I had 24 hours of wellness in Bath – here's the ultimate itinerary

When you're a busy working mum, having two minutes to yourself is sometimes like a fully-fledged spa day – a solo trip to the bathroom, a hot cup of tea enjoyed during nap hour or let's be honest, an uninterrupted Instagram scroll. But how about a full 24 hours to fully reset, relax and totally chill out? I jumped at the chance of a whirlwind wellness press trip to Bath via Visit Bath to immerse myself in everything zen the city has to offer. Discover why this West Country gem is a destination that's good for your mind, body and soul in equal measure…

The irony is that the morning of the trip was filled with maximum stress with poorly parents to assist, a toddler to ship off to the childminder and a broken-down car, I was nowhere near ready for chilling out – but I clearly needed it! It was a 10-minute train ride from Bristol to Bath Spa, barely enough time to decompress, but there would be plenty of time for that later.

"I was snapping approx. 250 photos of the most elegant room I had ever seen, featuring an amazing chandelier"

My plans of swiftly dropping my bags at the hotel (No. 15 by GuestHouse) and dashing off were thwarted when they told me the room was, in fact, ready. I guess a peek at my room for the night wouldn't harm, would it? Fast forward 10 minutes, and I was snapping approx. 250 photos of the most elegant room I had ever seen, featuring an amazing chandelier, and now it was time for me to actually run to our first stop.

Asian afternoon tea

I met with the other journalists at a Japanese restaurant called Robun for an afternoon tea experience. Known for their incredible teas, there was an impressive menu of hot beverages, making it hard to choose – the Sencha green tea was a winner, though. No sign of the cream teas you may be used to, with more of a focus on their light and fresh savoury dishes, with just the right amount of mochi and a sweet gyoza to top it off.

Just down the road, tucked away in Shires Yard, is Bramley, a new bath and body shop selling the local brand. Don't be fooled by the bright-white, pristine store; the prices aren't astronomical. Step inside and the team will talk you through anything from the best skincare options for you through to the perfect present for your mother-in-law. It was suggested that I try their spearmint face wash, and I've been hooked ever since. I couldn't linger too long at the stunning store as I had places to be – lying down in a darkened room…

My hotel booked me in for their hot stone massage (one of my go-to treatments), and it met all of my expectations and more. The treatment rooms are in the basement, but don't worry, the vibe was more beautiful Bridgerton than spooky underground cellar. I was in much need of a tension release (see family stresses above) and the blissfully warm sandstones helped to accelerate the effects of the masseuse. As I drifted into a light sleep, I realised I must have finally allowed myself to relax. It was 90 minutes of pure indulgence, finished with an incredible head massage.

Good vibrations

It was a quick change from robe to clothes to head back into the centre of town for a date at the Soul Spa – a sound bath was waiting! And no, there's no actual bath – we were bathed in soundwaves as owner Madeleine played the bowls. And while you may be conjuring up images of Sandra Bullock playing wine glasses in Miss Congeniality, I can assure you it's really transformative. With the powerful ringing, I could feel the vibrations in my body. Madeleine explained it's because we are 60 per cent water, so the sound travels within us. It basically allows you to reach a meditative state without having to sit and focus on the tricky skill of meditating. The spa does 30-minute sessions, ideal if you want to just dip your toe in (metaphorically) if you haven't tried this sort of thing before.

© Derryn Vranch

Come dine with me

I felt like I was floating out of the door, and a few minutes' walk away, we were at the restaurant, Emberwood. Unassuming from the front door, and gloriously luxe inside. It's part of the Francis Hotel, but it's so much more than your usual standard hotel restaurant. I couldn't resist the call of steak, and wow, was I glad I did with every silky-smooth cut through the tender meat and every delightful bite. 

"I couldn't resist the call of steak, and wow, was I glad I did with every silky-smooth cut through the tender meat and every delightful bite."

After your mains, you can summon the dessert trolley (and I suggest you definitely do), where you can marvel at the expertly crafted delicacies before you decide which sweet treat takes your fancy. As a local girl, the Somerset cider cake had my name on it – and I could have snaffled 10! With talks of a new spa at Emberwood opening in Spring, I think I'll be back for another visit – and another cake.

Back to my hotel for an early night, but not before that hotly anticipated uninterrupted Instagram scroll, of course. The hotel has a pantry where guests can help themselves to drinks and treats as they please and you're encouraged to peruse the record selection downstairs for use on your player in the room, but for me, sleep was my only real agenda. I drifted off easily with my newfound relaxation mode.

Thermal waters

I'm used to an early wake-up call (toddler life), but it was a little easier to rouse from my sumptuous slumber in my cloud-like bed with the prospect of a date with the Thermae Bath Spa. They opened early for us journalists to drink in the wonderful pools and facilities, and it was quite the experience being the first people to plunge into the warm rooftop pool as the morning mist still hung above the historic city. There's nothing like the healing magic of the natural thermal springs – experiencing the same mineral-rich waters the Romans would have once bathed in. We did the full circuit of pools, sauna, ice area, steam and relaxation rooms - fully embracing the quiet before the day began.

I was delighted to catch the hotel breakfast in time (I love that they serve until 11 am on weekdays and midday on weekends, as there's nothing worse than a rushed hotel brekkie). Torn between the granola and the eggs Florentine, I decided it was best to try both – all in the name of research, right? The nutty, crunchy granola was great, but the eggs were even better - don't leave without trying them. It was time to say goodbye to my opulent bedroom, but the trip wasn't over yet.

Health hotspot

We hopped in a transfer to Combe Grove, just 10 minutes away. Despite never having heard of the UK's first Metabolic Health Centre, it's about to put Bath well and truly on the map for health and wellness. Over a delicious two-course lunch of soup and fishcakes, we discovered what the doctors and practitioners do at this grand country manor. Locals enjoy memberships so they can use the facilities and take part in the classes, but the main hook is the residential retreats. You check in for a full health reset where they'll challenge your existing habits and help you transform your approach to food, movement and really your whole lifestyle.

We stayed in Bath during the ReBalance Bath Festival, where wellness is celebrated across the city with special classes, packages and exclusive offers. It'll be on again in 2027, running in January/February. Prices at No. 15 by GuestHouse start from £175 for room only.