The best UK spa hotels for winter breaks and beyond

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While The Old Course Hotel might primarily be a mecca for golfers, its array of rejuvenating treatments, from CBD massages to reflexology, is worth the trip alone. Boasting 13 treatment rooms, complete with cosy low lighting and arguably the most comfortable of spa beds, the Kohler Waters Spa is ideal for anyone looking to trade busy life for unadulterated bliss. A 20m pool, thermal suite, hydrotherapy pool, sauna, steam room and plunge pool? You'll not be short of ways to unwind in this well-established wellness wonderland.

Delivering deluxe rooms at an abundance of budgets, hours could be lost in the hotel's cosy suites. Presenting beds you could lounge in all day long and next-gen waterworks for the most relieving of showers, it's not just the spa that will keep you coming back to Old Course (it's the generous menu of multiple restaurants, too).

Beyond the hotel walls, St Andrews is home to well preserved cobbled streets, an abundance of historic ruins and, of course, its own university. This is truly a must-visit for fans of long beach walks and wild swimming. Need we even mention the golf course itself?

• Kohler Waters Spa, The Old Course Hotel, Old Station Rd, St Andrews
  
• Room rates from £400/night
  
• Spa access from £40 for 2 hours; treatments from £72
  
• Family-friendly and dogs welcome
  

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Gleneagles is good at everything: at this Perthshire hotel, you can eat the best food, play on the best golf course and enjoy one of the very best spas in the UK. Their philosophy at the Spa at Gleneagles is for your treatment to start from the moment you enter – expect to be fully relaxed before you even get going.

Open to all, here you'll find a Day Spa as well as the dedicated Resident Spa, Swim & Gym facilities and a Beauty Lodge (for lashes, nails, facials and more). What's not to love?

• Gleneagles, Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland
• Room rates from £550/night
• Spa packages from £180; treatments from £130
• Family-friendly and dogs welcome
  

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Archerfield is, and always will be, a golf ‘resort’ first and foremost: the two courses are steeped in legacy, hosting top championships on the beautiful grounds that overlook the East Lothian coastline. But it’s also gained a reputation for Fletcher’s Cottage, an unassuming looking spa perched far enough away from errant golf balls on the estate, offering immediate serenity on entry where you’re encouraged to take you shoes off and accept a warming cup of herbal tea. The only official Bamford spa in Scotland, it offers a range of face and body treatments by the beloved brand, alongside massages using local products too (such as the Fletcher’s Cottage Signature treatment, an hour-long head-to-toe massage with locally blended botanical oils). Pre- or post-treatment, you can melt into a sofa in their waiting area which is more like being in someone’s beautiful country home, taking advantage of the ‘sherry station’.

• Archerfield, Dirleton, East Lothian
• Room rates from £335/night
• Spa packages from £130; treatments from £95
• Family-friendly and dogs welcome
  

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One of the Lake District’s finest luxury hotels (find more here), Gilpin also takes the art of the spa very seriously. Its Spa Suites are set between silent fells and woodland. Each has floor-to-ceiling windows, a garden with decking and a hot tub, a fireplace, cocktail bar and circular stone bath tub. They also all have a steam room, sauna, infrared lounge bed and massage chair.

You’ll be perfectly happy staying within your suite, but you must venture out to experience the rest of the facilities, which include the Spa Space, with its nature-inspired treatment rooms and a calming relaxation room.

• Gilpin Hotel & Lake House, Crook Road, Windermere, Cumbria
• Room rates from £350/night
• Spa packages from £90pp (based on two people); treatments from £40
• Children (aged seven and over), and dogs (aged one year and over) welcome
  

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Set within a beautiful 365 acre estate on the County Durham and North Yorkshire border, Rockliffe Hall has a tranquil spa, complete with indoor pool, steam room and a commendable range of treatments: we'd recommend the 'Body Bliss' experience, which includes an Ayurvedic head massage, chakra balancing and hot poultices. The Spa Garden – a private, bookable space which looks out over the hotel's impressive grounds – blends the indoor and outdoor with its infinity pool, tepidarium beds and sauna. There's also an 18-hole championship golf course if you're a dab hand with a club, and The Orangery, an award-winning restaurant with a delicious tasting menu.

