Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel

Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel offers more than just a spa. This all-encompassing luxury experience supports fitness, wellness and relaxation too, amid some seriously sumptuous surroundings. 

Invest in your mind and body. Whatever your goals, there’s plenty to motivate you here, including a 15-metre swimming pool for laps, along with a light-filled, state-of-the-art gym, kitted out with the latest Life Fitness equipment. 

Everything you need is here, including various cardio machines and even heavy weights if you’re into pumping iron. And of course, there’s a sauna, steam room and hot tub waiting at the spa, to make your recovery even sweeter (not to mention sweatier).

Adventurous type? The hotel is within striking distance of some fantastic outdoor activities. With fabulous countryside on the hotel’s doorstep, you can play golf, hike in the hills or go for a jog amid panoramic views. 

Is there anything nicer than getting glammed up for a cocktail (or two!) and an elegant evening meal after a day spent spoiling yourself? We don’t think so. Luckily the Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel is home to some extravagant spaces that let you do just that.

The Vellore

Previously the hotel’s ballroom, the Vellore is now a luxury restaurant with a refined atmosphere and a canopied terrace if the weather’s playing ball. Taking a seat inside? Don’t forget to look up! The ornate domed ceiling is original - and magnificent. 

Old-school elegance is the order of the day here, so expect a fusion of classic and modern English dishes made from the finest quality ingredients. And the best thing? It’s served by legions of aproned waiters with a flourish.

Drawing Room

Pinkie fingers at the ready! Afternoon tea is served in this quintessentially English room. Although refined, it’s relaxed and comfortable, so sink into a cosy sofa, gaze out at stunning views over the garden and tuck into your divine selection of goodies while living out your Jane Austen fantasies.

Colonnade Bar

Sumptuous wood-panelling. Bar staff decked out in waistcoats. This is exactly what a hotel bar should be. Whether you’re here for a spa day and fancy a quick drink before you leave or you’re looking for a place to settle in for the evening, the Colonnade can give you what you’re craving. Sip on a craft cocktail and enjoy a light bite in this vibrant hot spot. 

It has two! For laps, there’s the 15m indoor swimming pool. But there’s also an inviting outdoor hydrotherapy pool surrounded by comfy loungers, perfect for feeling the sun on your face on lazy summer’s days.

Macdonald Bath Hotel Spa has a choice of 131 elegant rooms which range from smart, comfortable Standards to the completely spectacular Suites with views over Bath. Whilst each room category has traditional decor with contemporary touches, the rooms are still up to date with modern facilities including sensual Elemis toiletries.

You can check in anytime from 3pm, while checkout is by 11am.

It is. Despite being nearly 200 years old, the hotel is fully accessible to wheelchair users throughout. You’ll find ground-floor entry to the spa, a lift to other floors, an accessible changing room, large treatment room with accessible shower, and an accessible pool area. 

The Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel is located on a hill towards the eastern side of Bath. Bath city centre is less than a mile down the hill, so it will take you about 15 minutes on foot. But it’s not just a pleasant stroll. With so much Regency architecture to gawp at on the way, it’s like a sightseeing tour in its own right! 

It’s a 0.7 mile walk to Pulteney bridge which overlooks the picturesque Pulteney Weir. Bath’s famous Royal Crescent lies slightly further to the west. You could also amble into town along the canal towpath. Just a three-minute walk from the hotel, it takes you to the railway station side of town. 

If mobility’s a struggle, taking a taxi’s a great option. It takes just five minutes in a cab to get from the train station to the hotel.

With its sweeping, tree-lined driveway, you’ll immediately be immersed in the venue's romance - and probably want to find out a bit more about its history. 

Originally built in 1835 as a private residence for General Augustus Andrews, Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel first opened as a hotel in 1912, with a notable guest being Emperor Haile Selassie and his family, who sought refuge here in the 1930s after being made homeless by the Italian invasion of his homeland. 

During World War II it was taken over by the admiralty. In fact, Winston Churchill stayed here at this point in the building’s history. Then, after the war, it became a school, then a nurses' home, before a renovation in the 1990s by Rocco Forte transformed it into the luxurious hotel it is today.

The hotel welcomes families. Not only will children love the fairy-tale setting, there are family-friendly rooms and seven acres of stunning gardens to let off steam in.

While the spa itself is an adults-only escape exclusively for those aged over 16, children can use the indoor swimming pool between 8am and 11am, and 3pm and 6pm. There’s plenty of room to splash around in the designated children's lanes.

Time to pack their little doggy suitcase, because well-behaved pooches  are welcome at Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel. Just book a Standard Twin, Standard Double or Deluxe Garden View room and then call the hotel to say you’re bringing a furry guest with you.

It costs £20 per dog, per night, but they’ll get their own bed, bowl and treats, and they can stay with you while you eat breakfast in the snug and dinner in the lounge. Guide and service dogs can stay for free.

No, there is no golf course at Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel. However there is one very nearby - and guests of the hotel can play at a discounted rate. Just a three-minute drive takes you to Bath Golf Club, one of England’s oldest courses with 18 challenging holes, a driving range and a putting green.