No.15 by GuestHouse

Bristol, Bath & Somerset, United Kingdom
Book from GBP Book from £148 per night

A fun-filled boutique hotel in the heart of Bath, with an intimate cocktail bar, spa and 36 designer-crafted rooms

A fun-filled boutique hotel in the heart of Bath, with an intimate cocktail bar, spa and 36 designer-crafted rooms

Sitting on one of Bath's grandest avenues, between the iconic Pulteney Bridge and the gorgeous Holburne Museum, this trio of handsome Georgian townhouses has been reborn as a beautiful boutique escape under the Guesthouse brand. Their mantra is to create "wonder-filled, happy hotels", so expect a sense of theatricality - sweeping curtains, crystal chandeliers - combined with humorous artworks (like giant jelly beans) and super welcoming staff.

In the ground-floor reception rooms, after collecting your key from an oversized doll's house (something of a theme in the hotel), you'll find inviting leather sofas, jewelled sculptures and a giant portrait of a chiselled young man gazing benignly down. A buzzing bar offers light bites and innovative cocktails using British spirits, shrubs and syrups, while lingering breakfasts are taken downstairs in the calming restaurant. There's also a small spa - of course - with organic vegan treatments and a copper tub-for-two.

Upstairs, extending Tardis-like over six floors, are 36 bedrooms. These range from affordable, attic-level "Small Guest Rooms" to a huge Pulteney Room with high ceilings and twin casement windows. And there are more options out in the Coach House. Kids and pets are warmly welcomed, so there's something for everyone here. In a city which for centuries has made visitors feel rejuvenated and uplifted, this hotel is a worthy and most welcome addition.

Highs

  • Smiling young staff keep the mood light
  • Quirky, playful touches add character: eclectic artworks, records, stencilled murals
  • Some rooms have free-standing bathtubs for sociable soaking
  • We thought the guest pantry was a nice touch: help yourself to soft drinks, snacks, maybe an ice cream
  • Having a spa in the building is a good fallback if the city's Thermae Spa is busy, or you want more privacy

Lows

  • With such a wide range of rooms, we advise checking the options carefully when booking
  • Entry level rooms are compact, and come with shower only (no tubs)
  • Some top-floor rooms have slightly lower ceilings
  • Parking is limited, as you'd expect in Bath

Best time to go

Bath buzzes with life all year round. Come in spring or summer for flowering parks and riverside picnics, or in November - early December for the renowned Christmas markets. Annual events worth catching include the Literature Festival in March, the Comedy Festival in April, the International Music Festival in May, and the Jane Austen Festival in September.

Our top tips

If you want to keep your cocktails local, try their Somerset Old Fashioned, which combines a local 10-year-old cider brandy, Bristol Syrup Company's No. 3 Demerara, plus bourbon and house bitters, all served with an orange twist and dehydrated apple. Yum.

And if you get the munchies after hours, you'll find free snacks, soft drinks and ice creams in the hotel's pantry on the first-floor corridor.

Great for...

City Style
Family
Romantic
Spa
  • Boutique Hotel
  • 36 rooms
  • Breakfast & bar (open daily)
  • All ages welcome
  • Open all year
  • Pool
  • Spa Treatments
  • Beach Nearby
  • Pet Friendly
  • Disabled Access
  • Car not necessary
  • Parking
  • Restaurants Nearby
  • WiFi
  • Air Conditioning
  • Guest Lounge
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Gym
  • Bicycles Available
Room:

Rooms

There are 36 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 our Henrietta Junior Suite, with its khaki palette, cut-glass chandelier and playful stencils; patches of deliberately unplastered wall "tell the building's story", and a doll's house stores tea and coffee. A touch grander are the Pulteney Rooms, with bold artworks and extra sitting areas (whose sofas can be made up as beds). And in the huge, garden-level Hideout, half the space is a private marble mini-spa, with a 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. We loved the New England styling and peaceful ambience of the Guest Rooms in a separate Coach House across the rear courtyard. Some of the Guest Rooms in the main house have in-room bathtubs (if you're travelling with a less-than-intimate friend, take note!), chandeliers and distressed walls, or striking patterned wallpapers by Rossiters of Bath.

All rooms have superb Hypnos mattresses (generally kingsize) topped with toasty duck-down duvets, plus Dyson hairdryers, 100 Acres toiletries, and superfast WiFi. You also get Crosley record players and a collection of records in each room – or you can pop downstairs to the record library to seek out your favourite tunes.

Features include:

  • Central heating
  • Coffee / tea making
  • Fan
  • Hairdryer
  • Toiletries
  • TV
  • 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), Clayton's Kitchen (upscale British), The Mint Room (veggie) and Acorn (veggie).

Or you could happily stay put at the hotel's intimate bar, which serves small plates and light bites all day until 9pm alongside crafted cocktails and an extensive wine list.

Features include:

  • Bar
  • Kids' meals
  • Restaurants nearby
Eating:
Activity:

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. Grab one of the hotel's Brompton bikes if you fancy exploring on two wheels
  • 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 apothecary-style spa, painted in Jane Austen-blue, with vegan nut-free products by Pinks Boutique. Our 60-minute body and neck massage was expertly delivered. Pre-booking is essential
  • Alternatively, the city's Thermae Spa offers multiple steam rooms and a rooftop pool, but can get crowded
  • The hotel can help with arranging tours - the Bridgerton tour, in particular, is very popular

Activities on site or nearby include:

  • Cycling
  • Historical sites
  • Museums / galleries
  • Private guided tours
  • Shopping / markets
  • Well being

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.

Baby equipment:

  • Baby cots
  • High chair

Remember  baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking

Children's meals:

There's a kids' menu featuring popular classics like sausage and mash, buttermilk fried chicken, apple crumble and ice cream.

Kid Friendly:

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.

More on getting to the UK and getting around

Airports:

  • Bristol 32.0 km BRS
  • London Heathrow 165.0 km LHR

Other:

  • Beach 55.0 km
  • Shops 0.1 km
  • Restaurant 0.1 km

Our guests' ratings...

Based on 6 independent reviews from i-escape guests

8/10
Room
9/10
Food
9/10
Service
8/10
Value
9/10
Overall

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Rates for No.15 by GuestHouse

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