Voted Best Hotel Spa by the 2021 Good Spa Guide Awards, this five-star country house hotel has a heated outdoor pool surrounded by comfy loungers and black marble hot tubs, while inside there’s another luxurious 25-metre ballroom pool featuring underwater music, thermal cabins, saunas, herbal steam rooms and a hydrotherapy pool, as well as a cold plunge pool and an ice igloo for those wanting to feel invigorated. Treatments include detoxifying scrubs and mud wraps; luxury facials enriched with gold, caviar and pearl; anti-ageing treatments; hot stone and essential oil massages; and a range of hand, foot and beauty treatments. There are various spa break packages on offer, with a variety of stylish rooms and suites and top-notch restaurants to choose from. Each of the 124 rooms is individually designed and furnished, from the traditional period styles in the main house to The Granary, a two-storey stand-alone suite that overlooks the pool area showcases exposed beams and a lovely free-standing copper bath in the bedroom.
Meanwhile, dining can be as fancy or as casual you like. Lily Pond Terrace is lovely for an alfresco lunch, while you can enjoy afternoon tea at the bar or a healthy breakfast or lunch inside the spa without changing out of your bathrobe. The new bistro-style Hillfield restaurant serves local produce such as Surrey spring shoulder of lamb hotpot as well as Cornish crab and lobster, while Latymer, tucked away in one of the oldest corners of Pennyhill Park’s original house, offers award-winning Michelin starred fine dining that includes a six-course tasting menu with paired wines. Situated amongst 1,000 acres of the glorious Cheshire countryside, Carden Park Hotel offers everything from two championship golf courses, its own three-acre vineyard, four restaurants and bars, and most importantly, luxurious spa facilities. The multi award-winning Spa at Carden has proven itself to be a blissful relaxation retreat, complete with panoramic views across the stunning Cheshire landscape and an all-weather Bollinger bar, so you can sip cocktails while you unwind in the hot tub – what's not to love? The multisensory garden also offers a large swimming pool and enclosed warming pods and saunas, while those who prefer to stay indoors can slip into relaxation in one of the saunas, steam rooms, or during one of the luxurious spa treatments. For the ultimate escape from a busy lifestyle, indulge in a revitalising Head and Heart massage and facial. Soothing rhythmic movements on the upper back, neck, shoulders and head are combined with a calming facial to form a sense of deep relaxation.
Most notable is Carden Park Hotel's latest dining addition, The Vines. Led by Executive Chef Graham Tinsley MBE, former manager of the Welsh Culinary Team, this exquisite dining experience is truly unforgettable. With a menu formulated from the very best local ingredients and perfectly paired wines, cocktails and after-dinner drinks, The Vines promises to be: "an elegant space that elevates your dining experience". Set on a cliff above the dramatic Durham coast, this striking white Georgian hote is home to the award-winning Serenity Spa, a luxurious wellness retreat inspired by healing rituals from the Far East. Whether your aim is to energise or calm your senses, the facilities and treatments in this Feng Shui designed spa have been specially created to nurture and harmonise mind, body and soul. Bask in the heat of the Indian steam room, the Asian herbal saunarium and the hammam, then immerse yourself in the warm bubbles of the jacuzzi. You can cool down in between with a swim in the 20-metre pool, or by sampling the refreshing ice fountain and braving one of the cold plunge pools – an experience that’s sure to make you tingle from top to toe. Even in the cooler months you can venture outside to the Zen Garden to experience the bubbly hot tubs or the infinity hydrotherapy pool, and cosy up in a fluffy white robe next to the firepit.
You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to treating yourself to a treatment or two. A tempting spa menu includes holistic therapies, reflexology, personalised hypnotherapy, and sublime massages and facials, such as the delicious Temple Spa Champagne and Truffles Deluxe facial. After you’ve been well and truly pampered, chill out with a cool glass of fruit-infused water or grab forty winks in one of the three relaxation areas. Recline on one of the waterbeds, doze off in the Zen Lounge or slumber on a bed under the caring gaze of Shanti, the life-size elephant sculpture that stands at the end of a tunnel linking the spa to the main hotel. There are 21 exquisite spacious suites featuring high ceilings, luxury bathrooms, pillow menus and king size beds for overnight guests, while the swanky dining room offers a North Sea inspired menu, and the Ozone restaurant continues the spa’s Eastern theme with spicy Pan-Asian cuisine. Rockliffe Hall is an elegant five-star hotel retreat exhibits one of the largest, most luxurious award-winning spas in the UK. Set in 365 acres, the spa commands stunning views of the vast country estate where enjoyment, rejuvenation and relaxation are of the essence.
Hydrafacial KeraviveSubtly combining inside with outside, the sumptuous Spa Garden has a heated infinity-edge outdoor pool where you can experience a hydrotherapy massage before stretching out on the heated contoured tepidarium beds alongside it. There’s also an outdoor hot tub to invigorate the senses and a glass-fronted sauna to bask in the heat while gazing out at the greenery that surrounds you. With its penetrating dry heat, the indoor Roman sauna in a wood-lined cabin is the perfect place to soothe aching muscles, and to deep-cleanse the skin, immerse yourself in the moist heat of the tropicarium or the aromatic oils of the caldarium. For an exhilarating boost to the circulation, grab a handful of ice flakes from the igloo and gently massage them over your hot skin. Signature treatments and experiences include holistic spa rituals, bespoke massages and facials, and the exquisite Rockliffe Hall ‘Body Bliss’ – a top to toe treatment that comprises an Indian head massage, a chakra balancing back massage using hot poultices, and a blissful foot ritual.
A day at the Spa can be a truly indulgent and wonderful experience, after all it’s a pastime centred on your enjoyment, needs, and, most importantly, your wellbeing. With the world now at the end stages of the Covid pandemic the importance of personal wellness has never been more apparent. The continuous lockdowns and restrictions over the past couple of years has meant that people are placing more value on “me time”, and one of the easiest ways to do this is a Spa Day. Whether you visit with friends, family, a romantic partner, co-workers, or by yourself, one thing is certain, a day at the spa will leave you refreshed, rejuvenated, and de-stressed. However, one misstep or awkward situation can derail the whole experience. For this reason, we’ve dedicated this piece to providing you with a comprehensive spa guide that includes our top tips, popular treatments, the benefits, and a summary of the some of the best spas in the world.
Before Your Visit Make sure you do your research to find your ideal spa. For the most part, day spas tend to be consistent with services on offer, but you want to make sure you find one that suits you. Say a female only spa, or maybe you want a hotel spa so you can spend the night, or you may be interested in an innovative new treatment. Either way a good luck around is the place to start. Reservations should be made as soon as you’ve decided on a date and found your perfect spa. You may not be sure on the exact treatments to go for so a quick call to make a reservation will no doubt help. Most spa receptionists are usually able to adequately explain what’s on offer, the benefits, and tailor packages. Arriving for your spa day with treatments and bookings in place mean the whole experience is likely to be stress-free. Be prepared by packing a bag. Most amenities, robes, towels, and refreshments are provided but you’ll still want to pack a few essentials. A change of clothes, swimwear, gym wear, comfy footwear, and a book/tablet are some of the items we recommend. We suggest approaching the day as if you’re staying overnight at a hotel, think about what items you’d need in this situation.
