If money were no object, I would have booked a couple of nights at the luxurious Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa in Bath, England. However, with a 3-week trip planned in Ireland and the United Kingdom, and multiple hotels, a couple rental cars, and plenty of restaurant meals on the docket, adhering to a trip budget was on my mind.
So, I made reservations at the Hampton by Hilton Bath City, which was decidedly less expensive than the historic, five-star Royal Crescent.
Turns out, my budget-friendly hotel was an excellent decision for my husband and me. Here’s why:
Excellent Location in Bath
The entire city of Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its remarkable Roman baths and archaeology, Georgian architecture, and natural landscapes. With so many things to see and do in this historic and beautiful city, it was important for us to be close to all the action.
Hampton by Hilton Bath City is ideally located just an 8-minute walk from the train station (key, since we were traveling to Bath from Cardiff, Wales, by train), a 3-minute walk to the Roman Baths (a must-see while here!), and just a 2-minute walk to the Thermae Bath Spa (where we soaked in geothermal water like the Romans did 2,000 years ago).
We racked up the steps walking from our hotel to Bath Abbey, 5 minutes away, where rotating musicans performed in a large plaza outside the ornate church. We strolled through cobblestone alleys, admiring the gorgeous 18th-century buildings, nifty bridges, and yes, the stately Royal Crescent.
We crisscrossed the multiple pedestrian zones, stopping to sample famous Bath buns and Cornish pasties. There were so many amazing restaurants within walking distance of our hotel, that it was hard to choose from among the gastropubs, Indian restaurants, Spanish bistros, and gourmet pizza joints. I really wish we’d scheduled four days in Bath just to eat our way through the city.
Can you tell I loved everything about Bath, England? Having such a conveniently located hotel made it so easy to take all the wonderful sights (and food and drink) on foot.
Modern Hotel Opened in 2022
The Hampton by Hilton Bath City opened its doors in February 2022. After staying in so many dated hotels in historic buildings on our road trip, it was a pleasure to overnight in accommodations that felt fresh and new.
Our queen room was plenty spacious for two (again, especially in comparison to other tiny UK and Ireland properties) with a dedicated armoire space for storing luggage and hanging clothes and coats; USB plug-ins and smartly placed outlets; a nice L-shaped couch with work table; great lighting; and a huge TV screen (that we didn’t turn on, but I’d imagine some guests might appreciate).
The contemporary white bathroom had a glass-walled shower and was supplied with shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, and, happily, body lotion.
Though the building’s exterior is also new and in modern style, developers took care to ensure the facade was composed of Bath stone, the same tan limestone present in the centuries-old Georgian-style architecture found throughout the city.
Filling Buffet Breakfast
After more than two weeks of traveling in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales before landing in England, I had plenty of hotel breakfast service to compare with the one at Hampton by Hilton Bath City. While it wasn’t a divine made-to-order, gourmet meal like I was served at small, family-owned B&Bs in Scotland, the buffet at this chain hotel in Bath was more than adequate. I’d give it a four out of five stars.
First, with 202 rooms in the hotel, it was no surprise that the breakfast area was busy around 8 a.m., as business travelers were getting ready for work and tourists were gearing up to sightsee. I wholly appreciated the number of tables we had to choose from near the buffet and throughout the lobby.
Other plusses here: many milk options for coffee and cereal, including oat, soy, and skim milk. There were also the classic eggs, sausage, beans, and mushrooms, plus pastries, toast, and waffles. Believe me, we fueled up.
This hotel also has a full bar and serves a surprising array of food that’s available during the day, from curry and pasta entrees to toasted sandwiches to stuffed crust pizza. We didn’t eat or drink here, with so many different restaurants just outside the hotel’s doors, but I was impressed with the offerings for guests who might want to eat something conveniently and quickly in the hotel.
The Bottom Line
We loved returning to Hampton by Hilton Bath City after days filled with lots of walking and sightseeing in Bath. With clean, modern, and roomy accommodations, an expansive buffet breakfast, and a location near key sights, this budget-friendly chain hotel makes a great choice for a couple of nights.
Rates vary seasonally. Queen rooms can be as low as about $120 per night with a non-refundable, advance purchase. A Hilton property, this hotel can be booked with Hilton Honors points through the hotel website. If you’re not a Hilton Honors member you may want to check prices on Booking.com or Expedia to compare prices.
Review and photos by Colorado-based travel writer Kara Williams.