3 spa staycations in the UK

From country pads to cool-as-cucumber contemporary escapes

Great pampering is all in the planning. After all, if you’re going to set aside a little ‘me-time’, it’s worth getting a dash of inspiration first. So, to help you, we’ve put together six of our favourite luxury spa hotels across the UK. Whether you’re after the ultimate spa staycation, massages followed by mouth-watering food or simply fancy a weekend in the country, this is your go-to list.

1. FOR THOSE WHO LIKE…TREATMENTS ON THE THAMES

Swap ‘seen it all before’ for a spa with a difference at Monkey Island Estate in Bray-on-Thames. The first-of-a-kind floating spa takes its inspiration from the apothecaries’ barges once moored at Chelsea Physic Garden, and the botanicals once used by monks in the 17th-century. Opt for its signature treatment, The Monk’s Elixir, for a heady experience of herbal tonic-tasting and full body massage.

Pavillion S e1570464370956

2. FOR THOSE WHO LIKE… A SIDE OF FINE DINING

Infinity Pool lights lowered 1 Dormy House S e1570464137190

Nourishing your body is about more than just massages. At Dormy House in the Cotswolds, you can relax in its award-winning, Scandi-style spa – then discover a trio of restaurants. There’s the garden-to-table elegance of The Back Garden, tasting menus at exclusive MO, and ‘pie and a pint’ elevated in the Potting Shed. Or you can take out a Dormy hamper if the sun is shining. The best part? The spa is only open to guests at the weekend, so the peace and quiet will be all yours.

3. FOR THOSE WHO LIKE… A TASTE OF ENGLISH COUNTRY LIFE

There’s nothing quite like escaping to the country and pressing ‘re-set.’ Cue Luton Hoo Hotel. This magnificent mansion has turned its historic stables into an exclusive spa, complete with Heat Therapy suite, fitness studio and infinity pool with views of the surrounding woodland. It also has Capability Brown-designed gardens, an 18-hole golf course and a Victorian grass tennis court.

Luton Hoo Side Ext S e1570464252155

Or you could opt for Alexander House. This West Sussex sanctuary celebrates the best of the British countryside and has a unique Jacobean heritage. But the inspiration behind its Utopia Spa is purely ancient Greek. Lower yourself into the bubbles of the mosaic-tiled hydrotherapy pool. Or breathe in the fresh country air in the outdoor barrel sauna.

vb119605 AH Spa pools 001 S e1570464332299

TOP SPA TIPS
  • If you’re after an adults-only getaway, check any pool ‘splash times’. They might be the perfect moment to pop off for afternoon tea.
  • And if you’re planning a babymoon spa break, plan it for the second trimester when most spas are happy to offer mum-to-be massage.
  • Want to get out and about? Consider timing your staycation with an event in your hotel’s calendar: an art exhibition, a festival, or a day at the races.

Previous

3 dog-friendly Cotswolds breaks

Next

Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2019

Latest stories

Cancale to Cap Fréhel: Brittany’s Emerald Coast

Get swept away to France’s far western shores, an enchanting region where gleaming white-sand beaches give way to dramatic tides and wind-sculpted headlands. Here, the pace slows, the landscapes stretch wide, and the towns feel wonderfully unspoiled. This four-day road trip traces the curve of Brittany’s Emerald Coast, beginning in

The ultimate Austin city guide

A city that has pledged to keep itself “weird,” Austin is artsy, outdoorsy, progressive and Texan in equal parts. Here, pour-over coffee, Western wear, barbecue and even Mexican free-tailed bats (more on them later) all exist in perfect harmony. Rent kayaks or pedal boats and cruise along Lady Bird Lake.

Hotel Lungarno: Ferragamo’s stylish Florentine stay

Bedding down in one of the Tuscan capital’s most fashionable addresses, Chloe Frost-Smith reflects on a long weekend spent riverside in the Ferragamo family’s Hotel Lungarno — with plenty of Ponte Vecchio-peeping from the Arno-adjacent rooms and sun-drenched terraces included.

Nurture through nature: 5 restorative hotels in Portugal to press pause at

In Portugal’s wild corners, luxury stays are carving out space for stillness, slowness, and something that’s increasingly sought after: a deep connection with nature. In Aljezur, where the cliffs tumble into the Atlantic and time seems to drift with the tides; in Comporta, where pine forests guard miles of deserted