From tranquil coastal hideaways to idyllic country havens, chic city retreats to private lakeside lodges - the UK boasts some of the best luxury spa escapes in Europe. UK spa breaks are the perfect solution for a re-boot or spot of R&R this summer. The Luxury Spa Edit shares 10 of the best:
The award-winning Scarlet hotel is perched on a clifftop and looks out over the golden sands of Mawgan Porth in North Cornwall. Focusing on holistic well-being and the nourishment of mind, body and soul, the Scarlet spa boasts numerous eco-friendly facilities. As well as the beach there's an outdoor pool and if the water is too nippy there's log-fired hot tubs nearby! Rather than a skin-deep approach, the Scarlet's focus is on overall well-being, and Ayurvedic elements are woven throughout the treatments.
Perched on a hill six miles north of Plymouth, Boringdon Hall is a beautiful Elizabethan manor house, steeped in history. The addition of the £5 million state of the art Gaia spa makes Boringdon Hall one of best retreats in the south west. Spanning three floors, the contemporary design of the spa embraces Boringdon's idyllic surroundings, with a decor of natural hues, earthy tones and botanical greens. You'll find candlelit treatment rooms, a Champagne nail bar and a Spatisserie with two outdoor dining areas offering panoramic views of the Devonshire countryside. The spa offers treatments by ESPA as well as Gaia's delicious own brand spa product range.
Just outside the picturesque village of Lyndhurst, perched on the edge of of the stunning New Forest, Lime Wood is bestowed with Regency house charm, scattered lodges and a spa set against an enchanting backdrop. The Herb House Spa is set within a walled garden and boasts indoor and outdoor hydrotherapy pools, an aroma-steam room, a mud treatment room, a sauna with magical woodland views, and a swimming pool. Expect laid back luxury, incredible treatments, top notch food (courtesy of Holder & Hartnett) oh and wild ponies...
Set in London's heartland the Corinthia is one of the capitals leading luxury hotels. Combining grandeur with contemporary design, it boasts some of the most stylish suites and penthouses in the metropolis. ESPA Life at Corinthia is penned in the little black books of numerous A-listers and fashionistas - and it's no surprise - as it's hailed as 'The Next Generation of Spa'. The wellness and treatment offerings are second to none. Spa facilities include sleep pods, a swimming pool, a vitality pool, an amphitheatre sauna, an ice fountain, and heated beds where you can relax and gaze at the glow of the flickering fireplaces...
Chic, cosy and quirky, with just 30 bedrooms set within a 19th century manor house, Cowley Manor offers boutique luxury in stunning surroundings. There are 55 acres of land to explore, including country gardens featuring Victorian cascades, natural springs and lakes, meadows and a beautiful 13th century church. Cowley's state of the art glass-fronted C-side Spa offers an extensive range of holistic treatments inspired by it's surroundings. Spa facilities include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, drench showers, a sauna and steam and relaxation areas.
Remember the 'mini weekend break' in Bridget Jones's Diary? Well Stoke Park was the location for this and many other familiar movie scenes. A quintessentially British country escape, the white mansion house is set among 300 acres of glorious parkland, lakes, historic gardens and monuments, and boasts a championship golf course and 13 Wimbledon spec tennis courts. Stoke Park's spa is housed in The Pavilion and offers a haven of calm, with facilities that include an indoor heated swimming pool, Italian marble steam rooms, an outdoor Scandinavian sauna and hot tub, nail bar, and a private atrium with a tranquil tropical aquarium...
A stay at Lucknam Park is country house living at its finest. The lavish house and sprawling estate boasts 42 individually styled rooms, a Michelin star restaurant, an equestrian centre, a cookery school and 500 acres of parkland to explore - complete with walled, rose and kitchen gardens. Rebranded as one of only three ESPA spas in the UK Lucknam Park's award winning has re-launched this week. Facilities include a 20m indoor swimming pool, an indoor-outdoor hydrotherapy pool, an outdoor plunge pool and extensive thermal cabins including Japanese salt & Amethyst rooms, aromatic steams, a sauna and tepidarium. New signature treatments include the ESPA Inner Calm Massage and the ESPA Optimal Skin Health Facial.
Set within 300 acres of woodland and magical gardens, The Grove, otherwise known as 'London's country estate', boasts a championship golf course, three top notch eateries and a quirky urban beach! Housed within a tranquil garden, The Grove's Sequoia Spa offers spa offers state-of-the-art facilities including a stunning 22 metre black mosaic pool, steam and sauna rooms, a saline vitality jet pool, two fitness studios, twelve Asian-inspired treatment rooms and a well-equipped gym. Treatments on offer include holistic and anti-ageing treatments from luxury brands including ESPA and Natura Bisse.
This waterside enclave of woodland homes and lodges nicknamed 'the Hamptons of the Cotswolds' has long been a favourite escape for celebrities. With interiors designed by Kate Moss, Elle MacPherson, Jade Jagger, Kelly Hoppen, Phillipe Starck & the Yoo Studio the Lakes are a innovative design-led holiday destination. The Orchard Spa has a glorious 17-meter heated pool with panoramic views of Clear Water Lake, sauna, steam rooms and a gym featuring Matrix equipment and a kinesis wall. The spa also features two treatment rooms, an express manicure bar & spacious club room, complete with a pool table & drinks service. Lakes by Yoo delivers a luxury, private, 5-star wellness experience.
Nestled in an idyllic countryside setting, just two miles from Windermere, Gilpin Lake House is an uber-luxe boutique Relais & Chateaux family-run hotel, perfect for a romantic spa escape. A lagoon of spa luxury - five stylish cedar-clad lodges scatter the lake, complete with private hot tubs, steam rooms and gardens. The Jetty Spa overlooks the lake and includes an indoor swimming pool, steam, sauna, and a candlelit Swedish-style double treatment suite, with floor-to-ceiling windows boasting views of the lake. There's also an outdoor hot tub and The Boat House - a relaxation cabin with a log fire and comfy day beds for post treatment lounging.
The Headland is a luxury hotel with private cottages set on an exclusive clifftop overlooking the breathtaking Fistral Bay. Expect individually designed rooms and suites with stunning ocean views and rosette-worthy dining. The Headland Spa features six low-lit treatment rooms - each with its own shower area and individual sound systems - a Rhassoul Mud Room, Cornish salt steam rooms, saunas and hydrotherapy areas. Their offerings of handpicked treatments are guaranteed to soothe you from head to toe.
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