Best UK spa hotels for food lovers

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Best UK spa hotels for food lovers

The Gilpin, Windermere, Lake District

The Lakes has an incredible food and hospitality scene, and The Gilpin is up there with the best the area has to offer. The Relais & Châteaux bolthole is set across the two sites – the main Gilpin hotel and the Lake House, which are both a short distance from Lake Windermere – every consideration has been made to ensure your stay is a memorable and ultra-cosy retreat. The 30-room main hotel is plush and characterful but it’s the spa lodges and suites that really take the comfort up a notch. The spa suites are top tier – these open-plan wood and glass lodges are epic in size and luxury, flooded with natural light and decorated with botanical touches to bring the outdoors indoors. The bowl bath and rainforest showers feel extra decadent, as does the private deck overlooking your own pond. As the lodges are located on the elevated, rugged landscape of the Lakes, they offer both magnificent views and privacy.

The main Gilpin hotel has two restaurant options – SOURCE and Spice. The Michelin-starred SOURCE is headed by The Fat Duck alumnus Ollie Bridgwater and offers a six or 10-course tasting menu with wine pairings that changes daily. Our menu included refined dishes like scallop, celeriac, truffle & white kelp, Sladesdown duck, beetroot, endive, kampot pepper & parfait, and white chocolate, caviar & hojicha. The more informal option is Gilpin Spice, a buzzy fusion restaurant with an open-plan kitchen. Here, menu highlights include Asian fried chicken, ox cheek rendang, Herdwick lamb rump boti, and sticky Jamaican sponge pudding with a coconut sorbet. Breakfast is served in the main hotel – we recommend the bright and bucolic conservatory. The menu consists of classic dishes like a full English and eggs benedict, alongside buck rarebit with poached eggs. Guests not wanting to leave their cocoon-like rooms can order breakfast and Spice dishes to their room. Afternoon tea is served at the secluded Lake House. Traditional with a gentle twist, we liked the thoughtful savoury options, including a shot of tomato soup and coronation chicken served in pani puri: a nod to a signature dish at Spice. If you're making a weekend of your stay, check out our picks of the best restaurants in the Lake District for more inspiration.

The spa experience

For the ultimate spa experience, book into a spa suite, where you’ll get your own personal sauna, steam room, massage chair, thermal hot tub and infra-red bed. In-room treatments are available using products from ESPA or local producer The Lakes, and include full-body or localised massages. Spa lodges also have their own facilities, and for those staying in the main hotel, there’s central spa for treatments.

Rooms from £305 per night, inclusive of full English breakfast. Check availability at thegilpin.co.uk or booking.com.

Rockliffe Hall, Darlington

Self-taught chef James Close spends any spare time he has travelling the world for food inspiration. Looking for a new challenge he joined Rockliffe Hall as culinary director and opened dinner-only TERRA in the space used as the spa’s café during the day, while the hotel builds a completely new restaurant space opening in 2025. Although billed as a modern bistro, the level of skill and detail in dishes such as prawn and crab toast; burnt lime hamachi ceviche; wagyu tournedos rossini speak to his Michelin star background (two stars at his previous home, The Raby Hunt), while gratinated gnocchi and tropical baked alaska hit the comfort food bullseye. During the day, the space is called Nu Sana and offers buddha bowls, burgers and brunches with plenty of vegan options.

The spa experience

The award-winning Spa at Rockliffe Hall spans 50,000 square feet, including a 20m indoor pool, hydro pool, monsoon showers, thermal suite and outdoor hot tub, plus a dedicated wellness restaurant, Nu Sana, with in-robe dining welcome daily. The spa treatment menu combines holistic spa rituals with results-driven treatments. Most recently, the hotel partnered with Proverb – the sustainable beauty and bodycare company – to offer guests a 'skin fitness' journey with a new stretch and align massage treatment. The sumptuous Spa Garden includes a sauna, private infinity pool with sweeping views of the grounds and beyond, plus tepidarium beds. Guests can enjoy the private space while sipping on Piaff champagne. Access to the spa is included for guests of the hotel throughout their stay, though not including treatments. The Spa Garden is £25 per person for guests staying at the hotel, while day and evening packages are also available to non-guests.

Rooms from £390 per night. Check availability at booking.com or rockliffehall.com

Lime Wood, Hampshire

Secluded in its own estate in the heart of the New Forest, Lime Wood is a luxuriously renovated 13th century hunting lodge. The owner’s outstanding art collection adds a contemporary feel to reception rooms, made cosy with squishy armchairs, crackling fires and heaving bookshelves, set around a chic central atrium with retractable roof. Aperitifs at the bar include a trio of arancini paired with refreshing Americano cocktails and a six-strong espresso martini list. The restaurant, Hartnett Holder & Co, has a hushed, elegant ambience, serving Italian dishes such as house-cured Loch Duart salmon with pickled rhubarb, frilly mafalde pasta with slow-cooked ragu, and monkfish in a spiced shellfish and fennel broth. Finish with a dozen delicate madeleines served hot from the oven in their scalloped tray. A breakfast grazing table awaits in The Scullery come morning, laden with homemade pastries, house-smoked salmon, DIY granola bowls and more, while you decide between cooked-to-order plates such as caramelised pear buckwheat pancakes.

