The Retreats, Spas & Hotels That Wellness Experts Swear By

For a UK escape, Lime Wood is still my favourite. It has all the polish of a luxury countryside hotel, but none of the stiffness. With just 33 rooms, it feels intimate – more like going to a friend’s house for the weekend. The spa is one of the best in the UK: there’s an indoor ozone-treated pool, an outdoor hot tub and a hydro-pool overlooking the forest, plus a log-lined sauna and ten treatment rooms. The treatment offering is seriously strong – Bamford, Voya and Sarah Chapman (it’s the only place outside London for her facials).  

Heckfield Place is the one I’d return to again and again. The Bothy spa is small but beautifully done. There’s a pool, an outdoor hot tub, a sauna, and a steam room, but the treatments are what really stand out. Everything is rooted in the estate, and the pregnancy massage – partly done on a birthing ball – is one of the best I’ve come across.  

For a spa day, South Lodge is hard to beat. Set in the Sussex countryside, it’s a huge space but incredibly well designed. There’s an infinity pool, a natural heated wild swimming pool that feels like a warm lake, and an outdoor hydrotherapy pool with views across the hills. The thermal offering is extensive – salt steam, herbal steam, sauna – and the treatments rival anything in London.  

Six Senses Ibiza does wellness in a modern way. Alongside the spa, there’s RoseBar – a longevity-focused space offering everything from hyperbaric oxygen and red-light therapy to more advanced diagnostics and biohacking treatments. You can go as deep as you want, or keep it simple. Either way, you leave feeling better – and more informed about your health.  

Viceroy Ombria Algarve is a hidden gem. Tucked into the Portuguese hills, the spa spans three floors designed by Greg Payne, the name behind spaces like Estelle Manor, Beaverbrook and Aman. Everything is considered, from the thermal pool and treatment rooms overlooking the golf course to the yoga and Pilates studios, and the spa café with a dietitian-led menu. There are also details like sensory showers and custom-blended oils used throughout treatments.  

The Ranch Malibu is on my bucket list. It’s a proper, no-shortcuts reset. Days start early with long hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains – you can cover up to 60 miles across the week – followed by strength work, yoga, nutrition sessions and daily massages. It’s structured and intense, but that’s the point. You switch off from everything else, fall into a routine, and push yourself physically, which has a knock-on effect on your mental state.  

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When I want to reconnect with nature, I head to the British countryside and Heckfield Place always delivers. Everything here feels deeply connected to the land. The estate is biodynamically farmed, and that ethos runs through every detail – from the food to The Bothy spa, where treatments are created with Wildsmith Skin. What stays with you is how intuitive the whole experience feels. Nothing is overly choreographed – treatments are guided by the therapist and what your body needs in that moment, using touch, breath and rhythm to gently bring you back into balance. Book a treatment, then spend time walking the grounds or have a session with a nature psychologist for a true reset.  

Thyme is another favourite. In the Cotswolds, it’s understated and deeply restorative. Inspired by wildflower meadows and botanical healing, the treatments at the Meadow Spa are deeply grounding – think oils, herbs and ingredients that feel connected to the surrounding landscape. It doesn’t position itself as overtly ‘wellness’, which is exactly its appeal.  

For a full reset, you can’t beat Clinique La Prairie. It’s the gold standard for a results-driven approach. It’s incredibly precise, with diagnostics, nutrition, movement and treatments all working in sync to create measurable change. Everything is highly personalised. You’re guided through in-depth testing and consultations, with programmes tailored to everything from sleep and longevity to stress and energy. Expect to leave with a deeper understanding of what your body actually needs – not just in the moment, but in the long term.  

For a complete switch-off, nowhere compares to MiraMonti in the Dolomites. It’s one of the most calming spaces I’ve experienced. The design is beautiful – almost Japanese in influence – with clean lines, natural materials and a real reverence for silence. Every corner pulls your gaze back to the mountains. The forest sauna, cold plunge and panoramic infinity pool are standouts, while the quiet rooms and yoga studio feel grounding in the best way.  

For treatments that really land, I always come back to Mandarin Oriental Mayfair. It starts with the therapists – there’s a real depth of knowledge and intuition. The Tranquillity of Mayfair treatment, with two therapists working in sync, is exceptional for deep, full-body relaxation. We’ve also created The Yoga Class Rituals within the spa – designed to bridge movement and restoration. The Nervous System Reset is my personal favourite, layering breathwork, thermal therapy and restorative practices to shift how you feel on a deeper level.  

Kasbah Bab Ourika shifted my perspective. It’s set in the Atlas Mountains, around an hour from Marrakech, with uninterrupted views across the Ourika Valley. The elevation and openness create distance from day-to-day noise. There’s no fixed programme, which is part of the appeal. Days are spent walking, reading, or simply being outside, and the food is largely sourced from the hotel’s own gardens. It also feels genuinely connected to its surroundings, both the landscape and the local community, which gives it a different energy to more polished wellness destinations.  

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The recently opened Six Senses Place in London lives up to the hype. Set just off Hyde Park, it’s a members’ club with a serious wellness offering at its core. The facilities are extensive – a large pool, thermal circuit, relaxation spaces – and treatments take a holistic approach, blending Eastern and Western techniques. The Ayurvedic lymphatic massage I had there made a noticeable difference.  

Deerlands Estate in the Surrey Hills is my insider recommendation. Tucked into the countryside but within easy reach of London, it operates more like a private members' space than a traditional retreat. The focus is on nervous system regulation, with programmes built around breathwork, movement and recovery, backed by science. Gatherings are small and curated, with leading practitioners across performance and wellbeing. It feels intimate and genuinely different to anything else in the UK right now.  

