While some might have a love-hate relationship with our much-discussed royals, there is no denying we are all a little curious to sample the royal treatment. After all, how does Kate maintain her dewy glow and how does Princess Beatrice uphold her youthful visage? These princesses clearly have a little black book of go-to wellness destinations and today I am sharing one of those places, along with practical tips on making your home-pampering routine a whole lot more magnificent.
A Royal Treatment Requires a Royal Setting
Nestled in the heart of Bath and situated in the centre of one of the world’s greatest Georgian Crescents is The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa; a hotel steeped in history that spans over 250 years and is familiar with pampering some of our most beloved royals. The Royal Crescent itself has provided the backdrop for many a period drama including The Duchess (2007), Persuasion (2007), and Bridgerton (2020).
Housed within nothing less than a Grade-I listed building, the hotel is a haven of elegance and tranquillity. It boasts 45 delightfully luxurious rooms and suites, all decorated in historical Georgian tones with nature-inspired design and contrasting modern elements. I was treated to a sojourn in the hotel’s Royal Suite, which was quintessentially English by design and had spectacular views over The Royal Cresent.
Overlooking the hotel gardens is the 3AA Rosette farm-to-fork restaurant, Montagu’s Mews, run by award-winning Head Chef, Martin Blake. Then, next to the restaurant is the hotel’s famous Spa & Bath House.
A Sovereign Spa fit for a Queen
With Bath being the original spa break destination for wellbeing (before wellbeing was even a thing), the renowned Spa & Bath House sits within a converted coach house and accommodates six peaceful treatment rooms, and the most gorgeous 12-metre long heated relaxation pool set against a backdrop of Georgian arches. There is also a vitality pool with massage jets, sauna, and Technogym-fitted gym.
While at the hotel, my suite was spacious, so I choose to sample the in-room Technogym workout kit, which was brought to me promptly at 9am and included resistance bands, light hand weights and an exercise mat. While trying not to be too distracted by both my suite and the view from my window, I managed to squeeze in a few squats and planks.
Following my in-room workout, I headed down to the spa for a Cashmere and Truffles body massage with one of the hotels experienced massage therapists, Karolina. The treatment involved an invigorating, radiance-boosting exfoliation followed by a luxurious Truffle body massage. My skin was left feeling cashmere soft and beautifully fragrant.
Post-treatment, there was an option to relax in the Taittinger Spa Garden and order a light meal or indulgent Afternoon Tea, but I already had lunch plans.
Hotel Snapshot
What: The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa
Where: Bath, Somerset
Getting there: There are frequent trains from London Paddington to Bath Spa, which takes 1-hour 20-minutes. The hotel is a 15-minute walk from Bath Spa, or a quick taxi ride.
When: All-year round. Book a stay whenever is convenient for you.
Spa: The Royal CrescentSpa & Bath House sits within the hotel gardens.
Rooms: 45 delightfully luxurious rooms and suites.
Food: Montagu’s Mews, a 3AA Rosette farm-to-fork restaurant.
Price: Rooms start from £300 per night, which includes breakfast.
Website: https://www.royalcrescent.co.uk/
Instagram: @RoyalCrescent_Hotel
Anything else worth noting: Keep an eye out for Alfie, the hotel’s friendly cat, who is most likely to be found sitting on a window sill, in front of the fireplace, or stalking the corridors.
Homegrown Royal-in-Residence
The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa is undoubtedly special; it is the kind of hotel you might visit for an anniversary or birthday, thus for times you may not have scope to travel but still want to experience some royal pampering and self-care, here are tips to create your own experience:
- Pillow talk: Considering the number of hours our heads are on our pillows, it is paramount that you invest in your bedtime pillow. Take a peek at brands such as Glencraft, which has supplied pillows for four generations of the British Royal Family at Balmoral Castle, or The Fine Bedding Company, a fourth generation British family bedding business with over 100 years of sleep experience.
- Luxurious indulgence: Luxurious British wellness brands including: Noble Isle, TEMPLESPA, and Bamford, may cost a little more than their supermarket counterparts, but they are worth every penny. Noble Isle products smell absolutely divine and are stocked in The Royal Crescent Hotel’s bathrooms, TEMPLESPA products are used in The Royal CrescentSpa & Bath House, and Bamford… well if you know, you know. Bamford was set up by Lady Bamford and is a favourite brand among the well-heeled; their Rose Nurture Balm is the multi-tasking handbag hero that guarantees to keep you soft and scented.
- Home workout kit: Creating your own home workout kit is an excellent way to ensure your exercise equipment is always nearby and saves you on battling the rush hour traffic. All you need is a comfortable and supportive mat, some hand weights, and a resistance band or two. There are many great online personal trainers with their own channels that cater for both beginners and the more experienced alike, including Lucy Wyndham-Read and Caroline Girvin on YouTube.
- Farm foods, traditional recipes, and special treats: Any noble foodie worth their reputation knows that farm-to-fork is best and will always try to shop locally at their greengrocers, butchers, or bakery. If you want to try some royally approved recipes, take a look at the Royal Teas recipe book, which features seasonal recipes from the chefs at Buckingham Palace.
- Nature walks: William and Kate are big fans of taking long walks together, along with their three children. Take this as your cue to explore your local parks and nature trails. Walking is good for your mind and body.
Born in Hong Kong and based in London, Sarah Highfield is a travel and wellness writer. Follow her travels on Instagram: @SarahHighfield.
