Looking for the best spas in the UK? From luxury hotel spas and countryside retreats to innovative thermal experiences and waterside wellness escapes, we’ve rounded up 10 UK spas represented by The Spa PR Company, worth putting on your spa-day or spa-break wish list.
The UK has no shortage of exceptional spa experiences. Whether you’re searching for a luxury spa day in the UK, a relaxing spa break, a destination for a wellness retreat or somewhere to escape for a few hours of much-needed relaxation, there is a wealth of choice. But with so many spas to choose from, finding the right one can be difficult.
Do you want a countryside spa surrounded by nature? A destination spa with extensive thermal facilities? A luxury hotel spa where you can combine treatments with fine dining and an overnight stay? Or perhaps a spa with something genuinely different, such as a swim-up bar, snow shower or immersive outdoor sauna?
We’ve selected 10 of the best spas in the UK, each offering a distinctive wellness experience and something different for spa-goers to discover.
Best for: A nature-filled spa break
If your idea of the perfect UK spa break involves escaping into nature, Armathwaite Hall Hotel & Spa should be high on your list.
Set within 400 acres of private woodland and deer park on the edge of Bassenthwaite Lake in the northern Lake District, the hotel offers a luxurious countryside escape surrounded by some of Cumbria’s most spectacular scenery.
The spa includes eight spa garden suites, a tranquillity terrace and a 16-metre infinity-edge pool overlooking the surrounding landscape. But it’s the nature-led approach to wellbeing that makes Armathwaite Hall particularly distinctive.
Guests can take part in experiences including forest bathing, alpaca walking, wild swimming, moon bathing and digital detoxing.
The spa also offers treatments using natural ingredients and essential oils from Cumbrian brand Bespoke Aroma.
Why book: For a luxury spa break that combines spa facilities with immersive nature and outdoor wellness experiences.
Location: Keswick, Northern Lake District
Best for: Innovative thermal experiences
For a spa day in Nottinghamshire that goes beyond the traditional treatment menu, Ye Olde Bell Hotel & Spa offers an impressive range of thermal and wellness experiences.
Located in Retford, the full-service hotel combines characterful accommodation and dining with a spa designed around high-tech thermal facilities and personalised treatments.
Among its most distinctive features is a Stonebath steam room, one of only three in the country, alongside its Snowstorm spa experience, which can be found in only a handful of spas worldwide. The spa was also the first in the UK to introduce the HaloIR™ breathe and detox treatment.
There are six treatment rooms, including two doubles, with treatments ranging from traditional massages to more unusual ritualistic therapies.
It also offers spa experiences for children and teenagers, making it an interesting option for families looking for a different kind of wellness experience.
Why book: For cutting-edge thermal experiences and a spa day that offers something genuinely different.
Location: Retford, Nottinghamshire
Best for: A luxury Scottish spa escape
Looking for a luxury spa in Scotland? The new Imperia Spa at Gleddoch Golf & Spa Resort brings a bold new approach to wellness to the Scottish spa scene.
Inspired by Gleddoch’s history as the former home of shipbuilding magnate Baron Lithgow, the Imperia Spa takes inspiration from the golden age of travel, with black marble, antique gold and rich textures creating an indulgent setting.
Set across 350 acres of countryside with panoramic views over the Clyde Estuary and Renfrewshire hills, the resort’s spa includes one of the largest outdoor saunas in the UK, alongside Aroma Steam, Salt Steam and Pink Himalayan Salt Sauna experiences.
Why book: For a luxury Scottish spa experience combining dramatic design, thermal wellness and countryside views.
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Best for: A country house spa escape
For those searching for a spa in North Yorkshire, Gisborough Hall offers the charm of a traditional country house combined with a new generation of wellness facilities.
Located on the edge of the North York Moors, the privately owned four-star country house hotel combines historic character with contemporary comforts, countryside views, accommodation, dining and its brand new Sakura Spa.
The new woodland-inspired spa includes a vitality pool, herbal sauna, salt steam room, Finnish sauna, cold plunge and six dedicated treatment rooms. Gisborough Hall is also working with Bamford as a brand partner for the Sakura Spa experience.
Why book: For a country house spa break combining traditional Yorkshire character with contemporary wellness.
Location: North Yorkshire
Best for: An outdoor spa experience
If you’re looking for a spa day in Cheshire that feels more like a holiday, Manor House Hotel & Spa in Alsager is a standout.
