Places To Stay Near The Royal Crescent
After exploring the magnificent Royal Crescent, our nearby boutique hotels are the perfect place to stay the night with cosy beds, stylish decor and delicious breakfasts, and refresh with a delicious locally-sourced pub meal and award-winning Butcombe beer.
The Methuen Arms
Steeped in history and character, The Methuen Arms hotel in Corsham started life as a nunnery before being converted into a brewery and coaching inn in 1608. The inn offers 19 newly-renovated bedrooms, a mouth-watering food menu created with ingredients sourced from its kitchen garden, and a cosy bar area and spacious beer garden perfect for enjoying the inn’s range of hand-pulled ales. Book your room today and stay the night after exploring the wonderful city of Bath and visiting the eye-catching Royal Crescent.
Broad Street Townhouse
See all that the beautiful city of Bath has to offer with a stay at Broad Street Townhouse hotel, a Grade II-listed building based in the heart of the Roman city and just a stone’s throw from the magnificent Royal Crescent. Relax in style in one of 11 luxurious boutique rooms, each with sumptuous king-size beds and en-suite bathrooms. Take a break from exploring the city in the ground floor café/bar, or enjoy a more hearty meal at our sister venue next door, The Pig & Fiddle pub.
The Crown Inn
Just a stone’s throw from Dyrham Park and within easy reach of Bath, The Crown inn has 9 welcoming ensuite rooms, perfect for a sound night’s sleep after exploring the Georgian city of Bath and the magnificent Royal Crescent. On the menu at the on-site restaurant, you’ll find a cracking selection of hearty pub classics, perfectly paired with a variety of Butcombe beers behind the bar.
The George Inn
There’s nowhere like The George Inn in Norton St. Philip. As a Grade II-listed building, with history dating back to 1397, a stay at The George Inn will surely be an unforgettable experience.
Close to Bath and its wonderful attractions such as the Royal Crescent, The George also makes an ideal base for a staycation, business trip, or weekend getaway. Stay in one of the 9 ensuite rooms at one of Britain’s oldest taverns, and enjoy a delicious, locally-sourced pub classic with and award-winning pint of Butcombe beer.
The King’s Arms
The King’s Arms hotel is a charming 18th-century inn set in the heart of Melksham. Featuring 13 modern, comfy bedrooms, a pub-restaurant offering exciting takes on pub classics and an array of award-winning Butcombe beers behind the bar, The King’s Arms is the perfect option for a boutique stayaway that is within close proximity to the wonderful city of Bath and wonderful attractions like the Royal Crescent.
The Northey Arms
Situated in Box near Corsham in Wiltshire, The Northey Arms is the perfect base for exploring nearby Bath and the world-class walking, cycling and dog-walking opportunities in and around the Cotswolds. With 13 en-suite rooms of varying sizes, we can accommodate guests for family breaks, romantic getaways or perfect staycations.
We’re close to many of the most popular attractions in Bath, so you can relax at The Northey Arms after your day admiring the magnificent architecture of the Royal Crescent.
The Quarrymans Arms
Located in picturesque Box Hill, The Quarrymans Arms hotel is a gorgeous country inn boasting sweeping views of the Box Valley. The inn offers the perfect boutique getaway with four flawlessly-decorated bedrooms, a delightful restaurant serving the finest, locally-sourced seasonal produce, and a fantastic selection of ales, craft beers, local ciders and fine wines to get stuck into. Just a short drive from the centre of Bath, it is the perfect spot to relax after a day visiting the Royal Crescent.
The Royal Crescent
The Royal Crescent is one of the most famous streets in the UK and one of Bath’s major tourist attractions. Featuring a semi-circle of 30 terraced honey-coloured houses, the street is considered to be one of the UK’s finest examples of Georgian architecture.
A brief history of the Royal Crescent
Built between 1767 and 1775, the Royal Crescent was designed by English architect John Wood the Younger.
Whilst the front of the houses may look uniform with their combined 114 symmetrical columns, the rear is a muddle of differing depths and roof heights. This is a result of each house being built by different architects, who were obliged to follow John Wood the Younger’s specifications for the front but given free rein for the back of each property!
Originally only known as The Crescent, the building was granted its ‘royal’ status in the late 18th century following a visit from Prince Frederick, the Duke of York and Albany.
The Royal Crescent today
Today, the Royal Crescent is one of the most famous streets in the UK and was a contributing factor in the city of Bath receiving UNESCO World Heritage status in 1987.
Whilst many of the townhouses remain the homes of private residents, houses 15 and 16 have been transformed into a luxury hotel and spa, and house 1 is now a museum offering visitors a fascinating glimpse into the life of a Royal Crescent resident during the 18th century.
The Royal Crescent’s famous occupants
Many notable people have lived or stayed at the Royal Crescent since it was built, some of which are recognised on special plaques attached to the building’s exterior. These include:
- Sir Isaac Pitman, who was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1894 for his invention of the most widely-used system of shorthand.
- George Edward Bateman Saintsbury, a 20th-century writer famed for his work ‘Notes on a Cellar-Book’.
- Christopher Anstey, an infamous 18th-century poet commemorated at Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey.
- Frederic Harrison, a well-known 19th-century jurist, historian, writer and thinker.
The Royal Crescent on film
As a stunning example of Palladian architecture, the Royal Crescent has provided the backdrop for several films and period dramas. Notable appearances include the 1966 film ‘The Wrong Box’ starring Michael Caine, Peter Sellers and Dudley Moore, the 2007 television film production of Jane Austen’s novel ‘Persuasion’ and the 2008 film ‘The Duchess’ starring Kiera Knightley and Ralph Fiennes. Most recently, it starred in the hit Netflix series ‘Bridgerton’.
Miss Amabel Wellesley-Colley
In 1972, the resident of No. 22, Miss Amabel Wellesley-Colley sent shockwaves throughout Bath when she decided to paint her front door and window shutters primrose yellow as opposed to the traditional white.
As a result, Amabel had to fight two enforcement orders from Bath City Country and defend herself at a 6-hour public enquiry (to which she wore a bright yellow suit) before it was declared the door could stay yellow, as it still does to this day!
See pictures of the Royal Crescent here.