BEST SPA HOTELS FOR RELAXATION AND WELLNESS

Emma Love

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There’s not much that’s more pampering than a long weekend at a spa hotel - whether you’re there to soak up the multitude of health benefits associated with a hot-cold thermal circuit of saunas, pools and steam rooms, or book in for a series of Ayurvedic treatments. A holistic wellness break to reset body and mind often also means tucking into delicious food and enjoying nature. Here are the coastal escapes and country retreats to book for a tranquil, spa-focused stay.

The Spa at South Lodge, Horsham

When the spa at South Lodge opened five years ago, it was an exciting addition to the Sussex wellness scene. Oak clad with a grass and sedum roof, the curving sustainable structure integrates with the natural landscape, while inside, treatments (including a pro-sleep massage, Omorovicza Blue Diamond facial and hydrating and toning body wrap) use organic products. The sun deck surrounds a sunken hydrotherapy pool; there’s also an indoor pool, an outdoor wild swimming pool and a lake – where the new wooden spa lodges are located. Each has a mini kitchen and living area with a fireplace for chilly evenings (some also have their own infrared halotherapy sauna), as well as extended spa access on arrival and check-out days. Floor-to-ceiling windows face a private terrace with an outdoor copper bath and the water beyond. Don’t miss the beauty bar, thermal suite or the zero-waste, dairy-free Botanica restaurant for Mediterranean-inspired, nutritious all-day dining.

The Spread Eagle Hotel & Spa, Midhurst

Housed in a charming 15th-century coaching inn, The Spread Eagle has a cosy restaurant and bar (think copper pans hanging above an inglenook fireplace, beamed ceilings, wooden tables and candelabras); 39 rooms and suites ranging from traditional in style with four-poster beds and rolltop baths, to comfortable and contemporary; and a tranquil spa. At its heart is the blue mosaic tile heated indoor pool where floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space with light and guests can float under the Scandinavian-inspired vaulted ceiling. There’s also a hot tub, gym, steam room and sauna, relaxation nook and, for the summer, a garden to sip tea and while away the hours. All treatments use Temple Spa products: signatures include a combined massage and facial, a hydrotherm massage (you lie on a warm floatation bed) and the South Downs Soother – a foot bath and massage, body brush, mud wrap and facial in one.

Lime Wood Hotel, Lyndhurst

There is a holistic approach to wellbeing at Lime Wood’s Herb House spa, which is rooted in its New Forest surroundings. As well as treatments using products by British brands Voya and Bamford, there is a selection of Ayurvedic therapies designed to target both mind and body – from the circulation-boosting Abhyanga massage (where warm oil is poured across the back followed by long, energy mapped strokes) to lumbosacral therapy, which focuses on the lower back and works to strengthen the spinal cord. Choose between staying in the main house, or for more privacy, one of the lodges, cottages or rustic cabins in the grounds (the lake cabin, for instance, feels like being on your own private island while the self-contained forest cottages are dotted among trees and meadows). Italian-influenced food comes courtesy of chefs Angela Hartnett and Luke Holder at the relaxed Hartnett Holder & Co restaurant. It’s worth keeping eyes peeled for the Re-root retreats too, an ongoing series of events and workshops that tap into the soul-soothing powers of the countryside.

Alexander House & Utopia Spa, Turners Hill

Once the home of poet Percy Shelley and author Mary Shelley, this Jacobean mansion surrounded by 120 acres is now a fantastic spa hotel. It’s perhaps best known for its bespoke outdoor barrel sauna and bubbling hot tub on the terrace but there are also steam rooms, and several indoor pools for relaxing in. Book for specialty therapies using bio-nutritional OSKIA skincare products, such as the Renaissance Vitamin Body Glow, a full body experience that encompasses exfoliation, mask and head-to-toe massage. Other options include the nutri-hydration body therapy and circadian syncing deep sleep treatment which incorporates a repair oil with melatonin and CBD, and magnesium mist to assist with sleep. Afterwards, keep your fluffy robe on for dinner at the bistro-style Reflections restaurant before heading upstairs to sleep in one of the contemporary rooms or suites.

The Serenity Spa at Seaham Hall Hotel, Seaham

From the seaweed wrap on the spa treatment menu to the Whitby crab served in The Dining Room restaurant and the dramatic North Sea views, coastal ties are integral to this country house clifftop escape. The Serenity Spa – which has a thermal circuit that includes a 20-metre pool, steam, sauna, ice fountain, outdoor hot tubs and a hammam – has partnered with Temple Spa and ishga (skincare made from Scottish seaweed) on an extensive range of treatments that include deep tissue massages and regenerating facials. Plus, there are targeted holistic therapies such as hypnotherapy and weight loss too. The best of the contemporary suites come with outdoor hot tubs on the terrace or private gardens but all are a mash-up of bold colour and pattern. Go straight from the spa to eat at Asian-inspired Ozone in your slippers, or dress up for Yorkshire steak and fries in the main restaurant.