The main house features stone fireplaces, Italian marble bathrooms and large sash windows with magical forest views. Other rooms around the estate include Pavilion rooms with forest-fringing patios and rustic-chic forest and lake cabins, the latter perched on the water with a terrace tub and log burner. All are enveloped in country elegance, with upholstered bedheads, Bamford toiletries and mini bars kitted out with New Forest shortbread, Flack Manor Brewery beer and Hambledon sparkling wine.

The spa experience

A night at Lime Wood includes full use of the Herb House Spa, a serene complex nestled on the forest edge. The sauna and hydro pool have windows to soak up the forest zen before a nature-inspired Ground massage ritual. Take a pilates class, work out in the gym or do laps in the indoor pool and cool off on a lounger amongst the aromatics of the rooftop herb garden. Sip cold press detox juices and CBD drinks while picking from nourishing plates at the adjacent Raw & Cured café, including the likes of British-grown quinoa with harissa roasted cauliflower and house-cured sea bass ceviche in a zingy rhubarb dressing.

Rooms from £495 per night including spa access. Check availability at limewoodhotel.co.uk or mrandmrssmith.com

The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, Bath

Few visitors to Bath see beyond the façade of the magnificent Royal Crescent, the city’s most impressive landmark. And even fewer guess that No 16 extends into beautiful hotel gardens with a lavender path – a haven for birds and butterflies – where you can have afternoon tea, cocktails and light lunches. Chef Martin Blake balances simplicity with on-trend touches. Montagu’s Mews’ evening tasting menu starts with tiny canapés of Bath Blue cheese and avocado mousse with cucumber and borage, then shokupan is served; a soft Japanese-style milk bread with Somerset’s Ivy Farm butter and smoked roe studded with salmon ikura. Hollandaise for beef tartare is spiked with Bath Ale and IP8 (beer) vinegar. A forced rhubarb dessert is softened with olive oil and vanilla. The comprehensive wine list includes confident choices such as a barrel-aged assyrtiko.

Rooms are built for comfort and luxury, some with terraces and views on to the gardens or over the sweeping lawns of the Crescent. Fireplaces in bedrooms may be filled with decorative pinecones, modern art sits alongside vintage portraits and busts, and the outside is brought in with plants and floral displays.

The spa experience

The hotel’s five-star spa includes a heated pool with sauna and steam rooms, tranquil treatment rooms, and a small garden where you can relax after a swim, still in your robe.

Rooms from £300 per night including spa access. Check availability at royalscresent.co.uk or booking.com

The Store, Oxford

In Oxford’s newest boutique hotel there are references to its previous incarnation as a department store in playful illustrations dotted throughout communal spaces along within black and white photography of the historic city. Restaurant Treadwell has a comforting menu of ale-battered fish and chips, chicken pie and elevated pastas like pappardelle with red mullet, Pernod and fennel. For breakfast, creative touches like a torched chashu pork benedict complement more traditional choices. Innovative cocktails crafted from regional ingredients are best enjoyed on the roof terrace. The Store's bedrooms and suites feature cosy bedding and soft, calming tones. Many rooms offer stunning views of Oxford’s architecture. Communal areas offer plenty of space to unwind or socialise, and during the week a visible laptop or two suggest it’s a good meeting or coworking place.

The spa experience

The spa’s super power is its modest size: just three treatment rooms, a steam room, sauna and quiet relaxation space – therapists will schedule your time to ensure you feel the space is all yours. Yoga and PT sessions are also available. Oskia, a brand that uses over 50 nutrients in its formulations, offers reviving facials, massages and body treatments, after which you’ll be offered a choice of calming teas.

Doubles from £227. Check availability at booking.com or thestoreoxford.com

Rudding Park, North Yorkshire

This 2,000-acre Georgian country estate just outside Harrogate is a lesson in country luxury with a contemporary edge. Stone fireplaces and staircases contrast with pops of colour including pink chandeliers, mustard window seats, striking sculptures and modern art. This playful design extends through to the 89 rooms, split between the original Ribston wing (eight rooms of which have terraces that back onto rhododendrons) and the newer Follifoot wing, its larger rooms boasting standalone baths in copper-tiled bathrooms. All are kitted out with luxuries including tea and coffee from local favourite Taylor’s of Harrogate.

Breakfast is taken in all-day restaurant Clocktower, with dishes such as harissa mushrooms on toast and the Full Yorkshire, as well as a modest cold buffet. We recommend finding a spot on the south-facing terrace or beside the 400-year-old olive tree in the conservatory. The hotel’s kitchen garden-led restaurant, Horto, is housed in the swish spa, so expect a relaxed approach, with guests padding through in robes and slippers. Neon canvases, mustard chairs and teal velvet booths beckon punters from the bar, and flashes of florals creep in to complement the garden view. Sharing plates include crisp tempura broccoli, honey roast fig and walnut flatbreads, toasted focaccia club sandwiches and tandoori monkfish kebabs. Hazelnut and chocolate choux are filled with hazelnut praline for a decadent finish.

