Bath and the surrounding countryside are home to some of the grandest houses in the country, many of which you can visit, or even stay in!

Some historic houses in the city have now been made into museums, such as The Holburne Museum (which you may recognise as Lady Danbury's house in Bridgerton), No.1 Royal Crescent and the American Museum & Gardens, while others have opened up their stunning gardens to the public, such as Prior Park Landscape Garden and Iford Manor Gardens.

Further outside the city, you can take a step back in time at grand properties such as Dyrham Park, Lacock Abbey, Corsham Court, Avebury Manor and Bowood House, each of which has acres of beautiful grounds for you to explore as well as the main house.

Live like a lord or lady of the manor with a stay at one of these beautiful country house hotels...

Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel

Completed in 1836 as a private house for General Augustus Andrews, the building has also used for a short time as a boys school and a nurses home, but has been a hotel on and off since 1912, welcoming many esteemed guests over the decades, including Joan Collins and Haile Selassie, the exiled Emperor of Ethiopia. During the Second World War, the building was used for administration and planning and even saw a visit from then Prime Minister Winston Churchill!

The beautiful Greek revival style buildings were renovated in 1990, and now the five-star Bath Spa Hotel boasts 131 luxury bedrooms, seven acres of landscaped grounds, a beautiful spa and outdoor pool, plus a 2AA Rosette restaurant.

Image - Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel

The Bath Priory Hotel

This stunning gothic spa hotel was built in 1835 and remained a private home until the 1960s, when it was when it was then used as the dormitory for a private school. It wasn't until the late 1960s that the building was converted into a hotel.

The Bath Priory Hotel is the perfect blend of country retreat just outside Bath's city centre, with four acres of beautiful gardens, a tranquil outdoor pool, the UK’s only L’Occitane Spa, and two on-site restaurants, The Pantry & Terrace and The Bath Priory Restaurant.

Image - Bath Priory

The PIG near Bath

Dating from the early 17th Century, this Georgian manor house on the Hunstrete Estate just outside Bath was the home of the Popham family, which was thoughtfully renovated in 2014 to become The PIG near Bath.

Each of the 24 bedrooms in this relaxed country house hotel are individually styled, with a modern take on traditional furnishings, plus your own private larder for snacking. When you leave your room, you can relax in the cosy sitting room or library, play a game in the billiards room, or enjoy a foraged cocktail in the bar. The hotel Kitchen Garden Restaurant has a menu sourced within a 25-mile radius, with much of the produce grown in the garden outside. The gardens also have some further rooms to relax in, as well as The Potting Sheds where guests can enjoy a range of pampering treatments.

Bailbrook House Hotel

This mansion house on the outskirts of Bath was begun in 1790, but not completed until decades later due to the impact of several wars. The house was visited by many notable people throughout its history,  including Queen Charlotte and her son the Duke of Clarence (later became King William IV), as well as bishops, duchesses, and William Pitt the Younger. It was converted into a hotel in 2013 after a grand restoration and refurbishment.

The hotel spans the Grade II listed Bailbrook House, where you'll find 13 of the grandest bedrooms, plus the neighbouring Bailbrook Court and 20 acres of grounds. Take your pick from three Royal Lounges to enjoy an afternoon tea or drink, or spend your evening in their sumptuous bar or restaurant, which overlooks the gardens.

Image - Bailbrook House Hotel

Homewood

Located in the beautiful Limpley Stoke Valley, this grand Victorian country house is the perfect rural getaway, set in 20 acres of parkland and gardens and only a short drive from Bath. The house has been a hotel since 1981, and open as Homewood in 2020.

This quirky spa hotel mixes classic architecture and original features with modern stylings and home comforts, Dyson hairdryers, electric car charging points and Smeg coffee machines. For some extra luxury, book one of their Mallingford Mews suites, complete with private hot tubs. There's no need to leave the estate, as you can entertain yourself in their award-winning spa, enjoy afternoon tea or dinner at Olio restaurant, or book in for a session on their tennis courts.

Image - Homewood

The Hall Estate

The Hall Estate was built in Bradford on Avon in 1610 for local mill owner John Hall, at a time when the town was a hub for the local textile industry. The house stayed as a private home for almost two centuries, before being sold in 1805, and then used as a workshop, store, and housing for weavers. From the 19th century until 2012, The Hall Estate was home to the Moulton family.

