It’s a well known fact that myself and Mr enjoy a spa. It’s a rarity to find a man who does indulge in a jacuzzi and is quite happy to pad around in a fluffy robe and slippers. It means that I get company when I want to relax and we have also visited some fabulous spa hotels over the time we have been together.
Three of the best spa hotels in the UK
We never really have any treatments, we prefer a swim, a steam and a bit of jacuzzi time; so there are no reviews of treatments but I do mention what products they work with at each spa. Mainly for me the spa is all about switching off from the world of technology and work and de-stressing a little.
Salcombe Harbour Hotel
Our most recent spa hotel visit was to the Salcombe Harbour Hotel for my birthday, which we booked through Mr & Mrs Smith. A superbly nautical themed luxury spa hotel that felt a little New England country club mixed with French Riviera relaxed glamour. We had a gorgeous room overlooking the harbour and headed down to the spa for a pre-dinner relaxation session two afternoons in a row.
Down at the Harbour Spa, there is a good sized swimming pool with a jet, a sauna and very hot steam room. There is also a rather bizarre Pebble Room, that is a private room filled with giant cushions, a relaxing light machine and calming music. A little bit boho but I’m sure great if you are on a hen do or a girly spa day and want to all relax together. The cabana style lounger area around the pool is great. You can pull the curtains to shut out the rest of the world and just breathe deeply.. and relax!
Treatments available feature world renowned ESPA products, alongside their own Harbour Signature range.
Photography from Salcombe Harbour Hotel
Fawsley Hall
One of the first hotels we graced as a couple; nestled in the Northampton countryside, Fawsley Hall is a beautiful newly refurbished 4 star hotel, that is part of the Handpicked Hotels collection. A fabulous hotel for a wedding venue and very well run. The spa is nestled at the back of the grounds, you do have to walk from the main hotel to the entrance but I’m sure you can do that in your robe if you’re quick!
There’s an outdoor jacuzzi you have to run to keep warm – probably more enjoyable in the summer months but there is something just that little bit satisfying about sitting outside in a hot pool when there is a nip in the ice cold air.
Good sized swimming pool you can do your lengths in, or as Mr does, have a little pootle around. A sauna and a steam room; I even saw a chap who was obviously a regular visitor, take his cup of tea and a paper into the sauna; it has a very relaxed vibe. We tested out the well equipped gym here as well. Small but perfectly formed with large windows looking onto the garden; it was like working out in a Japanese Zen spa.
Treatments available feature Elemis products.
Photography from Handpicked Hotels.
Foxhills
Foxhills is set in a 400 acre picturesque estate in Surrey and is a world renowned Country Club and Resort. We stayed for the weekend and had a throughly relaxing time, plus a fabulous dinner in the hotel restaurant.
I loved the lockers in the changing rooms, all being named (in alphabetical order) after beaches in the UK. It set the relaxed tone of the spa and the giant mural on the wall of the pool made me dream of heading to the seaside.
“A Spa Day at Foxhills should be as welcome as a childhood memory of a day trip to the seaside. The anticipation, that ‘I can see the sea’ moment, the treats and sleepy journey home. All these feelings we hope to evoke.” Foxhills
We hit the swimming pool first, which was a really great size and a perfect temperature. I then headed for a steam and afterwards was very brave, utilising the ice fountain; rubbing it over my skin to close the pores. There is also a poolside vitality pool with therapeutic swan neck jets that we were rather fond of.
After a relaxation on the comfortable sofas and some lemon and cucumber infused ice water, we headed outside. There is a organic natural pool if you’re feeling like you want to stand amongst the pond weed and various other growing fauna. We bypassed that and headed for the outdoor jacuzzi. A little on the cosy side; you couldn’t really fit more than three people in, but very relaxing. The Finnish sauna is in an outside wooden lodge; it was super busy so we didn’t try it but we loved the spa being extended outside into the garden.
Treatments available feature Elemis products.
Photography from Foxhills.
Domaine de Verchant
I couldn’t resist adding a little extra spa review to my top three UK spas. The Domaine de Verchant is a fabulous five star French chateau hotel located just outside Montpellier. With an outdoor pool at the main building. The spa is located near the vineyard; featuring an indoor pool, steam room and sauna, treatment rooms and a good sized jacuzzi. Sadly the jacuzzi wasn’t working when we were there, much to the Mr’s dismay.
What I enjoyed most about the spa at Domaine de Verchant were the day beds in the little sun trap of a garden. Sitting curled up in the sun, reading complimentary magazines with the grapes of the area growing above your head. Perfect! Now we just need to sample the wine.
Photography from Domaine de Verchant.