300 acres of landscaped gardens and woodlands make relaxing walking routes, with views over the golf course all the way to the Kilburn White Horse in the North Yorkshire Moors.

The spa experience

The impressive spa was the first rooftop spa to open in the UK. Take a leisurely circuit, alternating between hot and cold experiences such as an outdoor hydrotherapy pool, steam rooms and panoramic woodland saunas as well as sunlight therapy rooms, oxygen pods and a dedicated foot spa. Book a 50-minute bespoke treatment (try the invigorating body polish, which includes a heavenly head, neck and shoulder massage) to unlock access to the Escape Zone, a space to sip on herbal teas while wandering between rooms that offer relaxing visual and audio experiences.

Rooms from £249 per night. Check availability at ruddingpark.co.uk or booking.com

Lucknam Park, Wiltshire

This five-star Palladian mansion blends old-school opulence with high-tech wellness, secluded within its own 500-acre estate. A short drive from Bath, Lucknam offers a country retreat as well as a trip back in time, restoring many of its 18th-century features to impeccable condition. Roam around the hotel and you’ll be transported to its aristocratic past, with high-ceilinged rooms furnished with chandeliers and antique furniture. Each of the 42 individually styled rooms evoke Georgian grandeur, with 13 suites offering views stretching out over the manicured lawns. There are also seven chic country cottages within the estate. We stayed in Juliet, a plush suite with first-class attention to detail: fresh fruit, juicy dates, shortbread and champagne all awaited in the lounge, with a Nespresso pod coffee machine, dinky milk bottles and a fridge stocked with soft drinks at our disposal. In the bedroom, a luxurious four-poster bed promised the most luxurious sleep. The bathroom was finished in smooth marble, with underfloor heating and Lucknam branded fig & vanilla toiletries.

Head to the most majestic of all the rooms, The Drawing Room, for preprandial cocktails showcasing the premium whiskies lining the bar cart. Make a beeline for the Cotswold Old Fashioned, combining Cotswold Single Malt, vanilla bitters, orange bitters and maple syrup. Lucknam has two restaurant options – Michelin-starred Restaurant Hywel Jones and The Walled Garden Restaurant, the latter being one of the facilities to recently undergo a refurb. It’s a stylish all-day brasserie flanked by floor-to-ceiling windows to invite the outdoors in. Menu highlights include lemon sole with seafood linguine, chicken schnitzel with green beans and caper and lemon butter, and strawberry and pistachio knickerbocker glory. Breakfast is also served here, showcasing West Country produce including sausages from Huntsham Farm, bread from Hall Quality Bakers and strawberries from Cheddar Valley.

The spa experience

Lucknam’s award-winning spa within the walled gardens brings guests back into the 21st century, with a contemporary complex drenched in light from the towering window walls. Available to use for all guests, the spa includes eight state-of-the-art treatment rooms and four thermal cabins, as well as a programme of wellness classes, including pilates and yoga. You can also book a high-luxury treatment (try the 111SKIN Celestial Black Diamond, a non-surgical lift facial involving 10 steps to lift, contour and boost the skin).

Rooms from £472 per night, including spa access and breakfast. Check availability at lucknampark.co.uk, booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com

Four Seasons Park Lane, London

Four Seasons Park Lane is a short walk from Hyde Park, the theatre district and a wealth of London attractions, but is situated on a serene street away from the hustle of the city. The hotel feels luxurious from the moment you’re ushered into the dramatic lobby, but the atmosphere is relaxed and unpretentious. You’ll find sleek rooms with plush beds, decadent marbled bathrooms and plenty of added little luxuries from room sprays to a pillow menu, they take sleep very seriously here.

Dining at the hotel’s Pavylon restaurant is an all-round immersive experience, request a counter seat and the theatre you’ll spectate will rival any of the West End shows. Headed up by multi Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno, it took him less than a year to win a star for Pavyllon. Them menu focuses on French classics using the finest British ingredients, each dish is presented like a work of art but the balance of flavours is where the real power in his dishes is held. You can expect plates like monkfish tail seared with black pepper oil, succulent Lake District lamb cutlets and flambéed cherries with almond ice cream. Breakfast is served a la carte and includes British and French classics, the Parisian omelette with ham, Comté cheese sauce and parsley is perfection, you’ll find plenty of freshly squeezed juices, pastries and exceptionally good coffee on the menu too.

The spa experience

Situated at the very top of the hotel you’ll find dramatic city views from the changing rooms and gym, the sleek spa is home to a salt-wall sauna, eucalyptus steam room and huge vitality pool which is difficult to tear yourself away from. The treatment menu offers everything from personalised facials to immersive sound bath healing.

The Gastronomic Getaway starts from £214 per person, including an overnight stay with full use of the spa, a signature cocktail at Bar Antoine, six course tasting menu at Pavylon and a Four Seasons breakfast the next morning. Check availability at Four Seasons Park Lane.

