12 British Spas That Are Worth Travelling For
These stunning spas are a little further afield - but every one of them is worth the journey
Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa
This 18th century, five-star country house hotel in the New Forest has 130 acres of Hampshire countryside as its backdrop and is just minutes from the sea. Perhaps best known for its treehouses complete with private hot tubs, when it opened in 1990, Chewton Glen showed the world a whole new side of wellness with its vast pools, treatment rooms and gym. Now the award-winning spa has a pared-back treatment menu and offers special retreats and experiences including a Wellness Reset, an exclusive two-night experience with full spa access and treatments designed to help you relax and recharge in a serene countryside setting.
New Forest, Hampshire BH25 6QS
chewtonglen.com
Estelle Manor
With 108 stunning bedrooms and suites across a tranquil country estate in Oxfordshire you may not feel the need to visit the hotel’s wellness space and spa, but don’t miss out on the 3,000 square metre Eynsham Baths with five pools, holistic studio and gym set deep in ancient woodland. Open to hotel guests only, the stunning, Roman-inspired spa with sculpted columns and carved marble details is a serene space in which to unwind and relax, with a tepidarium bathing hall, five pools and lounge, offering a unique six-step thermal journey. In the 10 treatment areas enjoy bespoke healing for the skin, psyche and soul, inspired by ancient healing rituals found within Indian, Tibetan and Chinese traditions.
Eynsham Park, Oxfordshire OX29 6PN
estellemanor.com
Scarlet
Cornwall’s stand-out, eco-conscious, adult-only hotel and spa overlooks the sandy expanse of Mawgan Porth beach. From morning dips in the natural reed-cleaned pool to evenings watching the sun sink over the sea from the clifftop hot tub, it’s a truly remarkable space. The eco spa features a scenic indoor pool, the outdoor natural reed pool, clifftop cedar wood sauna and restorative steam room, and treatments take place in tented, lantern-lit rooms and include stillness afterwards in the deep relaxation room’s suspended cocoon pods. The spa’s signature treatment, the Solo Journey, is a unique four-hour ritual inspired by Ayurveda and includes a tension-releasing Scarlet bathing ritual, a long and bespoke therapeutic treatment, and time to simply be near to the crashing Atlantic waves. Daily complimentary classes include yoga, Tai Chi and general wellbeing classes, all led by expert therapists and practitioners.
Tredragon Road, Mawgan Porth TR8 4DW
scarlethotel.co.uk
Boringdon Hall
This five-star Grade I-listed manor house spa hotel also boasts Michelin-star dining and delightful rooms overlooking the Devon countryside. The original building might date back to Tudor times, but the unashamedly modern, award-winning Gaia Spa is all pared back Scandi-style blond wood and floor-to-ceiling windows, connected to the more traditional interiors of the house by a long corridor. The huge space contains two steam rooms and two saunas, a laconium, tepidarium, an indoor pool and hydrotherapy outdoor swim-through pool, and hot tubs on the terrace. With a long list of traditional and holistic treatments available, each one uses their own award-winning Gaia skincare.
Plymouth PL7 4DP
boringdonhall.co.uk
Archerfield
The bright and breezy Fletcher’s Cottage Spa at Archerfield House near North Berwick is one of Scotland’s best, offering exclusive treatments in a tranquil setting. Far removed from the more traditional dimly-lit hushed corners of a conventional spa, this space within an historic walled garden is all about colour, with a stunning spa lounge full of rainbow-coloured sofas clustered around a huge wood-burning stove. There’s no pool here but there is a small thermal area with a private rasul, a lavender aroma spa and steam room, and treatments are carried out by expert therapists who will encourage you to immerse yourself in a candlelit therapeutic bath, or experience the deep thermal cleanse of fragranced heat and steam, before submitting to your chosen treatment. Stay over when you choose a Residential Spa Experience by pairing one of Archerfield’s luxury accommodation options with your choice of treatments.
North Berwick, Scotland EH39 5HU
archerfieldhouse.com/spa
The Balmoral
You don’t need an excuse to visit Scotland’s enchanting capital – but the spa at the city’s luxurious landmark hotel, The Balmoral, might just be the extra pull should you need one. The former railway hotel might have dominated Princes Street for over a century, but there’s nothing remotely old fashioned about this sophisticated hotel where the calm and contemporary interiors are the work of renowned designer Olga Polizzi, and the service is second-to-none. The contemporary Irene Forte Spa is where ‘Sicily meets Scotland’. Infused with Sicilian warmth, every space has been designed to restore equilibrium with the perfect blend of relaxation and rejuvenation. There’s a 15-metre lap pool, steam room and sauna, and a treatment menu using iconic Irene Forte award-winning vegan products.