• Rockliffe Hall, Hurworth-on-Tees, Darlington
• Room rates from £390/night
• Spa packages from £89; treatments from £105
• Family-friendly and dogs welcome
  

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The Spa at Carden is the jewel in the crown of Cheshire's bountiful Carden Park Hotel. And the star of the spa is its garden – the largest spa garden in the UK. Looking out onto the property's 1,000 acres of estate, it boasts a wealth of outdoor spa facilities including hot tubs, heated pods, and a thermal vitality pool with crackling fire pits positioned between. The Bollinger garden bar provides refreshments and adds a holiday feel, enhanced by a vibey soundtrack in summer.

Inside, similar views can be enjoyed from the thermal suite (think Finnish sauna, aroma steam rooms, experience showers, heated relaxation beds and another ample vitality pool) as well as the panoramic Elements Restaurant where spa guests can enjoy refreshments upon arrival, brunch, lunch or afternoon tea. Treatments are top-notch too, and we can highly recommend the Muscle Melt Massage with Leah followed by downtime in the zen Relaxation Rooms. Meanwhile, manis, pedis, facials, make-up and more are delivered in the Bollinger Beauty Bar which is as Instagrammable as the results of your pamper.

Hotel guests will also love the further choice of restaurants on site, and the leisure club which comes with its own swimming pool and high-spec fitness suite.

• Carden Park, Broxton Road, Cheshire
• Room rates from £169/night
• Spa packages from £70; treatments from £80 and beauty bar experiences from £15
• Family-friendly
  

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Winner of ‘Boutique Spa of the Year’ at the Professional Beauty Awards, The Spa at Breedon Priory is an oasis of calm in the East Midlands countryside. Not a hotel – though it partners with the charming Breedon Hall Country House B&B, a five-minute drive away, should you want to stay – but the spa is ideal for day-long or twilight trips regardless. The spa garden is quite spectacular, with a fire pit- and lounger-lined sun terrace overlooking two outdoor pools (one an invigorating vitality pool; the other an infinity edge relaxation pool) and lush manicured grounds. Inside, the Wellbeing Suite has a Finnish style ice fountain, three experience showers, and four thermal cabins: a herbal steam bath, Himalayan salt sauna, herbal sauna and aroma steam room. There’s also a first-floor slumber lounge and multiple treatment rooms where they offer classic spa rituals like facials, massages, body wraps and scrubs, as well as a nail suite for manicures and pedicures.

Unique to The Spa at Breedon Priory is The Hideaway offering, a secluded area bookable for mornings or afternoons. Inclusive of a treatment – which can happen within the space, it features an outdoor hot tub, fire pit and double lounger on a tranquil terrace, as well as an indoor lounge with a mini bar and private shower area. For couples or groups of up to four, it guarantees the ultimate relaxation.

• The Spa at Breedon Priory, Melbourne, Derbyshire
• Room rates at nearby Breedon Hall Country House B&B start from £250/night
• Spa packages from £75; treatments from £63
  

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A spa-first country retreat, Ragdale Hall Spa boasts some of the most extensive wellness facilities in the UK, including six pools – from a candlelit cave to an indoor-out waterfall pool and a stunning rooftop infinity – as well as 12 heat and water experiences (think: volcanic salt bath, rose sauna, thought zone…), and a whirlpool. The treatment menu is huge, ranging from the innovative and holistic to the functional performed within private rooms, a nail studio, or the Beauty Express salon-style space delivering quick, instant results.

The fitness offerings are equally impressive. In addition to underwater exercise equipment there's a traditional gym and two studios hosting 20 complimentary daily group classes. The property also hosts various fitness breaks and wellness retreats throughout the year, with specific focuses such as Pilates practice or achieving serene sleep.

But while there’s plenty to do, the vibe is one of time standing still – and you can remain robe and slippers-clad to drink and dine should you wish, or to take in the Leicestershire countryside outside throughout the idyllic grounds.

• Ragdale Hall Spa, near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
  • Room rates from £287/night
  • Spa packages from £182; treatments from £50
    

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Nestled in the quiet countryside of Kings Lynn is an impressive Georgian townhouse set in 50 acres of sprawling green land complete with a herb garden, an orchard and the Secret Garden spa, where the welcoming, understated vibe feels as though you're simply going for a swim in your own beautiful house.

Alongside the 12 meter swimming pool, there are also experiential showers, sauna, steam room and an outdoors hot tub (it feels especially reviving in the winter time). As expected, there are plenty of face and body treatments available (including pregnancy-friendly ones), but if it's sore muscles that need looking after, try the Muscle Melt Massage. Expert hands knead away aching knots using a warming formula of Ho Leaf and Rosemary balm. You'll leave with a sense of lightness.

