The Best UK Spa Hotels For A Winter Wellness Break

Thyme Meadow Spa

The Vibe: This cookery school turned country-chic bolthole has a ‘village within a village’ feel, offering everything you’d expect from a country escape – characterful rooms, great food and a pub within walking distance. It’s in the picture-perfect Cotswolds village of Southrop, so the nearest train stations are Kemble to the west and Charlbury to the north, both of which are 30-minute taxi rides away. As for the spa, it’s a haven of peace and tranquillity. Guests are encouraged to embrace the peace associated with country living, with many leaving their phones at reception on arrival. The Meadow Spa is the first in the UK to offer Aurelia treatments and the pool is chemical free, using water from Thyme’s underground spring. Keen yogis will be pleased to hear there is a yoga studio too.

What To Book: Try the Aurelia Natural Face Lift, which uses deep muscle rolling and pressure point massage to relieve tension and supercharge collagen production. The 75-minute CBD facial uses shiatsu and ancient healing techniques to reduce inflammation.

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Aire Ancient Baths

The Vibe: This is an atmospheric spa in a candlelit historical building in central London. Guests can move through several baths at different temperatures for a truly relaxing experience. Each bath is the size of a small pool with warm temperatures and a huge bubbling Balneum which allows you to switch off and let the jets pummel weary, tired joints. Don’t miss the Ribero del Duero either – known as the ‘wine bath’, it’s a great place to immerse yourself post-treatment.

What To Book: Specialist treatments on offer include an Argan oil ritual for full body hydration, a wine-centred experience and a treatment that uses Himalayan salt as its key ingredient for exfoliation and hydration.

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Middleton Lodge

The Vibe: If you want to immerse yourself in fresh air and sprawling country landscapes this winter, Middleton Lodge is the place to go. Up in North Yorkshire, it’s the ultimate destination for hitting reset. The big Georgian estate is reason alone to visit – it provides a lot of the food on a property with a serious commitment to conservation and self-sufficiency. As for the spa, the interiors make you feel at home – think muted, natural, calming tones paired with comfy sofas and squidgy chairs – while the outdoor whirlpool, relaxation rooms and heated outdoor pool all feel private. That’s thanks to the towering trees that flank the space and make you feel as if you’re in a Nordic forest. There are plenty of treatments to enjoy, all benefiting from Aromatherapy Associates and Voya products – count on facials, body wraps, bathing experiences and deep tissue massages. With self-catering cottages available, this is a great place to come as a group.

What To Book: Our favourite option is the Forest Therapy treatment. Created to restore vitality, the massage hits all the right spots as you’re encouraged to inhale and release tension with guided techniques. The legs, back and abdomen are a focus, but you can ask for certain areas to be prioritised to suit your needs. We love that it ends with a mud mask on both the hands and feet.

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Dormy House

The Vibe: Perched above the village of Broadway with beautiful views across the Cotswolds, Dormy House is 45 minutes from Oxford. The closest train station is Moreton-in-Marsh, 95 minutes from London Paddington. A former farmhouse, Dormy House offers a luxury stay in rustic surroundings. As well as cosy, clean-lined rooms in neutral hues, there are three restaurants to choose from. Its award-winning spa has upped the rural R&R game. Spread over several floors, you’ll find a candle-lit infinity pool, lavender-infused sauna (sourced from Cotswold lavender fields), a hot juniper Finnish cabin and a salt steam room.

What To Book: Treatments, courtesy of Temple Spa and Natura Bissé, are second to none, but it’s the massages led by Beata Aleksandrowicz that really stand out. The Back Cure Massage, for example, focuses solely on tension and knots in the back, while the Therapeutic Touch is designed to support those living with cancer.

