With staycations booming this year, for obvious reasons, we check out some of the best UK hotel spa breaks, along with the treatments on offer, to help you relax, revive and restore…
Best UK spa break for getting back to nature: Limewood Hotel, New Forest
The New Forest is the star of the show at Lime Wood’s spa, Herb House. You can see the trees from the sauna, relax in the rooftop herb garden and enjoy the all-natural botanical products from Bamford and Voya during your treatment. This Uk spa hotel break is perfect for nature lovers!
Designed over three levels, Herb House has a massive sauna and indoor hydro pool with stunning forest views, a mud house, an outdoor hot pool, eight single treatment rooms and two double treatment rooms.
TRY: Bamford B Silent Ritual. Not sleeping well? This one’s for you. This treatment is devoted to relaxing your body and preparing it for sound, restful sleep.
It begins with a foot ritual, followed by a therapeutic back, neck and shoulder massage using Bamford’s B silent body oil, a blend of roman chamomile, cannabis sativa and lavender flower oils. Finally, the B silent organic temple balm is applied to the forehead and temples to prepare the body and mind for deep sleep.
Cost: £120 for 60 minutes. Visit: limewoodhotel.co.uk
Best UK spa break for getting away from it all: North Lakes Hotel and Spa, Lake District
The Lake District, with its crystal-clear lakes, rugged mountains and wind-swept villages, can often feel like a completely different country, so it’s the place to go for sating your wanderlust this year. North LakesHotel is located on the edge of Penrith, an ideal base for exploring the Lakes.
The ‘country retreat’ feel of the hotel extends to the spa, which features exposed wooden beams, low lighting and comfy seating areas surrounding the 13-metre heated swimming pool and indoor whirlpool. The spa uses Caudalie and treatments include lifting and firming eye therapies, back massages, body scrubs and purifying facials.
TRY: Holistic Heaven. Begin this spa day with a dip in the pool and sampling the rest of the spa facilities, before enjoying a Caudalie D-Vine Back, Face and Scalp Treatment. Alight lunch follows, before heading back to the spa facilities should you wish to.
Cost: £100 Mon-Fri and £105 Sat-Sun. Visit: northlakeshotel.co.uk
Best UK spa break for fitness fanatics: Pennyhill Park Hotel & Spa, Surrey
Pennyhill Park is a luxury hotel and spa, set in 120 acres of Surrey parkland. The spa is a destination in its own right and great for those recovering from a workout injury or simply want to relax their hard-working muscles and joints as there is an array of hot and cold therapies to enjoy.
The combination of hot and cold works together to positively affect circulation, strengthening the cardiovascular system and improving overall blood vessel health. You can choose between a bucket shower, infused steam room, dry heat sauna, herbal steam room, ice igloo, plunge pool, tepidarium and sensory room where warm, gel-filled beds aid deep relaxation and sleep.
TRY: Warrior Spa Day. You start your day with a welcome smoothie, before commencing a bespoke 60-minute personal training session with an in-house expert, before restoring mind and body with a 30-minute treatment, followed by a three-course lunch in the hotel’s Themis restaurant. After, you can continue to enjoy the spa facilities, including the steam rooms and plunge pool.
Cost: £185 Mon-Thurs and £205 Fri-Sun. Visit: exclusive.co.uk/the-spa-at-pennyhill-park
Best UK spa hotel for a city break: Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel, Edinburgh
Located in the centre of Edinburgh, Kimpton Charlotte Square is part of the New Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This provides a truly awe-inspiring break away.
The new spa includes an indoor pool, sauna and gym. You can choose from a variety of treatments that incorporate natural, organic ingredients, as well as seaweed-based treatments by Ishga and CBD products by La Rue Verte.
TRY: La Rue Verte Renaissance. In between exploring Edinburgh Castle and walking the Royal Mile, relax in style with 60 minutes in the Thermal Experience. Enjoy a 55-minute La Rue Verte specialist treatment, followed by a two-course lunch in the hotel’s grill restaurant, BABA.
Cost: £120 per person Monday to Friday and £130 per person Saturday & Sunday. Visit: kimptoncharlottesquare.com
Best UK spa break for country lovers: The Coniston Hotel, County Estate & Spa, Yorkshire Dales
Nàdarra Spa, nestled within the 1,400-acre estate of The Coniston Hotel, offers treatments inspired by the surrounding woodland and parkland.
It offers two infinity pools with views across the estate, lake and countryside, an infrared sauna, Finnish and Himalayan saunas, an aromatherapy steam room, indoor bubble pool and ice fountain, as well as a couple’s suite with double spa bath.
There’s also a private spa garden, filled with a relaxation pod, loungers and two large copper outdoor baths where you can indulge in the signature ‘Yorkshire Tea Bath’.
TRY: The Ultimate Aromatherapy Experience. Following a walk exploring the Yorkshire Dales, soothe tired muscles and aching joints with this deeply relaxing treatment. It starts with a consultation, before you choose an oil that appeals to you the most from 12 signature oils.
With your chosen oil, your therapist will use carefully applied pressure to stimulate the nervous system, Swedish and neuromuscular techniques to relieve muscular tension and lymphatic drainage to encourage healthy circulation and boost immunity.
