With its awe-inspiring, golden-stone architecture and its associations with Jane Austen, Bath is a charming city to explore as a couple.
Wander down cobbled lanes together, have a soak in the city’s natural thermal spas and feast on fine food at the restaurants doing wonderful things with local produce.
Pair date ideas in Bath with the best hostels for couples in Bath and you then have an incredible weekend lined up.
The following hotels go the extra mile to ensure a romantic break.
1. The Gainsborough Bath Spa
Couples looking to bathe in Bath’s natural thermal waters should consider the seriously luxurious The Gainsborough Hotel. The hotel’s spa is the only one in Bath to tap into the underground springs.
The spa pool looks like a modern version of the Roman Baths, which are just up the road. It is accompanied by saunas, a steam room and Malaysian-themed treatments.
What makes a stay even more special is that some bedrooms offer private, in-room, access to the springs also. Bath Spa Rooms have roll-top baths that can be filled with the celebrated mineral water for a private soak with therapeutic benefits.
Decor in the serene bedrooms is contemporary, with opulent fabrics and a restrained colour palette.
Booking Information
Address: Beau St, Bath, BA11QY
Phone Number: 01225 358888
2. The Queensberry
Known for its Michelin-starred food and its elegant location near the top of Bath, The Queensberry is an independent boutique hotel with sass and style.
Guests can treat themselves to fine dining and be within walking distance of Bath’s architectural showpieces – the Royal Crescent and the Circus.
The interiors reveal dashes of colour and humour, which will appeal to fun-loving couples. The 29 bedrooms all feature luxurious fabrics, plus there is a four-poster suite with a huge bathroom to splurge on.
Restaurant, The Olive Tree, won a Michelin star in 2018, and couples can expect a sophisticated dining experience, with dishes like raw scallop with Granny Smith apple and dill, or squab pigeon with celeriac and truffle.
Booking Information
Address: 4 – 7 Russell St, Bath BA1 2QF
Phone Number: 01225 447928
3. The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa
What could be more romantic than checking into one of the world’s most famous addresses named The Royal Crescent Hotel.
Spanning two Georgian townhouses on Bath’s most famous crescent, with a delightful garden at the back, this 45-room hotel is a refined place to stay.
The decor in bedrooms is modern but inspired by Regency fashions, while afternoon tea is served in the pretty gardens in summer.
In 2023 (April to September), hotel guests will be able to book hot air balloon rides over the city as part of a package that includes a glass of champagne on landing and afternoon tea.
Another highlight for couples is the spa, which has a modest-sized pool that gazes onto gardens through Gothic windows. There is also a sauna, steam room and treatment rooms.
Booking Information
Address: 16 Royal Cres, Bath, BA12LS
Phone Number: 01225 823333
4. The Yard
Style-conscious couples will revel in the beautiful interiors at The Yard, which are thoughtfully designed down to the last doorknob.
The lodgings have a vintage feel to them, with warm, neutral shades in the 14 king-size bedrooms and little details such as brass switches and Roberts radios.
Conveniently placed for Royal Victoria Park, the Royal Crescent and central Bath, couples can stroll along avenues of mature trees in the park or head to Bath’s landmark streets.
Come the evening, The Yard has a dinky courtyard bar at its heart – perfect for sitting and sharing a bottle of wine and a board of local cheese and charcuterie.
Couples wanting their own space will love stepping onto the private terrace attached to the room at the top.
Booking Information
Address: 1 Monmouth Pl, Bath, BA12AT
Phone Number: 01225 448896
5. Bath Priory
Fancy strolling in gardens after breakfast at a hotel that is within walking distance of central Bath? Try ivy-clad Bath Priory. This Relais & Chateau property has four acres of lawns and flower-fringed terraces for lovers to lose themselves in.
Yet, it is only a 15-minute walk to the Royal Crescent. The traditional interiors will delight any Austen fan, with four-poster beds, florals and wood panelling to swoon over.
Some bedrooms feature balconies and roll-top baths, while suites have working fireplaces and chandeliers. The hotel hosts the UK’s only L’Occitane-brand spa, so massages and treatments are impressive.
Couples can book a dual treatment room too, which has a double walk-in shower. The restaurant has three AA rosettes, garden views and prettily presented dishes.