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Field Trip Spa At No.124

The Vibe: Known for its boutique hotels with chic interiors, the GuestHouse group has just arrived on Brighton’s seafront. Spread across two former Regency-style townhouses, the 32-room hotel has sea views and those signature interiors – think neutral palettes, plush furniture and vintage accessories. The the Field Trip Spa is the gardens. From copper bath experiences for two to steam rooms and treatment rooms that are concealed away for privacy and peace, it’s got a non-stuffy atmosphere where you can find moments of calm on your own or with a small group.

What To Book: There’s plenty on offer, with side-by-side massages available for friends and partners, as well as the ‘Copper Cove’ experience – a shared ritual in the tub where you can unwind together in magnesium-rich salt water. The Deep Sea Scrub stands out too. Thick, gritty salts are used to buff down the skin from head-to-toe, leaving you feeling lighter and more invigorated. Every product used is made with British-grown ingredients, in keeping with the spa’s natural and eco-conscious ethos.

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The Langley Spa

The Vibe: The Langley is one of Buckinghamshire’s best-kept secrets. Forbidden to build up during its recent renovation, the hotel has added an impressive subterranean spa, complete with 16m marble-lined swimming pool, hammams, vitality, pools, Himalayan salt-walled sauna and an amethyst steam room. If you’re feeling active, book in for a session with PT Matt Roberts, who heads up the cutting-edge fitness suite.

What To Book: With treatments from Sisley, La Sultane de Saba and Margaret Dabbs on offer, you’re spoilt for choice. The Sisley Supreme Facial will leave skin feeling restored, while signature Spa Journeys are blissful two-hour treatments inspired by native wellness traditions.

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Hoar Cross Hall

The Vibe: Staffordshire’s Hoar Cross Hall is the ideal place to relax body and mind. Facilities include a Nordic heat and ice suite, a 26m saltwater vitality pool, a snooze room and countless whirlpools, plunge pools and steam rooms. There’s also a state-of-the-art gym, tennis, cycling, croquet and boules if you’re looking to work up an appetite before afternoon tea.

What To Book: The spa offers seasonal treatments, so there’s often something new alongside its signature offering of facials, massages and holistic treatments. For a special treat, the HCH Grand Spa Trilogy is two hours of total relaxation, including a full body exfoliation, a back massage and facial – all using Elemis products.

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Heckfield Place

The Vibe: Heckfield Place is one of the most special destinations in the UK. The eco-friendly estate in Hampshire boasts excellent facilities, enviable interiors and flawless services. Just 75 minutes from London by car, the hotel is set on a 400-acre estate with walled gardens, forests, meadows and a biodynamic farm. The 18th-century building has been carefully restored with modern luxuries and six room types, all elegantly decorated. Guests have a choice to dine at two restaurants, both overseen by chef Skye Gyngell. As for its spa, the Bothy is in a walled garden, which hides its natural pool and outdoor hydrotherapy tub (where you can watch birds circle above) as well as a sauna, yoga studio and fitness suite.

What To Book: All treatments take place inside the Bothy. Each part of the spa has been designed for total relaxation – from the birdsong that plays by the pool to the décor, with its neutral colours and relaxation areas built from natural materials. We recommend booking a naturopathic health assessment which encourages healing through natural remedies and lifestyle changes. There are also realignment sessions with the resident osteopath for an overall wellness boost.

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Scarlet Hotel

The Vibe: Overlooking Cornwall’s sweeping Mawgan Porth beach (a ten-minute drive from Newquay), this adults-only eco-hotel blurs the boundaries between inside and out, with glass walls and infinity pools that appear to reach into the sea. The Ayurveda-inspired spa is where the magic happens – luxury tented treatment rooms are lit by lanterns for deep relaxation. For the complete experience, book a clifftop hot tub complete with expansive views of the Atlantic.

What To Book: For full-body relaxation, the Sarvanga massage is designed to bring scattered mental energy back into focus. After a top-to-toe oil massage, it finishes with an Ayurvedic facial massage. For an affordable option, consider a Scarlet Sunday, which includes an overnight stay for two, Sunday lunch, a bathing experience and full access to the spa, as well as a late checkout and breakfast in bed the following day.

