The Gainsborough Bath Spa Review: Bath’s Most Luxurious Hotel?

ByNishi V
Nishi sitting upright in a large hotel bed holding a hot drink with both hands. Soft bedside lighting and crisp white bedding create a cozy atmosphere for a relaxing morning stay.

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The Gainsborough Bath Spa is the epitome of luxury and the only hotel in the UK with direct access to Bath’s natural thermal waters. 

Blending historic charm with five-star comfort, it’s one of the most unique places to stay in Bath and, honestly, the Spa Village alone is worth the visit.

Jass surprised me with a two-night stay here for my birthday, only telling me to pack swimwear and a book. I had absolutely no idea where we were going until I started spotting signs for Bath on the motorway.

What followed was two days of slow mornings, thermal spa sessions and the kind of relaxation that makes you forget to check your phone for hours. 

If you’re wondering whether The Gainsborough Bath Spa is worth the splurge, here’s my honest review after staying in one of their Executive Queen Rooms and spending far too much time floating around the Spa Village.

Listening to the rain fall overhead while soaking in the thermal waters felt like pure tranquillity.

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The Gainsborough Bath Spa Review: Bath's Most Luxurious Hotel?

Location

It would be hard to find a better location in Bath. The Gainsborough Bath Spa sits right in the heart of the city, just a two-minute walk from the Ancient Roman Baths and the historic Pump Room.

It’s also directly opposite Thermae Bath Spa, one of Bath’s most popular attractions. I’ve visited on a previous trip to Bath and can confirm it’s a fantastic experience. That said, if you’re staying at The Gainsborough, I’m not sure there’s much reason to visit. Having direct access to Bath’s natural thermal waters without leaving your hotel is a pretty hard perk to beat.

One of my favourite things about staying here was being able to walk everywhere. Whether we were wandering through the city centre, browsing independent shops or heading out for dinner, everything was just a few minutes’ walk away.

If you’re planning a longer trip, Bath also makes a great base for exploring the surrounding area. The Cotswolds are less than an hour away and are well worth adding to your itinerary.

Plaque mounted on a stone exterior wall displaying "SMALL LUXURY HOTELS OF THE WORLD" and "YTL HOTELS." The sign highlights the hotel's membership in a luxury hospitality collection.

Parking at The Gainsborough Bath Spa

If you’re driving to Bath, it’s worth knowing that The Gainsborough Bath Spa has its own valet parking which costs £40 per night. It’s pretty steep, but is fairly typical for a hotel right in the heart of a historic city centre, so it’s something to factor into the cost of your stay.

We were informed that there is a nearby public car park, which costs around £25 per night and is only a short walk from the hotel. We parked there, and it was straightforward enough.

One thing worth noting is that check-in is strictly from 3pm, and when we arrived a little earlier we weren’t able to access our room. After a long drive it was slightly frustrating, although it’s not unusual for a luxury hotel. It’s worth keeping in mind if you’re planning to arrive in Bath early and make the most of your first day.

Once we’d parked up, we didn’t need the car again for the rest of our stay. One of the biggest advantages of staying at The Gainsborough is that Bath’s main attractions, shops and restaurants are all within easy walking distance.

Long hotel corridor with patterned carpeting, wall sconces, and hanging lantern style chandeliers. The high arched ceiling and warm lighting create an elegant entrance to the guest rooms.

Executive Queen Room at The Gainsborough Bath Spa

We stayed in an Executive Queen Room with incredibly high ceilings that immediately made the space feel grand, fitting in perfectly with the Georgian architecture. The bed almost looked comically small compared to the scale of the room and the dramatic height of the ceiling.

Luxury hotel room with a king bed, upholstered sofa, and tall draped windows. Neutral furnishings, soft lighting, and high ceilings create a refined and inviting guest space.

For a city centre hotel, the room was surprisingly spacious. Alongside the bed there was a small sofa, a large bathroom, wardrobe space, desk, television, coffee station and a complimentary drinks fridge. Robes and slippers were also provided for the spa.

Spacious hotel bedroom with a large bed dressed in white linens and decorative cushions. Soft bedside lighting, a patterned upholstered headboard, and high ceilings create an elegant and comfortable atmosphere.
Hotel workspace with a desk, chair, television, and table lamp positioned beside a tall curtained window. Natural daylight brightens the room while creating a comfortable area for work or relaxation.

One thing that made me laugh was how high the windows were. They were so far up the wall that I couldn’t actually see out of them, even when standing on my tip-toes.  

I will admit that the mattress and pillows were too soft for my personal liking, but despite being in the city centre, the room was surprisingly quiet overnight.

Nishi sitting upright in a large hotel bed holding a hot drink with both hands. Soft bedside lighting and crisp white bedding create a cozy atmosphere for a relaxing morning stay.
Hotel bathroom with a combined bathtub and shower surrounded by beige stone tile. A vanity, mirror, towels, and glass shower screen provide a clean and spacious layout.

