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The best spa hotels in the UK for 2026, reviewed and loved by Good Housekeeping
Psst...A booking at one of these British boltholes would make the best gift.
If you’re looking for your next spa escape, we’ve found the best spa hotels to head to here in the UK. The GH team has sampled the finest spa hotels nationwide, from English country manors to five-star boutique hotels and city getaways.
There are indulgent spa hotels all over the country, whether you’re looking for one amid the honey-coloured villages of the Cotswolds, the rugged coastline of Northern Ireland or on the splendid setting of a Scottish loch.
Whether you choose to spa solo, with a partner, parent or friends, there’s a UK spa for you in our roundup. Here are some of our favourite spa hotels in the UK to book for 2026 and beyond.
ESPA at The Langley, Buckinghamshire
Say the word ‘Slough’ and it’s unlikely that a restored Palladian manor is the first thing that springs to mind, but that’s exactly what awaits at Buckinghamshire’s best-kept secret: The Langley.
This majestic house dates back to the 18th century and once belonged to the third Duke of Marlborough. Now, it’s a small luxurious hotel that, with just 41 rooms and suites, retains all the intimate charm of a former country estate – opportunities to live out ‘lord and lady of the manor’ fantasies are rife.
Occupying the lower ground floor is The Langley Spa, with treatment rooms plus an exclusive VIP suite with its own vitality pool, sauna and steam room. Day beds surround the indoor swimming pool, large enough for proper laps, while the elegant outdoor pool is the ultimate place to unwind on warmer days.
The spa menu includes seven personalised ESPA rituals. We recommend the Inner Beauty Facial, which begins with a SkinVision UV consultation to reveal concerns not visible to the naked eye. This detailed analysis allows every product to be tailored to your complexion, leaving you with skin that’s never looked better. If massage is more your go-to, the Inner Calm Massage is 60 minutes of holistic bliss. Every treatment ends with time in the relaxation room, where ergonomic beds swathed in sheer curtains create a cocoon of tranquillity you won’t want to leave.
Dining is also a five-star affair. We bookended our spa day with a light lunch on the terrace, then dinner at Cedar, serving the very best European cuisine (don’t miss the tiramisu).Who knew such timeless luxury was just a hop, skip and a jump from the M4? Slough’s best-kept secret? Not any more. Elaine Robb
The Francis Hotel, Bath
The Romans had the right idea. Nearly 2,000 years after they flocked to Bath for its healing waters, this beautiful city remains one of Britain’s most restorative escapes – especially if you stay at The Francis. Overlooking a leafy square, this historic hotel retains a wonderfully warm atmosphere today, only enhanced by a luxurious £14-million reimagining. Walk inside and you’re greeted by plush sofas, ambient lighting and curated artwork, including original Picassos.
The sense of tranquillity deepens in the spa, where treatments from GAIA and QMS Medicosmetics take centre stage. I try the Jade Facial, which uses crystal wands to massage in GAIA’s natural skincare, and their soothing sound leaves me feeling completely Zen. For the body, the Deep Muscle Fix is a full-body and scalp massage tailored to your comfort level. Tension spots are deftly targeted, with the option to incorporate a Theragun for deeper intensity.
I also try the private thermal suite, which can be booked for a 45-minute solo or couples’ session. Hot and cold experience showers awaken the senses before you move into the steam room, where the touch of a button sends cascades of bubbles drifting from the ceiling. They’re said to benefit the skin but, above all, they’re simply joyful. After all, there’s nothing quite like a giggle for boosting your wellbeing.
After unwinding, head to Emberwood, where seasonal ingredients are cooked over an open flame and signature cocktails are mixed tableside. Indulge in the dessert trolley before heading to your room, where the sumptuous beds are a dream to sink into. The Romans would undoubtedly approve. Zara Tuck
Low Wood Bay, Lake District
The summer crowds have departed, the woodlands glow with reds and golds, morning mist drifts across Lake Windermere and the spa’s heated outdoor pools feel even more soothing against the crisp air. As the season invites you to slow down, Low Wood Bay exists to envelop you in luxury. Nestled on the quieter northern shore of Windermere, between Ambleside and Bowness, the hotel enjoys uninterrupted views across England’s largest lake to the Langdale Pikes.
I’m staying in the new Winander Club wing, set slightly apart from the original hotel in a sleek glass-fronted extension. It feels private and stylish, with 29 premium rooms in calming, earthy tones with spacious marble bathrooms. It’s also home to the Winander Club Cocktail Bar & Lounge, exclusively for this wing's guests. There are daily vinyl hours, serving complementary tea and cake while records spin, and you can pop in here to enjoy the sunsets too.
