The Francis Hotel has stood on Queen Square since the 18th century, when architect John Wood the Elder built the square as his first great statement of intent for the city he wanted to remake. After a recent multi-million-pound reimagining, including the launch of brasserie Emberwood and a brand-new spa the old lady of Queen Square brings Georgian grandeur in a chic new format.
The Vibe
The hotel feels like a cute townhouse, but what you don’t realise at first glance is that it’s actually seven houses – Nos 5 to 11 – that make up the hotel on Queen Square. It has been a place for glamorous travellers to stay for 300 years, since Solomon Francis bought No. 10 in 1858 and built a lodging empire across the square. His widow, Emily Francis, then opened the Francis Private Hotel in 1884.
What greets guests now is a welcoming doorman, dressed in a tweed uniform, who takes you to a reception desk tucked discreetly out the way, so that the lobby feels more like a hallway to a very glamorous private home. There’s a library with an open fire and lounge to the right, and a long, sweeping cocktail bar to the left – signifying the various ways you’ll be relaxing during your stay. The square itself is in the heart of Bath, but quiet, lending a calm tone to the hotel.Â
The Rooms
There are 98 bedrooms across the five categories: Snug, Cosy, Comfy, Generous and the John Wood Suite. Snug rooms are compact doubles built for solo trips or short romantic stays, with Egyptian cotton sheets, a 55-inch smart TV and a coffee machine. Cosy rooms add a rainfall shower, while Comfy rooms have a king-size bed, a GHD hairdryer and a Roberts radio, with a family version that adds a double sofa bed (many of the Generous rooms benefit from views out over Queen Square). All the beds can also be made up as singles. At the top sits the John Wood Suite, named after the square’s architect, with an emperor bed, a sofa bed, a desk and the best view in the house.
Throughout the rooms the GAIA toiletries are handmade in the South West and chosen for their natural ingredients. For an in-room reset, the hotel has partnered with The Space Bath, founded by Chloe Baio, so guests can request a yoga mat and blocks and follow a 15-minute yoga or meditation session from their room.
The Food + Drink
Emberwood is the hotel’s British brasserie, set on the corner of Queen Square with its own street presence, in the space long occupied by Brasserie Blanc. The kitchen, led by executive head chef David Hazell, has a menu that focuses on ingredients from the South West including coal-roasted Cornish scallops, dry-aged Westcombe Farm côte de boeuf, line-caught fish from Wings of St Mawes, cooked over an open charcoal hearth, and a vegan menu that sources heritage vegetables from local farms. The dessert trolley is not something to miss out on, with dishes like Tarte Tatin and an upmarket rhubarb and custard pastry created by the chef pâtissier. The dining room is big but designed with cosy booths that feel intimate, but on warmer days, the outdoor terrace has a speakeasy feel and is as much a local after-work spot as a hotel amenity.
If you’re around for an afternoon tea, then expect sandwiches and warm scones alongside modern pastries from the dessert trolley and a choice of hand-blended teas from Gillards of Bath.Â
The Spa
The Francis Hotel Spa opened in March 2026 and the main draw is the Private Thermal Suite, a self-guided, 45-minute ritual for two, where you can choose between the Cleansing Foam and Steam Experience or the Nourishing Mud and Steam Experience, or for a full reset, the Signature Thermal Experience pairs the ritual with a 60-minute treatment.
Its treatment menu includes massages and facials along with reflexology, reiki and an aromaflex session that combines massage and reflexology, plus dedicated treatments for pregnancy (Mother GAIA, the GAIA jade facial) and a bespoke GAIA Affinity treatment for guests living with cancer or undergoing medical care.
The To Do List
The Francis is perfectly positioned to wander around the streets see the sights: Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths, the city’s UNESCO-listed core, are minutes from the front door. If the hotel spa hasn’t scratched the wellness itch, then Thermae Bath Spa, the only spa in Britain where you can bathe in naturally warm, mineral-rich waters, is also close by.
There are plenty of interesting independent shops to browse, from the dreamy interiors at Berdoulat, to the gallery 8 Holland Street. For books, Topping & Company and Persephone books. Those who love Scandi brands should check out Grace & Mabel which stocks Stella Nova and Stine Goya.
For afternoon drinks, the Beckford Bottle Shop is a knowledgeable wine merchant where you can have a glass or two and snacks; its sister restaurant Beckford Canteen, in a former Georgian greenhouse, is an excellent choice for dinner. And a cardamom bun at the Landrace bakery shouldn’t be missed. Â
All images: Sutton Hotel Collection, Francis Hotel
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