You don’t have to go far to have the best spa breaks

One of the things we have really learned in the last couple of years (if we didn’t know before), is that you don’t have to go far to have the best spa breaks.

While we might be hankering after a trip to Barbados or a holiday in the Algarve, staycation travel has been something many of us have enjoyed, discovering the best bits of the UK anew, and some real gems close to home. Whether we’re planning a trip for a day, a weekend or a week, there are some amazing experiences to be had, right on our doorstep.

There’s lots of fantastic spas across the UK just waiting to be explored, but here are a few regional favourites to inspire your 2022 spa travel plans

One of the best spa breaks in the North East

Grantley Hall, Harrogate

For those looking for some exceptionally stylish rest and relaxation, it’s tough to beat Grantley Hall. The 17th century property has played host to the likes of Dame Vera Lynn across the decades, and has no small amount of Gatsby style about it. In addition to the grand hotel with its own nightclub, the gardens are magnificent and the purpose-built Three Graces Spa and Elite Luxury Gym are the cherry on top.

One of the best spa breaks in the North West

Mottram Hall, Cheshire

A Grade II listed building in 270 acres of gardens including an 18-hole championship golf course, Mottram Hall has changed the game, offering some of the best spa breaks in the North West. The hotel and the spa both have appeal in their own right, but together it’s a getaway powerhouse. The grand building and stylish rooms make it ideal for a romantic getaway. Meanwhile, the state-of-the-art Champneys spa offers luxury and clinical excellence with a vast array of facilities including a pool surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows.

One of the best spa breaks in the East of England

Glass House Retreat, Essex

A new eco-friendly spa in Essex, Glass House Retreat is contemporary and filled with natural light. Modern architecture lends itself to a sense of serenity, while attention has been paid to the details. The hotel and spa work together to offer a complete wellness experience. Having been co-founded by Joy Jarvis, a lifelong devotee of vegetarianism, they champion nutrition as a key component of sustainable wellbeing, with a spa restaurant dedicated to a healthy vegan menu of seasonal fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains—local, fresh, and delivered daily.

One of the best spa breaks in the East Midlands

Ringwood Hall Hotel and Spa, Derbyshire

This charming country house hotel and its luxurious Garden Secret Spa, are a simply joyful retreat. A 19th century manor house hotel in the Peak District, surrounded by 29 acres of parkland, the gardens, the location and the history of the property provide a theme for everything they do. Inspired by Victorian gardens, the spa brings botanical inspiration into its treatments and its facilities, for example, there’s a blossom steam room and a salt sauna with woodland views. They’re also no strangers to luxury and glamour, with black-tie events and luxury suites available.

One of the best spa breaks in the West Midlands

Hoar Cross Hall, Staffordshire

A perennial favourite amongst spabreakers, and perfect for special occasions or simply just because, Hoar Cross Hall is award-winning for good reason. The five-star hotel is surrounded by 50 acres of immaculate grounds. It’s brimming with activities including cycling, tennis, archery, croquet and boules and when it comes to dining, vegetables are grown in the estate’s own greenhouses. The hotel is elegant and the spa is exceptional, complete with a 26-metre saltwater vitality pool and a veritable feast of thermal facilities.

One of the best spa breaks in the South West

Polurrian on the Lizard, Cornwall

In an amazing cliff top location, Polurrian on the Lizard enjoys exceptional sea views and immediate access to the surrounding natural beauty on the Lizard Peninsular. If ever there was somewhere to blow the cobwebs away, this is it. Warm and welcoming, there’s a choice of hotel rooms and self-catering accommodation, while meals are a feast of local produce. Wellness isn’t just about the spa - this is a place for waterspouts, hiking, and plenty of fresh air. There’s also indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, and of course a range of beautiful spa treatments.

One of the best spa breaks in the South East

South Lodge, West Sussex

The sister hotel to the esteemed Pennyhill Park, South Lodge is a luxurious, eco-friendly hotel and spa surrounded by the South Downs. The hotel is stylish and sophisticated, with seductively styled rooms and three restaurants on site, including the celebrated Tom Kemble in The Pass. The spa is exceptional from architecture to experience. Designed to blend into the landscape, it stands at 44,000 sq. ft and includes a gym and spin studio, an indoor pool, outdoor hydrotherapy pool and swim pond and a thermal suite. Treatments are fantastic, and there’s even a Ridgeview Beauty Bar, teaming up with award-winning English sparkling wine producers from the South Downs, Ridgeview, to bring pampering and pedicures together.

One of the best spa breaks in London

Heavenly Spa at The Westin London City, Central London

New to the spa scene, Heavenly Spa at The Westin London City only recently opened and is already making a splash. A five-star hotel on the edge of the River Thames, the contemporary design already gives it an edge before you walk through the doors. Inside, it’s achingly chic, while the spa is everything a modern traveller could want. There’s the WestinWORKOUT® Fitness Studio is open 24-hours a day, while the Heavenly Spa by Westin has an elegant 12-metre indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, steam room, and a relaxation lounge as well as delicious face and body treatments that have been beautifully honed and personalised by the therapists.