You can now stay at this Grade I listed Jacobean mansion, with the choice of three grand rooms, each packed with original features and interesting antiques. There's also the option to hire the whole house exclusively for your group. Make sure to book a tour while you're there to learn even more about the history of The Hall Estate and surrounding area.

Image - The Hall Estate

Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa

The Palladian mansion that forms the main building at Lucknam Park was built in 1720, but the history of the estate dates back to 1199! Set in an impressive 500 acres of parkland, this really is your chance to feel like a lord or lady of the manor.

Book a stay at the luxury hotel or self catering country cottages, which each have access to Lucknam's award-winning spa and Equestrian Centre. There are numerous other activities to keep you busy across their grounds too: cycling, tennis, clay pigeon shooting, falconry, croquet, archery, running trails, football, garden tours, food and drink masterclasses, and even duck herding!

The hotel also has two restaurants; Restaurant Hywel Jones has retained a Michelin Star for 21 years, while the more relaxed Walled Garden Restaurant has an open kitchen and a wood-fired oven.

Image - Lucknam Park

Bishopstrow Hotel & Spa

There are acres to explore around this Georgian manor house, with the history of the estate going back to the Domesday book in 1086! Wander around the kitchen gardens and orchard and see if you can spot the 18th century temple and summer house, before taking a walk down to the River Wylye at the bottom of the gardens, where you'll find the remains of a historic boathouse - it's also a great spot for fishing.

This playful spa hotel has just 36 bedrooms, some of which have their own private hot tub and steam room. Visit the Bishopstrow Spa to enjoy a sauna, steam room, indoor heated pool, hot tubs and a fitness suite. The Garden Grill serves up a seasonal menu from their no-dig kitchen garden.

Image - Bishopstrow Hotel and Spa

Montigo Resorts, Somerset

Based just outside Shepton Mallet in Somerset, Charlton House has gone through numerous changes since it was built in the mid 1600s, and remained in the same family until 1804. It then passed through several owners before becoming a hotel in the 1960s. The hotel underwent a major refurbishment and reopened in 2023 under the management of Monitog Resorts, now boasting 28 individually-styled rooms and suites, as well as a spa, and pretty grounds with an orchard and walled gardens.

You can also take your pick from two on-site eateries: Charlton House Restaurant and Bobo's Bistro.

Image - Montigo Resorts

Beechfield House

Beechfield was built in the late 1800s for a local gentleman farmer, with the design inspired by the 16th Century Italian Renaissance. It remained a family home for ninety years before it passed through another couple of oweners, before being converted into a hotel in the late 1960s. The Grade II listed property saw a major refurbishment of the house and gardens in 2006, which still continues today.

The grounds feature an Italianate outdoor heated pool, kitchen garden and arboretum, with the 24 bedrooms of the hotel each named after trees you'll find within the grounds. The Beechfield House Restaurant has been awarded 2 AA Rosettes for culinary excellence, combining home grown produce from their garden with ingredients from other great local suppliers in classic dishes.

Image - Beechfield House

The Newt in Somerset

Set across the Georgian buildings of Hadspen House near Bruton, The Newt in Somerset was the seat of the Hobhouse family for more than two centuries. 

The hotel and grounds are now an English country paradise, with 30 acres of garden and hundreds of acres of woodland and farmland - their orchard also has more than 500 varieties of apple tree! You can take a tour of the gardens and enjoy a tasting of their homemade 'cyder' at the end. As well as relaxing in the grounds, you can also book in for a treatment in the spa, take a dip in the indoor-outdoor pool, or enjoy a delicious meal at the Farmyard Kitchen or Station Café at The Creamery.

Visit The Newt in Somerset in style with Great Western Railway by booking their Great Garden Escape, boarding on Fridays and Saturdays. This first class trip includes breakfast on the train, lunch in the Garden Café, a garden tour and a private tasting in the Cyder Cellar, plus 12-month Newt Membership. 

Image - The Newt in Somerset

Read more:

- Beautiful gardens in and around Bath

- Historic sites in Bath

- 12 of the best spa hotels in Bath