The spa has recently undergone a multi-million-pound expansion and I feel a new me awakening as I embark on its signature Thermal Journey. I move between infinity pools, hot tubs, a coconut steam room and herbal and mineral saunas before unwinding in a relaxation lounge with a dedicated face-mask bar. A choice of ESPA treatments completes a perfect spa afternoon.
The W is the hotel’s signature restaurant, showcasing modern British cooking and Cumbrian ingredients. Next door is Blue Smoke, a gem of a restaurant where chefs cook on an open fire.
Low Wood Bay has so much to offer across the year, but whenever you stay, I’d recommend meeting its resident falcons. These majestic birds unearthed a real David Attenborough curiosity within me and I was fascinated to discover their history, including their role in many English phrases. For instance, ‘wrapped around your little finger’ relates to falconry techniques – although it could also relate to Low Wood’s effect on me… Angela Trofymova
Kimpton Charlotte Square, Edinburgh
When you’re in a city as handsome as Edinburgh, it feels only right to stay at a stylish address. Kimpton Charlotte Square is exactly that. Made up of interconnecting 19th century townhouses in the New Town district, it’s splendidly traditional from the outside but has the cool, eclectic edge of a boutique hotel inside.
Where you might expect hushed formality, there’s a vibrant conservatory cafe backdropped by imaginative displays from its artist in residence. Bedrooms mix modern high-tech comforts like Dyson hairdryers with period architecture and quirky historical touches. (An old-fashioned dial phone was a nice nod to Edinburgh-born Alexander Graham Bell). The reason behind our room’s name – the Alba Skylark Suite – came into view the moment that retractable blinds revealed a stunning cupola ceiling with views to the Edinburgh sky.
The Charlotte Square spa pays full homage to its Scottish heritage. Its signature brand is Ishga, which infuses its skincare with seaweed hand-harvested from the pure waters of the Hebrides. We sampled Ishga’s Invigorating Massage, which proved gorgeously relaxing yet still magical at soothing tender muscles.
The spa has a lovely relaxation room to enjoy post-treatment, but if you’d like to make an even slower transition back to reality, there’s a unique way to prolong the ecstasy. Charlotte Square is home to Swell, the UK’s first ‘sound wellness room’, which is essentially a sound bath for one.
Here, you’re invited to lie back on a dimly-lit couch and select from a soundtrack of mood-enhancing natural soundscapes. Each ‘experience’ is played through a vibroacoustic delivery system so you really feel the experience as well as hear it. (We opted for the Hebridean soundtrack – well, when in Scotland…)
Our days were book-ended by BABA; the hotel’s hearty Scottish breakfast room which transforms into a buzzy, sharing-plates destination by night. The mixed-grill Levant feast is an excellent option for the indecisive.
In between, we spent much of our time on foot. The hotel itself was an easy stroll from our speedy LNER inter-city train, and it’s the perfect gateway to exploring the city, new and old. Two minutes brought us to the gates of Princes Street Gardens, then it was a delightful amble up to the Old Town and Edinburgh castle, and back down the Royal Mile to Holyrood Palace. We even found the energy to climb the summit to Arthur’s Seat, gaze down over the city and contemplate a truly elevated stay. Lynne Hyland
LNER trains from London to Edinburgh cost from £63 single; visit lner.co.uk.
St Moritz Hotel and Cowshed Spa, Cornwall
In the 19th century, doctors prescribed the ‘sea cure’ for everything from lung disease to feeling blue. Salty water and sunshine were thought to heal body and mind and, more than 100 years later, I’m convinced they still do. It must be why so many spas put ‘ocean sounds’ on their treatment playlists.
Of course, nothing is more relaxing than the real thing and, at the St Moritz Hotel, you can hear waves crash on nearby Greenaway Beach. Perched on Cornwall’s dramatic north coast, this Art Deco stands like a lighthouse to wellbeing, with the only Cowshed spa outside of the Soho House collection. You can get your steps in walking along the South West Coast Path which curves past the back gate, or just take in the scenery from your balcony.
The hotel is perched on a cliff between Rock and Polzeath, so you can get your steps in walking along the South West Coast Path which curves past the back gate, or just take in the scenery from your balcony. Bedrooms have a relaxed coastal vibe with Cowshed toiletries and fluffy bathrobes.
I visit with two school friends to celebrate our 50th birthdays and flying into Cornwall Airport Newquay (a 30-minute taxi away) rather than driving means we can all switch into out of office mode asap.