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Claridge’s Spa

The Vibe: Claridge’s spa was designed by Andre Fu, who wanted to create a feeling of calm and an immediate sense of peace. As you step across the monochrome lobby, you’ll disconnect from the busyness of everyday life thanks to simple additions like the sound of flowing water, soothing music and minimalist interiors. From the handmade poultices to the soft lights that surround the saunas, we love how everything is so considered. The heated swimming pool flanked by stone columns is a highlight. Nearby, you’ll find cabanas offering privacy pre or post-treatment and a host of saunas and steam rooms. Around and about you’ll find seven treatment rooms.

What To Book: There are endless treatments on offer – from cryotherapy facials to traditional services like waxing. Favourites include the Bamboo & Silk Ritual – a warming, deep tissue massage that focuses on alleviating tension and stress. It’s 90 minutes of sheer bliss, ending with a skin-softening facial – plus, any treatment of this length allows you to use the pool at no extra cost. The Body Detox & Sculpt also yields impressive results. Perfect before an event, your therapist will focus on areas like your thighs, abdomen and upper arms, deeply massaging them using lymphatic techniques to lift and firm, bringing fresh blood to the surface for healthier-looking skin.

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CABÜ Cabins

The Vibe: Cabü has two sites – in Killykeen Forest Park, Ireland and by the sea in Kent – and both have a spa. Just like Soho Farmhouse, but without the hefty membership fee, its cabins sit in acres of land. There are outdoor hot tubs and saunas as well as a giant open-air games room where you can sit and enjoy drinks year-round. The cosy wooden cabins are set among hundreds of billowing trees, making this a great place to disconnect and go off-grid. The Nature Spa is not to be missed. In the middle of a forest, there are Japanese baths, outdoor plunge pools and massages available to those who are staying for one or two nights.

What To Book: The Shepherds Hut is where you’ll find a range of treatments – from deep tissue and Ayurveda massage to LED phototherapy masks and clinical facials. The latter would be our choice. Incorporating deep cleansing and exfoliation, it’s designed to remove dead skin cells, encourage better turnover and stimulate collagen production. Products are all tailored to your needs and promise to boost the skin barrier while reducing irritation.

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Eynsham Baths At Estelle Manor

The Vibe: Oxfordshire’s Estelle Manor is known for the 3,000 acres of parkland, private houses and glamorous interiors that make it a dream place to stay. Making it even more special is the bathing hall that launched earlier this year. Carved with marble details, it delivers on the wow factor, but never feels intimidating or OTT. Alongside the bathing hall there are five thermal pools, steam rooms, hay saunas and ten treatment rooms for you to seal yourself away in and enjoy the vast menu. Before you book, it is worth noting that you have to pay separately for spa access, even if you're a staying guest, but given the level of indulgence on offer, it's worth it if you want real escapism.

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The Newt

The Vibe: The Newt in Somerset is worthy of all the hype. A tasteful farmstead-style retreat with stylish décor across its 23 bedrooms, it’s got two gourmet restaurants where the emphasis is on garden-to-table dining. You’ll find the spa in a converted stone cow barn. The salt steam room, heated outdoor hydrotherapy pool and rasul mud chamber provide real relaxation and the ultra-modern gym is open 24 hours.

What To Book: The classic hammam is a Newt speciality. An ancient cleansing treatment, it works wonders to relieve stress, supercharge circulation and revive overworked muscles. For something different, try the Linda Meredith Oxygen Facial, which uses the power of pure oxygen alongside hydrating hyaluronic acid.

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Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa

The Vibe: Loved by several members of the SheerLuxe team, this hotel sits a stone’s throw from peaceful Climping beach in West Sussex. A tranquil space with a minimal number of rooms – meaning fewer guests and optimum privacy – it feels like a real treat to stay here. Most of the rooms are very traditional, with luxe upholstery and impressive beams, with the spa offering a nice juxtaposition. It’s modern, luxurious and surrounded by greenery. There’s an outdoor infinity pool, hot tubs, steam rooms, warm water beds and noise-cancelling treatment rooms upstairs.