Cliveden House, Berkshire

Sink into grandeur at this mansion retreat where a clocktower distracts from the time with its gilding. Inside, mahogany panelling is studded with oil paintings of former residents, including Frederick, Prince of Wales (mid-1700s) and socialite Nancy Astor (circa 1908) gazing demurely over a bared shoulder by the yawning fireplace. Cliveden also hosted the Profumo scandal, recapped by our concierge as we pass the outdoor pool where, in 1961, Christine Keeler frolicked with the Secretary of State. We’re shown to the Prince of Wales suite, boasting three fireplaces and sweeping views of formal gardens and the Thames cleaving through forested hills. It comes with access to the Butler’s Pantry for complimentary drinks and snacks.

Cocktails in the library nod to the past. The Profumo is richly fruity (lychee and strawberry liqueurs topped with champagne) but we opted for the Prince of Wales, a toned down version with maraschino and bitters. Dinner echoes Cliveden’s initial use as a hunting lodge, with a silky venison tartare among the raw starters, then a surprisingly dainty slow-cooked guinea fowl. Desserts are generally rich with cream, but the lime macaron with lemon sorbet delivers a clean finish. Cooked breakfast is served in the same formal dining room but do venture next door where the continental is beautifully presented in baroque surroundings.

The spa experience

The ‘Profumo pool’ and hot tubs are cloistered by the old stables, which now house the indoor facilities (pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room) in neoclassical style, complete with wafting voile curtains. Massage treatments are administered with lotions specially formulated for Cliveden by Oskia – the Nancy, floral with berries and wild mint, or the spicier Anna Maria with black rose, named after the mistress to the second Duke of Buckingham. Opt for a facial and you’ll be treated to a comforting candle-wax massage between rounds with the Theragun, delivering gentle vibrations and a brightening wash of LED light.

Rooms from £445 per night including spa access. Check availability at clivedenhouse.co.uk or booking.com

The Bath Arms, Wiltshire

Established in 1736 and bordering the Longleat Safari Estate (just 35-minutes outside Bath), the dog-friendly Bath Arms instantly envelopes you in its quiet rural setting. Its Elizabethan architecture, open fires and rustic comforts are mixed with an unpretentious chicness; you’re as perfectly placed sipping an RBO gin fizz with Tack Room rhubarb & blood orange as a Beckford Craft Lager in its deep leather armchairs. Five of the house’s 17 country rooms are in the converted stable block, set around a quiet courtyard next to the main house. Siberian goose down duvets, Mozzo cafetière coffee, Prince & Sons tea, and bathrooms stocked with Bramley Bath products create an indulgent haven for retiring.

Guest-dining is an elegant but comfortably unfussy affair, with a seasonally curated menu of estate and locally sourced produce. Heralding from Dartmoor’s hills, venison strip loin is a must-try, served sliced on finely shredded sauerkraut with smoked pancetta, celeriac, confit kohlrabi and finished with poached blackberries. It’s a triumph, cooked with the same care that pairs tender pan-fried pigeon breast with Jerusalem artichoke, hazelnut dressing and a split 8-year-old cabernet vinegar. Armagnac prunes bring an adult, jammy richness to the duck egg custard tart with apple purée and a scoop of salted caramel ice cream for pudding. A playful addition to the breakfast menu is eggy bread with maple syrup and bacon. Look out for the DIY Bloody Mary cocktail station, too.

The spa experience

Overlooking The Bath Arms’ beehives and the Somerset countryside beyond, you'll find the Bramley Treatment Cabin – a new mini spa by the Beckford Group. Its personalised face and body treatments use the locally made Bramley Skin range, founded in 2009 with sustainably sourced and cruelty-free ingredients. Massages are priced from £50 up to £85 for a full body 90-minute therapy. The Apple Peel AHA Facial (45 min, £50) is among four on offer, using glycolic, lactic, and malic acids for rejuvenating skin. There’s even a head-to-toe nurturing treatment for mothers-to-be, to help ease tiredness and reduce stress on joints.

Rooms from £140 per night. Check availability at batharmsinn.com or mrandmrssmith.com

Dormy House Hotel, Cotswolds

Despite the grandeur, this 17th-century Cotswolds farmhouse-turned-spa-hotel is as welcoming as it is luxurious. There are 38 bedrooms spread across the main house and farmhouse outbuildings, including two Hot Tub Suites in individual cottages with their own private patios. The Shed serves hearty pub-style food (think spiced cauliflower pie and double-patty burgers) in a low-key setting, while The Back Garden celebrates homegrown produce with simple, seasonal dishes. This is also where the lavish breakfast buffet is served, that includes a DIY bloody Mary bar as well as homemade yoghurts, honeycomb, fruit and an ample a la carte menu. If you’re celebrating a special occasion, book a fun and intimate chef's table experience MO for an eight-course tasting menu including the likes of smoky barbecue monkfish, white asparagus with seaweed, fennel and lime and heritage beef fillet with pickled turnips, watercress and wild garlic.

