The Romans bathed in it, the Georgians drank it and Jane Austen wrote about the fashionable society that flocked to enjoy it. I’m talking of course about the thermal spa waters in Bath. While you can no longer bathe in the public Roman Baths which are open as a visitor attraction, there are plenty of hotels offering spa breaks in Bath.
We enjoyed a one night spa break with Spa Breaks at the historic MacDonald Bath Hotel and Spa. This is where we escaped the lure of the laptop and the mobile for a Sunday night spa getaway.
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Arrival at MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel
It was a beautiful day, with the morning sun lighting up the honey coloured stone, as we arrived for our spa break in Bath at the MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel.
The hotel is a historic mansion on the edge of Bath. It’s a 20 minute walk to the centre if you want to spend time sightseeing, with plenty of parking for guests.
The original house was built in 1835 by a retired Indian army general. It’s designed in the Greek revival style and surrounded by seven acres of gardens, with a grotto, exotic plants and trees.
The house at that time was named Vellore. Over the years it had various owners including the Rector of Bath Abbey, The Bath College, the regional hospital board.
Finally after a major renovation it opened as a hotel in 1990. You can still enjoy a taste of the pretty gardens as they would have been then. They feature classical statues, tinkling fountains and attractive plantings around the hotel buildings.
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Spa Breaks in Bath
We decided on Bath as the location for our spa weekend. It’s close enough to Bristol to be there in under an hour, but far enough to feel you’re going away for a treat!
If you’re looking for a relaxing Spa day or Spa break around the UK the Spa Breaks website has lots of choice so you can easily compare options. Search by region of the UK or narrow it down to a specific place like Bath, where we spent our Sunday night getaway.
There are 300 spas around the UK to choose from, so you are sure to find something that suits your budget and location, great for a girl’s getaway or a romantic break.
Explore this local’s guide to all the best things to do in Bath
It’s easy to filter by the type of spa break you are looking for with many exclusive packages through Spa Breaks. If you are looking for a last minute break, check out the Special Offers available to get an even better deal on your spa day in Bath.
Discover exciting museums in Bath to visit
About the MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel
Having arrived on a Sunday morning, we wanted to make the most of our spa break. Although we were a bit early to check into our room, we had a chance look around the hotel and relax in the grand rooms.
Everywhere you look at the MacDonald Bath Hotel and Spa, there’s ornate plaster work, decorative mouldings and sparkling chandeliers. The building certainly has the fine features you hope to find in an English country house that would have played host to the cream of Bath society.
On arrival we read the weekend papers over coffee in the spacious drawing room, with rich shades of rusty red velvet and country library chic.
The light and airy Colonnade overlooks the courtyard garden. A fountain was playing among the formal box hedges, and this is where we ordered a sandwich for lunch.
Our bedroom at MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel
Luckily our room was ready a little early – check-in is normally from 3.30 pm. We were able to enjoy our four poster bedroom before we headed down to the spa.
Our room 429 at Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel was on the first floor in one of the wings adjoining the original house. It overlooked the courtyard garden in front of the Colonnade. Decorated with gilt mirrors and brocade hangings, very restful and luxurious with classic antique style furniture.
The four poster bed would have been a practicality in the past, with curtains that provided warmth and privacy in unheated and crowded bedrooms. These days a four poster seems to epitomise that elegant English style that visitors flock to Bath to find.
Our bathroom was floor to ceiling white marble, with lots of mirrors, and a huge bath with shower. There was a plentiful supply of fragrant Elemis toiletries in their signature White Lotus and Lime.
Our towelling gowns and slippers awaited us in the room, ready for us to go downstairs to enjoy an afternoon in the hotel spa.
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Our Spa Experience at MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel
My spa treatment was booked for later in the afternoon. We had time to have a swim in the hotel’s pool, with a Jacuzzi at one end and loungers that had been mostly bagged by other hotel guests.
After wafting around for a bit in the indoor pool we also tried the outdoor hydro pool. This was like a warm bath and very pleasant to be in the fresh air. Jets of water were shooting from the sides to ease aching muscles.
Inside we worked our way round the different saunas, the dry heat of the Rock Sauna being my favourite. We also ventured into the aroma steam bath amid clouds of menthol steam.
We visited the Salt infusion room with a warm burst of salt infused air, but I decided to give the ice bath a miss. I’m not quite as hardened as the Scandinavians to the alternate hot and cold that is supposed to be so good for the circulation!
My treatment experience
My full body 1 hour massage treatment was booked as part of our Spa Breaks package. After a short wait in the seating area I was welcomed by my therapist Maria who was super friendly and professional.
With each Spa Breaks package you get a choice of different treatments. I was keen to have a massage to ease some of the tension in my back, from sitting too long working at my laptop.
I’d asked for a medium to firm pressure and Maria smoothed the fragrant massage oil over my back in long sweeps. I drifted away to that spa music that somehow takes you to a forest with the wind rustling the treetops, or the distant shore with the waves washing on the beach.
After the massage was over, I was shown into the softly lit relaxation area, with plenty of easy chairs and extra blankets. Spa guests can rest for a while and drink lots of water to rehydrate.
I felt so soporific that I could easily have dozed off and was certain I’d be sleeping soundly that evening.
