SD › Bath › Hotels › No. 15 Great Pulteney Review
Updated: May 17, 2022
Essentials
• Location: Great Pulteney Street.
• Hotel website: no15greatpulteney.co.uk
• Hotel phone: +44 1225 800 543
• Check prices for No. 15 Great Pulteney
The historical and boutique No. 15 Great Pulteney hotel features a great art collection and luxurious, individually designed rooms.
No. 15 Great Pulteney – Playful and luxurious boutique hotel inside a Georgian heritage building.
Encompassing three Georgian townhouses and a coach house in the small garden out back, No. 15 Great Pulteney is distinguished by its quirky and idiosyncratic style: the place is filled with contemporary art, collections of musical instruments, hand-blown glass lights, and other curios, with guest room keys kept inside dollhouses at the reception. The forty individually styled rooms come with excellent amenities, including Hypnos beds, Roberts radios, and rainforest showers in the bathrooms, and there’s an excellent basement spa. Besides excellent breakfasts, seasonal British fare, and a well-stocked bar, there are numerous dining and nightlife options a short walk away, and the service is warm and personable.
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No. 15 Great Pulteney – Location
- Address: 15 Great Pulteney Street.
- Area: Arguably Bath’s most beautiful street, lined with terraced Georgian heritage buildings and backing onto the vast green Henrietta Park. Quiet location, yet less than a 5-minute walk from Pulteney Bridge and central Bath with its attractions, cafes, restaurants, and bars. The Roman Baths and Bath Abbey are a 7-minute walk away.
- How to Get There: Take one of the frequent trains from London Paddington to Bath Spa station (1.5 hours) and then walk for 12 minutes (0.6 mile), or take a taxi.
- Handy to: Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, Victoria Art Gallery.
No. 15 Great Pulteney – The Basics
- Ages: Couples with small children or babies can be accommodated, but this is a rather grown-up hotel, and most guests tend to be couples or travelers on a city break.
- View: Rooms look out either over Great Pulteney Street, lined with splendid Georgian architecture, or over the garden and Henrietta Park out back.
- Private Pools/Jacuzzis: The Hideout Suite comes with its own hot tub.
- Laundry: In-room laundry service.
- Parking: Secure parking nearby costs £20 per day.
- Extras: There’s a well-stocked complimentary larder in the main hotel building where guests can help themselves to tea, coffee, snacks, and sweets. The knowledgeable staff can organize personalized tours of the city.
- When to Book: Reserve 2 months in advance for the May to October period as well as most of December (Christmas market) and the Christmas/New Year period.
- How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
- Phone: +44 1225 800 543
- Email: enquiries@no15greatpulteney.co.uk
- Website: no15greatpulteney.co.uk
No. 15 Great Pulteney – Amenities
- Pool: No pool.
- Spa: The basement Spa 15 (10 am to 7 pm) offers a range of treatments and massages in its 4 individually styled treatment rooms, and there’s a sauna, steam room, and a cedar wood hot tub as well. Use of the facilities costs £20 per hotel guest and is complimentary if you’ve booked a treatment.
- Fitness Center: No fitness center.
- For Disabled Guests: There are several rooms adapted for disabled guests and a wide elevator suitable for wheelchair users.
- For Families: Baby cots can be provided.
No. 15 Great Pulteney – Food and Drink
- Restaurants: The Dispensary (7.30 am-9.30 pm) is the hotel’s bright and airy dining room, serving creative seasonal fare in the evenings, light lunches, and 3-course Sunday brunches, as well as afternoon tea on Saturdays (1-5 pm), and breakfast ($$-$$$). • Freshly made sandwiches and light bites are served at the Sitting Room (noon to 9 pm), which also doubles as a breakfast venue ($$).
- Lounge/Bar: The elegant Bar 15 serves local craft beers, champagne, classic and bespoke cocktails, and G&Ts. Open from 6.30 pm to 10.30 pm Sunday to Thursday and till 11 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
- Breakfast: Not complimentary. Excellent breakfast includes a spread of continental cold cuts, fruits, and cereals, plus hot dishes (full English breakfast, Scotch pancakes) cooked to order, and costs £19.50. Served from 7.30-10.30 am on weekdays and from 8-11 am on weekends at The Dispensary.
- Room Service: No room service officially, though can be arranged if required.
No. 15 Great Pulteney – Rooms
- Room Types: Cosy Double • Deluxe Double • Coach House Deluxe Double • Large Deluxe Double/Twin • Junior Suite • Grand Junior Suite • Coach House Junior Suite • Luxury Suite with Spa Bath • List of all Rooms
- Smoking Rooms: No. 15 Great Pulteney is 100% smoke-free.