Booking Information
Address: Weston Rd, Bath, BA12XT
Phone Number: 01225 331922
6. No 15 by Guesthouse
Set halfway down Bath’s grandest avenue, No 15 has fashionable good looks outside and in, plus a cutesy copper bathtub for two in its basement spa.
Spanning three Georgian townhouses on Great Pulteney Street, there are 37 rooms to choose from. Amid the glimpses of exposed plaster walls, accompanied by nude, blush and terracotta shades, are curios and off-the-wall pieces from local artists.
The dreamiest (and the largest) room is The Hideout, which has its own steam room and hot tub. The hotel appeals to music lovers also, with vintage record players in each room – great for setting the mood.
The bar and restaurant are intimate but fun spaces, with the latter serving seasonal British food.
Booking Information
Address: 5 Great Pulteney St, Bathwick, Bath, BA24BS
Phone Number: 01225 807015
7. Hotel Indigo
Stretching along a handsome Georgian parade in central Bath, this outpost of Hotel Indigo has plenty of character.
Though Bath’s attractions, including its abbey, are only a short walk away, the green hills that surround the city are obvious from the peaceful, suntrap terrace in front of the hotel.
Romantics might want to opt for one of the hotel’s vaulted underground rooms, which have opulent marble bathrooms and freestanding tubs to sink into with a loved one.
The restaurant is one of Bath’s best, so an ideal location for a special meal for two to taste locally sourced food and impeccable service.
The Elder offers both al fresco dining and leather banquette seating inside, overlooked by taxidermy. Feast on rich game dishes, such as fallow deer with a grand veneur sauce. We often eat here and can confirm, the food is as good as the locals say!
Booking Information
Address: 2-8 S Parade, Bath, BA24AB
Phone Number: 01225 460441
8. Homewood
South of Bath, Homewood offers a young and fresh manor house experience that’s only a 15-minute drive from the city centre.
The 31-bedroom hotel also wins points for its spa and heated outdoor pool, which is flanked by day beds that offer couples space to lounge.
For a really spoiling stay, the recently completed Mallingford Mews has rooms perfect for pampering, with hot tubs positioned on balconies for glorious valley views.
Plush fabrics and bold, clashing prints suggest an atmosphere of indulgence.
The hotel’s dining options are romantic too, with tables available in private, lantern-lit domes out in the grounds, for a glass of champagne and a set three-course meal beneath the stars.
Booking Information
Address: Abbey Ln, Freshford, Bath, BA27TB
Phone Number: 1225 580439
9. The Pig
The Pig is a must for anyone who wants to let their hair down with their partner.
Wrapped in 30 acres of gardens and parkland, it also offers the chance to combine a city break with fresh air out in the countryside, on the edge of the Mendip Hills.
Massages are available in Potting Shed treatment rooms. Pre-dinner, guests can take their pick of lounges stuffed with velvet sofas and leather armchairs and chat over cocktails.
The food in the orangery restaurant focuses on seasonality and provenance and long, laughter-filled dinners are encouraged. As are fireside nightcaps.
The rooms, meanwhile, are spacious, with fabulous mini-bars and country views – despite Bath being an 18-minute drive away.
The next morning, pull on wellies and head out, arm-in-arm, to spot the estate’s deer.
Booking Information
Address: Hunstrete House, Hunstrete, Pensford, Bath, BS394NS
Phone Number: 01761 490490
10. Eight
For an intimate and stylish stay, Eight occupies two townhouses in an unassuming location down a cobbled lane close to Bath Abbey.
This boutique hotel has 18 rooms – some with freestanding, in-room bathtubs – and a restaurant that serves well-executed small plate dishes.
The tasteful interiors complement the building’s Georgian proportions and blend calming paint tones with flashes of brass.
For couples who just want to relax and enjoy time together, there are few distractions inside the hotel, yet the historic heart of the city lies just beyond the doorstep.
The cosy bar has candlelit corners which are ideal for retreating to with a nightcap. Attentive and personal service is assured.
Booking Information
Address: 3 N Parade, Passage, Bath, BA11NX
Phone Number: 01225 724111
I have more than a decade’s experience of writing and editing for the nationals; working for print, online, news and features, mainly at the Daily Telegraph. I moved from London to the outskirts of Bath to go freelance and currently specialise in family and hotel travel.
