Some of the best sustainable spas in the UK

Natural light at South Lodge, West Sussex

Within the grounds of a country house hotel, the spa at South Lodge in West Sussex is set into the natural contours of the land. It has been designed to showcase the best of modern wellbeing but also to be harmonious with the surrounding landscape. A grass and sedum roof as well as green oak cladding and lots of natural light all make for a peaceful setting. A really unique feature is the wild swimming pool, which is a heated outdoor pond, complete with reeds and moss for a natural vibe.

Sustainable spa and hotel features:

• A grass and sedum roof
• Lots of natural light
• A natural swimming pool
• A no-waste restaurant

Sustainable dining at Chewton Glen, New Forest

Known for its luxury credentials, Chewton Glen is based around a country house, but proprietors have worked hard to further develop it in a sustainable way, caring for the surrounding natural beauty of the New Forest National Park. In particular, their exquisite Treehouse Suites have been designed to ensure that the environmental impact remains minimal. Even the pruning work on the trees is done sensitively. Sustainable materials were used in the construction and doing as much as we can in terms of the fit-out of the Treehouse Suites to make sure that the suites are as sustainable as they can be, without compromising on quality. The Dining Room restaurant has also won multiple awards for its sustainable menu.

Sustainable spa and hotel features:

• Sustainably built Treehouse Suites
• An award-winning sustainable restaurant
• Works with schools and colleges to promote environmental policies
• Protects wildlife habitats and minimising our environmental impact in the grounds
• Monitor the flora and fauna on the estates

Eco-friendly at Gleneagles, Scotland

Gleneagles is essentially a byword for excellence whether you are visiting for the hotel, the spa, the golf course, or the whole experience. It has also consistently achieved gold status in the Green Tourism Business Scheme, the VisitScotland-endorsed initiative which seeks to make tourism more sustainable. Priding itself on the spectacular location that the hotel is set in, some of the practices Gleneagles employs include on-site composting of garden waste. Key features include the collection of used cooking oil for biodiesel, the biomass boiler heating system, sourcing of food, drink, and retail craft from local suppliers, the use of electric vehicles by housekeeping and florist teams, the installation of LED lighting in the hotel. signage in place for waste separation, and the distribution of unused fruit to horses at the Equestrian School.

Sustainable spa and hotel features:

• On-site composting of garden waste
• Used cooking oil is repurposed for biodiesel
• A biomass boiler heating system
• Electric vehicles
• LED lighting

Biofuels at Appleby Manor Hotel and Garden Spa, Cumbria

Surrounded by Lake District views, the adult-only spa at Appleby Manor Country House Hotel is aptly named The Garden Spa, and offers guests total escape in line with their philosophy of relaxation and luxury. Protecting that environment, they are careful to minimise their carbon footprint, reduce waste, commit to sustainable sourcing, and support the local community by incorporating it into the supply chain. In 2013 they started using a bio-fuel energy system which uses locally sourced wood chips reducing CO2 emissions by 100 tons per annum. They have drilled their own water bore hole so are self sufficient in water, reducing transportation and glass bottle waste. All glass and cardboard is recycled, and they had a composting system installed for 50% of food waste.

Sustainable spa and hotel features:

• A bio-fuel energy system
• Their own water bore hole
• All glass and cardboard is recycled
• A food composting system

Solar power at The Spa at Carden Park, Cheshire

A spectacular spa in a 1000 acre estate, The Spa at Carden Park in Cheshire is all about the award-winning experiences and the landscape is a key part of that. It has its own vineyard producing its own English sparkling wine. The brand new spa uses herbs harvested from the grounds in treatments. As official Green Tourism members, sustainability was very much at the heart of their refurbishment scheme, and the exquisite modern spa has been designed around the idea of incorporating the natural world and celebrating it.

Sustainable spa and hotel features:

• Extensive recycling programmes for paper, glass, water and food waste
• All food waste is processed in a local Anaerobic Digester
• Recycled glass water bottles
• Spa manages waste water in a sustainable way and recycled
• LED lighting
• An electric golf buggy fleet
• Electric charging points
• PV solar panels are used across the roof of the main hotel and spa
• Certain facilities within the spa, such as outdoor showers, are powered solely via solar panels
• Food from local farmers and producers
• In 16 years they have planted approximately 30,000 trees across the estate

A swimming pool purified by plants at Yorkshire Spa Retreat, North Yorkshire

A stylish spa destination in the North Yorkshire countryside, Yorkshire Spa Retreat is set in eight acres of parkland near Helmsley. Here, luxury and wellness combine with beautiful facilities inspired by the natural world. It's constructed of earthy materials - wood, slate, stone and lots of natural light, while facilities range from a hydro-pool to a natural cold water swim pond, herbal steam room, sauna or salt chamber, and a relaxation lounge.

Sustainable spa and hotel features:

• A natural swim pond filtered and purified biologically by water plants and a specialist filtration system.
• They have used natural materials in construction where possible.
• They focus on renewable energy and materials.
• They use local suppliers, and produce, from the surrounding area as much as possible.

