You can’t go wrong with a holiday in Bath. The world-famous UNESCO city is well-known for its glorious architecture with magnificent historic buildings housing shops, pubs and cottages to rent. Bath was a fashionable destination for the Romans, and its appeal has only strengthened over the intervening millennia. It is town and country, old and new, stylishly tasteful and also a little bit twee. There is nowhere more British and certainly nowhere better for a romantic escape, fun family holiday, an inspiring writer’s or artist’s retreat, or a shopping weekend with friends. Settle back and keep reading to find out why Bath rates so highly on our list of places for a self-catering cottage holiday. Read more
Once an intimate family-run hotel, Cameley Lodge is a spacious holiday home with excellent self-catering facilities, a vast garden with a hot tub, and nine ensuite bedrooms to accommodate up to 21 guests. Guests love the space and the layout, which is fully accessible on the ground and first floors, the amenities, and the friendly owners who make planning a family reunion, celebration with friends, wellness retreat, or business event so easy. It's in the Somerset village of Cameley with panoramic views of rolling countryside in all directions. For all its rural appeal, the house is only half an hour from Bristol and Bath, and you can drive to Glastonbury, Wells, Wookey Caves, Stonehenge and Longleat in an hour or less.
This large holiday cottage in the Cotswolds sleeps up to 15 people and is newly refurbished throughout. Mews Cottage is just over a mile from the market town of Bradford on Avon, where you will find everything you need for a relaxed self-catering holiday, including pubs and restaurants if you don't want to cook! Bath, Stonehenge and Longleat are all within easy reach, as are beautiful walks through the Wiltshire countryside and along the Kennet and Avon Canal. There is plenty of space whether you're a big family, on holiday with your extended family or catching up with friends. Bookings, including short breaks, are available all year round.
This gorgeous Georgian house is in an enviable position opposite the Jubilee Bridge in Matlock Bath, a short stroll from the river, shops, cafes and local attractions. 98 Fountain Villas has recently been refurbished to a high standard to provide big group holiday accommodation in the Peak District for up to 16 people over three floors. This area is beautiful in every season and guests can enjoy lovely walks and bike rides from the doorstep. Chatsworth House, Haddon Hall, Carsington Waters and Alton Towers are all within easy reach, while Gulliver's Kingdom and the Heights of Abraham are within walking distance.
Beautiful 5/6 bedroomed cottage with plenty of space for everyone to relax and have fun. The cottage overlooks the Derwent Valley and river Derwent which runs through the village. The cottage comfortably accommodates up to 15 guests in five upstairs bedrooms and one downstairs snug off the living area with double full-sized double sofa-bed. There are gardens to the front and rear with BBQ and outside garden furniture and garden games including swingball and garden jenga. Matlock Bath is known as the seaside town without the sea and you'll soon see why! There are shops, pubs, restaurants and amusements all along the main promenades plus loads of things to do right here in the village including boat trips, cable car rides, a children's theme park, a nine hole indoor crazy golf, an aquarium and even a Victorian lido crammed with giant Koi Carp. The cottage is nestled on the hillside of Matlock bath looking down over the village in a quiet location just five minutes walk from all the hustle and bustle with superb views and walks right from the door. Further afield the Peak District National Park is just a short car ride away with it's stunning scenery and fabulous stately homes including Chatsworth House and Haddon Hall. Alton Towers is about 30 minutes away by car. Crow Pie Cottage is available for short weekend breaks (Friday to Sunday), long weekends (Friday to Monday), midweek and week-long breaks all year round - please contact us with your requirements and we'll do our best to accommodate you.
A delightful contemporary self catering cottage positioned by the side of the river on the fringes of the Somerset village of Coleford. Leat Cottage is ideal for walking, cycling, relaxing or visiting the many attractions this area has to offer.
Cholwell Hall is a fine Somerset country residence a few miles from the cities of Bath, Wells and Bristol. Accessible from London in 2 hours. Formerly owned by the church, this 10 bedroomed house has centuries of history, medieval beams, thick stone walls and can sleep up to 30 people comfortably. Popular for family gatherings, hen or stag parties, bookings can be self-catering or with your choice of caterers. Oceans of space indoors for large groups to socialise, dining table to seat up to 30, and extensive grounds for outdoor fun.
