This one-bedroom, second floor property, formerly a show apartment, in the iconic Empire, built in 1901 as a luxury hotel right in the heart of Georgian Bath, is within sight of Bath Abbey. Number 17 is at the rear of the building overlooking the beautiful, private owners’ garden with views of The Guildhall and its market and the Victoria Art Gallery with their Palladian grey domes reminiscent of an Italian landscape, and up the hill to towards Lansdown.

The vendor says: “I moved into the apartment 6 years ago and have really loved living here. As I have worked in London a couple of days a week, it has been the perfect ‘lock-up and leave’ residence. The building is very secure and there is an administrator from 8am - 4pm from Monday to Friday in the office on the ground floor. Bath Spa station is six minutes’ walk and even if I get home late, there are still readily accessible food shops and pleasant pubs and restaurants open. A huge bonus is that Waitrose is just a few minutes’ walk.”

“Traditionally, the Empire is viewed as a ‘retirement’ establishment with coffee and scrabble mornings, craft club, early evening cinema screenings on a Monday and ‘Happy Hour’ on Thursday. As one can buy/reside here from the age of 50, however, it has much to offer for a younger age group as well. The cinema is wonderful for viewing sporting events and I used it during the World Cup. There is a small exercise room and a sauna. In the basement is a terrific billiard room. According to demand, there are usually two very reasonably priced Sunday lunches in the dining room and occasionally, an evening dinner. The outside caterers are also available for individual lunches, teas, dinners and parties subject to individual negotiation. The drawing room, opposite the dining room, has an honesty bar for drinks (although most residents take their own wine to catered lunches and dinners). Residents enjoy inviting friends or relations to these events.”

If you come into The Empire during the day, you will see industrious activity from the Empire staff keeping the building in immaculate condition. Although each apartment has a washing machine, there is also a laundry room in the basement. Subject to availability, ‘housekeeping’ can be arranged for individual owners at set rates.

“My ‘out of Bath’ friends are very keen to come to visit as this is one of the most glamorous locations in Bath with the wonderful Georgian theatre, Thermae therapeutic Spa with a beautiful new rooftop open air swimming pool, elegant restaurants and cafes and unique shops, all within walking distance of the front door. Wheelchair access is available, using the side door and the second lift.”

Located at the end of the corridor, the apartment is conveniently adjacent to one of three guest suites in The Empire, that residents can book for their visitors at an extremely reasonable rate. The next-door, double guest suite comprises a bedroom and bathroom, together with a sitting room down a spiral staircase, which can provide additional accommodation for children if required. The owners’ garden can also be accessed from a staircase next to the apartment, so one can have drinks in the summer evening sunshine outside.

“I will miss living at 17 The Empire, a fantastic ‘secret location’ in the heart of the wonderful World Heritage Centre which is Bath.”