WILTSHIRE & SOMERSET - England 2012 and the Best of Wales - page 344

A4 to Upper Bristol Rd., fork right at the traffic signals into Newbridge Hill, and turn left at Apsley Rd.
Amenities: Bar; room service; Wi-Fi (free). In room: TV, hair dryer; Wi-Fi (free).
Queensberry A gem of a hotel, this early Georgian-era townhouse isn't your aver-
age homage to Jane Austen, with rooms that are more contemporary chic than Louis
XIV. The Marquis of Queensberry commissioned John Wood the Younger to build this
house in 1772, and though the rooms maintain their antique fittings and fireplaces,
the furniture, rugs, and bright colors are all 21st century.
Russell St., Bath, Somerset BA1 2QF. www.thequeensberry.co.uk. & 01225/447928. Fax [phone].
29 units. £155-£290 double; £230-£350 suite. AE, MC, V. Free parking. Amenities: Restaurant (see
Olive Tree review, p. 340); bar; babysitting; room service; Wi-Fi (free, in lobby). In room: TV, CD player,
hair dryer.
MODERATE
Athole Guest House Spacious, luxurious rooms and a personal touch from
the friendly owners make this one of the best deals of the city. The key is value for
money; rooms cost less than £100 most of the year, yet you get the amenities associated
with a four-star hotel, as well as free transfers from the train station. The house is Vic-
torian, but the rooms are bright and contemporary. And the breakfasts are magical; from
full English (with everything) to kippers, Welsh rarebit, and pancakes.
33 Upper Oldfield Park, Bath, Somerset BA2 3JX. www.atholehouse.co.uk. & 01225/320000. 4 units.
£65-£130 double. Rates include English breakfast. 2-night minimum stay Sat-Sun. AE, MC, V. Free park-
ing. Amenities: Free transfer from/to the railway or bus station. In room: A/C, TV, hair dryer, fridge,
Wi-Fi (free).
The Halcyon This is a true boutique hotel amid all the Georgian chintz, with a
crisp contemporary theme; it's a hip place to stay, but, like most boutiques, it's not big
on amenities. The property is a 1743 Georgian townhouse, but the compact rooms
feature large, springy beds, bright colors (yellow, scarlet, or mauve), big plasma TVs,
and the obligatory Philippe Starck fittings in the bathroom. Fun extras include jars
filled with colored candy and gummy bears. Rooms on the first floor are biggest, and
the ones at the front have the best views.
2/3 South Parade, Bath, Somerset BA2 4AA. www.thehalcyon.com. & 01225/444100. Fax: 01225/
331200. 21 units. £99-£125 double. Breakfast extra £10. AE, MC, V. Amenities: Bar. In room: A/C, TV,
Wi-Fi (free).
One Three Nine This is another inviting alternative to Bath's numerous
Georgian-theme hotels, a stylish contemporary B&B with nary an antique in sight.
The house is a Victorian residence from the 1870s, but rooms feature modern English
design, power showers, flat-screen TVs, and Molton Brown products. It's on the
southern side of the city, on the A367 road to Exeter, just a 10-minute walk from the
center of Bath, with minibuses passing by frequently.
139 Wells Rd., Bath, Somerset BA2 3AL. www.139bath.co.uk. & 01225/314769. Fax [phone]
units. £60-£110 double. Rates include English breakfast. 2-night minimum stay Sat-Sun. AE, MC, V. Free
parking. In room: A/C, TV/DVD, CD player, hair dryer, Wi-Fi (free).
INEXPENSIVE
Badminton Villa Located about a half-mile south of the city center, this is an
atmospheric B&B that dates not from the Georgian era but the Victorian, constructed
in 1883. Built of honey-colored blocks of Bath stone, it lies on a hillside with sweep-
ing views over the city. Rooms are relatively free of the antiques that grace most

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