Bath Family Hotels with an Indoor Pool

An indoor pool is the one family amenity in Bath that works in every season and every kind of weather. It gives children a guaranteed swim after a morning at Bath Abbey or the Roman Baths, and it fills the gap left by Thermae Bath Spa, which younger children cannot use. All three hotels here are in or close to the walkable Georgian centre, so you can return to the pool between sights without a taxi. Choose by what else you need: a kids' club, thermal water or simply a reliable, well-reviewed base.

The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa is the strongest all-round choice for families with younger children. Its listing names an indoor swimming pool, a relaxation pool with massage jets, a fully equipped gym, family suites and a kids' club, and the hotel accepts pets and offers bike rental. At 9.3, it is the best-rated of the three, though from a smaller sample of fewer than 600 reviews. Royal Victoria Park lies right beside the Crescent, with a large children's play area, so a morning in the park and an afternoon in the pool can be planned without leaving the area.

The Gainsborough Bath Spa - Small Luxury Hotels of the World is the address for families who want to experience Bath's thermal water. Alongside an indoor swimming pool, spa facilities and a fitness centre, it has a hot spring bath on site, and it offers family rooms in a historic building close to the Roman Baths. It is rated 8.7 from more than 3,000 reviews. The hot spring bath is a real draw for teenagers who are too young for Thermae Bath Spa, though families should check the hotel's own age rules for the thermal areas before booking with younger children.

Apex City of Bath Hotel is the most practical of the three and the most reviewed, with an 8.9 rating from more than 5,000 reviews. It offers spacious bedrooms, family suites, an indoor swimming pool and a spa and wellness centre, and its listing places it a few steps from Bath's main sights. It suits families arriving by train who want to walk everywhere and swim at the end of the day, without paying for a five-star stay. It has no kids' club or thermal bath, but its pool and family suites cover what most families need for a short city break in Bath.

Choosing between them comes down to the age of your children and what else you plan to do. With toddlers or primary-age children, The Royal Crescent's kids' club and the play area in Royal Victoria Park make it the easiest stay. With teenagers, The Gainsborough's hot spring bath offers something they cannot get at Thermae Bath Spa until they turn 16. For a balanced, well-reviewed base close to Bath Spa station and the Abbey, Apex City of Bath is the safe choice. All three are central, so the Roman Baths, Pulteney Bridge and the Abbey stay within walking distance.