For a change of pace, Santani in Sri Lanka is worth the journey. The architecture is open and elevated, allowing air and light to move through the space, which adds to that sense of stillness. There’s no pressure to follow a strict programme – instead, everything from meals to treatments is tailored to your dosha and how you’re feeling day to day.  

For a structured reset, SHA  is hard to beat. Overlooking the Mediterranean in Alicante, it’s one of the most established medical wellness clinics in Europe. Programmes combine advanced diagnostics with targeted treatments – everything from IV therapy to specialised movement and nutrition plans. The macrobiotic, anti-inflammatory food is a key part of the experience, and everything is designed to support long-term health rather than quick fixes.  

For deep relaxation, Sterrekopje in South Africa is on another level. Set on a working farm in Franschhoek, it’s surrounded by mountains and vineyards but feels completely self-contained. Everything is grown or sourced locally, and the food is central to the experience. There’s a hammam, wild swimming and long, unstructured days that naturally slow you down. It’s deeply restorative without following a typical ‘wellness’ format.  

I’m watching Tulah Clinical Wellness in Kerala. Set in the birthplace of Ayurveda, it combines advanced diagnostics with traditional healing systems. From imaging and bloodwork to personalised Ayurvedic protocols, it’s designed to bridge clinical precision with more holistic practices. It’s a more integrated approach – and one that feels very much like the future of wellness.  

Next on my list is Long Lane in the South Downs. Opening this summer, it’s already generating a lot of buzz. What makes it interesting is the level of personalisation. Everything starts with in-depth testing – from biometrics to DNA methylation – which then shapes your entire experience, from what you eat to how you train and recover. The setting, the design and the slower pace of the countryside balance out the more advanced side of things.

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For a fitness-focused stay, Equinox Hotel in Hudson Yards is hard to beat. It’s directly connected to the Equinox flagship, so the level of training is exceptional. What sets it apart is the recovery. Think cryotherapy, infrared saunas, cold plunges and sleep-optimised rooms with full blackout, soundproofing and temperature regulation. It’s designed so that every detail supports performance – you leave feeling stronger, not like you’ve taken time off.  

I also rate Othership in New York. It completely reframes what a wellness experience can look like. Sessions are built around guided breathwork, ice baths and large-format saunas, but delivered with music, lighting and a real sense of pace. It feels far closer to a boutique fitness class than a spa, which makes it more engaging and less intimidating. You’re guided throughout, moving between heat, cold and breath in a way that feels structured yet accessible. I always leave feeling clear-headed and energised.  

For something more clinical, I’d fly to RAKxa in Bangkok. Set on Bang Krachao – often referred to as Bangkok’s ‘green lung’ – it feels completely removed from the city. It’s a fully integrative medical retreat, where everything starts with diagnostics. From blood work to movement screening, your entire programme is tailored – covering nutrition, physiotherapy, stress and longevity. It’s incredibly thorough, but still calm and private.  

Lanserhof is where I go for a serious reset. With locations in Austria and Germany, it’s known for its science-led approach to wellness – but once you’re there, it feels much more considered than clinical. Everything is tailored to you, from nutrition to treatments and movement, with a strong focus on gut health, energy and overall balance. Days have a clear rhythm, but there’s still space to slow down and switch off.  

Next on my list is COMO Shambhala Estate in Bali. Set above the Ayung River near Ubud, it’s surrounded by jungle, with villas and pathways that make it feel completely tucked away. What draws me to it is how personalised everything is. There are resident experts across yoga, nutrition and Ayurveda, and programmes are tailored around how you want to feel – whether that’s more energy, better sleep or a full reset.  

ARC in Canary Wharf is one of London’s best-kept secrets. There’s a simple sauna-steam-ice bath circuit, plus guided sessions if you want them, which is still quite rare in London. I also rate AIRE Ancient Baths in Covent Garden – it’s entirely candlelit with thermal pools, salt baths and steam rooms – and The Ned Spa in the City, a cavernous subterranean space that’s easy to spend time in.  

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If I could only recommend one place, it would always be Palace Merano. Set in the Italian Alps, it’s somewhere I’ve returned to for over 15 years – and it still sets the standard. Founded by Henri Chenot, it’s built around his Biontology method, which brings together diagnostics, treatments and nutrition in a way that feels both thorough and intuitive. Programmes are immersive but never extreme. Everything is tailored, from the treatments to the food, which is nourishing without ever feeling restrictive. The practitioners are exceptional, and it’s the cumulative effect of everything working together that makes the difference. I always come back feeling lighter and clearer.  

Cala di Volpe in Sardinia is hard to beat. Set on the Costa Smeralda, it overlooks one of the clearest stretches of water in the Mediterranean, and there’s something about the light and space there that immediately shifts your pace. It’s not positioned as a wellness destination, but it delivers in a quieter way – long swims in the sea, and slow lunches built around fresh, local produce. I always leave feeling truly rested.  

Six Senses Ibiza stands out. In the quieter north of the island, it has a completely different energy to the rest of Ibiza – more grounded and less scene-driven. The wellness and fitness offering is incredibly well done. There’s a full programme of classes, from strength and conditioning to yoga and more immersive concepts, all set against that coastal backdrop. When I was there for the Intelligent Change Summit, I discovered classes like Primal Moves and Sanctum, which brought a completely different dimension to movement.  

Next on my list is the Hoffman Process in California. Set in Petaluma, just outside San Francisco, it’s a seven-day residential programme focused on emotional wellbeing – and one that’s often described as genuinely transformative. The structure is immersive by design. You hand over your phone on arrival, and the week is guided through a mix of therapy, movement, meditation and group work, all focused on understanding and shifting long-held patterns.  

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