You used to have to travel far and wide to find the real-deal spas, the temples dedicated to mind and body sprawling over several floors, the Ayurvedic 'journeys', the outdoor thermal spa villages and hydrotherapy suites you can spend hours in emerging the other side, reborn.
Not anymore. After a quick car or train journey you can find yourself floating on your back in an outdoor pool looking up at the sky before hot footing it inside to the toasty sauna. You can flip flop between impressive indoor-outdoor hydrotherapy pools, swim through open-air infinity pools with views onto surrounding English parkland. You can go subterranean to be slathered in rejuvenating, mineral-rich Scottish seaweed or even take a bath in the stuff flown in daily from the Hebrides.
Yes, spa breaks in this country are easier than ever to book. Whether that's for a spa day in London, or a weekend spa break in the Lake District or the Cotswolds, here's our pick of the best spa hotels in the UK.
How we review
Every hotel in this curated list has been visited by one of our expert reviewers, who are usually hosted on a complimentary basis. They stay for a minimum of one night, test at least one meal and trial other experiences (in this case, for instance, the spa) that the hotel might have to offer. We will earn a commission if you book via the links below, but this never affects our rating.
At a glance, the best spa hotels for 2023
- Best romantic spa hotel – The Gilpin Hotel & Lake House, Lake District
- Best spa hotel for families – Calcot & Spa, Cotswolds
- Best spa hotel with an outdoor pool – Cliveden, Berkshire
- Best dog-friendly spa hotel – Gleneagles, Scotland
- Best boutique spa hotel – Dormy House, Cotswolds
- Best coastal spa hotel – The Scarlet, Cornwall
- Best for winter spa breaks – The Gainsborough Bath Spa, Bath
Best for winter spa breaks: The Gainsborough Bath Spa
Best spa hotel for families: Calcot & Spa
Best romantic spa hotel: The Gilpin Hotel & Lake House
• The best hotels in the UK
Best spa hotel with an outdoor pool: Cliveden
Best dog-friendly spa hotel: The Gleneagles Hotel
Best boutique spa hotel: Dormy House
Best five-star spa hotel: Lime Wood
Best coastal spa hotel: The Scarlet
• The best hotels in England
Frequently asked questions
What is a spa hotel?
A spa hotel is usually an upscale property that has a dedicated 'destination' spa within its grounds and not only offers traditional treatments but also facilities including – but not limited to – a swimming pool (or a small plunge pool), sauna, steam room and relaxtion area. However, it is now not unusual for these high-end hotels to offer an enormous range of treatments and wellness experiences including fitness classes such as yoga and Pilates. Some even have extra special additions like cryotherapy chambers, Himalayan crystal salt rooms, private Hammams or Watsu pools. Many hotel spas are branded in conjunction with top beauty companies (such as ELEMIS or ESPA) but some operate under their own locally sourced products.
How do spa hotels work?
These properties operate in exactly the same way as hotels without spas, so a portion of their clientele will simply be booking to stay regardless of its spa status. But many people check in for 'spa weekends' and they will offer special packages for this, usually including a nights stay, access to all spa facilities, a treatment or two and dining either in the spa restaurant or the main restaurant. These hotels also offer 'spa days' where people can book to experience all of the above without the overnight accommodation.
What does a spa weekend include?
Each property will advertise individually curated packages for a spa weekend, but generally speaking a weekend should include an overnight stay, access to all spa facilities and at least one treatment (usually 60 mins) as a minimum. Treatments on offer in the packages are normally a basic full body massage or a facial, however, many of these top spa hotels offer options to add on other treatments such as beauty services (manicures, pedicures, hair salons, waxing, threading) or alternative therapies such as reiki, acupuncture or ayurveda.
Contributions by Gavin Bell, Suzy Bennett, Jade Conroy, Rachel Cranshaw, Fiona Duncan, Geoff Hill, Charlotte Johnstone, Linda Macdonald, Fred Mawer, Natalie Millar-Partridge, Harriet O'Brien, Natalie Paris, Helen Pickles, Charles Starmer-Smith & Antonia Windsor
-
This grand stately pile on a sporting estate in Dartmoor National Park caters for every whim, whe... Read expert review
-
A cosy 18th-century townhouse owned by chef Paul Ainsworth. It's set away from the bustle of the ... Read expert review
-
Enjoy rooms overlooking a sheltered south-facing bay, set above a bustling bistro-bar and private... Read expert review