Dukes is Bath at its most classic: two grand Georgian townhouses on Great Pulteney Street, sash windows, high ceilings and rooms that lean elegant rather than theatrical. The hotel has been operating in some form for more than a century, but the current set-up feels more intimate guest house than formal old-school hotel.

It works best for groups who are happy spreading across mostly double and king rooms rather than piling four into one. Superior Kings, Deluxe Suites and Four Poster Suites give you more room to get ready, while some larger categories can take additional beds. Twin options have been referenced by Bath accommodation sources, but the current hotel site doesn’t clearly map them to specific room categories, so those need confirming.

Downstairs there’s a small bar, breakfast room, courtyard and private dining space rather than a big social lobby. That makes Dukes better for a polished dinner-and-drinks weekend than a hotel takeover. It’s elegant, central and calm — just not the obvious choice if your group wants late-night communal chaos.