THE best British spa breaks to rejuvenate your body and revive your soul.
We sent three of our staff to experience spas in Buckinghamshire, Dorset and London.
Horwood House Hotel, Buckinghamshire
Writer Rosie Gizauskas treated her mum Denise to a stay in stately surroundings.
The spa: In the rolling Buckinghamshire countryside you’ll find Horwood House, a beautiful Grade-II-listed manor built in 1911, surrounded by vast manicured gardens.
The main lodge has a chic, modern extension that houses the H Spa, as well as two restaurants and most of its rooms.
Our exec suite was spacious and spotless, with a super-comfy bed, beautiful bathroom and separate living area to relax in with a G&T.
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It also had a terrace, ideal for sitting outside and gazing out over the quiet green countryside.
We challenge you not to feel zen.
And… relax: The H Spa is the most idyllic place for a spot of me-time.
As well as a state-of-the art gym, 15m swimming pool, steam room, sauna and treatment rooms, there are plenty of luxurious spaces to lounge around in, so you can properly unwind.
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The spa has a blissful menu of treatments to choose from.
My 25-minute back massage, £49, was so relaxing that I might have even dropped off for a few minutes.
To complete my super-indulgent day, we had a delicious afternoon tea with a glass of prosecco, £31.49.
Bonus points for the great dairy-free options, including avocado and beetroot finger sandwiches!
Tuck in: Guests are spoilt for choice when it comes to dining options at Horwood House.
Dinner at Harry’s Bar & Kitchen was yummy – we loved the courgette and fennel cake with coconut, £7, for starters, followed by the oven-roasted cauliflower with cashews, £14, and the melt-in-the-mouth beef brisket, £26.
The lemon meringue, £6, for pudding was also a delight.
The following morning, we tucked into a traditional English breakfast in the hotel’s 1911 Restaurant.
It’s a huge affair and sets you up for a full day of making the most of the fitness and spa facilities.
Book it: Double rooms cost from £179 per night, including breakfast (Hspahorwood.co.uk).
The Eastbury, Dorset
Deputy Production Editor Kirsty Spence and her parents Christine and Colin perfected the art of chillaxing in the West Country.
The spa: All luxe Georgian features and walled gardens, The Eastbury is the kind of place you won’t ever want to leave.
Its 27 rooms are decked out in William Morris fabrics and the plumpest pillows we’ve had the pleasure of nodding off on.
For an extra-special stay, there’s the new self-catering three-bedroom Eastbury Cottage, complete with its own wood-fired hot tub and private garden.
It’s brimming with antiques, but has all the modern comforts – including Alexa, Netflix, White Company toiletries and complimentary sloe gin.
In between spa treatments, flop on the hotel lawn deckchairs, try your hand at croquet or take in the tranquil valley views from nearby Sherborne Old Castle’s ruins, entry £6.50 (English-heritage.org.uk).
And… relax: At the bottom of the garden, you’ll discover a bijou spa offering a tantalising array of treatments.
Treat yourself to the signature massage and bespoke facial, £160 – a dreamy two hours of being scrubbed from top to toe and massaged with oils, while facialist Molly will hit reset on your post-Covid complexion, thanks to the selection of Caudalíe products.
If that’s stretching the budget, get VIP vibes with an hour’s exclusive use of the hydrotherapy pool, sauna, Jacuzzi shower and – our fave – the outdoor hot tub, £25 per person.
You’ll enjoy a real-life Snow White moment among the birds and squirrels while water jets pummel those hard-to-reach knots.
Tuck in: Sample the tasting menu at the hotel’s award-winning restaurant Seasons, £70 for seven courses.
Feast on picture-perfect plates of whipped goat’s cheese with chilled beetroot soup, braised shoulder of lamb, and confit rhubarb with stem ginger ice cream.
Add a wine flight for £28, expertly paired with the dishes – we loved the “summer in a glass” Sherborne Castle rosé.
For an afternoon pit-stop, The Three Wishes has home-baked fruit scones with the works for £3.
Well, you can’t come to Dorset and not have a cream tea!
Book it: Double rooms cost from £206 per night, including breakfast (Theeastburyhotel.co.uk).
Montcalm East, London
Acting Lifestyle Editor Emma Ledger and friend Kate switched off in the heart of the capital.
The Spa: Stressed-out Londoners need all the help they can get, and urban sanctuary Montcalm East – part spa hotel, part creative hub – offers both relaxation and inspiration.
Bang in between buzzing Shoreditch and the busy City, the building’s diamond shape gives a nod to modernism and edginess.
But stepping inside means instantly leaving the bustle behind and entering a world of calm with super-attentive staff.
The views from the bedrooms make for better viewing than Netflix, and little touches – such as underfloor heating in the bathroom and free purified water – make you feel truly cared for.
It’s so peaceful, we could have been in the deepest countryside, and we slept like logs.
And… relax: The hotel’s refurbed underground spa Bokeh offers everything from massages and mani/pedis to sound therapy – where you zone out to the reverberations of Tibetan gongs.
It’s low-lit and full of plants, with plenty of comfy loveseats to chill out in, a sparkling pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room and a cool-temp room with loungers.
Choose from cutting-edge treatments, such as the Amplify Signature, in partnership with CBD brand OTO, £120 for 55 minutes.
It uses a bamboo roller and crystals to clear your mind and melt worries away.
Tuck in: The hotel’s ground floor is home to Moor & Mead, which dishes up modern takes on British classics.
For breakfast there’s a great selection of fresh fruits, cheeses, meats, cereals and pastries, as well as a cooked menu.
We went for kimchi and cheese toast, £7.50, and buttermilk pancakes with maple syrup and whipped butter, £10.
For lunch and dinner, expect refined comfort food – we loved the truffled houmous with flatbread, £5.50, and herb-roast chicken with aioli fries, £15.
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We shared the brownie with vanilla ice cream, £6, but, frankly, should have ordered one each.
Book it: Double rooms cost from £199 per night, including breakfast (Montcalmeast.com).
The new way to day spa
How to enjoy a luxe hotel for less…Dayuse.co.uk allows you to book the UK’s best hotels during the day for up to 75% less than an overnight stay.
We spent a chilled-out day at Leonardo Royal Hotel London City, enjoying a swim, sauna and steam room before relaxing in the mega-comfy suite and ordering room service – and we can so recommend! From £99, 9am-5pm (Dayuse.co.uk).
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