- Best Room: The Hideout Suite comes with its own private entrance facing the garden, a king-sized Hypnos bed, spacious sitting area, and a private hot tub and steam room.
- For Families: No family rooms per se, but most rooms can accommodate cots.
No. 15 Great Pulteney – Local Transport
- Walking: The Victoria Art Gallery is a 4-minute walk, while the Roman Baths and Bath Abbey are a 7-minute walk apiece. Thermae Bath Spa and Jane Austen Centre are both about a 10-minute stroll. Easily walkable to the Royal Crescent, Assembly Rooms, and the Herschel Museum of Astronomy. Numerous bars, restaurants, and boutiques are across the river in central Bath.
- Taxis, Uber: Taxis and Uber charge around £6 from the train station to the hotel. Central Bath is very walkable and you can easily reach all the main attractions on foot.
No. 15 Great Pulteney – What’s Nearby?
Recommended Nearby Tours
- Mayor’s Honorary Guides – Superb free walking tours (no tips or gratuities accepted) run by certified city guides passionate about its history. Meet outside the Roman Baths at 10.30am and 2pm Sunday to Friday and 10.30am only on Saturday. (0.3 mile).
- Bizarre Bath Tours – These “hysterical rather than historical” walking tours are a fun-filled way to spend an evening and give you an irreverent overview of the city. They depart at 8pm nightly from The Huntsman on North Parade. (0.4 mile).
- Mad Max Tours – Award-winning small group day trips to popular locations outside Bath, such as Stonehenge, the Cotswolds villages, plus Glastonbury, Wells, and Cheddar Gorge. Departures from the Abbey Hotel on North Parade. (0.4 mile).
Best Nearby Restaurants
- Giggling Squid – Contemporary Thai restaurant where the recipes are based on dishes that the chef grew up with, such as slow-cooked lamb massaman curry, spicy seafood pad cha stir-fry, and green curry with chicken. Thai tapas available throughout the day. (0.4 mile).
- Pump Room Restaurant – Attached to the Roman Baths, this elegant Georgian dining room serves light lunches and proper afternoon teas, complete with cakes and dainty little sandwiches. (0.4 mile).
- Acorn – Award-winning vegan restaurant. Choose from a 5 or 7-course tasting menu, opt for a menu of small plate classics or go for a set 3-course lunch menu. Book ahead. (0.4 mile).
- Sotto Sotto – Considered to be the best Italian restaurant in the city, Sotto Sotto serves sophisticated dishes such as grilled sea bass with sweet potato gnocchi and fettucine with Gressingham duck inside a subtly-lit vaulted brick chamber. Book ahead. (0.4 mile).
- Olé Tapas – Tiny tapas bar with wonderfully authentic dishes – from platters of cold cuts and Spanish cheeses with quince paste, to the paprika-dusted Galician-style octopus. Plenty of Spanish wines by the glass, too. (0.4 mile).
- Clayton’s Kitchen – With tables in the delightful outdoor passage, Clayton’s wouldn’t look out of place in Paris. The Modern British dishes are fresh, seasonal, and beautifully presented. Lunch is a bargain and there’s an eclectic wine list. (0.5 mile).
- Noya’s Kitchen – Friendly, informal supper club and lunchtime restaurant that specializes in home-style Vietnamese cooking. Bookings recommended. (0.5 mile).
- The Gainsborough Brasserie – Seasonal and creative Modern British fine dining making the most of sustainably-sourced ingredients, and served in the elegant dining room. Choose between a la carte, 3-course lunches, and the 5 and 7-course tasting menus. Smart casual. Reservations recommended. (0.5 mile).
Best Nearby Cafes and Tea Shops
- Sally Lunn’s – Locally revered tea shop serving classic afternoon tea, complete with tiny cucumber sandwiches with the crusts cut off. Alternatively, go for a Bath cream tea, which includes half of Sally’s famous toasted bunns, with cinnamon butter and with clotted cream on the side. (0.4 mile).
- Mokoko Coffee – Carefully selected coffees sourced from as far afield as Rwanda, Colombia, Guatemala, Peru, and Tanzania, and prepared in numerous ways. Also tarts, croissants, and muffins made from scratch. (0.4 mile).
