, along with plenty of
holistic treatment options. Alternatively, relax with a herbal tea
by the fire.

Things you should know

Don’t want to leave your canine friend behind? No need – the
hotel is pet friendly, so your pup can join you, and will even get
a goodie bag on arrival.

Within a short walk you can find…

Bath’s impressive city centre is just a five-minute walk away
across the historic Pulteney Bridge, so everything really.