We had a dreamy couple of nights here. There is always something extra special about waking up in a hotel bed on your birthday, especially when it’s part of a surprise you never saw coming.

Spa Village at the Gainsborough Bath Spa

The real highlight of staying at The Gainsborough Bath Spa is the Spa Village.

One thing I particularly appreciated was that the Spa Village is restricted to guests aged 16 and over. It creates a much calmer atmosphere and makes it feel like a genuine place to unwind, without the noise and splashing that often comes with family-friendly pools.

Wide view of a luxurious indoor pool surrounded by white columns, arched alcoves, and hanging lanterns. Reflections shimmer across the blue tiled water in the softly lit spa.

Hotel guests receive complimentary access between 8am and 10am and again from 6pm to 9pm. Outside those hours, access is available for an additional charge of £70 per person for 3 hours.

We made full use of the included sessions during our stay and it quickly became my favourite part of the hotel.

Indoor spa pool with bright blue water beneath a glass roof and elegant white columns. Curved entry steps and illuminated wall features give the space a grand and tranquil feel.
Spa relaxation area with an open sauna and steam room positioned beside a marble-topped seating bench. Neutral stone tiles and soft lighting create a calm wellness environment.

Guests are encouraged to follow a thermal spa circuit. It begins with ten minutes in one of the two smaller Balneo pools. One is wonderfully hot at 40°C, which was definitely my favourite, while the other is a gentler 35°C temperature. 

Afterwards, you’re encouraged to cool down with a lymphatic shower using the hose beside the pools.

There is then a choice of infrared and dry saunas, alongside a steam room. After spending a few minutes warming up, you can move on to the ice alcove. I’ll admit I wasn’t quite brave enough to rub handfuls of crushed ice all over myself, but I did appreciate the chilled lavender-scented towels, which felt much more civilised.

The circuit ends at the main thermal pool, which became my favourite place in the entire hotel. Floating beneath the glass roof while listening to the rain hammer against it outside felt incredibly peaceful. 

Indoor wellness pool with blue tiled water reflecting hanging lanterns and architectural details. White columns, mosaic walls, and a glass roof create a refined spa setting.
Elegant spa pool framed by classical columns and warm pendant lighting beneath a glass ceiling. Curved pool steps lead into the blue water while illuminated alcoves line the far wall.

Between the warm mineral-rich water, bubbling jets and neck massage stations, it was very easy to lose track of time.

The Spa Village also offers a range of treatments you can book, although they are pretty unaffordable for most people. Naturally, we skipped those and still felt like we got the full experience. If you do book a treatment, you can enjoy the thermal pools before and after too, for a more personalised experience.

Across the corridor is a spacious, fully kitted out gym which shares the changing facilities with the spa. The staff throughout the spa area were particularly warm and welcoming, which really elevated the entire luxurious experience.

Regardless of the length of your stay, you must make time to visit the spa.

Nishi and Jass wearing white spa robes pose for a mirror selfie in their room before a spa visit. One guest smiles while holding a phone as they stand together on a patterned carpet.

One practical tip: I would advise packing your own flip flops to use at the spa. I was grateful to have brought mine, because the thought of the disposable hotel room slippers getting wet makes me shudder.

Breakfast at the Gainsborough Bath Spa 

Breakfast is served in the hotel’s restaurant and guests are asked to reserve a slot between 8am and 10am.

Initially this felt slightly frustrating because it overlaps with the morning spa session. However, we discovered you can arrive from around 7.30am, which worked much better for us and meant we could enjoy breakfast before heading straight to the pools.

Breakfast table setting with small jars of preserves, wrapped butter portions, salt and pepper mills, and white flowers in a vase. The warm restaurant atmosphere is softly blurred in the background.
Open breakfast menu at The Gainsborough Bath Spa displayed on a dining table beside preserves and butter. The menu lists continental breakfast options, traditional English breakfast, eggs Benedict, eggs Royale, avocado toast, pancakes, and vegetarian breakfast dishes.

Breakfast is an elegant affair. You’re offered a hot drink and toast as soon as you’re seated, then presented with an a la carte menu of cooked dishes alongside a small continental buffet. Options included freshly squeezed juices, pastries, cereals, bircher muesli, yoghurt, fresh fruit and a charcuterie selection of meats and cheeses.

Hotel breakfast spread featuring baked beans, avocado, roasted tomato, eggs, spinach, hash browns, mushroom, and sausage on a white plate. A second plate holds eggs Benedict style dishes, with coffee cups and diners visible throughout the restaurant.
White plate of fresh fruit including watermelon slices, pineapple chunks, green and red grapes, banana chips, and pecans. The colorful selection is arranged neatly for a hotel breakfast.

As someone who will choose a continental breakfast every single time, this was right up my street. I did try the vegetarian breakfast for research purposes. The sausage wasn’t my favourite, but the fried eggs were cooked to perfection. As a lifelong member of the anti-runny-yolk club, I was very happy.

One thing that genuinely surprised me was how good the coffee was. Hotel breakfast coffee often resembles aeroplane coffee (if you know, you know), but the oat milk cappuccinos here were excellent. I started both mornings with two and it was the perfect start to my day.

Cappuccino served on a dark wood breakfast table in an elegant hotel dining room. Toast slices in a metal rack and breakfast accompaniments sit nearby while the softly lit restaurant interior blurs into the background.

If breakfast isn’t included as part of your stay, it costs £40 per person for access to both the continental buffet and a cooked breakfast. If you’re more of a pastries-and-coffee person like me, you can also choose the continental buffet on its own for £25.

The service at breakfast, and throughout the hotel as a whole, was outstanding.

What I loved most about The Gainsborough Bath Spa

Without a doubt, my favourite part of staying at The Gainsborough Bath Spa was the Spa Village. I know I’ve already talked about it at length, but it really is what makes this hotel so special.

There’s something incredibly relaxing about wandering downstairs in your robe before breakfast and slipping straight into the thermal waters while most of the city is still waking up. 

Floating beneath the glass roof while listening to the rain outside was one of those moments that makes you stop and think, ‘This is exactly what I needed’.

Bottle of Fico Grande Sangiovese red wine on a hotel room table with a white napkin draped over the top. A card beside it reads "THE GAINSBOROUGH BATH SPA" and "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" welcoming a guest with a birthday surprise.

I also loved how easy everything felt during our stay. The location meant we could walk everywhere, the staff were genuinely lovely and the hotel struck a great balance between luxury and comfort without ever feeling stuffy or intimidating.

And as someone who takes coffee very seriously, the breakfast cappuccinos deserve another honourable mention.

What could be better?

Honestly, there wasn’t much I didn’t enjoy about our stay, but there were a few small things worth mentioning.

The breakfast booking system was slightly frustrating, as the available slots overlap with the complimentary morning spa access. We managed to work around it by arriving early, but it did feel like guests had to choose between breakfast and maximising their spa time.

The spa treatments were also significantly more expensive than I expected. We skipped them entirely and still had a fantastic experience, but they’re worth budgeting for if treatments are an important part of your spa break.

Valet parking at £40 per night also feels quite expensive, although that isn’t unusual for a luxury hotel in Bath’s city centre.

None of these were deal-breakers for us, but they’re useful things to know before booking.

Who should stay at The Gainsborough Bath Spa?

I would wholeheartedly recommend The Gainsborough Bath Spa for couples looking for a romantic getaway, anyone celebrating a special occasion or travellers wanting a luxurious city break in Bath.

Bath isn’t the only UK city that works brilliantly for a weekend escape. York is another of my favourite destinations for a short city break, thanks to its history, independent shops and walkable centre.

Our stay was for my birthday and it felt like the perfect place to celebrate. Between the beautiful rooms, relaxing spa facilities and central location, it has all the ingredients for a memorable weekend away.

Spacious hotel bedroom with a large bed dressed in white linens and decorative cushions. Soft bedside lighting, a patterned upholstered headboard, and high ceilings create an elegant and comfortable atmosphere.

I think this hotel is especially great if you’ve visited Bath before. Rather than spending the entire trip rushing between attractions and only returning to the hotel to sleep, you can actually slow down and enjoy the experience. The Gainsborough is one of those hotels that deserves as much of your time as the city itself.

The thermal spa access encourages you to slow down and actually enjoy being there.

If you’re travelling on a tight budget, there are definitely more affordable places to stay in Bath. But if you’re looking for a luxury hotel in Bath that feels genuinely special, I think The Gainsborough Bath Spa is worth considering.

Is The Gainsborough Bath Spa worth it?

If you’re searching for the best hotel in Bath for a special occasion, The Gainsborough Bath Spa would be very difficult to beat.

The thermal spa access sets it apart from every other hotel in the city and creates an experience that feels uniquely Bath. Combined with the central location, beautiful rooms and excellent service, it made for one of my favourite birthday getaways.

Would I stay again? Absolutely. In fact, if I were planning another special occasion in Bath, The Gainsborough would be the first hotel I’d look at booking. Mainly for the chance to spend another evening floating beneath that glass roof while the rain falls outside.

If you’re extending your trip, the Cotswolds are less than an hour away and make a wonderful addition to a Bath itinerary.

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The Gainsborough Bath Spa Review: Bath's Most Luxurious Hotel?
The Gainsborough Bath Spa Review: Bath's Most Luxurious Hotel?

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Nishi is an award-winning UK travel writer and content creator with a love for cultural travel, soft adventure and destinations beyond the obvious. After exploring 50+ countries across four continents, she has a particular soft spot for Asia. She shares thoughtfully curated travel guides and itineraries.

From boutique hotel stays and scuba diving adventures to vegetarian foodie finds and detailed itineraries, Nishi helps over 40,000 people per month plan meaningful trips that feel memorable.