Congham Hall is the perfect hideaway for a recharge. Introverts will appreciate the serene surroundings and cosy nooks perfect for a reading retreat while more adventurous spirits can explore the Norfolk coasts, close to Sandringham estate. Stay in the Orchard cabin, which offers a delightful view of lush greenery and offers respite from the bustle of the everyday. There's a familiar, pleasantly-friendly feel throughout the hotel that makes settling into the space easy and effortless. It's the kind of space that feels instantly homely the minute you walk in.

• Secret Garden Spa, Congham Hall Hotel, Kings Lynn, Norfolk
• Family-friendly and dogs welcomed in certain areas
• Room rates from £199/night with spa access
  
• Spa packages from £130
  
• Treatments from £60
  

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Wilderness Reserve is not exactly a hotel: there’s no bar, no restaurant and no chance of bumping into another guest in the spa, which is located in the basement of your own private property.

This sprawling estate of spectacular self-catering homes has various ‘spa’ properties, all of which boast a private swimming pool, sauna, and steam and treatment rooms, in which you can work through a menu of face and body therapies by Harley Street’s famed 111Skin.

Moving beyond the traditional, the brand offers a unique blend of pampering and performance, delivering clinic-level results alongside deeply satisfying massage (no frustratingly limp strokes here). Try the calming Dramatic Healing Facial, which was originally developed by founder Dr. Yannis Alexandrides to promote healing after surgical procedures, or opt for the cult Celestial Black Diamond Non-Surgical Facelift, which involves a masterful combination of active ingredients to fade dark spots, plump lines and lift the skin. There’s a reason so many A-listers love it.

• Chapel Barn, The Grange and The Cider House at Wilderness Reserve, Darsham
• Room rates from £392/night
• Spa treatments from £130
• Family-friendly and dogs welcome
  

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A firm favourite with spa aficionados, Dormy House, near the north Cotswolds village of Broadway, is the ultimate boutique rural retreat. Its sumptuous spa features a serene pool, terrace hot tub, nail parlour-cum-champagne bar (a match made in spa heaven), and thermal suite with a lavender sauna, salt steam room and juniper-scented Finnish cabin.

Alongside iconic London hotel The Lanesborough, the spa partners with the ‘queen of green beauty’ Tata Harper, offering the cult brand’s pioneering treatments. Harper worked together with the spa team to develop a range of natural yet high-performance services from beauty facials to body rituals. For the Rolls-Royce of treatments try the custom Dormy House Bespoke Ritual, an indulgent two and a half hours of blissful top-to-toe pampering.

• Dormy House, Broadway, Worcestershire
• Room rates from £297/night
• Spa packages from £110; treatments from £45
• Family-friendly and dogs welcome

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Soho Farmhouse needs little introduction, but to those uninitiated, the Cotswolds outpost of the globally renowned private members’ club-turned-hotel group, Soho House, is the ultimate countryside retreat. Besides enjoying the typically stellar wining and dining options, available activities are countless: there’s bespoke bicycles for exploration of the grounds, an indoor-out pool, a stable yard offering horse rides, floodlit tennis courts, a gym with studio classes and a huge Cowshed spa. Here you’ll find 13 treatment rooms and six mani-pedi chairs, as well as a salon space. (Consider trying the Soho Skin facials; performance-led treatments combining electronics with the group’s intelligently formulated products.) The star attraction is an extension of the spa facilities, a bookable two-hour experience within woodlands coined the Lazy Lake. Based around temperature ‘contrast therapy’ you journey from a healing soak in a sunken hot tub – complete with face masks, and cocktails, should you wish – to into an ice room, steam room and infrared sauna cabin. The serene set-up is utterly idyllic, and the experience elating.

• Soho Farmhouse, Great Tew, Oxfordshire
• Room rates from £315/night
• Spa treatments from £55
• Dogs welcome
  

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It's not your typical spa hotel, but Daylesford's idyllic Cotswolds home provides the perfect backdrop for an enriching escape. The rural destination comprises exquisitely restored properties, including 32 charming cottages and four characterful gastro pubs, as well as the renowned Daylesford Organic deli-farm shop and, of course, the serene Bamford Wellness Spa.