1 Princes Stret, Edinburgh EH2 2EQ
roccofortehotels.com
Cameron House
Enjoy an intimate wellness escape at this luxurious hotel on the shores of Loch Lomond, where the award-winning spa, in the Spa & Leisure Club, is the perfect place to relax and recharge. Treatments include revitalising facials and full-body therapies, and the spa’s carefully-designed zones are crafted to calm the senses as you switch between hydrotherapy and relaxation pools, a tepidarium, caladium, sauna, hammam and the breathtaking rooftop infinity pool overlooking the loch. There are several special spa packages to choose from including the Ultimate Couple Spa Day and Mum-To-Be Spa Day.
Loch Lomond, West Dunbartonshire
G83 8QZ
cameronhouse.co.uk
The Cliff Hotel & Spa
This family-owned hotel overlooking Poppit Sands and Cardigan Island promises a warm welcome in a breathtaking location. With expansive grounds and its own nine-hole golf course there is plenty of opportunity to relax here, but you should make full use of the unique sanctuary that is the hotel’s underground spa with its indoor pool, tepidarium, sauna and a choice of treatments and packages which include a two-night spa escape with use of the spa facilities and two treatments.
Gwbert, Cardigan, Ceredigion SA43 1PP
cliffhotel.com
SCHLOSS Roxburghe
On an historic estate in the rugged Scottish Borders, this luxury country house hotel has a golf course, a nearby outdoor sports centre (offering deer stalking and clay pigeon shooting) and an extensive spa, so there’s plenty to keep you happy however long you stay. The spa facilities include an outdoor heated infinity pool and hot tub, a refreshing plunge pool, an aroma sauna and a dry Finnish sauna (heated to a whopping 85C). There’s also a wide range of ESPA skin and body treatments available. Day and Stay spa packages are available.
Heiton by Kelso, Scotland TD5 8JZ
schlosshotel-roxburghe.com
Cliveden House & Spa
This Grade I-listed stately home set in 376 acres of grounds is now a five-star hotel and spa and is the ultimate luxury retreat. The rooms and suites include some with private hot tubs, or book the private riverside bolthole, Spring Cottage. Hidden behind the brick-walled garden, enveloped in tumbling roses, you’ll stumble across Cliveden’s tranquil spa, with its lavender-lined paths and outdoor pool. Treatments here include luxury facials using Oskia and incorporate acupressure, specialist massage, reflex and lymph drainage to leave the skin, body and mind rejuvenated and glowing. The Deep Sleep treatment, designed to promote a restful night’s sleep through circadian syncing techniques, uses methodical massaging with a selection of mists, oils and balms which include sleep-inducing ingredients.
Taplow, Berkshire SL6 0JF
clivedenhouse.co.uk
Lucknam Park
Just outside Bath, on the very edge the Cotswolds, this popular Palladian mansion sits within 500 acres of parkland and boasts one of the most impressive spa experiences in the UK. Housed in a beautifully-restored stable block, there’s an indoor/outdoor hydrotherapy saltwater pool, a 20-metre indoor pool, an extensive thermal suite with five thermal cabins, post-treatment relaxation room and a social lounge with a skincare mixology bar. Choose from a selection of signature, wellbeing or performance body and facial treatments, and there’s even a Discovery treatment menu for 5 to 16 year olds.
Colerne, Wiltshire SN14 8AZ
lucknampark.co.uk
Stobo Castle
This 19th century crenellated castle is one of Scotland’s most celebrated spa destinations. Near the pretty Borders town of Peebles, Stobo Castle is surrounded by landscaped parkland, and when you’re not enjoying the highly-polished spa facilities you can relax in the grounds, enjoy the Zen-like calm of the Japanese Water Gardens, or take a walk beside the loch to reconnect with nature. The spa offers the latest in spa trends and technology with a sauna, steam room, hydro-pool, three hot tubs and a huge indoor swimming pool (they also have ladies only facilities), and treatments which range from holistic therapies to expertly soothing massages and firming facials. Book a spa break this summer and receive a special discount of 10 percent.
Stobo, Peebleshire EH45 8NY
stobocastle.co.uk