The spa experience

The recently updated spa offers guests an indoor/outdoor blend of therapies, there’s a serene indoor pool, terrace hot tub with outdoor fire and a scandi-style thermal suite including an indoor shower with choice of forest mist, tropical rain or arctic blast for the brave. Treatments take place in plush, candle-lit rooms and options include a rejuvenating stretch and align massage which is perfect for those who’ve spent too long over a laptop. There’s a floatation tank and wave touch massage on offer for those who’d prefer a private treatment without a therapist. The greenhouse offers freshly blended smoothies, ginger shots, CBD drinks and nutritious snacks and light lunches, as well as its very own sun terrace so you can soak up some Cotswold rays.

Rooms from £309 per night, check availability at dormyhouse.co.uk or booking.com

Coworth Park, Berkshire

An idyllic countryside escape set in 240 acres of parkland with five-star service, a blissful spa and Michelin-starred food. A modern country house hotel, Coworth Park is light and airy in shades of cream and gold with fun horse motifs throughout, reflecting its equestrian heritage – it’s home to Guards Polo Academy and hosts tournaments throughout the season. Luxurious rooms – spread out between the main house, converted stables and private cottages – feature four poster beds and copper roll-top baths. There are three restaurants, the Spatisserie (see below), the Barn serving smart takes on British classics, and the jewel in the crown, Michelin-starred Woven by Adam Smith. At Woven, the menu is a celebration of homegrown produce, from Cornish crab to Devon chicken, with a strong focus on English wine. Dinner is a five-course affair, dishes are fun and innovative, and there’s incredible attention to detail. Highlights include coronation chicken skewers; a bread basket with an outrageously cheesy croissant; and a bite-sized potato truffle tart with light-as-air pastry. Breakfast (not included in the room rate) is served at Woven, and you might need a swim first to work up an appetite – there’s a continental buffet loaded with homemade muesli, seasonal fruit and pastries, followed by eggs and avocado or, if you’re really hungry, toasted crumpet with Tunworth, sticky short rib, mushrooms and a fried egg.

The spa experience

The spa has a pool with underwater music, a steam room, experience shower, gym, treatment rooms and a Spatisserie offering healthy platters. Treatments take place on warm beds and are so incredibly relaxing, falling asleep is inevitable. Options include massages, facials and reflexology, and showcase Ishga products, a Scottish organic seaweed skincare range.

Superior stable room from £545 per night, includes use of the spa facilities, check availability at dorchestercollection.com/ascot/coworth-park or mrandmrssmith.com

Beaverbrook Hotel & Spa, Surrey

Set in the golf courses of the Surrey commuter belt, Beaverbrook is an oasis of luxury where you'll dine and be pampered to the highest of standards. As the former home of Lord Beaverbrook, minister for War Production during WWII (he saw the potential of the Spitfire aircraft, now a symbol of British victory) and owner of the Express newspapers, there are nods to his famous connections and achievements throughout. Tiny Spitfires adorn the porters’ lapels and cocktail napkins, with the distinctive shape is even used for a bunker on the resort’s golf course. The Elizabeth Taylor Suite once housed the star, while there are photos of Beaverbrook’s friends, Winston Churchill and Alfred Hitchcock, in the library and cinema room. Rooms in the main house are quite special, and all the facilities are close at hand. Guests in the Village (which was opened in December 2023 and feels more family-orientated) have their own golf buggy to drive around.

The four restaurants cover all tastes. Top billing is justifiably given to the gourmet Japanese Dining Room, but even the more kid-friendly fare in newly-opened Mrs Beeton’s is superior – with the dressed crab a highlight and the crunchy triple-cooked chips some of the best we’ve tried. For a real treat, head to breakfast in the Dining Room, where fresh cold-pressed juices, homemade compotes and truffled eggs – complete with chunky silver tableware – are the epitome of indulgence.

The spa experience

Two pools (indoor and outdoor), a jacuzzi, steam room and sauna are available to guests for some relaxation. The outdoor pool is heated to 29C – a toasty temperature for a winter swim. Between the massages, facials and personal training, yoga or pilates sessions – plus the relaxation room with its glass log burner and the spa café with wood-fired pizza oven – it’s easy to spend the best part of the day here. But, if you need a change of scenery, you can walk straight from the grounds out into the surrounding Surrey hills.

Rooms from £553 per night including spa access. Check availability at beaverbrook.co.uk or mrandmrssmith.com

Pan Pacific London, London

Pan Pacific might be moments away from the bustling streets of Brick Lane and Spitalfields Market, but inside it’s an oasis of calm. The hotel’s ethos is to bring a slice of the Singapore experience to London, and you’ll find that influence in everything from the Kopi Tiam afternoon tea to the vibrant hotel bar Ginger Lily, where the attentive staff will mix you up a signature Singaporean classic or a contemporary creation, depending on your own unique tastes. Breakfast is served in Straits Kitchen and you'll find an opulent buffet with a choice of Asian and English classics, from freshly made omelette to beautifully fragrant Won Ton noodle soups. All rooms feature king size beds, expansive marble bathrooms and luxury bathroom products, but the views across the city are what make this hotel standout, you can admire the glittering lights and striking contrast of old and new architecture from the comfort of your very own bed, it might be hard to leave.

