Alison James enjoys a girly break in Bath during the annual ReBalance Festival and samples all the wellness delights that Bath has to offer.
Words: Alison James. Images: Visit Bath, Beata Cosgrove
The festive season apart, winter can sometimes feel like it will last forever – all grey days, freezing temperatures, and endless dark nights. We all need something to look forward to. A seasonal reboot, if you like.
So, instead of enduring the cruel winter months hibernating at home, at the start of the year my friends and I planned a trip that would do just that. To be specific, a girls’ weekend in Bath during the ReBalance Festival, which takes place in this Georgian gem of a city each February.
It’s a month-long celebration of wellness and wellbeing that offers everything from hormone-balancing nutrition talks to yoga sessions, wellness workshops, cold-water dipping, spa treatments, steam room experiences and saunas.
Having taken the GWR train from London’s Paddington station, it was early afternoon when we arrived in Bath. With a few days to unwind, our plan was simple — indulge, recharge and lean into the slow rhythm of a wellness-focused escape with a spot of sightseeing as a side order.
First we left the hotel and promptly hopped on the Toot Bus — Bath’s open-top sightseeing bus — to get an overview of the city’s sights and also get our bearings. Having circled past the Circus, the Royal Crescent and the Abbey, we then checked in at The Roseate Villa Bath, a luxury boutique hotel, situated beside peaceful Henrietta Park and a few minutes’ walk from the 18th-century Pulteney Bridge.
With its airy lounges and individually styled bedrooms, the Roseate was the perfect base for our restorative weekend. I’d heard it also put on a champagne afternoon tea to die for, so what were we waiting for? We were not disappointed. The finger sandwiches were simply scrummy, followed by delicate pastries and tiny cakes that were almost too pretty to eat.
Plus, warm, freshly baked scones served with lashings of whipped cream and tart-sweet strawberry jam. We sipped on fizz and rose-scented Earl Grey tea. Bliss on a wintry afternoon.
After tea and feeling slightly tipsy, we ventured out again. Our first stop was the city’s most iconic – the Roman Baths. Surrounded by ancient columns, steaming spring water and echoes of 2000 years past, it felt like we were stepping into a time-honoured ritual of healing and we couldn’t help but wonder how Roman gal pals might have spent a girly weekend away.
Afterwards, we headed toward Soul Spa, a peaceful wellness space tucked away near the city centre. We’d pre-booked a guided meditation and sound bath, and it turned out to be one of the most soul-soothing experiences ever. Stretched out on comfy reclining chairs in a dedicated, low-lit meditation space titled ‘The Quantum Field’, we were taken through a guided relaxation sequence before being metaphorically bathed in the beautiful sounds of crystal singing bowls.
The vibrations of the sound bath seemed to melt any tension we hadn’t even realised we were holding.
Not wanting to overdo it on the first night and also still feeling full from that delicious cream tea, we headed back to the hotel and, after a glass or two of wine in the bar, we turned in for the night.
We already knew what we were doing the next day – visiting the award-winning Thermae Bath Spa. After breakfast, we padded down to the spa just as it opened. The heated rooftop pool, steaming against the cold February air, was everything we’d hoped for.
Immersed in naturally warm mineral-rich water, we floated under a winter sky with the spires of Bath Abbey just visible through drifting steam. There was something truly unique about being in a warm rooftop swimming pool in the depths of winter while gazing at classic architecture.
Afterward, we explored the Wellness Suite, where each steam room had a different scent and temperature. We relaxed in the infra-red sauna, breathed in eucalyptus in the herbal steam pod, then braved the ice room for a brisk (but refreshing) finale.
The Minerva Bath — an indoor pool with a lazy river current — rounded things off before we relocated to the Relaxation Lounge for herbal tea. ReBalance Festival extras were dotted around the spa throughout the duration of the festival and so we were lucky enough to try the ReBalance Ritual massage – a bespoke treatment using grounding essential oils, gentle breathwork and rhythmic massage to help you reconnect with your body.
Job done – and then some.
On our way back to the hotel, we made a stop at Molton Brown’s beautiful Bath boutique on New Bond Street. As part of the ReBalance Festival, they were offering complimentary hand and arm massages, plus a personalised fragrance consultation.
After so much water therapy, this felt like a different kind of sensory treat. We sipped citrus-infused water while one of their consultants guided us through their fragrance library — florals, woods, citrus, even a surprisingly addictive coastal scent.
We each found our match, then enjoyed a mini massage using our chosen blend. Warm oils, slow circular movements and a few minutes of being completely present. . . Afterwards, the skin on our arms felt silky-soft with the scent of our chosen hand creams lingering beautifully as we walked back to the Roseate. A siesta was in order.
That evening we treated ourselves to a celebratory dinner at Chez Dominique, a quietly sophisticated French restaurant tucked beside the River Avon. It came highly recommended — and it more than delivered.
The atmosphere was intimate with soft lighting, warm service, and a seasonal menu that felt both indulgent and health-conscious in the best way. We started with light, vibrant starters – cured salmon with pickled vegetables, beetroot carpaccio – before moving on to mains like grilled seabass with fennel and orange, and a slow-cooked lamb shoulder that melted in the mouth. We toasted the trip and each other with a crisp white wine – a blissful day of wellness well spent.
After breakfast at the Roseate on our last day, we decided it was time to channel our inner Jane Austens. Had the world-famous author enjoyed a wellness routine, then sipping spa water at Bath’s iconic Pump Room would surely have been part of it.
Set in a stunning Georgian hall with soaring ceilings, crystal chandeliers and live classical music, this historic hotspot still sparkles with Regency charm — and a touch of literary magic. With glass in hand, I sampled the famous warm mineral water, rich in over 40 minerals and once prescribed for everything from skin health to digestion.
Admittedly, it’s an acquired taste, but knowing it was no doubt part of Austen’s own health ritual added a certain je ne sais quoi. As I soaked up the elegant surroundings, I felt worlds away from the everyday and even a tad like one of the heroines in an Austen novel. I don’t know about you, but it’s Sense and Sensibility’s Marian Dashwood every time for me.
It was with a certain reluctance that we headed to the station – and back to reality. The weekend had been a huge success and we all felt revived and rejuvenated. ‘Same time next year?’ I ventured. I didn’t have to ask twice. It was already a done deal.
For more information on what to do when visiting Bath, see visitbath.co.uk
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