Bradford on Avon is made from the same stuff as Bath. Meaning both that it’s made from the same sandy grey limestone, and that a lot of what you can see in the town today was built during the Georgian period. It’s just much smaller. Not all of our picks for the best places to stay in Bradford on Avon are in the centre of town, though, because Bradford on Avon has some really beautiful country inns and country house hotels nearby. The other thing about the best hotels in Bradford on Avon is that they’re a lot more affordable than some of our recommendations for Bath (which is just a short drive away)!
Pretty much everything in Bradford on Avon is in walking distance, from its magnificent medieval Tithe Barn, which has the largest stone roof in the country, to its medieval maze of a centre with a good collection of independent shops and restaurants.
Don’t forget to see the iconic Town Bridge too; it's very similar to Bath's Pulteney Bridge, with parts of it dating back to the 14th century. And the town also boasts one of England’s few surviving Saxon churches.
Bradford on Avon also has a picturesque canal lined with pubs, restaurants and charmingly chintzy tea rooms, and if you start strolling along the canal you can discover the old cloth mills, and on to the Avon Valley. You might even consider hiring some bikes, or canoes, from the Towpath Trail Hire Centre to explore even further.
As you can imagine, the best places to stay in Bradford on Avon get very busy during the peak summer months. So either book well ahead or plan your visit for Spring or Autumn when the crowds have dissipated and you'll have more room to explore!