This lovely holiday home is made from beautiful honey-coloured stone and provides comfortable accommodation for up to seven people in three bedrooms, including an ensuite master bedroom with a four-poster bed. The Old Coach House is on the edge of the Wiltshire village of Holt, within walking distance of two pubs, the village shop and green, and National Trust Courts Gardens. The River Avon, Lacock, Bath, Bristol, and Longleat are all within easy reach for a day out, and there are lovely countryside walks from the doorstep. The self-catering cottage is available all year round, with short breaks possible depending on availability.
"Crooked Well" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 5 guests in Bath and North East Somerset. Timsbury is a charming village and civil parish in Somerset, resting in easy reach of Bath and the surrounding countryside wonder. The village is home to a good range of amenities, including a pub, shop, Post Office, tea room and more, as well...
"Southbank" is a 3 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 6 guests in Bath and North East Somerset. The beautiful, cosmopolitan city of Bath, a World Heritage Site, offers something for everyone. No matter the time of year you visit, you are likely to find events catering for all tastes, from the famous Christmas market to music, food and...
"The Loft at Lucott House" is a 1 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 2 guests in Bath and North East Somerset. The city of Bath, a World Heritage Site, offers festivals, theatre productions and a multitude of restaurants, bars and shops. The fine architecture includes the Roman Baths and the abbey. From here you can visit Glastonbury, Cheddar Caves,...
"35 Hope Place" is a 1 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 2 guests in Bath and North East Somerset. Built around pleasure and relaxation, the beautiful city of Bath has been a wellbeing destination for hundreds of years. The city is compact but offers a plethora of amenities, including several places to eat and drink, plus some of the finest...
"Cider Press Cottage" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 4 guests in Bath and North East Somerset. World Heritage Site Bath is a wonderful, modern city with something for everyone. At any time of year, you may enjoy a wide variety of activities, from the world-famous Christmas market to a variety of music, gastronomic, and cultural...
"Castle Combe Cottage" is a 2 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 4 guests in Bath and North East Somerset. Castle Combe, Wiltshire is a short drive away from the city of Bath, Somerset. No matter the time of year you visit, you are likely to find events catering for all tastes, from the famous Christmas market to music, food and cultural festivals...
"Featherstone Manor" is a 9 bed holiday Cottage sleeping up to 22 guests in Bath and North East Somerset. Nestled in expansive landscaped gardens, Featherstone Manor offers a tranquil escape with the feeling of being peacefully remote, yet with stunning views of Bath from its grounds. The garden is a haven of relaxation, featuring a hot tub for...
"Osric Apartment" is a 1 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 2 guests in Bath and North East Somerset.
"Georgian Loft Apartment - Central Bath" is a 1 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 2 guests in Bath and North East Somerset.
"Ainslie's Apartment Belvedere" is a 1 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 2 guests in Bath and North East Somerset.
"Stunning & Central Milsom Street Apartment" is a 1 bed holiday Apartment sleeping up to 2 guests in Bath and North East Somerset.
"Hiding Space Westgate Apartments" is a 1 bed holiday Hotel sleeping up to 2 guests in Bath and North East Somerset.
"Apex City of Bath Hotel" is a 1 bed holiday Hotel sleeping up to 2 guests in Bath and North East Somerset.
"Bathen House Boutique Hotel" is a 1 bed holiday Hotel sleeping up to 2 guests in Bath and North East Somerset.
"Broad Street Townhouse" is a 1 bed holiday Hotel sleeping up to 2 guests in Bath and North East Somerset.
"The Bath Priory - A Relais & Chateaux Hotel" is a 1 bed holiday Hotel sleeping up to 2 guests in Bath and North East Somerset.
"Brocks Guest House" is a 1 bed holiday BandB sleeping up to 2 guests in Bath and North East Somerset.
"Dorian House Boutique B&B" is a 1 bed holiday BandB sleeping up to 2 guests in Bath and North East Somerset.
"Bailbrook House Hotel, Bath" is a 1 bed holiday Hotel sleeping up to 2 guests in Bath and North East Somerset.
"Holiday Inn Express Bath, an IHG Hotel" is a 1 bed holiday Hotel sleeping up to 2 guests in Bath and North East Somerset.
"The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa" is a 1 bed holiday Hotel sleeping up to 2 guests in Bath and North East Somerset.