Green Tourism Gold Award at Lucknam Park, Wiltshire

Having partnered with Green Tourism, one of UK’s leading sustainability accreditation providers, to measure, monitor and identify areas of improvement through a rigorous certification audit, Lucknam Park is not only luxurious but sustainable, awarded a Green Tourism Gold Award. At this country house hotel and spa, everything is exceptional. It's surrounded by 500 acres of grounds near Bath and has a legendary Michelin starred restaurant. The spa itself takes in the best of Cotswold countryside, from the hotel’s very own Equestrian Centre to walled gardens. Facilities include a 20-metre indoor pool, an indoor/outdoor hydrotherapy pool, a relaxation area, five thermal cabins, dry floatation and its own restaurant.

Sustainable spa and hotel features:

• Much of their waste is sent to ‘waste to energy’ facilities across the Southwest.
• Food waste is broken down using anaerobic digestion to be used as fertiliser - each tonne of food waste recycled by anaerobic digestion, as an alternative to landfill, prevents between 0.5 and 1.0 tonne of CO2 re-entering the earth’s atmosphere.
• They focus on only purchasing from partners that share their care for the planet and they aim to work with local businesses when possible.
• They work with Bath based skincare brand the Natural Spa Factory.

A carbon neutral estate at Swinton Estate, North Yorkshire

This spectacular, historic estate is a playground for luxury, wellbeing and love of the outdoors. A 20,000-acre estate with a luxury castle hotel, the ancestral seat of the Earl of Swinton stretches from the River Ure in Wensleydale up onto the moors and gives you a chance to enjoy everything from an award-winning restaurant to boot camps, mindfulness walks, running, hiking and country pursuits. Amidst woodland and lakes populated by fallow deer, the spa has both indoor and outdoor facilities. Inside, there's an 18-metre lap pool surrounded by glass and with a choice of massage features, a classic steam room, an aroma steam room using seasonal natural fragrances and a Finnish sauna. Outside, an alfresco sauna and shower as well as a 10-metre natural pool. That's before you get to the restaurant serving home grown produce, the treatment rooms and zoned relaxation rooms.

Sustainable spa and hotel features:

• Natural pool with bio-filtered water.
• They're committed to protecting habitats to provide better breeding grounds for some of our rarest species.
• They invest in technology and natural solutions to reduce our emissions and waste, improve biodiversity and sequester carbon.
• A carbon neutral biomass boiler was installed in 2006.
• They've planted over 40,000 trees, restored peatland on the moors, and planted wild flower meadows.
• The Estate is already carbon neutral, but their ambition is to reduce their footprint further by 30% by 2040.
• They continue to invest in biodiversity and carbon sequestration.
• Their Nourish Partnership programme delivers positive environmental impact in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
• They publish an annual Sustainability Report, where they share what they have been doing towards a more sustainable future on the Swinton Estate.

Living walls at 1 Hotel Mayfair, London

The heart of London isn't necessarily where you expect to find a haven of sustainability, but 1 Hotel Mayfair has built it into every facet of their being. On the famous Berkeley Street, it's a sustainable sanctuary to the city, designed to reduce CO2 emissions, brimming with living green walls and more than 1300 plants, trees and shrubs across the property. Ultra chic, wellbeing is also woven into the whole experience, with tranquil colours, and a partnership with HigherDose, which means you can hire a sauna blanket and PEMF Mat to use in your room. Dovetail is the hotel's main restaurant, complete with an ethos grounded in a deep respect for seasonal, organic and locally sourced ingredients and led by the double Michelin-starred Chef Tom Sellers. Meanwhile, The Bamford Wellness Spa is the treatment space, offering exquisite and intuitive therapies using the Bamford skincare line, which is made from natural and organic ingredients certified to the highest standard.

Sustainable spa and hotel features:

• Built with reclaimed timbers, flourishing greenery, and hand-chiseled stone, sustainably sourced from the Windsor Estate.
• When it was restructured, their approach saved roughly 4,200 tonnes of carbon.
• The hotel has 400 square metres of green walls, working diligently to produce oxygen, absorb greenhouse gasses, and provide energy-saving insulation.
• They work to further offset their carbon emissions through waste diversion practices, advanced monitoring and metrics, and global carbon offset projects.
• Uses 50% less energy to light up its rooms than the standard hotel. They promote walkability while their 100% electric Audi e-tron house cars allow you to explore the city with care.
• They utilise efficient water irrigation systems that capture rainwater and reroute it to be used to nourish our external green walls.
• Their base building filtration system works to provide you with high-quality filtered drinking water while.
• Reusable cups, carafes, and water bottles eliminate the need for single-use plastics.
• Food focuses on local ingredients sourced from regional farmers, fishers, and bakers.
• Post-consumer recycled paper hangers hold your clothes.
• Soft sustainable linens.
• They have partnered with The Tree Council, a local and independent charity, to craft an online tree map around Mayfair that celebrates nature right on their doorstep.⁠