10 Best Spas & Wellbeing Retreats in the UK

Coworth Park is a 240-acre estate found in Ascot, Berkshire, just 45-minutes by car from London. This sprawling estate is complete with a regal Georgian house, a collection of converted stables (now family cottages), a rose garden, tennis courts and a show-stopping eco-spa. The spa offers den-like saunas, steam rooms and a variety of treatments such as spirulina wraps or collagen facials.  

Its pristine green grounds can be explored on peaceful walks that take you to lovely fields of flittering multi-colored flowers. A few days here is sure to calm your mind. Sit by the pond and watch the ducks swim around or head to the outside patio, where drinks are served overlooking the gardens.

Set among lush, landscaped gardens, Gilpin Hotel and Lake House deserves all the praise it gets. The grounds are elegantly decorated with wooden-planked decks and Scandi-style cabins littered around Gilpin Lake. At night, open up your cabin to look out at the starry night sky with snug throws to burrow under.  

Even more of a treat is The Jetty Spa at the Lake House where you can wallow in a 3-hour marathon of spa treatments. Therapists create your very own concoction of aromatherapy oils to be used in your treatment. Whilst these soak into your skin, wander through the gardens to the warm pool and sauna. If you can, book a garden suite, which comes with your own hot tub.

Chewton Glen, found in Hampshire, is an enchanting hotel formed by a series of modern-styled treehouses. These rooms are tucked into the top of a bank overlooking the woodland of the New Forest. The treehouse setting instils a sense of fairy-tale adventure into both children and adults’ hearts. As night falls, sit on the balcony and enjoy the tranquil sounds of the magical forest. 

The spa offers a variety of holistic treatments, an indoor swimming pool surrounded by colorful murals, jet pools and a crystal steam room. A few hours in the spa is sure to rejuvenate your body. Finish off your visit with a delicious shot of lavender and honey-infused water.

The spa at Calcot & Spa holds a reputation for being one of most consistently excellent in the country. Top treatments include the back, neck and scalp massage, ideal for those with office syndrome, and the Aromatherapy Associates Rose Facial. 

Calcot & Spa comprises of a 14-century house within 220-acres of gorgeous Cotswolds meadowland. Wandering on the trim trails is a wonderful way to spend your post-treatment mornings or afternoons. If you’re travelling with children, book a room at this family-oriented hotel where the family rooms come with child-proofed corners and special kid sections with cots or twin beds surrounded by hand-painted murals. 

The Gainsborough Bath Spa is located in Bath city centre. The city, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, has long been associated with the restorative powers of its thermal springs. The Gainsborough feeds on this rich heritage as it is the first spa in the country to offer a natural thermal spa. The building is adorned with sand-coloured Roman columns soaring high above the cobble-stoned streets of Bath. 

The spa holds a bathing atrium, which sits right on top of Ancient Roman ruins. Flooded with natural light, the baths are a definite stress-reliever. The mineral waters act as remedies for dry skin, joint pain, muscle tension, arthritis and rheumatism.

Imagine waking up after a good night’s sleep in the Our Retreat luxury farmhouse in Somerset and starting your day with mindful yoga. After a nourishing breakfast, enjoy woodland walks or boost your immune system with wild swimming. To deepen your yoga or spiritual practice, try the guided meditation classes or breathwork sessions. Each afternoon, you can strengthen your core with Pilates. The evening bonfires are perfect for winding down or bonding with others by the fire. The day is punctuated by delicious meals and snacks in good company. 

It takes about 3.5 hours to drive from London to this yoga haven. The nearest station is in Gillingham Dorset, and you’ll need to take a taxi to reach Our Retreat.

If you’re looking to reconnect with nature, The Lakes by YOO in Gloucestershire offers calming countryside retreats, secluded woodland cabins and lakeside dining. At the environment-focused spa you’ll enjoy treatments that fight stress and promote sleep and relaxation. 

You can also purchase event-only tickets to Lakes Talks, a speaker series presenting leading experts across topics such as wellness, arts and culture. Self-development professionals host group meditations, exclusive QA sessions and workshops. Cotswold’s freshwater lakes and wildflower meadows provide an idyllic backdrop for your journey into self-discovery. You can reach The Lakes in 2.5 hours from London by car. Or take the train to Swindon and then a 30-minute taxi ride to this lakeside paradise.

The Detox Barn in Suffolk has redefined ‘detox’ as a fun and luxurious experience, fuelled by delicious vegan meals, good laughs and free time to enjoy massages, facials and reflexology. The detox retreats are run throughout the year in a large barn conversion with yoga classes for all levels, meditation and guided walks in the Suffolk countryside. 

The detox regime won’t leave your tummy rumbling with hunger. The plant-based food and smoothies will make your mouth water. Healthy snack and juice demos invite you try out simple but nourishing mini meals. The retreat is also a digital detox, so no phones allowed. To reach The Detox Barn, take a train to Ipswich, and then a taxi to your detox haven.

The Sharpham Trust gives you the option of a retreat in a barn, in the woods or in the Sharpham estate. Found in the tranquil River Dart valley, the retreat includes activities that promote getting closer to nature and creating a personal connection. Participants stay in tents but don’t worry if you’re not experienced, they’ll teach you the skills you need as you go. 

With pure and untouched nature all around you, it’s easy to enter a serene trance, as you perform guided meditation and nature-sensing activities. Meals are prepared using locally sourced or plant-based foods that have been foraged from the forest.

If you can’t remember the last time you spent the day without your phone, ‘Time to Log Off’ is the retreat you need. This time away will give you the much-needed ‘switch off’ from your phone. No devices are allowed in the retreat. Instead, your hours will be filled with activities that encourage mindful connection. The underlying principles behind ‘Time to Log Off’ retreats are based on maintaining a tech-life balance and advocates strongly for younger generations to partake in a digital detox. 

Retreats offered are in various locations, which are revealed on the website; each one includes yoga, mindfulness and skills for technology boundaries. There is even a teen digital detox camp.