RELAX AND RECHARGE: TOP LUXURY SPAS TWO HOURS FROM LONDON

The views over the South Downs are uplifting. Food is a real strength here too. Stay for a long lunch at Botanica. South Lodge is child-friendly, but the spa keeps the atmosphere calm and restorative. It is brilliant for a full day of unwinding or as part of a countryside stay. The Spa at South Lodge is a 44,000 sq. ft. award-winning luxury spa with state-of-the-art facilities, including 3 pools, and is home to the Botanica restaurant. The South Lodge offers one of the finest spa experiences in Britain. You have an outdoor wild swimming pond, a heated outdoor pool, an infinity hydrotherapy pool, a thermal suite, botanical treatments, and some of the best relaxation spaces in the South. 

The Spread Eagle brings history and warmth. It sits in the heart of Midhurst with a sixteenth-century timber frame and a spa tucked away behind the hotel. The spa has a lovely indoor pool, sauna, steam room and treatments using Temple Spa products. It is more intimate than the larger country house spas and has a friendly feel that suits first-timers or those who prefer something low-key and soothing. The hotel is dog-friendly in many rooms, which helps if you are travelling with your four-legged friend. It is a great place for a gentle afternoon of rest. The Spread Eagle Spa set in the Historic Spread Eagle Hotel offers a relaxing environment away from the stresses and strains of modern day living. 

While not a traditional spa hotel, Raymond Blanc’s famous Oxfordshire manor offers a deeply restorative experience thanks to its calming gardens, in-room treatments, and cocooning comfort. Stays here are about slowing down: waking to birdsong, eating from the garden, and wandering through orchards. Treatments can be arranged in the privacy of your suite — it’s luxury at its most discreet.

Chewton Glen is on many wish lists for good reason. It is one of Britain’s most famous country house hotels with a spa that still feels fresh. You have hydrotherapy pools, aromatherapy saunas, crystal steam rooms, an outdoor hot tub, cold drench showers and expert therapists. Treatment quality is outstanding and the relaxation spaces are stylish and calming. The grounds stretch to the New Forest and the sea so you can walk, breathe and come back to a warm robe and herbal tea. The hotel is family friendly and dog friendly in selected rooms. It works for celebrations, romantic escapes and wellness days.

If you prefer something chic and grown up, The Roseate Reading is a great pick. It sits in a grand former Shire Hall so you step into a space with real personality. Aheli Spa is intimate rather than sprawling which works if you want a peaceful treatment and time in the sauna and steam room to yourself. You can wander to the park or enjoy a long lunch in the restaurant afterwards. The hotel is child-friendly yet feels perfect for couples or solo time when you want to reset your head and body. Reading is an easy train hop from London which keeps the whole trip simple.

Rowhill Grange delivers that country house feel without the long drive. The Utopia Spa spans two floors and has a Romanesque style with pools, jacuzzi and eighteen treatment rooms. Therapists here are consistently strong which makes a difference when you want targeted results. The restaurant serves tasty British food and the hotel is child-friendly, although the spa remains adults only. You feel looked after from the moment you arrive. It is ideal for a quick reset when time is short.

Sopwell House is the place you head to when you want comfort on tap. The Cottonmill Spa is one of the most impressive in the UK for its scale alone. You have indoor and outdoor thermal pools, a Whisper Room for deep rest, a full thermal suite and gorgeous gardens. The new relaxation spaces feel smart and calming. Therapists know exactly how to tailor a treatment without fuss. Sopwell House is family friendly, although the spa itself keeps the atmosphere peaceful. Rooms range from cosy doubles to the exclusive Mews Suites with private hot tubs. It works for couples, friends and solo escapes.

Set on the River Windrush and surrounded by 65 acres of gardens and wildflower meadows, Minster Mill is a contemporary Cotswolds escape with a tranquil spa at its heart. Expect soothing Scandinavian-style interiors, Elemis treatments, an indoor heated pool and a thermal suite. Afterwards, sip something herbal in the spa garden or head to the bar for something stronger.Garden Spa is in the heart of luxury hotel, Minster Mill's beautiful grounds. The spa offers an indoor heated plunge pool, sauna, and steam room.