The award-winning spa offers more than 18 different experiences within its English country garden-style spa, with extensive heated outdoor facilities and cosy indoor spaces.
Its headline attraction is the UK’s first swim-up bar, but that’s far from the only unusual feature. Guests can also enjoy outdoor hanging day beds, the Potting Shed Herbal Sauna, a panoramic laconicum with swing seats, a Salt Steam Inhalation Chamber, private hot tubs and an ice plunge.
Why book: For an outdoor spa day with a holiday atmosphere, innovative facilities and plenty of opportunities to switch off.
Location: Alsager, East Cheshire
Best for: Fire and ice wellness
For those looking for a day spa in Suffolk, Riverhills offers a modern wellness experience built around state-of-the-art facilities.
Following a transformation after a fire in 2023, Riverhills has become a sophisticated health and wellness destination in Ipswich. Its facilities include a Snowsky Snow Shower, vitality pool, Aroma Steam Room and Volcano Sauna, alongside nine treatment rooms.
The spa also features a Serail mud chamber, while its treatment menu includes face and body treatments from British brand TEMPLESPA.
Why book: For a contemporary spa day centred around contrasting heat and cold experiences.
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk
Best for: Sustainable spa breaks
For wellness travellers who want their relaxation to align with their environmental values, Titanic Spa offers a distinctive sustainability-led experience.
Located in Linthwaite, West Yorkshire, the multi-award-winning destination spa occupies a beautifully restored 20th-century textile mill in the Pennines and places equal emphasis on the wellbeing of its guests and the environment.
Guests can experience the Titanic Heat & Ice journey, a private mud chamber for up to four people, Bar 1911 and locally sourced food at the Bistro. Apartment-style accommodation makes it particularly well suited to a spa break in West Yorkshire rather than a simple day visit.
The spa describes itself as the UK’s first eco-spa.
Why book: For a destination spa experience where sustainability and wellbeing sit alongside one another.
Location: Linthwaite, West Yorkshire
Best for: A waterside spa break
For a spa break in North Wales, it’s hard to beat the setting of The Quay Hotel & Spa.
Following a £1 million renovation, the spa offers a peaceful wellness experience on the North Wales coast, with a thermal area centred around a large swimming pool and adjoining vitality pool.
Guests can also enjoy an infrared sauna, spa café and relaxation areas, while the hotel offers views across the Conwy Estuary towards Conwy Castle.
Eight treatment rooms offer face and body treatments from OSKIA, which produces its products in Wales.
Why book: For a romantic waterside spa escape combining wellness, beautiful scenery and North Wales charm.
Location: Conwy, North Wales
Best for: A luxury spa weekend
If you’re searching for a luxury spa break in Cheshire, Carden Park Hotel & Spa offers an expansive wellness experience set within 1,000 acres of Cheshire countryside.
The estate includes 197 bedrooms, a £10 million spa, one of the UK’s largest spa gardens, award-winning restaurants and two championship golf courses.
The spa offers an extensive treatment menu, with every treatment including access to three individually themed relaxation rooms.
The combination of spa, accommodation, dining and countryside makes Carden Park particularly suited to guests looking for a luxury wellness retreat or spa weekend rather than a few hours at a day spa.
Why book: For a full luxury spa escape with extensive facilities, dining and accommodation.
Location: Cheshire
Best for: A personalised spa day
For a more personalised approach to wellness, Holmer Park Spa & Health Club offers an experience-led alternative to the traditional spa day.
Located just outside Hereford, the award-winning day spa combines state-of-the-art gym and fitness facilities with a tranquil spa environment. Its philosophy is particularly interesting: guests book time rather than treatments, giving visitors greater freedom to shape their experience.
Facilities include a 20-metre pool and a state-of-the-art gym, alongside a welcoming and personalised approach to health, fitness and relaxation.
Why book: For an approachable, flexible spa day where the focus is on your overall wellness experience.
Location: Hereford, Herefordshire
The UK’s spa industry continues to evolve, with new thermal experiences, outdoor wellness facilities, nature-based treatments and sustainability initiatives changing what consumers expect from a spa day. At The Spa PR Company, we specialise in communications for the spa, beauty and wellbeing sector, working with leading spas and wellness businesses across the UK.
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