What To Book: For an unrivalled glow, try the Mediterranean Marinade facial. Using both vitamin boosters and skin quenchers, the treatment lasts an hour and completely overhauls tired, lacklustre-looking skin. The spa packages are worth checking out too, with great options available for both half and full days.

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The Retreat At Elcot Park

The Vibe: Forty minutes from London by train – and then ten minutes from Hungerford station – this hotel and spa was once home to poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Since then, the Grade II-listed 18th-century mansion has been carefully restored and officially opened as a spa hotel in 2022. It’s since gone on to earn the title of ‘Britain’s Best Hotel’ for its unstuffy setting and unrivalled attention to detail. The spa makes it a real standout. There’s a heated outdoor swimming pool – complete with Whispering Angel bar – a hydrothermal suite, flotation tanks and steam/sauna rooms. All treatments are available to non-guests too.

What To Book: Treatments start from £30 at Elcot Park. We like the hour-long Destress Body Ritual, which promises to restore weary, sore muscles while the therapist will tailor moves and massage techniques to your individual needs and sore points. Expect to feel a little woozy afterwards – in the best possible way.

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Calcot & Spa

The Vibe: With 220 acres of surrounding land, there’s plenty of space to explore at Calcot & Spa in the Cotswolds. Ideal for staycations with your partner, family or friends, it has spacious suites for those looking to combine their spa trip with a stay. With both an indoor and outdoor pool, there’s also the chance to enjoy a relaxing swim, while the fireside hot tubs are a real treat. Elsewhere, you’ll find a sauna, steam room and an impressive gym.

What To Book: Calcot & Spa offers all the traditional treatments, including pedicures, facials, full body massages and skin peels. You can combine several facials in one for a tailored experience – just ask your therapist. The Skin Workout Facial includes movements that target the skin to lift, contour and tone. The immediate afterglow is impressive.

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Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa

The Vibe: In the heart of the New Forest, just minutes from the coast, this five-star Relais & Châteaux hotel and spa is quintessentially English. For a high-end, luxe experience in nature, book into one of the 14 treehouse suites that are hidden within a wooded valley on the edge of the forest. Each is suspended 35 feet above ground, offering an unforgettable setting for a relaxing getaway where you can spend the night stargazing and soaking in an outdoor hot tub. As for the spa, there are various saunas, steam rooms and foot spas to be enjoyed, but it’s the indoor hydrapool we recommend sinking into – it’s perfect for unwinding tight, sore muscles and alleviating discomfort.

What To Book: There are two treatments we love. The Signature Follicle Boost treatment is a must for those looking to improve their hair health. It begins with a scalp analysis before a follicle serum is applied to stimulate and encourage growth from the root. It’s thorough and removes any build-up sat on your scalp. Another treatment to look out for is OTO's Kinoko Ki. Using Japanese techniques, it includes dry brushing and deep tissue massage to boost blood circulation and, in turn, skin’s collagen and elastin. The treatment ends with sound therapy to help raise energy levels and instil some calm.

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The Spa At South Lodge

The Vibe: The impressively large spa at Sussex’s South Lodge was designed with sustainability in mind. There’s a ban on single-use plastic, water is cleaned through a reed bed, and robes and towels have been chosen to minimise environmental impact. The spa really has it all – three pools, botanical sauna, marble-lined salt and steam room, and the UK’s first heated natural swim pond. New to the space are the Reeds and Spa lodges. They sit lakeside with space to stay for up to four adults or two adults and three children.

What To Book: Facials are offered in collaboration with Omorovicza. The Blue Diamond facial is the perfect treatment, combining traditional Hungarian massage to re-energise and lift the skin with cooling derma-globes to depuff and brighten.

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