LUXURIOUS BATH SPA ESCAPE
Occupying two glorious Grade II Listed buildings with elegant Georgian and Victorian facades, The Gainsborough Bath Spa lies right in the heart of historic Bath and makes for the perfect staycation location this autumn.
The first hotel for the YTL group in the UK and the AA Hotel of the Year England 2017/2018, the luxurious hotel is centred around Bath’s famous thermal bath history with exclusive access to the natural, mineral-rich thermal waters right in the hotel’s Spa Village.
Named after the famous artist Sir Thomas Gainsborough, the hotel boasts an illustrious history. One of the buildings opened in 1826 was a hospital until the 1930s before being taken over by the Bath Technical College to merge to become the City of Bath College. The other building was founded in 1609 and was the Hospital of Thomas Bellott, created to house the ill who lived in poverty. The current building was constructed in 1860 and still features the original coat of arms and stone tablet.
The redevelopment of the buildings into the hotel included refurbishment of the main wings, as well as the construction of a new wing and the redesigning of Bellott’s, linked by a new walkway The hotel first opened in 2015 and was designed by New York based Champalimaud Design.
Bright, welcoming and elegant, the amenities, rooms and suites are as luxurious and comfortable as you would expect them to be. With crisp white bed linen, modern bathrooms with heated floors, black out curtains, complimentary WiFi, Nespresso coffee making facilities, Aromatherapy Associates toiletries, 24 hour room service, and complimentary Bath House experience at the Spa Village.
As well as a selection of suites from Junior to Two Bedroom, and even the corner Gainsborough Suite with panoramic views across the city, the hotel also offers a selection of rooms considerately designed for our guests with impaired mobility.
Modern, yet classic with clean designs and high ceilings, the luxury Spa Villages boasts three thermal pools, an infrared sauna, steam room and ice cove. Perfect for those looking to refresh and renew after a stressful few months of lockdown. What’s more, if you book with the hotel directly you can save 20% off any treatment booked in the Spa Village during your stay to further enhance your trip, as well as a complimentary signature Gainsborough Cocktail per guest in the stylish bar.
The beautiful Bath House offers a selection of Spa Days as well as The Bath House experience where you can enjoy facilities and have access to a fully-equipped gym. Treatments on offer include the aptly named, 60 minute, Renew and Refresh, with a choice of an Enhanced Swedish massage or a renowned organic Facial. The massage in particular is enhanced by mists of pure Neroli water as your feet are massages with Rosemary and Pine essences and then warm lavender infused towels are used to relax and comfort the body.
All treatments comply to COVID-19 standards and hygiene practices and The Bath House is booked in sessions ensuring you are able to safely socially distance with no trouble at all.
With such a fantastic location, the wonders of Bath are easy to explore from the hotel. Directly opposite the hotel is the Thermae Bath Spa where you can bathe in Britain’s only naturally warm, mineral-rich waters just as the Celts, Romans, and Saxons did over 2000 years ago. Elsewhere the bustling high street is packed with lively bars and restaurants to suit all tastes, and Bath Abbey is well worth a visit for its stunning architecture.
Literature also goes hand-in hand in this famous spa town. Bath has played a central role in books by Chaucer, Jane Austen and Charles Dickens amongst others. Austen in particular resided in a number of properties in Bath for five years and even set two of her six published novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, in the city. If you are a fan then be sure to head over to the Jane Austen Centre to find out more. Literary walks are very popular in the city and in-particularly during the annual Bath Festival that takes place in May/June when some of the world’s best writers and critics head to Bath for an exciting programme of talks, readings and debates.
A UNESCO decreed city of ‘outstanding and universal value’ the best way to enjoy and explore Bath is by simply walking around the town. There’s plenty to marvel at in the hilly city, from the Royal Crescent and Pulteney Bridge on the River Avon to the Botanical Gardens and Sham Castle.
Nightly rates at The Gainsborough Bath Spa start from £290 on a room-only basis. Visit thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk for more information, latest offers and booking.
The Gainsborough Bath Spa, Beau Street, Bath BA1 1QY | reservations@thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk | 01225 358 888 | thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk
