Home > Bath comes out on top in recent awards

Bath comes out on top in recent awards

The Sunday Times Travel Magazine Reader Awards recently voted Bath as the 6th 'Best European City'; the Royal Crescent Hotel as the 'Best UK Hotel'; and Thermae Bath Spa as the 'Best UK Spa'. These awards follow Bath's success in a recent TripAdvisor survey where the city appeared at 4th place in the 'Top 25 Europe Destinations' and 14th in the 'Top 100 World Destinations' categories. And it's easy to see why Bath has been so successful; with its sweeping honey-coloured Georgian crescents, intriguing history, top attractions and a unique spa culture, all set in the rolling hills of the picturesque Somerset countryside, Bath is a very special place.

Situated in the centre of one of Europe's finest 18th Century architectural masterpieces, The Royal Crescent, a 5 star Relais & Chateaux hotel, won the title of 'Best UK Hotel' in the Sunday Times Awards and was described by one reader as "Not so much a hotel, more like spending the weekend with Mr Darcy". The hotel has 45 luxurious, individually designed bedrooms as well as a spa and an award winning restaurant. In addition, Bath and the surrounding area offers an excellent range of high quality accommodation from 5 star spa hotels such as the Macdonald Bath Spa to luxurious hotels with fine dining and Michelin starred restaurants including the Bath Priory and Lucknam Park in nearby Colerne. The city also boasts beautiful boutique townhouses, quality B&Bs and comfortable self catering apartments and houses.

Bath also has plenty to offer visitors as well as its excellent accommodation, with iconic architecture such as The Circus and Pulteney Bridge - one of the only bridges in the world with shops built into it - a huge variety of restaurants serving food from around the globe, an impressive selection of boutique and independent shops - including Milsom Place housing 26 exclusive shops and four restaurants currently being re-developed - and top attractions including the American Museum, The Jane Austen Centre and the Fashion Museum, to name a few.

Bath is famous for its natural thermal springs and the city's spa history can be explored at the Roman Baths, one of the UK's top visitor attractions, where you can walk where Romans walked on ancient stone paths, see Roman drains still in action today and explore the original baths that attracted people to the city from far and wide. And now it's possible to experience the waters yourself at the Thermae Bath Spa which opened in August 2006 and has since welcomed over 250,000 visitors. Thermae also appeared in the Sunday Times Travel Awards and beat many other spas to the top spot of 'Best UK Spa'. It offers the unique experience of bathing in the only natural thermal waters in the country and includes the Minerva pool, a spectacular roof top pool with beautiful views over the city and four aromatic steam rooms. Treatments such as hot stone therapy, dry flotation and watsu are also available.

Bath is a popular destination and has been successful in attracting visitors for over 2000 years. The official tourism website www.visitbath.co.uk gives all the information needed to arrange a trip to Bath and the Tourist Information Centre can offer a personalised accommodation booking service on 0844 8475256 and an information service 0906 7112000.

- ENDS -
Notes to Editors:
For further information or images to illustrate this information, please contact Lucy Weaver at Bath Tourism Plus on 01225 477441 or email: lucy_weaver@bathtourism.co.uk.

Bath Tourism Plus
Working with the public and private sectors, Bath's destination marketing organisation, Bath Tourism Plus, takes full responsibility for co-ordinating the work of a busy tourist information centre, the marketing of Bath and the surrounding area to leisure and business travellers, PR activity to attract the nation's top travel writers, a conference office, and development of Bath's official destination website www.visitbath.co.uk

For more information about the services that Bath Tourism Plus offers to meetings, conference and incentive travel businesses, see www.bathconference.co.uk

Travel to Bath
Bath is easy to access from all over the UK and the world.

High speed, direct train services operated by First Great Western link Bath Spa train station to London and its major airports. Bath Spa train station is well situated, just 5 minutes level walk into the city centre's main shopping and tourist areas. See: www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

Bristol International Airport is just 15 miles from Bath and operates direct flights from New York and Orlando in the USA, as well as most major European and UK airports. An express bus service to Bristol Temple Meads train station operates throughout the day, and Bath is just a 20 minute train journey from there. See: www.bristolairport.co.uk

Bath is also easy to access by car, from junction 18 of the M4 motorway which links Bath to Bristol, London and South Wales.

There are three Park & Ride services on the outskirts of the city which operate fast, frequent services into the city centre, offering a hassle free, cost effective way of reaching the city centre.