London is undoubtedly amazing. but sometimes it's nice to get away for a mini break and escape the bustle of the city. Spa lovers, go west - there is nowhere better than Bath.
The Bath Spa Hotel sits perched above Bath, with spectacular views of landscaped gardens, the city below and the rolling green hills beyond. One of the finest five star hotels in the region, the it's the perfect setting for a relaxing weekend away.
I checked in to my room, overlooking the city and was welcomed with a box of chocolates and a fluffy white robe - so far so good. After throwing my bags in the door it was straight downstairs to check out the spa facilities. A luscious pool and jacuzzi gave way to an outdoor hydrotherapy pool, heated to a blissful thirty-something degrees it's the perfect place to unwind on a chilly afternoon. There are a range of other facilities including an aroma steam room, salt-infused steam room, saunas and an ice room, the idea being to throw ice all over yourself after a hot sauna and then take an icy shower to stimulate your blood supply and metabolism. Needless to say I chickened out of that part... Nevertheless the circuit of pool, jacuzzi, steam, sauna is an ideal way to while away a couple of hours, helpfully assisted by the piles of magazines strategically placed around the pool for your enjoyment.
Mid afternoon I sauntered downstairs to one of the seven treatment rooms to indulge in the luxurious Decleor Aroma Expert Purify Facial, one of the best I've ever encountered, courtesy of my therapist Tara. Decleor's five star products smell incredible and work wonders. Distilled from the very heart of flowers, leaves, fruit, bark, seeds or roots, the essential oils used in Decleor's products are powerful concentrates of active plant ingredients that act to balance, nourish, repair and beautify the skin. I've since invested in the Aroma Pureté 2 in 1 Purifying & Oxygenating Mask, combining both an exfoliant and mask in one to cleanse and deeply mattify without dehydrating the skin, whilst gently eliminating dead skin cells. Post-facial I was escorted to the relaxation room, where you can curl up in an armchair with a blanket and help yourself to the menu of herbal teas and glossy magazines.
Dinner was served in the award-winning Vellore Restaurant, a grand room that could easily have been a ballroom back when the building was originally built in 1836 before becoming a hotel for the first time in 1912. I indulged in a starter of smooth chicken liver pâte with sour apple compote, followed by sea bass. The food was delicious, my only qualm being the pâte was slightly too cold - clearly straight from the fridge it perhaps needed to warm up a little first. Accompanied by a rather lovely bottle of vino, dinner was nevertheless a success.
For fellow fashion and beauty fans Bath has plenty to offer. The city's fashion museum is currently hosting exhibitions entitled Glamour, featuring twenty two show stopping evening gowns and cocktail dresses and Sport & Fashion, showcasing examples of historic sportswear from the museum collection alongside modern fashions. If the hotel's facilities just aren't enough for you, head to the Thermae Bath Spa, Britain's only natural thermal spa. Situated in the city centre, the stunning rooftop baths are worth a late night visit to take in the beautiful views.
A mere 90 minutes on the train from London, Bath is the perfect location for a break from the norm. For more information on the Bath Spa Hotel visit www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk
Love Laurel x