Cost: £89 for 60 minutes. Visit: theconistonhotel.com/nadarra-spa
Best UK spa break for the eco-conscious: Scarlet, Cornwall
Keen to enjoy some me-time, but without the guilt? This impressive Cornish spa hotel, with its glorious views of the sea, cliffs and sky, is for you.
With 111 eco-minded strategies – from responsible sourcing and energy use to the “Love me, don’t leave me” spa slippers provided for guests (made from recycled materials) – sustainability is at the heart of this ayurvedic-inspired retreat.
The spa features a traditional hammam bath, outdoor cliff-top hot tubs with breathtaking views over Mawgan Porth Beach, tented treatment rooms lit by lanterns, a relaxation space with hanging pods, an indoor pool and a natural, chemical-free outdoor pool cleaned by reeds.
TRY: All-Natural. Begin in the treatment room, where you will enjoy a 60-minute facial using natural products only. Then step outside for a cliff-top hot tub session. Along with use of the sauna, pools and steam room, there’s also a spa lunch to be enjoyed at the Scarlet Restaurant.
Cost: £170.Visit: scarlethotel.co.uk
Best spa hotel for the serious spa-goer: Galgorm, County Antrim
Last year, Galgorm invested £2m to enhance its destination spa. It now offers an Alpine Garden and a 10-metre vitality pool on the banks of the River Maine, alongside the Serenity Garden, as now cabin, multiple saunas and private hot tubs.
You could easily spend days exploring the Thermal Village alone. However, for some much-needed R&R, we recommend heading to the new relaxation area, The Palm House, which boasts six heated loungers. Alternatively, try secluding yourself away in one of the riverside cabanas.
The spa itself is set in an idyllic location with lots of woodland walks to enjoy, as well as a range of accommodation options, from 1-3-bedroom cottages to log cabins and shepherd’s huts.
TRY: Forest Thermal Experience. Come prepared for some serious indulgence. You’ll enjoy full access to the Thermal Village and its assortment of saunas, hot tubs, pools and gardens, a 60-minute treatment of your choice and lunch, with a glass of prosecco or soft drink, at its spacafé, Elements.
Cost: £155 Mon-Sun. Visit: galgorm.com
Best UK spa break for time with the girls: Barnham Broom, Norfolk
Indulge in a proper spa break while catching up with friends at this relaxed hotel and spa. Facilities include a swimming pool, relaxation pool, sauna, steam room, state-of-the-art gym and loungers for relaxing and chatting with friends. There’s also a breadth of spa treatments available, from facials and massages to manicures and pedicures.
TRY: Girls’ Night In. This is one heck of a package. It includes an overnight stay, two 25-minute treatments or one 50-minute treatment, a light afternoon tea, use of The Edge Health & Fitness Club, a pre-dinner cocktail, three-course dinner, served in the award-winning Brasserie, and breakfast the following morning.
Cost: From £147 per person sharing, Sun-Fri and £169 per person sharing on Saturdays. Available from November 1 until March 26 2022 on selected dates only. Visit: barnham-broom.co.uk
Best spa break for couples: UK South Lodge, Sussex
Get away from it all at this award-winning spa, which is perched just above the rolling hills of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Designed with sustainability in mind, the spa welcomes the outdoors in. It boasts spectacular South Downs views from many vantage points, including the indoor pool and relaxation space. Outside, there’s an infinity-edge pool, a wild swimming pool, featuring a wooden bathing platform, and a hydrotherapy pool.
Inside, the spa has a superb thermal suite and 14 treatment rooms. Enjoy a massage with your loved one or indulge in a thermal experience in a private mudroom. Then, unwind with heat, light and sound mood pods within the relaxation rooms. There’s also an infused sauna, a marble-lined salt steam and jasmine herbal steam rooms to enjoy.
TRY: The Spa Bamboo Massage. This massage incorporates smooth bamboo sticks to make for a more effective deep-tissue workout. Starting with deep stretches to lengthen your muscles, the therapist then works with the cane to roll and knead the muscle to help alleviate stress, work out tension and relax you completely.
Cost: £105 Mon-Thur and £115 Fri-Sun for 60 minutes. Visit: exclusive.co.uk/the-spa-at-south-lodge
Best spa hotel for the whole family: Solent Hotel & Spa, Fareham
Located between Portsmouth and Southampton, this hotel and spa is a great base for exploring the south coast with the family, while carving out some ‘me time’ at the refurbished spa.
The spa boasts eight treatment rooms including a double treatment room with a private outdoor hot tub. You’ll also find an indoor pool, sauna and steam room. The range of treatments on offer includes the Caudalie Vino Source facial. This is one of the spa’s most popular treatments.
Once you’re feeling fully recharged, why not expend some energy taking the family up Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth? Or, you could all visit the historic dockyard.
TRY: Premier Cru Spa Day. Any ‘me time’ you manage to get, away from family members, needs to deliver results. This is what this spa day promises to do.
Enjoy the spa facilities before receiving a Premier Cru Facial – the ultimate in anti-ageing treatment. Then, unwind with a two-course lunch, before completing your day with a nourishing body wrap.
Cost: £165 Mon-Fri and £180 Sat-Sun. Visit: solenthotel.co.uk