In the spa, signature therapies include a blissful two-hour sun and sea treatment which involves body brushing, a mini facial and massage, sea-salt exfoliation and a seaweed wrap (of course). We emerge visibly lighter, our hunched shoulders an inch lower.
There’s a heated outdoor pool if you don’t fancy wild swimming (they post daily tide times on a board if you do) as well as an indoor one with a swim-out hot tub, experience showers and thermal suite.
The hotel has an e-shuttle service as well as e-bikes for hire if you want to explore and – most importantly given the occasion – drink wine. We had pints of prawns at Paul Ainsworth’s pub The Mariner’s in Rock, and Rick Stein’s Padstow empire is easily accessible by ferry across the River Camel estuary. The food at St Moritz is equally delicious – think pan roasted hake for dinner and a proper Cornish fry up for breakfast.
Guests can sign up for surfing, but we decide to explore the coast more sedately on a sea safari, where we see guillemots, oystercatchers, cormorants and grey seals basking on rocks. It’s sea-air therapy at its finest. Emma Justice
Fly direct to Cornwall Airport Newquay (cornwallairportnewquay.com) from Stansted with Ryanair, Gatwick with easyJet or Manchester with Loganair.
Beaverbrook Hotel and Spa, Surrey Hills
Set on a 470-acre estate in the Surrey Hills, Beaverbrook strikes that rare balance of rich history, thoughtful design and a genuinely relaxed, welcoming feel. Lord Beaverbrook purchased the Victorian mansion in 1910 after spotting it on a drive with his friend Rudyard Kipling – and its character still shines through today.
There’s no shortage of things to do. While relaxing is very much top of the agenda here, the estate is also home to a winter ice rink, the UK’s first-ever private home cinema (so chic), and they offer guided tours of the nearby village where The Holiday was filmed. You can even stop for lunch at the pub where Jude Law and Cameron Diaz’s characters had their first date, should you fancy it.
Now, the spa. You’ll never forget a trip to this sanctuary in The Coach House. Perhaps the most colourful-yet-calming design of any spa in the country, there’s a reason it’s famous in beauty and wellness circles. The heated outdoor checkerboard pool is open year-round, and there’s a half-Olympic-sized indoor one as well, if you fancy a few laps. Treatment rooms overlook peaceful green courtyards, and the sauna, steam room and hot tub mean you’ll have a hard time de-robing and checking out if you ever do have the pleasure of staying here.
South Lodge, West Sussex
Nestled on the edge of St Leonard’s Forest in the heart of the Sussex Downs, South Lodge boasts not only fabulous views but a Michelin-starred restaurant, an impressive indoor-outdoor spa, a swimming lake, a vineyard and Big Rhodey, the country’s largest rhododendron bush. The original house is Jacobean but it’s been extended with two wings, glorious gardens, tennis courts and eight luxury duplex lodges, accessible by buggy.
The spa at South Lodge has been designed to blend beautifully into its tranquil surroundings. Put stress on hold and feel at one with nature in the wild outdoor swimming pool (there’s a larger one inside too), then switch off with a bamboo eco-massage and a Hungarian face peel facial.
The spa also offers specialist cancer treatments, such as a Beauty Relouded Touch Facial, using Comfort Zone products to soothe and de-stress. Margaret Dabbs holistic treatments for hands and feet bring both instant results and long-term anti-ageing benefits courtesy of LED light therapy – along with a chilled glass of Ridgeview English sparkling fizz. To linger longer, the spa has its own buzzy (and healthy) Mediterranean-style restaurant, Botanica.
South Lodge’s rooms are all individually designed, soul-soothing spaces, but if you want something extra special, check out The Reeds, two-story lakeside lodges with private sun deck, outdoor copper bath, log fire, kitchenette and access to the lake if you’re a cold-water swimmer. They even provide bespoke dry robes and your own lifeguard, plus there’s a roaring log fire to curl up beside when you get back. Furry friends also get their own hamper, toys and luxury bed.
Michelin-starred The Pass offers a tasting dinner menu by head chef Ben Wilkinson, with inspired wine pairings. Or, if you want to dine à la carte, Josh Mann oversees the elegant Camellia restaurant, where much of the seasonal produce is grown in the hotel gardens. The menu changes regularly and the Sunday roasts are simply heaven.
