Slow Stays | Homewood, Bath

Disclaimer: I stayed at Homewood while on assignment for Small Luxury Hotels. I did not pay for my stay and was paid by SLH to write an article for their journal.

I am not required to write this post and this is not an ‘ad’.

Sometimes you stay in a hotel that makes you completely reassess the way you’ve been travelling. When I was in my twenties, I really didn’t care where I was staying, as long as I had somewhere to rest my head at the end of a long day sightseeing and having fun. Nowadays, where I stay is a huge part of my travel experience. I love discovering beautiful boutique hotels, cosy cottages and impeccably designed cabins - and I always look for places that encourage slow travel and are surrounded by nature. Luxury never really entered the equation for me. I admired luxury accommodation from afar but had yet to stay in what I would consider a luxury hotel.

Homewood has ruined this for me. Two nights in one of their best suites, complete with super-king size bed, double slipper bath and our own private hot tub has raised the bar for what I want all my travels to look like going forward. Yes, staying somewhere like this is a complete treat, but sometimes you just need to treat yourself. Personally, I prefer spending my money on experiences rather than material possessions, and a couple of nights in a beautiful room, surrounded by acres of countryside, eating delicious food, and relaxing in one of the nicest spas I’ve had the pleasure of visiting is definitely an experience.

My travelling companion commented that she felt like royalty, and I have to agree. The team at Homewood are wonderful, making you feel comfortable and welcome in all areas of the hotel. We spent time cosying up by the fire sipping cocktails, dining on delicious meals in the hotel’s restaurant, unwinding in the spa, exploring the grounds and, of course, making the most of our incredible room. I have so many photographs to share from this stay, which I have shared below along with more details of each aspect of the hotel.

Stay here if you love luxury accommodation, spa breaks, delicious food and countryside retreats.

The room

We stayed in one of Homewood’s spa suites - a vast room with plenty of space for the two of us to unwind. The bed was so large that we joked we couldn’t reach each other’s hands from either side. There was a comfy sofa, which I always love in a hotel room (who wants to sit on their bed in the middle of the day?) and a dressing table where a bottle of champagne and a selection of chocolate truffles were waiting to welcome us. Our private terrace would have been wonderful during the warmer months, but luckily the hot tub was undercover so we could enjoy soaking in it even when it was raining. The highlight of this room was, however, the incredible bathroom. Possibly the largest bathroom I’ve ever had the pleasure of using, this sanctuary had not one but two large slipper baths, which we enjoyed a long soak in one evening, and also a beautiful walk-in shower.

The grounds

I like to explore when I’m staying somewhere, wandering around the grounds in the hope of finding flowers, foliage and a polytunnel. I was in luck at Homewood, ticking two of the three off my list. I imagine the grounds are filled with flowers in spring and summer, but during autumn the impressive collection of trees put on a show with their fiery foliage. There are lots of interesting nooks and crannies, places to sit and rest, and interesting artworks to discover as you stroll around. And, of course, I gravitated towards the kitchen garden where brassicas were currently taking centre stage. There’s even an agility course for your four-legged friends (Homewood is incredibly dog friendly).

The facilties

I love a hotel with a spa - especially when that spa includes a heated outdoor pool for me to get my swimming fix among the fresh air. Homewood’s spa is wonderful, and their spa suites are particularly great as you can slip through your private entrance in your robe and slippers. We spent as long as we could get away with (read: until our fingertips pruned) in the spa each day of our stay: swimming in the outdoor pool, relaxing in the indoor hydrotherapy pool’s bubbles, trying out the hot tub, and soaking up the heat in the sauna and the steam room. We also treated ourselves to massages - my Indian head massage was incredible and left me feeling rejuvenated.

There’s more to enjoy at Homewood than just the spa - especially on a miserable autumn day. There is plenty of space for relaxing in the hotel’s communal areas, including it’s cosy red-walled bar (try out their signature cocktails) and the stylish lounge area where you can pull up an armchair in front of the fire. There are board games to play and even a sweet bar for those with a sweet tooth.

Don’t forget to book a table at Olio, the hotel’s restaurant with a choice of dining spaces (we especially liked sitting in the conservatory). The extensive menu is themed around Mediterranean flavours with ingredients sourced from the local area and, of course, the hotel’s own kitchen garden. My favourite dish I sampled during our stay was the fresh and flavoursome sweet potato salad with a side of parmesan fries. Delicious!

The surrounding area

Homewood is located on the edge of Freshford, a beautiful village close to Bath. I’ll delve into my time in Bath in a separate post, but you don’t need to head into the city at all during your stay. There are plenty of walking routes direct from the hotel’s doorstep, and they supply a handy walking guide in your room with walks of varying length. We chose to walk to Iford Manor for a takeaway coffee (the gardens were sadly closed when we visited but I’ve been told they are beautiful) and then loop around Freshford village, stopping for a light lunch at The Gallery, a lovely cafe and farm shop. Definitely make sure you leave the comfort of the hotel, even if just for a short stroll - you’ll appreciate that spa treatment even more so if you book it for when you return with weary feet.