The spa experience

A night at Pan Pacific includes full use of the wellbeing floor, start your morning with a luxurious swim in the balmy and impressively large infinity pool, floor to ceiling windows offer you far-reaching views over Bishopsgate Plaza as you practice your front crawl. There are plenty of sun loungers to recline on in the light-flooded relaxation area and a mindfulness studio where you’ll find yoga classes, meditation, pilates and gong therapy. The bougie experience continues in the changing rooms with Diptyque products and a smart sauna and steam room for the ultimate heat experience. There are a range of treatments on offer from a rhythmical bamboo massage to a lymphatic drainage massage.

Rooms from £395 per night including spa access. Check availability at panpacificlondon.com

Sopwell House, St Albans

Tucked away down a country lane in the historic Roman city of St Albans lies Sopwell House, a modernised Georgian property with a newly refurbished spa, plush bedrooms, and fine dining at its award-winning Omboo restaurant. Omboo offers a sharing menu inspired by the spice routes of Asia and the far east. Highlights include pulled duck, cashew and orange salad, and melt in the mouth miso-glazed black cod. Afternoon tea features tiered stands of delicate cakes (don’t miss the matcha cherry mousse), traditional finger sandwiches and warm scones. Swing by the Octagon bar to discover a little of Sopwell’s history through its carefully curated menu; The Battenberg Wine cocktail is a tribute to Lord Mountbatten, who was a former owner of the estate. The hotel has 128 guestrooms, 16 of which make up the exclusive Mews courtyard – the place to stay if you’re looking for luxury. Rooms are elegant and cosy with duck-feather duvets and super king-sized beds.

The spa experience

A trip to Sopwell wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the world-class Cottonmill spa. A spa day includes use of the indoor pool, vitality pools, gym, sauna, steam room and poolside terrace. Upgrade to a Club package for use of the state-of-the-art relaxation rooms, a heated indoor and outdoor infinity pool and spa gardens. Don’t miss the botanical steam room and sensory deprivation pods for the perfect way to unwind.

Rooms from £239 per night including spa access. Check availability at sopwellhouse.co.uk or booking.com

South Lodge, Sussex

Located in the verdant Sussex countryside is South Lodge, with its dark wood interiors and plush carpets, and the air of a grand private home. The staff here are friendly and attentive, in a way you rarely see in hotels today. There are 88 rooms ranging from smart standards to luxurious suites and cottages. Our room had views over the gardens with a luxuriously large bed, soft pillows, a coffee machine and sizeable bathroom with a bath and Molton Brown toiletries. There was a handy tablet for ordering room service, snacks, fresh milk or late-night desserts. Not to mention a pillow menu, ensuring you get the best night’s sleep.

There are multiple restaurants and bars, so you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to food and drink. Try Camellia, the elegant spot which currently has MasterChef: The Professionals 2023 winner Tom Hamblet in residence until the end of April with Josh Mann then returning to the helm. Or, book at The Pass for intimate Michelin-star dining. Head Chef Ben Wilkinson changes the menu with the seasons – during our stay we enjoyed scallop on a bed of sweet roasted squash with rich almond foam and salty coppa ham, succulent roast venison with liver dumpling, toasted hazelnuts and bitter leaves, and a wonderfully sweet-sour dessert of blackberry, yogurt and lemon thyme. With interesting wine pairings, like crisp Slovenian Pinot Gris, and a course of fantastic local cheeses, this is the kind of meal you won't forget.

The spa experience

Sweat it out in the sauna, swim lengths in the infinity pool, take a dip in the outdoor pool or watch the sunset from the bubbling jacuzzi. For an extra treat, indulge in a massage, facial or nail treatment. Included in your booking is breakfast in Camellia or brunch in the dairy-free Botanica restaurant located in the spa.

Rooms from £415 per night including spa access. Check availability at exclusive.co.uk/south-lodge or booking.com

The Beaumont Hotel, London

Old school opulence and faultless hospitality are the name of the game at The Beaumont. The polished walnut panelling, shiny marble floors and gilded edges set the scene as you walk into the Art Deco-style lobby. Suites are just as plush, with luxurious touches and 5-star attention to detail: Beaumont-stamped chocolate, sweets and snack jars all waited in our room, while sustainable toiletries were by heritage London perfumer D.R Harris. Rooms and suites are stylish, ultra-comfy and peaceful, cocooned from the busy Central London streets below. There’s even a room designed by artist Antony Gormley. The hotel’s Colony Grill is an elevated take on an NYC steakhouse, serving classics done with serious panache. It’s dimly-lit, intimate and elegant, with colourful wall paintings and retro booth seating. Everything on the menu is that little bit extra: the tame-sounding shrimp cocktail arrives as grand whole prawns fanning from a stemmed bowl; the steak is salt-aged in-house and served with whipped bearnaise; you can build-your-own sundae using a fun tick sheet (we added a chestnut and rosemary ice cream to ours). Breakfast is served in The Colony Grill and is just as chic as dinner. We ate smoked salmon, scrambled egg and brioche with house-pressed pomegranate juice, but the made-to-order menu is huge and includes signature hashes, cold breakfasts, pancakes, French toast and eggs served every which way you can imagine. The Viennoiserie table included almond croissant, cinnamon rolls and pain au chocolat, all made in the Beaumont bakery. Service is impeccable.