"The Bear" is a 1 bed holiday Hotel sleeping up to 2 guests in Bath and North East Somerset.
"The Henry Guest House" is a 1 bed holiday BandB sleeping up to 2 guests in Bath and North East Somerset.
"The Roseate Villa Bath" is a 1 bed holiday Hotel sleeping up to 2 guests in Bath and North East Somerset.
Popular towns in and around Somerset:
AxbridgeBathBridgwaterBristolBuckland St MaryCastle CaryChardCheddarChiselboroughCrewkerneCullomptonDulvertonDunsterExtonFiddingtonFromeGlastonburyHighbridgeIlminsterKingsbury EpiscopiLangford BudvilleLangportLopenLuxboroughMineheadMonksilverMontacuteNorth MoltonPorlockRoadwaterShepton MalletSherborneSimonsbathTauntonTemplecombeWatchetWellingtonWellsWest LuccombeWeston-super-MareWheddon CrossWincantonWithypoolWiveliscombeWootton CourtenayYeovilSome local suggestions:
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Sightseeing - It seems as if everywhere you turn in Bath, there is something pretty to see. Even modern buildings are attractive, having been carefully designed to fit with the age and quality of the existing architecture. A fantastic way to gain understanding and appreciation for the scope and layout of the city is by taking the waymarked Skyline Walk that starts at Bath Visitor Information Centre and progresses through the city and meadows until you reach the top of the hill that overlooks the bowl in which Bath sits. Alternatively, book a free (they don’t even want tips!) walking tour with the Mayor of Bath’s Guides. Other picturesque spots include the park in front of the grand Royal Crescent, and beside the beautiful Pultney Bridge and v-shaped Pultney Weir.
Famous Residents - Although the Romans enjoyed the healing qualities of the spa waters, it was the Georgians who transformed Bath. They took a quiet rural town and turned it into one of Britain’s leading holiday destinations where the fashionable flocked to shop, party and find a spouse. One of the most famous of all former residents is Jane Austen, inextricably linked with Bath due to her use of it as a setting in Persuasion and Northanger Abbey. Austen’s Bath home at 4 Sydney Place is not open to the public but fans of her work and this era should visit the Jane Austen Centre to see how she would have lived. Bath is liberally sprinkled with Blue Plaques commemorating everyone from the siblings Sir William and Caroline Hershel, who discovered Uranus and infrared radiation, to politicians such as William Pitt (Senior and Junior) and Admiral Lord Nelson, along with various members of the royal family.
Shopping and Eating - Your credit card may go into shock, but it will be worth it for the quality of shopping in Bath. The city’s small size means it is easy to visit every retailer, if that’s your wish, even if you are only there for a short visit. If you arrive by train, then the first place you will see is the four-storey Debenhams department store, beyond which is the Southgate area lined with favourite High Street names. Union Street and Stall Street are lined with shops selling books, homewares, fashion and jewellery, and leading to the galleries in the Artisan Quarter. Bath is the sort of city where you should always duck down an alley or stroll through a small arcade as it is in these places where you may find your favourite purchase of your holiday.
Bath is full of fantastic places to eat and drink. The oldest pub in Bath is the Saracens Head although, with its wall-mounted TVs showing sport and news, it’s not the most olde-worlde place for a pint. Instead, try the comfortable Raven on Queen Street for a great choice of food (especially pies) and ale and a relaxing atmosphere. You can’t beat Cafe Retro for a delicious breakfast that will set you up for a day of sightseeing and shopping - head upstairs to nab a table overlooking the Abbey. Wine lovers should try Corkage, a relaxed wine bar where the wine menu is as important as the food, while the set lunch menu at The Bath Priory Restaurant is an affordable way to enjoy Michelin starred dining.
Historic Bath - You can’t move for landmark buildings and museums in Bath. The Roman Baths and Bath Abbey are two must-sees, as is a walk along the Royal Cresent and around the Assembly Rooms (both of which are free). Have tea and a bun at Sally Lunn’s and admire the window display in Charlotte Brunswick’s Chocolate Shop a few doors down. The Fashion Museum, Museum of Bath at Work, American Museum and Holborne Museum all have a specific focus, as do the Museum of East Asian Art and the Victoria Art Gallery.
Bath is a city you can go to once and never forget or visit every year and still find new views, shops or places to eat that will surprise and delight.