Book your Spa Package with Spa Breaks at MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel
Dining at MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel
That evening we were booked into the Vellore restaurant at MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel. This is named after the original house and has a double AA Rosette award. The style of the restaurant is classic and elegant, set in the ballroom of the house with excellent and friendly service.
We chose from the set menu, with several options in each course. I started with the spiced goats cheese mousse with heritage beetroot and candied pecan nuts. It was very prettily presented and a delicious combination of mild cheese and fruity flavours.
As main course I ordered the grilled brill served with sapphire, vegetables and a thick tomato sauce. Guy went for a classic rib eye steak, both of which were perfectly cooked and presented.
Never one to pass on the desert, I really enjoyed my passion fruit cheesecake on a crisp base. It was accompanied with creamy honeycomb ice-cream and a wafer of white chocolate.
This is certainly accomplished cooking, moving towards a fine dining experience. It would make a wonderful special occasion meal and certainly a treat as part of our spa break.
Breakfast at MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel
After a relaxing evening in our lovely bedroom, we slept soundly as always after a spa experience. We awoke to a clear bright day with a distant view of the sun lighting up the honey stone of Bath.
There was an excellent breakfast spread in the dining room. I stuck to some of the healthy juices, fruit and yogurt options, wanting to keep that virtuous feeling after our spa break.
Guy, however, got stuck into the excellent freshly cooked Full MacDonald breakfast. The MacDonald hotel’s Scottish roots show in the smoked fish options. On offer was award winning kippers, smoked haddock and smoked salmon that are also available on the breakfast menu.
How quickly 24 hours goes and yet how much relaxation we managed to pack in! I highly recommend a mini spa break to anyone who works hard. We all need a bit of time to recharge, to reconnect with your loved one or friends.
Book your Spa Package with Spa Breaks at MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel
There are plenty more great options for a Spa break in Bath available on the Spa breaks website. Here are just a few more spa experiences that might tempt you.
The Thermae Bath Spa in Bath
Since you can’t actually take a dip in the Roman Baths that are fed by the thermal spring waters, the Thermae Bath spa is the next best thing. This day spa was created to allow visitors to Bath to experience the thermal waters.
Four baths are fed by the mineral rich waters. The rooftop bath allows you to bathe in the warm waters with therapeutic jets while enjoying a bird’s eye view over the city.
Book your Spa Package with Spa Breaks at Thermae Bath Spa
More historic Bath spa hotels to try
The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa in Bath
The Royal Crescent hotel is one of the most prestigious luxury hotels in Bath. It’s located at the centre of the sweeping Royal Crescent that is one of the landmarks of Georgian Bath.
Passing through the hotel’s secret garden you’ll find the spa and bath house with a 12 metre relaxation pool, Himalayan salt infused sauna and herbal seat inhalation rooms.
Book your spa break in Bath with Spa Breaks at Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa
The Bath Priory in Bath
The Bath Priory is is first and only spa by L’Occitane in the UK as well as being a five star hotel. The Garden Spa by L’Occitane transports you to Provence. Enjoy a voyage of the senses through herbal aromas and relaxing music inspired by Provencal traditions.
The four treatment suites provide a tranquil and calm environment in which you can totally relax, with an indoor pool, sauna and steam pod.
Book your spa break in Bath with Spa Breaks at The Bath Priory
No 15 by GuestHouse Bath
This is the definition of a boutique hotel experience. No. 15 by GuestHouse Bath offers charm and character with an elegant subterranean spa. It’s complete with a cedar wood hot tub, a sauna, separate steam area and a decadent relaxation area.
No. 15 by GuestHouse Bath is beautifully located in one of the grandest streets in Bath and makes a wonderfully romantic escape.
Book your spa break in Bath with Spa Breaks at No 15 by GuestHouse Bath
Woolley Grange near Bath
Just outside Bath at Bradford on Avon you’ll find Woolley Grange, a luxury hotel that’s especially family friendly. If you are travelling with little ones, this would be a good choice.
You can enjoy a spa experience knowing that there’s plenty laid on to keep the children happy while you relax. Facilities include both an indoor pool and a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, steam room and sauna. There’s a wide range of treatments to choose from.
Book your spa break in Bath with Spa Breaks at Woolley Grange
Visit the Roman Baths – the original Bath Spa
No visit to Bath would be complete without a visit to the original Roman Baths that gave the city its name. These are now a leading visitor attraction at the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Romans built a temple on the natural springs that bubbled up near the river Avon, dedicated to the Goddess Sulis Minerva. The city that grew up around it was known as Aqua Sulis.
View the green pool of the sacred spring with tiny bubbles rising to the surface and steam gently rising from the warm water. The Great Bath is a re-creation of the outdoor pool where the Romans bathed.
You can see the remains of other hot and cold baths that formed a spa complex with treatment areas much like the spas we enjoy today.
Where to stay in Bath – discover the best hotels and neighbourhoods
I hope I’ve given you plenty of ideas to find your perfect Spa Break in Bath. You’ll find lots of options to choose from on the Spa Breaks website.
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Photo Credit: Some photos from Spa Breaks, others by Heather Cowper
This article was sponsored* by Spa Breaks who provided the hotel stay and experiences mentioned.
* More info on my policies page
This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com
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Wednesday 13th of March 2019
It looks amazing, I'll try it and sharing you my experiance
Jess
Tuesday 29th of January 2019
I can't believe I've never been on a Spa Break! These suggestions look amazing!
xoxo Jess