The spa experience

The peaceful basement spa at the Beaumont has a really fun USP – its range of hammam treatments. We experienced the Signature Hammam which involved an invigorating exfoliation using black olive savon noir scrub and an enriching rose & geranium clay. You can follow up with a massage treatment, or enjoy the facilities which include two steam rooms and one of London’s only cold water plunge pools.

Rooms from £648 per night. Check availability at thebeaumont.com or booking.com

The Tawny Hotel, Staffordshire

The Tawny Hotel guarantees a truly restful experience away from the stresses of modern life. Set on a staggering 70 acres, there’s plenty to explore – stroll around the lake, heave a game of life-sized chess on the hill, or walk deeper into the woods. Welcoming staff are on-hand for a buggy around the grounds.

The Shepherd's Huts with log burners are a cosy option, or fully immerse yourself in nature in one of the Hillside Treehouses or Retreats. Botanical embroidered blackout curtains ensure a restful night’s sleep. Land & Water shower and body products feel luxurious on the skin and provide refreshing fragrances of grapefruit, orange and samphire extract. The fluffy white towels and bathrobes are perfect for wrapping up in after a dip. Floor to ceiling windows make the stunning views the central focus of the room, and although there is a TV, guests are encouraged to leaf through books on forest bathing and poetry.

The complimentary mini bar is well-stocked with local beers from Lymestone brewery, carbon neutral soft drinks and celebratory bubbles, as well as an array of ethical organic coffee pods from Cru Kafe (with your own coffee machine) and breakfast and herbal teas. Breakfast and dinner are served at the stylish modern Plumicorn restaurant; if you’re early enough for breakfast, you can watch the sun rise from the double height 180-degree windows. Choose a freshly cooked dish from the menu – including traditional Staffordshire oat cakes – and serve yourself a selection of fresh fruit, yogurt, charcuterie, pastries and fresh juices. At dinner, you'll find an extensive wine list with traditional and new world wines, local ingredients and options for a variety of dietary requirements. Room service is available if you’d rather not venture out of your calming oasis.

The spa experience

Choose from a variety of personalised spa experiences at the Thatched Cottage, the on-site treatment room. The wellness therapists are trained in the GAIA method, natural skincare products handmade in Britain. Bespoke massages start with a relaxing foot soak and scrub while you pick your massage oil aroma of choice. Calming music, along with the sound of birdsong from outside, create a truly blissful experience.

Afterwards, enjoy a dip in the nearby outdoor pool. Sitting below the Plumicorn, it has the same exceptional views of the lush grounds. Order a poolside drink or simply lap up the incredibly fresh air as you relax in the year-round heated water, set to a warm 31C. Or, relax in the privacy of your own freshwater hot tub on your decking while taking in the magnificent views.

Rooms from £250 per night. Check availability at thetawny.co.uk

The Eastbury, Dorset

Slow down, de-stress and be cosseted at this character-packed hotel in the Dorset market town. Guests can stay in the main Georgian townhouse, Potting Shed rooms in the walled garden or in Eastbury Cottage, with each accommodation offering laid-back vibes and a homely atmosphere. Guests can venture outside the grounds to explore the town’s food and craft markets, as well as Sherborne Castle (and sample The Castle’s wines in the Eastbury’s bar for good measure).

On the menu, Chef Matthew Street works with local suppliers and some further afield to ensure his menus offer the best ingredients: Devon crab from Paignton is served with a chilled cucumber and wasabi soup for starters, followed by satisfying mains such as Japanese braised pork belly with miso broth, and burrata and ricotta agnolotti with parmesan crisp. Alternatively, for a more intimate evening, there’s the option to book the garden pod; a unique glass snug looking out across the lawn, furnished with plump cushions, soft blankets and ambient lighting.

Interior designer Kathleen Fraser balances muted tones of pale blue and green with colourful prints and interesting textures throughout. The new Eastbury Cottage adjacent to the hotel has three delightfully cosy bedrooms, one with a free-standing bath as well as a separate modern shower room. Standout features include the inglenook fireplace, low beams, a well-equipped kitchen, and sunny private garden with hot tub and dining area.

The spa experience

The hotel’s small but deluxe garden spa comes with hot tubs and a steam room for fully fledged relaxation.

Rooms from £250 per night including spa access. Check availability at theeastburyhotel.co.uk or booking.com

Merchant's Manor, Falmouth

Merchant's Manor is an Edwardian manor house turned boutique hotel in a foodie corner of Cornwall, with 39 rooms, two luxurious self-catering apartments and a polished restaurant celebrating the area’s culinary riches.