- Hands Georgian Tearooms – Traditional tearooms going strong since 1852, with hearty breakfasts (full English, eggs benedict), Clotted Cream Tea (tea with homemade scones, clotted cream, and jam) and High Tea (tea, scones, cakes, and sandwiches) served by waitresses in period costumes. (0.4 mile).
Best Nearby Bars and Pubs
- BeerCraft of Bath – Just off Pulteney Bridge, this lively craft beer bar with four rotating beers on tap doubles as a bottle shop that stocks over 500 bottled brews from all over Europe and further afield. (0.2 mile).
- Opium – A discreet doorway tucked away under Grove St leads you into a snug warren of rooms, themed from Renaissance through to Victoriana. Opium is legendary locally for its cocktails, and can whip up one to your specifications. (0.2 mile).
- Canary Gin Bar – A must-visit for fans of all things juniper-based, the cozy, subtly-lit Canary stocks over 230 types of gin. Apart from killer G&Ts, there’s a long list of gin-based cocktails and occasional masterclasses. (0.4 mile).
- The Hideout – Whiskies from around the world are the specialty at this snug sub-basement bar hidden beneath a medieval stone arch, from Glennfidich single malts to Japanese whisky blends. Have it on the rocks, as part of a cocktail, or as a Crab Smasher shooter. (0.4 mile).
- The Raven – This congenial place is best for chats over a pint of ale, including their very own Raven Gold. There are also excellent pies to choose from, from classic meat to goat’s cheese and sweet potato. (0.4 mile).
- Corkage – This cozy wine bar, lined with legions of wine bottles, has an excellent selection of tipples from all over the world, though it’s particularly strong on French, Italian, and Spanish wines. Small plates of creative bistro fare available for sharing. (0.5 mile).
- The Bell Inn – This no-frills, 18th-century pub is a beloved live music venue, with anything from blues, folk, and jazz to rock performed on Sunday lunchtimes and Monday and Wednesday evenings. Vinyl DJ sets on weekends and Abbey Ales’ Bellringer on tap. (0.6 mile).
Nearby Shopping and Cool Shops
- The Antique Map Shop – On Pulteney Bridge, this specialist shop is particularly strong on antique maps of Great Britain and its various regions. The oldest map here dates back to the 15th century. (0.2 mile).
- Bath Aqua Glass – This glass-blowing workshop is open for demonstrations daily at 11 am and 2 pm, and the attached shop sells an excellent array of gifts. (0.3 mile).
- Clandar – All about British textiles, Clandar specializes in designing and making its own range of British tweed clothing, with the tweed sourced from historic British tweed mills. Scottish cashmere and British woolens also sold here. (0.3 mile).
- Castle Fine Art – This branch of the gallery showcases paintings, sculptures, sketches, and more by 60 contemporary British artists, from London cityscapes by Paul Kenton to cartoons of Marvel superheroes by Nigel Humphries. (0.3 mile).
- Penhaligon’s – Bath branch of the illustrious British house of fragrances, started by a Cornish barber in London some 150 years ago. Also stocks high-end bath and body products. (0.3 mile).
- Independent Spirit of Bath – Besides specializing in single malt whiskies from Scotland and elsewhere, artisan gins, and the best of British craft beer, this shop also organizes whisky tastings and gin and cocktail masterclasses. (0.3 mile).
- Roman Baths Shop – Terrific gift shop with Roman and Bath-themed souvenirs, from Asterix books in Latin and books on the history of Roman Britain to small batch spirits by Bath Botanical gin and hand-foraged preserves by Heavenly Hedgerows. (0.4 mile).
- DuoBoots – Calf-length, knee-length, and over-the-knee boots for ladies designed and sold here. Designs range from timeless classics to on-trend footwear. (0.4 mile).
- House of Fraser – With marble columns and an impressive façade, House of Fraser is the oldest department store in the UK, beautifully restored to its 1820’s splendor. Formerly known as Jolly’s. Inside, you’ll find fine homewares and luxury brands such as Chanel and Armani. (0.4 mile).
- Topping & Company – Browse one of UK’s best independent bookshops, complete with rolling library ladders. The bookshop attracts year-round signings by authors and plays an important part in the annual Bath Literary Festival. (0.4 mile).
Nearby Attractions
- Victoria Art Gallery – Bath’s second most visited museum displays works from over 2,000 artists inside a stately 19th-century building. These range from portraits painted by renowned artists such as Thomas Gainsborough and Johann Zoffany to city landscapes by the likes of Walter Sickert and John Nash, and amateur works by up-and-coming local painters. (0.2 mile).