Set amidst 3,500 acres of organic farmland, the spa offers a sanctuary for holistic wellbeing, drawing inspiration from the surrounding natural beauty in its facilities and design (think interior touches referencing the elements of fire, water, earth and air alongside panels of bright white wood lending a clean, calming atmosphere). While medically inspired treatments are offered (such as those LED and SkinPen-powered), it's the ultimate place to experience the institution's philosophy of holistic wellbeing, and you can't go wrong by booking the deeply pampering Signature Facial and/or Signature Massage.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF THE BAMFORD WELLNESS SPA HERE

• Bamford Wellness Spa, Daylesford near Kingham, Gloucestershire
• Room rates for a cottage in Daylesford Village (not pub rooms) from £394/night
• Spa day access from £250
  
• Family-friendly and dogs welcome throughout Daylesford (not within the Bamford Wellness Spa)

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A short drive from Cheltenham, within its 55 acre-grounds, lies Cowley Manor ­– one of the Cotswolds’ original boutique hotels recently reimagined by chic hospitality group Experimental. Widely recognised as the inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, the Grade II-listed manor has a fairy-tale quality (think Italianate gardens and a swan lake) with plenty of modern magic (the new restaurant and cocktail bar produce extraordinary curations utilising local produce).

And the spa? There are two heated pools – indoor and out – as well as a fitness centre, rainfall showers, sauna and steam room. The four treatment spaces play host to holistic therapies inspired by the countryside backdrop, using natural, botanical products by Monu Skin, while beauty treatments – such as nails, tinting and waxing – are also available. You won't want to leave.

• Cowley Manor Experimental, Cowley, Cheltenham
• Room rates from £352/night
• Spa packages from £115; treatments starting from £100 and beauty treatments from £15
• Family-friendly and dogs welcome
  

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The countryside edition of the Mayfair members’ club Maison Estelle is as discreet as its counterpart in the capital, but yet more exquisite – not least because of its 3,000-square-metre spa, Eynsham Baths. Similar in size to the decadent listed manor itself, the Roman-inspired bathhouse nestled into the Cotswold woodlands is truly unique.

The sunken oasis nodding to neoclassical architecture was inspired by Roman villa ruins discovered close by. Seen in its labyrinth design of intimate and social areas, from the vast bathing hall to the ceremony suite and Tea Lounge, here “guests can detach and relax for well-deserved solitude or come together with friends” – as founder Sharan Pasricha puts it. But while elevated thermal bathing is the spa’s drawcard (and the guided journey throughout each pool and wet room is a must-do), the treatments are on another level. Fusing Indian, Tibetan and Chinese traditional practices, all are curated in house and executed by top-tier therapists. Plus, expect therapists in residence doing what they do best (from Fatma Shaheen, master facialist and founder of Skin Design London to Suman Jalaf – the authority in custom brows), making it the ultimate spot for both restoration and renewal.

• Estelle Manor, North Leigh, Oxfordshire
• Room rates from £458/night
• Spa access from £95
• Family-friendly and dogs welcome (at Estelle Manor, not within Eynsham Baths)

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The Pig-in the Cotswolds may be the ninth Pig hotel, but unlike its similarly cozy and characterful siblings – all renowned for farm-to-fork dining – it boasts the family’s first spa. Naturally, this doesn’t disappoint, and though small in footprint Fieldhouse is a luxurious dimension to an already idyllic proposition. Nestled within glorious ornamental grounds, the hidden gem comprises a sauna, steam room, relaxation space, nail room and five treatment rooms where carefully curated wellness therapies take place. We can highly endorse the bespoke full body massage, where natural oils and precise pressure are tailored to your specific needs (fraught shoulders and stiff hips, in our case) over a blissful hour. Should you want the works, a 30-minute upgrade will incorporate uplifting facial massage, too. And just as memorable as a treatment is time spent in the hydrotherapy plunge pool, found in the peaceful spa courtyard. Little beats a warm soak outdoors while absorbing views of verdant Cotswolds countryside.

To maintain the mood, do indulge post-spa at the vibrant hotel restaurant within the Grade II-listed manor. Expect elevated plates celebrating its kitchen garden produce with perfectly paired wines and charming service.

