Updating a bathroom and mixer taps

[Grindylow]

We have a lovely new-to-us flat and a new-ish inherited bathroom. We'd prefer to keep it as it mostly works and it's only about four years old. One newish combi boiler gives lots of lovely hot water. The problem is that there is no space for a separate shower and so we have a bath with mixer tap. Problem is that the mixer tap has failed. We can still run baths even though the converter to the shower doesn't work. Cleaning it, taking it apart and new washers haven't helped. I think my options are:

1. Buy new mixer tap and hope this one doesn't break. The current one looks a bit like this

1. Buy new bath taps only and have a shower unit fitted at end of bath. Is this even possible? The family say we can only have a mixer tap and not a shower which seems odd to me as any shower unit would go on the same wall end as the existing tap where all the pipework is. We do have spare tiles that could be refitted if tiles on the wall needed to be taken off to install a shower.

Any bright ideas? Or know of any good quality mixer taps that will cope with two careful adults using them to take regular showers?

[GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER]

We have 2 baths with both mixer taps at one end, and a good shower at the other. I can't see why both are not normally possible.
Do you have a trusted plumber who could advise you?

An electric shower might also be an option. They are miles better than they used to be - a dd has one in her new (old) house, and it's fine.

[mychildrenarebarmy]

We have recently had this tap fitted. It was only about 4 weeks ago but I have to say it is a hundred times better than the tap we had before which had needed new washers in the hot tap 3 times since it was fitted 2 years ago.

[Grindylow]

Thank you both. Well, we're skint after all the moving costs so will save up for a new shower unit and book trusted plumber to come round. He's worked with us before and comes back from holiday soonish.

I have a nasty feeling that we'll be making do with a replacement mixer tap for a bit.

I think (costs/difficulty) means that we keep one set of pipes at one end of the bath and sort something out there.

[PigletJohn]

have you got a hot-water cylinder? What colour?

An electric shower delivers a derisory amount of hot water, or, in winter, of warm water, and needs a powerful new circuit.

[StickTheDMWhereTheSunDontShine]

I'd just replace the mixer tap until finances are better.

I find that so much easier than a wall mounted shower, to be honest. So long as our local water pressure is good (often drops after a power outtage for a few hours) we get a decent jet of water that can be directed anywhere. It's much less of a faff than an electric shower and we gave up on the idea of installing one over the bath because we felt we simply didn't need it.