- Roman Baths – Known to the Romans as Aquae Sulis, this largely intact Roman baths complex dates back to 70AD and is fed by mineral-rich hot springs. Visitor highlights include the Great Bath, the temple courtyard, and the on-site museum with its wealth of mosaics, Roman coins, and statuary. (0.3 mile).
- Bath Abbey Tower – For breathtaking views of Bath’s rooftops and the surrounding countryside, take a tour of the Abbey Tower. See the bell ringing chamber and a hidden room with the Abbey clock mechanism before scaling the spiral staircase all the way to the top. (0.3 mile).
- Thermae Bath Spa – While it’s not possible to bathe in the Roman baths, you can enjoy the same mineral-rich waters as the Romans did 2,000 years ago at this state-of-the-art spa. Soak in the basement pool and hot tub, treat yourself to massages and facials, or head up to the open-air rooftop pool. (0.5 mile).
- Jane Austen Centre – Museum dedicated to Bath’s famous former resident. British novelist Jane Austen lived in Bath from 1801 to 1806 and set two of her novels here: Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, based on her observations of Regency society. There are hands-on exhibits, snippets from Austen’s letters, and guides dressed as characters from her novels. (0.5 mile).
- Fashion Museum & Assembly Rooms – Marvel at the gowns, dresses, breeches, gloves, and wigs from fashion trends from the 17th to late 20th centuries, and don’t miss the special exhibit devoted to the fashions of the Royal Family. In the same building, the Assembly Rooms with their frescoed ceilings and original chandeliers used to host the 18th-century equivalent of the Kardashians and Paris Hiltons. (0.6 mile).
- The Circus – Comprising 3 terraces, each divided into 11 mansions, and curved around a circular green space, the Circus was inspired by Rome’s Colosseum and built in 1768 to the specifications of architect John Wood the Elder. Past residents have included painter Thomas Gainsborough, actor Nicolas Cage, and Clive of India. (0.6 mile).
- No. 1 Royal Crescent – Designed by architect John Wood the Younger and built in the 1770s, this sweeping crescent of 30 four-story mansions overlooks an idyllic park. You can visit the restored Georgian mansion with original furnishings at No. 1: four-poster beds and wig-stretchers in the bedrooms, plus an elegant dining set in the grand dining room. (0.8 mile).
Nearby Markets or Grocery Stores
- Bath Guildhall Market – This covered market is the oldest shopping venue in the city. Twenty stalls and shops sell regional cheeses, leather goods, traditional British sweets, design-led jewelry, specialty teas and coffees, and second-hand books. There’s also an espresso bar and a café serving all-day English breakfasts and sandwiches. (0.2 mile).
- Waitrose – Central branch of the high-end supermarket. (0.3 mile).
No. 15 Great Pulteney – The Hotel
The guest lounge and other common spaces at No. 15 Great Pulteney feature quirky contemporary art.
The hotel’s idiosyncratic features include collections of antique cameras, hand-blown glass lights, and other curios.
Attached to the bar, the Sitting Room doubles as a breakfast venue. Breakfast is served from 7.30am to 10.30am on weekdays and 8am to 11am on weekends.
Open from 6.30pm in the evenings, Bar 15 serves classic and bespoke cocktails, local craft beer, and champagne.
One of the hotel’s perks is this complimentary guest larder full of sweets and a fridge with milk for the complimentary tea and coffee.
Half of the rooms look out over the vast green space of Henrietta Park out back. The rooms facing the back and those in the coach house tend to be a little quieter than those facing Great Pulteney St, though traffic tends to be light.
The basement Spa 15 comes with a cedar wood hot tub, accessible to guests from 10am to 7pm. From 7.30pm, it can be booked for private 60-minute sessions (£70 for 2 people, £120 for up to 6 guests); champagne can also be served.
Spa 15 includes 4 treatment rooms, plus a barrel-shaped traditional sauna.
Spa 15 treatment rooms are individually styled; this is the Sock Room.
The Dispensary (open 7.30am to 9.30pm) is the light, bright dining room that riffs on the apothecary theme and serves breakfast, light dishes at lunchtime, and creative, seasonal British fare in the evenings, as well as 3-course Sunday brunches.
Most of the Cosy Doubles are found on the Artists’ Floor, and each comes individually decorated with original art and equipped with a Hypnos bed.
All bathrooms come with rain showers and copper wash basins. Some of the Cosy and Deluxe Doubles come with bathtubs as well.
The high-ceilinged Deluxe Doubles are also uniquely themed and equipped with Hypnos king-sized beds and quirky touches, such as dolls’ houses.
