If your towel rail needs to actually heat the room, this is it. The Novara 1200x500mm matt black heated towel rail is the highest-output rail we sell in this size — a substantial 750W (2,556 BTU) at ΔT50, rising to 945W (3,224 BTU) at ΔT60. That's roughly 30% more heat than typical designer 1200x500 rails, achieved through nine chunky, generously proportioned bars and a solid 18.8kg construction with 80mm central connections. Built for main family bathrooms of up to 7–8m² where a standard rail leaves the room cold.
Please note: the Novara is a central heating (wet system) radiator only. It plumbs into your existing heating circuit in place of a standard radiator. It is not an electric towel rail, it is not supplied with an element, and it cannot be run as dual fuel. The 750W figure is its heat output at ΔT50, not an electrical rating.
Novara Matt Black Towel Radiator – Key Specifications
- Type: Central heating (wet system) towel radiator — not electric, not dual fuel
- Dimensions: 1200mm (H) x 500mm (W) x 85mm (D)
- Bars: 9 wide-profile rails
- Finish: Textured matt black powder coat
- Material: Low-carbon mild steel, 18.8kg heavyweight build
- Heat output: 750W / 2,556 BTU (ΔT50) · 945W / 3,224 BTU (ΔT60)
- Recommended room size: Up to 7–8m²
- Pipe centres: 80mm central connection · Connections: 1/2" BSP
- Water content: 6.7L · Max working pressure: 3 bar (tested to 4 bar) · Max temp: 75°C
- Vertical wall-mounted installation · valves sold separately
Why Choose the Novara?
Most 1200x500 towel rails top out around 500–600W — fine for towels, marginal for heating a full-size bathroom. The Novara's 2,556 BTU output competes with rails costing £250+ from the national designer brands, letting you skip a second radiator entirely in many bathrooms. The wide-bar design also holds more towel per bar, drying faster. Pair it with black tiles or dramatic onyx tiles, and browse the full designer heated towel rails collection. Need a lighter-duty rail? See the Rivena slimline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Novara electric or dual fuel?
Neither. The Novara is a central heating radiator that connects to your existing wet heating system. It has no electric element and is not designed to accept one, so it heats when your central heating is on. If you need a rail that works independently of the boiler, this is not the right model.
Does 750W mean it uses 750 watts of electricity?
No. On a central heating radiator, watts describe heat output rather than power consumption. The Novara emits 750W of heat at ΔT50 — the standard UK test condition — using hot water from your boiler. It draws no electricity.
How many BTUs do I need for my bathroom?
A rough guide for UK bathrooms is 300–400 BTU per m². At 2,556 BTU (ΔT50), the Novara comfortably covers rooms of 7–8m² as the sole heat source.
What is the maximum system pressure for the Novara?
3 bar maximum working pressure (tested to 4 bar) with a 75°C maximum water temperature. Check your sealed system's operating pressure before ordering — most run at 1–1.5 bar, well within spec.
Why does it have only 9 bars when other rails have 12?
The Novara uses wider, higher-volume bars (6.7L total water content) — fewer bars, but each carries more hot water and more surface area, which is where the extra output comes from.
What connections does it use?
80mm central connections with 1/2" BSP threads — flow and return grouped neatly beneath the centre of the rail.
- Width: 500mm
- Height: 1200mm
- Heating type: Central Heating
- Weight: 18.8kg
Help choosing
A towel rail should keep the bathroom warm, not just dry towels. Check it's powerful enough for the room.
Enter your room size to see the heat output you need.
- Match the output to the room. Use the BTU figure from the calculator. In a bathroom, a towel rail alone often heats a small room; bigger rooms may need a radiator too.
- Check your connections. Measure the gap between your pipes and choose valves to suit: angled, straight or corner (see the valve helper on our valve pages).
- Heat pump? At the lower water temperatures heat pumps run at, expect roughly half the listed output.
- Summer use. Central heating rails only warm up when the heating is on. A dual fuel kit adds an electric element where the rail supports it.
Still not sure? Send us your measurements and we'll check for you.
Questions people ask
What does BTU mean?
Which valves do I need?
Can I use it in summer?
What size rail do I need?
Will it match my brushed brass taps?
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