• The Pig-in the Cotswolds, Barnsley, Gloucestershire
• Room rates from £225/night
• Spa treatments cost £125 for 60 minutes or £155 for 90 minutes; all guests can use the facilities during a pre-booked slot
  
• Family-friendly and dogs welcome in certain areas
  

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Thyme – ‘a village within a village’ set in the heart of the Cotswolds – puts nature front and centre, something that is truly evident at its botanical Meadow Spa. With a focus on nurturing beauty from within, treatments centre on achieving a state of mindfulness while inspiring the senses. Take the nurturing Botanical Bothy Signature Ritual, performed in a special inside-and-out spa space, which combines guided breathwork and pressure point rituals with lymphatic body brushing, an invigorating head massage and a healing herbal bath to conclude. The therapeutic journey uses Thyme’s own Bertioli Beauty products, a bathing and breathing range that help you harness the benefits of scent for the body and mind (the Water Meadow Breathing Balm is divine). In addition, the outdoor spring water swimming pool and chlorine-free hot tub are extensions of the spa, offering other ways to connect with nature while re-energising the body.

While at Thyme, don't miss dining in the Ox Barn. With menus that tell stories of the seasons via produce from the gardens, the dishes are as impressive as the nineteenth-century agricultural architecture.

• Thyme, Southrop Manor Estate, Gloucestershire
• Room rates from £400/night
• Spa experiences from £115
• Family-friendly and dogs welcome

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A delightfully different spa experience can be had at The Lakes by Yoo, a secluded staycation spot in the Cotswolds. Not actually a hotel, rather a luxury lakeside estate, it offers much more – whether you're into nature walking, bike riding, wild swimming, water crafts or activities like archery and clay pigeon shooting.

Indoors, meanwhile, The Spa by Yoo is not to be missed. Featuring a stunning indoor lap pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam rooms, as well as a fitness suite and treatment rooms, expect longevity-based offerings that aim to reduce inflammation, boost circulation and bolster immunity. The bracing cryotherapy chambers are a perfect example of this premise, and for more pampering therapies (while still science-backed) there are excellent bespoke facials designed by Dr. Barbara Sturm and signature rituals by Gloucestershire local Kate Moss' Cosmoss. Inspired by her brand’s ethos, they use potent, natural substances to restore balance and enhance harmony. Like the whole concept at The Lakes by Yoo, it's the perfect escape from modern life.

• The Lakes by Yoo, Lechlade, Gloucestershire
• Room rates from £410/night
• Spa packages from £155; treatments from £100
• Family-friendly and dogs welcome
  

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As popular as ever since its opening in 2003, Calcot & Spa in Gloucestershire is a luxury manor hotel welcoming members and guests. The spa space is truly impressive, with seven treatment rooms, a sauna, steam room, new spa cafe and lounge plus two picturesque relaxation areas – one offering scenic views of the rolling Cotswolds countryside. In addition, the outdoor hot tub - in view of a roaring fire - is the perfect spot for soaking in the serenity.

Alongside the facilities, treatments come courtesy of Aromatherapy Associates, Comfort Zone, Jessica Nails and Proverb – which bridges the gap between spa and fitness, with assisted stretch and workout facials.

Speaking of fitness, staying guests and members alike have access to The Grain Store, Calcot's impressive new gym and wellness sanctuary. Here you'll find a health cafe, spin shed, class studio, state-of-the-art gym that sprawls inside-and-out, and a luxury loft hosting holistic offerings (from yoga classes to sound healing). You’ll want to move in. And you kinda can.

• Calcot & Spa, Tetbury, Gloucestershire
• Room rates from £314/night
• Spa packages from £105; spa treatments from £60 and beauty treatments from £30
  
• Family-friendly and dogs welcome
  

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Proudly standing in over 500 acres of parkland, with almost a thousand years of history and a Michelin starred restaurant, Lucknam Park is not short on impressive stats. But what makes it unmissable is its impressive spa. Set in a peaceful spot within walled gardens, this is not just a coupl’a treatment rooms and dinky pool. It features (deep breathe) – a 20 metre indoor pool, an outdoor hydrotherapy pool (with picture-perfect views down the tree-lined gardens), a sauna, an aromatherapy steam room, a Japanese salt cabin and an amethyst-walled healing room. They’ve turned to one of our favourite spa experts, 111SKIN, for the treatments, as well as Natural Spa Factory which provide home-grown products all created in nearby Bath. The spa here really feels like a focus for the hotel, not an afterthought.

• Lucknam Park, Chippenham, Wiltshire
• Room rates from £524/night
• Spa packages from £125; treatments from £160
• Family-friendly and dogs welcome