The UK has some of the world’s most picturesque cities, and there’s nothing like a lockdown to ramp up the desire to venture out and explore somewhere different.
In the brief interim period between lockdowns we all flocked to our favourite parts of the country, whether that was the beach, the countryside, or heritage towns. Bath, a city of rich history, is one of mine.
As a student in Canterbury, I would often exchange one cobbled-street city for another on my regular trips to visit my best friend at university in Bath. Now living in London, it was scenic cities like Bath that I craved during lockdown.
An hour and twenty minutes from London Paddington station, Bath didn’t feel like too big of a journey for someone who hadn’t left their postcode in five months. Bath Spa station brings you right into the city center, so you’re just a short but beautiful walk from your accommodation.
The historic Regency style Francis Hotel sits directly opposite Queen Square
Where to stay:
After twelve minutes of meandering through the quaint streets we reached our destination. The historic Regency style Francis Hotel sits directly opposite Queen Square, within which sits an obelisk with an inscription by Alexander Pope, and is surrounded by Grade 1 listed buildings, one of which once hosted Jane Austen herself. It’s a very impressive sight that gives you the feeling that you are staying somewhere special before you’ve even walked through the door.
The interior design will grab your attention straight away
Now it’s important to mention here that Covid precautions were in place. The entrance and reception area had been re-routed to accommodate a one-way system, hand sanitizer was available, plastic screens were in place and masks were required everywhere except inside your room and when sitting at a table for a meal or drink. While all of this was stringently observed, it did not have any impact on the experience or atmosphere of our stay. If anything we felt reassured that we would be able to relax and enjoy ourselves whilst staying safe. The reception staff were incredibly friendly and patient while explaining the logistics of everything to two people who very clearly hadn’t left the house or spoken to anyone outside of a zoom meeting.
The interior design will grab your attention straight away. A vibrant, eclectic mix of prints and colours that reflects the Regency period from which the interiors take their inspiration can be found all over the hotel, contrasting strikingly with the exterior and architecture of the building.
A vibrant, eclectic mix of prints and colours that reflects the Regency period from which the interiors take their inspiration can be found all over the hotel
The opulent interior theme continues into the rooms, all 98 of which are individually designed. Bold prints and jewel tones are the key boutique design elements, as well as dramatic four poster beds, ornate gold mirrors and monochromatic bathroom tiles. There are three types of rooms available; Feature (from £165 a night, and includes an outstanding view of Bath), Superior (from £150) and Classic (from £130). All include en-suite bathrooms, King or Queen sized beds, The White Company Toiletries and Wi-Fi.
I’ve stayed in hotels before, but it really struck me how momentous this stay was. It actually felt quite emotional to be experiencing a touch of normalcy after months without. It was reassuring and uplifting to see how excited both staff and guests were to be here and experience this again.
Bold prints and jewel tones are the key boutique design elements
Things to do:
Having dropped off our things and freshened up, we decided to head out into the city. Our first stop was the beautiful Mr B’s Emporium bookshop; a magical three-storey labyrinth filled with the latest best-sellers as well as the classics. Not your average bookshop, Mr B’s is filled with quirky furniture and brightly coloured displays and is home to the Bibliotherapy Room – a haven of comfy armchairs with a fireplace and free tea and coffee. I usually follow a strict rule of not buying more books until I’ve read the ones I currently hoard, however I couldn’t resist and left having bought the majority of my wish list.
If you haven’t been to Bath before, Pulteney Bridge, The Royal Crescent and Bath Abbey are a must for spectacular architecture and breathtaking views all year round. Despite having seen them multiple times before, it feels wrong visiting Bath and not passing by.
Places to eat:
In need of a sit down and a drink, we headed next to Wolf, The Saloon – a speakeasy style bar on Lower Bristol Road serving organic coffee, craft beers and natural, vegan wines. With heaps of local produce from all over Somerset, it’s a great cosy hangout spot. They really know their stuff when it comes to beers and wines so ask questions and find a new favourite. If you fancy a light nibble, I highly recommend the vegan and palm-oil free cakes from MYLK. Stocked at Wolf, The Saloon and select Bath independents, they’re a very cool and unique take on vegan baking created by patisserie-trained Suzannah Puddephatt. They look almost too good to eat. Almost.
But if you’ve worked up more of a substantial appetite after seeing the sights, the restaurant at The Walcot is a great place to eat, drink and relax. I highly recommend their Sunday lunch, with a variety of meat, vegetarian and vegan options and generous portions of roast potatoes and veg. The light and airy open plan layout creates a lively atmosphere. You can very easily loose a few hours here without even realising, which is exactly what we did.
Before we knew it, the evening has rolled around and we’d walked, eaten and drank our way across Bath. It may have been a short stay, but it was a well needed reminder that travel, no matter how near or far, is good for the soul.
To book a stay at the Francis Hotel, visit francishotel.com