Recommended Restaurants and places to visit.
At The Ayrlington we pride ourselves on our service and we are often asked which restaurants or places we would recommend visiting. So we have prepared this guide to help plan your visit to Bath in the hope it makes your stay a more memorable and enjoyable one. Click on the links in the text for more information.
On check-in, all Guests receive a Reward Discount card with their keys. Information about offers available can be found at www.stayinbath.org/big-ben-offers.
Useful websites to visit for more information include The Bath Guide and Visit Bath.
After arriving at the Ayrlington and having settled into your room, enjoy some coffee or tea in the drawing room, or in the summer months in the beautiful walled gardens. If you are new to the City, why not start your visit with a guided bus tour of the more famous attractions. Alternatively take a gentle stroll through Bath’s streets and squares to the heart of the City and the imposing Medieval Abbey, where you can see behind the scenes with a Tower Tour.
Nearby is the amazing Roman Baths complex, which is one of the finest ancient monuments in Europe. A visit will bring to life the ruins of this fascinating temple and its amazing natural thermal waters. Above the museum you can take the waters, enjoy a meal and listen to music in the 18th Century Pump Room. The nearby Thermae Bath Spa is a day spa where you can bathe in the warm, natural mineral-rich waters and choose from a range of spa treatments designed to ease the body and soothe the mind.
If you wish to relax away from the hustle and bustle of the City Centre, the Bath Beauty Salon offers an exceptional range of treatments in a historic Town House setting.
The city is full of historic buildings, many where famous figures lived and worked, these are often marked with blue plaques. In particular, it is Jane Austen who is famously associated with Bath, she lived at 4 Sydney Place. The Jane Austen centre provides an ideal place for an appreciation of her life and works. Or visit Sally Lunn’s house where she established her baking as a favourite of fashionable society in the 1680’s. Number 1 Royal Crescent is another must for any visitor to Bath, the house has been restored by the Bath Preservation Trust and offers a fascinating insight into life in the late 18th Century.
If you are into horses, Bath Racecourse is situated on Lansdown Hill overlooking the City of Bath and is the highest racecourse in Britain; known for being intimate, relaxed and friendly with a variety of weekday, weekend and evening fixtures.
Sunshine is not always guaranteed but on rainy days, visitors can take shelter in the museums and shops or take a trip to The Little Theatre cinema which has retained its charm and character since it first opened in the 1930’s.
If shopping is more your thing, then the breadth and selection of shops in Bath will satisfy any shopaholic. From Bang and Olufsen to Karen Millen or Mallory’s the jewellers, Bath caters for every taste and pocket. The newly developed Southgate Centre is the perfect place for designer shops and high street brands, or you can find some exquisite one-off shops in the lanes behind Milsom Street, selling a variety of unique pieces. Often hand-made, these shops offer a pleasant alternative to normal high street fare. Milsom Place is a unique mini indoor shopping centre where you can explore independent shops and grab a bite to eat at Jamie’s Italian.
If you need airport transfers or you are staying for a few nights and wish to explore some of the surrounding areas without the stress of driving unfamiliar roads, we recommend Chauffeur Travel Bath. This family run service provides clean, comfortable cars and a friendly, professional driver who will take you wherever you wish to explore. With complimentary mineral water, newspapers, mints and Wi-Fi, why not sit back and enjoy a ride in a well-kept Mercedes Benz!
Alternatively, Celtic Horizons provides private hire, airport transfers and customised guided tours; as recommended in Rick Steve’s guide books.
As you might expect, Bath has a fantastic array of Restaurants to suit any occasion and pocket. Our personal recommendations include:
Circus Cafe and Restaurant Tel: 01225 466020
Lovely family run restaurant, serving locally sourced produce; winner of multiple awards!Sotto Sotto Tel: 01225 446768
We rely on the quality of our ingredients rather than on elaborate preparation.The Mint RoomsTel: 01225 330236
Excellent Indian Cuisine.Chez Dominique Tel: 01225 463482
Modern French Cuisine.Koh Tai Tapas Tel: 01225 311232
Tapas bar, with a Thai twistCote Brasserie Tel: 01225 460962
Casual bar/bistro, outside dining, and top class restaurant.Olive Tree Tel: 01225 447928
Modern British cuisine.Loch Fyne Tel: 01225 750120
Seafood Restaurant.Ponte Vecchio Tel: 01225 424800
Italian, 5 minutes walk from The Ayrlington
There are so many things to see and do in Bath and the surrounding area, that entire books are devoted to the subject; we have only covered the principle visitor attractions and our recommended eating establishments. However, there are many seasonal events and places to visit, such as the ever popular Christmas Markets, Music, Literature and Film festivals and River trips during the summer. Slightly further afield is the ancient stone circle at Stonehenge, one of the South West’s most popular attractions. For more information visit tourist information or view a detailed map of the city.
