The Queensberry Hotel, Bath

• You can't get more authentically Bath than this row of 18th-century townhouses built by John Wood the Younger, architect of Georgian landmarks like the Royal Crescent.
• The hotel's Russell Street address is ideal for travelers looking for a quieter stay within walking distance of the historic center.
• Creative, contemporary furnishings and colorful wallpapers give the light-filled interiors an ebullient, airy feel (think sculptural mirrors, bubble chandeliers, and velvet settees).
• Larger rooms and suites retain the building's high Georgian ceilings and floor-to-ceiling sash windows, while bathrooms feel positively palatial, most with freestanding rolltop baths.
• The Olive Tree restaurant has held Bath's only Michelin star for over eight years; book ahead to experience its seasonal tasting menus based around ingredients from local Somerset farms.
• Service is uniformly excellent, with some of the friendliest staff we've encountered.

• There are no coffee or tea-making facilities in the rooms, though guests have access to both in the drawing room and in the upper-floor hallway.
• Only top-floor rooms are air-conditioned; the hotel can provide fans for others during hot weather.
• This isn't a great fit for travelers with limited mobility: one suite is designed for accessibility, but there's a step to enter the hotel, and not all rooms are served by the small elevator.

Authenticity

Built in 1717 as a residence for the 8th Marquis of Queensberry, this row of honey-colored stone townhouses was designed by John Wood the Younger, part of the father-son duo responsible for much of Bath's UNESCO-listed Georgian architecture. While the facade is straight out of the 18th century, the interiors channel a more modern sensibility, with bold, intricately-patterned wallpapers by Bath-based Divine Savages playing a starring role alongside refined contemporary furnishings and playful touches like bubble chandeliers and sculptural mirrors. Look out for nods to the marquis' successor in the bar, where vintage gloves, prints, and sketches reference the inventor of modern boxing's "Queensberry Rules."

Location

The hotel sits on a stately Georgian street that looks straight out of a Jane Austen miniseries, near the border of the city center and the more bohemian Walcot neighborhood. You're just around the corner from the Assembly Rooms and the grand terraces of The Circus, and a 5-minute walk east from the Royal Crescent. Landmarks like the Roman Baths and Bath Abbey are a 10-minute stroll south (keep in mind the return trip is uphill), and you can reach the train station in 20 minutes on foot (or 10 minutes via taxi or bus). Valet parking is available for an additional daily rate.

Rooms & Bathrooms

Each of the hotel's 29 rooms and suites is unique, with different color palettes, layouts, and amenities depending on its location within the historic property. Classic units are snug, with lower or slanted ceilings; the building's elegant Georgian proportions are best enjoyed in the roomier Superior and Deluxe units. Suites are even larger, occupying the former 18th-century drawing rooms and retaining original features like soaring ceilings, floor-to-ceiling sash windows, and intricate plasterwork and cornices. The bathrooms are particularly dreamy here: verging on palatial in the larger units, most include freestanding rolltop baths, glossy pastel tiles, and White Company toiletries.

Amenities

On-site restaurant The Olive Tree has held Bath's first and only Michelin star for over eight years—it's a coveted dining spot in the city, so you'll want to book well ahead to experience its renowned seasonal tasting menus. Breakfast is served in the same space (try the homemade crumpets), and the kitchen offers an all-day "relaxed dining" menu that you can order via room service or enjoy in the cozy Old Q Bar. There are more dimly-lit corners in the hotel's drawing room, complete with velvet armchairs, loose-leaf teas, and newspapers, while the secret courtyard garden is an inviting suntrap in warmer weather.

Family-Friendliness

Children are welcome at the Queensberry Hotel, though the lack of interconnecting rooms means it won't suit larger groups. Suites are the best choice for families, with the option to add an extra bed for an additional fee. There's a children's menu in the restaurant, and extras like activity packs and child-sized robes help make little ones feel at home.