Junior Suites come with spacious sitting areas and large bathrooms with mirrored walls and artisanal Bamford skincare products.
The hotel’s finest room is the Hideout Suite, with its own private entrance from the garden.
The Hideout Suite’s living area comes with a fireplace, original art, and a state-of-the-art sound system.
The Hideout Suite’s bathroom features a steam room and private jacuzzi.
If you head west from the hotel, within minutes you hit Pulteney Bridge – a well-photographed 18th-century landmark that spans the River Avon. It looks even more impressive from the west side of the river.
Directly on the bridge is The Antique Map Shop – particularly good for centuries-old maps of different parts of the British isles.
Across the street, BeerCraft of Bath is both a craft beer bar and the best place in town to shop for craft brews from all over Europe and beyond.
Just before you cross the bridge, head north up Grove St for a minute and take a sharp left along Spring Gardens Rd to find Opium, a snug cocktail bar with themed rooms and legendary cocktails.
Just to the west of the bridge is the Victoria Art Gallery, Bath’s repository of fine and contemporary arts. Come on a Wednesday for a free tour of the highlights.
If you head south from the bridge along the river, you soon hit the Parade Gardens – the riverside green space popular with picnickers.
Take North Parade east from Parade Gardens and you hit tiny, pedestrian Church Street. This is where you’ll find Acorn, the award-winning vegan restaurant. It’s worth booking ahead even for lunch.
Next door is the legendary Sally Lunn’s – the most popular café in Bath for afternoon tea, with an attached museum – both inside one of Bath’s oldest houses. The specialty here is Bath cream tea, complete with a massive bun buttered with cinnamon butter.
A few steps west, duck into an alcove and you find The Hideout, a tiny whisky bar with tipples from around the world and a potent gin and whisky shooter.
Walk one block north and you find yourself on Kingston Parade, the square in front of the Bath Abbey, complete with street musicians.
Scaling the Abbey tower (closed during inclement weather) is particularly worthwhile, since you get fine 360-degree views from the top of the entire town. Tours run every hour and take around 45 minutes; get your tickets in advance just inside the Bath Abbey entrance.
Directly opposite the Abbey are the Roman Baths – Aquae Sulis to the Romans and the town’s biggest attraction. Check out the Great Bath and the museum with its wealth of Roman finds. Go early in the day, before the school groups arrive, and get a combo ticket if you’re planning to visit the Victoria Art Gallery and Fashion Museum.
You exit the Roman Baths through the gift shop, which is a great place to shop for quality Roman and Bath-themed souvenirs, such as locally made gin and Asterix comics in Latin.
A few steps north along Stall St is Mokoko Coffee, the tiny central branch (the main one is on Dorchester St, near the train station) that stocks carefully selected coffees from around the world; limited seating room.
If you head west along Bath St from the Roman Baths gift shop, in a couple of minutes you come to the Thermae Bath Spa – the only place in the city where you can enjoy Bath’s famous thermal waters apart from the spa inside the Gainsborough Bath Spa hotel. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays tend to be quieter days.
A block south of Thermae Bath Spa, along St James’ Parade, is Noya’s Kitchen, a small, home-like restaurant specializing in home-style Vietnamese cooking. Evening supper clubs are a good way to meet locals.
More good Asian food is found 3 blocks north of the spa, on Westgate Street: the Giggling Squid is all about contemporary, creative Thai dishes and Thai tapas throughout the day (popular with kids).
Four blocks north, on Gay St, is the Jane Austen Centre – a must for fans of Regency England fiction. You’ll be shown around by characters from her novels.
A block north and a block east of the Jane Austen Centre, Clayton’s Kitchen serves very affordable Modern British fare; the 3-course lunches are a bargain.
A block east of Clayton’s Kitchen is Topping & Company, one of Britain’s best independent bookshops, complete with rolling library ladders.
Alternatively, take Old King St east, then John St south from the Jane Austen Centre, and in a couple of minutes you’ll pass The Raven, a classic pub specializing in real ales and terrific pies.
A few doors down is the Canary Gin Bar (Bath is famous for its gin), with over 230 varieties and a long cocktail list.
A block east of John St, and parallel to it is Milsom St, renowned for its high-end shops and fine British tailoring. This is where you’ll find Penhaligon’s – the Bath branch of London’s illustrious house of fragrances.
Across the street, Castle Fine Art sells paintings, sculptures, and more by over 60 contemporary British artists. Check rates and availability: No. 15 Great Pulteney
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