Despite the hotel’s century-old beating heart, the decor feels box-fresh – calm, muted tones, parquet flooring, wood panelling, ornate coving and snuggle-into arm chairs. If you’re craving space, or arrive as a gaggle of guests, go for one of the stand-alone residencies. Ask for the Lookout for the best sea views once the Cornish mizzle clears. Clad with reclaimed timber and home to two double bedrooms and two Pinterest-perfect bathrooms, it also stretches to a kitchen, lounge and dining area, plus a private hot tub. Arrive early so you can make the most of the welcome hamper, bulging with homemade scones, jars of clotted cream and jam, freshly baked bread, fudgy brownies, Cornish Furniss ginger biscuits and chilled fizz from Padstow vineyard Trevibban Mill. Even the tea (Tregothnan) is locally grown.

Breakfast is an impressive spread with as much attention to detail as lunch and dinner. With toast there’s local honey, Cornish jams and freshly ground nut butter. Overnight oats and homemade granola are offered with freshly stewed rhubarb and Trewithan Dairy yogurt, nuts and seeds while orange juice is swapped for Polgoon Cornish apple juice and a DIY bloody mary station. There are warm croissants, cheese and hams, plus a selection of hot breakfasts, including the classics and vegan options. The must-order, though, is buttery hot-smoked mackerel with chive butter, grilled tomato and poached eggs.

The spa experience

The Linen Rooms spa offers a selection of massage treatments from hot stone massages to the 'work it out' massage and pamper packages. Blow off steam in the indoor pool, then enjoy afternoon tea or snack on small plates. Day passes to the spa are available.

Doubles from £141. Check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk

Seaham Hall, County Durham

A short amble away from the rugged Durham Heritage Coast lies Seaham Hall Hotel, a beautiful hotel and spa just outside the village of Seaham, around 30 minutes’ drive east of Durham. The imposing Georgian country house is home to 21 huge suites as well as a luxurious Asian-themed spa. We stayed in an executive suite, which ticked all the five-star hotel boxes: a huge king-size bed with a ‘pillow menu’, a beautiful white-tiled bathroom with walk in shower, freestanding bath and fancy Elemis toiletries, and the fluffiest robes and slippers. In the separate lounge area, squishy sofas, a Nespresso machine, a fridge with free soft drinks and huge windows out onto the garden meant we had everything we needed for a good few hours’ lounging.

For dinner we visited Byron’s Restaurant. This is Seaham Hall’s fine dining offering and the vibe is one of opulent indulgence (Lord Byron has history here – he married the daughter of a past owner). A pewter-topped oak bar sweeps along one side of the grand high-ceilinged room. Prized tables are the velvet-lined curved booths in the corners of the room and the rest is made up of intimate small tables. Afternoon tea is also a highlight at the hotel. Served in the lounge at the back of the hotel, overlooking immaculately tended gardens, it’s not to be missed.

The spa experience

After a brisk walk along the coast (a path at the back of the hotel leads you directly down to the sea) we attempted to burn off some more calories before dinner with a trip to the Serenity Spa. Even if you are not booked in for a treatment the spa facilities are great. As well as a huge pool surrounded by loungers there is a separate hydrotherapy pool, plunge pools, salt sauna, Indian steam room, jacuzzi and outdoor hot tub. You can even pop into the next-door Ozone restaurant in your robe for a coffee or a glass of fizz.

Check rates and availability at seaham-hall.co.uk

Sofitel St James, London

Looking for a day spa option? Boasting a 60-minute massage, three-course meal by a Michelin-starred chef and spritz cocktail, all for just £130, there’s no need to feel guilty about pampering yourself with the Spa and Spritz for One at Sofitel London St James by Pall Mall. As well as being fantastic value for money, the seasonal spa menu by Anthony Demetre at Wild Honey is light and elegant without feeling puritanical. A crisp and yielding pig’s head terrine is among the starters, and mains might include tender rabbit in a gloriously sticky jus, or miso-glazed Cornish skate with a refined take on cheesy peas. Ask about the tart of the day and snap up the gypsy tart if it’s on offer – lusciously dark with caramelised muscovado sugar, yet not too sweet. All this comes after the massage and before the spritz. In summer, watch the world go by on a Parisian-style terrace with one of six cocktails, including an understated pear and ginger, signature blends with rose or grapefruit, or the classic Aperol. In chillier weather, huddle up with a drink in the cosy art deco bar.

The spa experience

From the top of your head to the tips of your toes, no aching muscle will be left untended in the thorough, full-body massage that comes with this package. Sip a herbal tea (served with buttery shortbread) while you wait and choose your oils – among them, Sothys’ zesty orange blossom and cedarwood, or festive cinnamon and ginger – then settle in for an hour of warm, enveloping luxury. Given you’re just a stone’s throw from Piccadilly Circus, the spa area is a quiet haven, but the relaxation room is small, so be mindful that you may be relegated to the armchair rather than one of three luxe recliners. In all, though, for the money being asked, this is five-star treatment at a steal.

Spa & Spritz for One package, £130, at sofitellondonstjames.com

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