Beautiful Bath

BEING married with children is fantastic. Most of the time. At other times, it can be: a. stressful b. expensive c. exhausting and d. relentlessly hard work.

So, on the basis that absence makes the heart grow fonder, two of us (busy working mums with one husband and three children each) deserted them, a la Thelma and Louise, and took off for some ‘us time’ in one of Britain’s best little jewels.

Bath, along with Edinburgh and Oxford, is one of the UK’s most popular tourist cities outside London.

Almost four million visit each year to sample the Georgian architecture, the Roman Baths and its theatres and museums.

That’s a lot of people, and cars, but if you can be patient with the snarled-up roads, then Bath is a joy to visit.

Compact, vibrant and teeming with history, it is easy to see why it has been a World Heritage Site since 1987.

For mothers who joyously abandon their families for a weekend break, it offers great shopping and a dizzying choice of restaurants, cafes and bars, all within a fairly easy walk of each other.

There are beautiful crescents, the Georgian architecture and of course the Roman Baths, which gave the city its name, discovered more than 2,000 years ago and still pulling ’em in today.

A modern take on the ancient, the sparkling new Thermae Bath Spa (just across from its more aged neighbour) allows visitors to ‘take the waters’ and enjoy some modern spa treatments.

Accommodation comes in all shapes and sizes, from youth hostels, to B&Bs, boutique hotels and five-star palaces.

We opted for the latter, on the basis that we deserved it (we’re wives and mothers after all ...) and headed straight for the best address in town – the sumptuous Royal Crescent Hotel.

I mean, the setting alone is worth the price.

And chances are, if you’re a fan of Jane Austen, you will have seen the Royal Crescent many times as a backdrop to assorted film and TV adaptations.

Any worries about husbands, children and pets (not necessarily in that order) left our heads as we swept into the hotel’s lobby.

Check-in was a breeze. No queuing at reception, just an informal sit down in the lounge and the formalities were done with.

Yet despite the grand architecture and luxurious décor, there was nothing aloof or intimidating about the venue.

So without further ado, and nothing to complain about (we’re wives remember) we polished off an afternoon tea, hit the shops and returned for an aperitif (or three) followed by a memorable dinner in the hotel’s Dower House restaurant.

Guinea fowl and roasted pigeon were followed by roast breast of duck and pan-fried fillet of John Dory.

Which meant for relaxation (eating, phew, can be exhausting), we then had to slink off to the sunken stone swimming pool that was candle lit for night swimming (the next day, I should add, we experienced the hotel’s spa - equally as Sex And The City-esque).

So if you want a weekend away within 90 minutes of Oxford, this is the place to head.

You’ll still love your cherished ones of course – but from a distance.

Depending on when you stay, one night’s bed and breakfast at the Royal Crescent Hotel will set you back anything from £195 for a double to £920 for a Master Suite.

But reassuringly, there are a number of discounts and special offers available at various times throughout the year.

The Royal Crescent Hotel, Bath 01225 823333 info@royalcrescent.co.uk royalcrescent.co.uk visitbath.co.uk romanbaths.co.uk thermaebathspa.com