Hotel: Royal Crescent Hotel

Address: No. 16, Royal Crescent, BA1 2LS Bath, England

Website: royalcrescent.co.uk

TraveLife Ranking: Four Plus Stars

Rooms: 45

Room rates: $400+

Awards: The Royal Crescent is recognized as one of the finest hotels in the U.K. Voted one of the top 100 hotels in the world by Zagat.

Highlights: Instead of an informal front desk, guests are greeted and assigned rooms by staff over a cup of tea in a parlor area. The parlor is filled with antiques and an original painting of King George III looks down on guests. Beautiful gardens at the back of the main property are highlighted by two large ancient Spanish jars dating back to the 1700s. Experience Bath and surrounding countryside aboard hotel's river launch, Lady Sophina, or view Bath's wonderful architecture from the hotel's hot air balloon.

History: Built between 1767 and 1775, the Royal Crescent has been renovated many times over the years. Today it stands as one of the finest European examples of Grade One listed Georgian architecture, with a reputation for excellence, which matches its setting and décor. The town homes were transformed into a hotel in the 1950s.

Interior highlights: All rooms and suites are furnished with infinite care for authentic details. Each of the suites is named after the famous men and women who at some time have resided in the Royal Crescent or within Bath. The Duke of York suite, with its lavish ceilings, is a favorite with weddings parties. There are three classes of suites. The Master Suites are the ultimate in luxury, each with its own unique features such as a real open fire, drawing rooms with original Georgian plasterwork ceilings or a private conservatory drawing room, opening onto the landscaped gardens.

In the next room: Because of its close proximity to London, this hotel draws a lot of weekend guests from royal courts and royal theatres. TraveLife is sure we saw Shakespearean actor Christopher Plummer passing us in one of the hotel’s tight hallways.

The rooms: There’s only in the original part of the townhouse hotel but several new ones have been added to the back of the property, along with a world class spa that rivals anything the Romans constructed here. The rooms have that Jane Austen feel about them – and for good reason. The famous British novelist once lived in Bath and there’s a centre named in her honor. The hotel pays tribute to her by stocking each of its guest rooms with a collection of her works. The rooms themselves are works of art – the bathroom tiles, for instance, are hand painted in bright colors and blend in beautifully with the rest of the cheery décor. The bathrooms are crammed with upscale product lines and while the rooms may look antique, they come with state-of-the-art electronics, including Internet access.

Amenities: Valet parking, air conditioning, videos/CDs,; private fax, the Cliveden beds designed specifically for the hotel; some rooms have fireplaces and drawing rooms; all have fantastic views of park and city or lavish back garden.

Spa: The hotel’s spa, the Bath House, is one of the finest in all of England and rivals anything the Romans built here. The Jacuzzis are shaped like wine barrels, which, apparently the Roman legions favored. The spa offers a full menu of treatments and its staff is well skilled in technique.

Restaurants: Pimpernel's is situated in the Dower House off the splendid gardens. It is a relaxing, elegant place to enjoy fine food and wine. During the last two years, the innovative cuisine and the architectural setting of this award-winning restaurant has become nationally recognized.

Shopping: There are lots of those quaint British shops in Bath, offering everything from priceless antiques to cheap souvenirs.

Close By Easy walk – downhill – to Bath Theatre Royal, Roman Baths and Pump Rooms and all the glorious Roman architecture this city is famous for. Individual shops & antiques, Longleat Estate & Safari Park.

Tips: There’s an open door policy at this hotel – meaning the front door is never closed. That’s how homey the Royal Crescent is. The spa and restaurant are top notch and while a bit on the pricy side, this townhouse hotel, one of only two in Britain, is well worth the expense. The town homes next door, by the way, sell for $10 million and up, indicating what kind of neighbors you’ll have during your stay. Oh, and being a British hotel, the property supposedly has a few ghosts lurking about as well.