Hope, Sutherland
Not your typical spa hotel, Hope is a nervous system-calming collection of luxury outhouses, with the central house, Hope Lodge, sitting almost as high as you can go in the Scottish Highlands, on the shores of Loch Hope. With the whimsical name earning it points already, the impressive property’s wellness offering comes predominantly from its proximity to the natural world. You can get traditional treatments here in the Clachlan building, but the vintage-feel, art-adorned gym, outdoor fitness equipment room (akin to something from a bond film) and trendy treatment havens redefine what ‘spa’ might mean to some.
Each day is themed around one of the elements here, and on our 'water' day we dip below the chilly surface of Loch Hope before warming up on her shores with piping hot coffee, just as the sun begins to play hide and seek from behind the clouds. We march in our supplied outdoor slippers to the sauna yurt to sweat out the night before’s negronis and later feast on seafood from the local coastline, it having been caught fresh just that day. It’s pretty tricky to keep a firm grip on your stresses at Hope, and after a healthy dose of the hotel’s wild wellness programme, you’ll leave wondering what you were even worried about in the first place.
The Grand Hotel, Brighton
The Grand has been watching over Brighton’s seafront for more than 150 years but, thanks to its recent refurbishment and the arrival of the UK’s first L.RAPHAEL Beauty Spa & Wellness, this grande dame feels thoroughly refreshed. There’s a slight Wes Anderson feel to the place, from its perfectly polished interiors to the impeccable service that makes every stay feel a little more glamorous. We checked into a Junior Suite with a sea-view balcony, where the freestanding bath and uninterrupted views across the West Pier made it feel more Côte d'Azur than the south coast.
The spa is a real destination in its own right. Alongside the hydrotherapy pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and experience showers, I booked in for a classic Swedish massage that left me blissfully relaxed before spending the afternoon drifting between the thermal facilities. If you’re local, it’s worth knowing you don’t have to book a stay to enjoy it. The annual membership includes unlimited access to the thermal suite and gym, two complimentary 50-minute treatments each year, a monthly guest pass, birthday spa treats, and further discounts on treatments, food and drink, and overnight stays. If your ideal weekend combines spa time with seaside strolls, city exploring and memorable meals, The Grand is hard to beat.
The Landmark London
High on our list of top London hotels with exceptional spas is the legendary Landmark London in Marylebone.
The Grande Dame takes its R&R seriously, too, with luxurious treatments from brands including QMS Medicosmetics, Ashmira Botanica and OSKIA. Some of the signature experiences include The Camera Ready Facial, a non-invasive treatment for a more youthful-looking complexion, and The Collagen Method, which uses epigenetic peptides to encourage cellular detoxification.
For those struggling to choose, we'd highly recommend The Radiance Renewal Facial by OSKIA which includes exfoliation, an eye massage, lymphatic drainage and a scalp massage to help you unwind, leaving your skin soft and glowing.
Outside the treatment rooms, there’s more to indulge in during your spa escape. The hydrotherapy pool is beautifully lit and perfect for a few gentle laps, while the plush day beds invite you to sink and switch off. For a spot of hot-and-cold therapy, alternate between the warmth of the Swedish sauna and steam room and a refreshing cool-down at the ice fountain.
Once you’re fully pampered, afternoon tea or dinner in The Landmark’s Winter Garden, an oasis famed for its towering palm trees, is a must.
Thyme, Cotswolds
The Cotswolds has lots of lovely spa hotels, and Thyme is among its finest. The Meadow Spa focuses on botanicals: treatments use essential oils created by the hotel’s sister brand Bertioli.
The Botanical Bothy (pictured) is a space designed to instil a sense of calm, with resin walls, the sound of water, a fireplace and bath tubs for herbal soaks, along with a private veranda and garden to relax in post-treatment. The spa retreat, in the village of Southrop, also has an outdoor pool, a cookery school and meadows to stroll through.
Grantley Hall, North Yorkshire
This grand manor is on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, which means a spa holiday can be combined with wonderful walks, including down to Fountains Abbey to see its magnificent water garden. The Three Graces Spa at Grantley Hall is in the new wing (the rest of the hotel is in a 17th-century building), which was designed to resemble a Roman villa.
There’s a heated indoor-outdoor pool, treatment rooms for Ila facials and massages, and hi-tech equipment such as a snow room, an underwater treadmill and a cryotherapy cubicle, as well as regular fitness classes and resident trainers.
Ragdale Hall Spa, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
Ragdale Hall Spa is unquestionably the spa magnet of the Midlands, drawing guests back time and again for a fix of rest and relaxation. This irresistible attraction is partly down to the exceptionally warm, friendly attitude of its staff, many of whom have worked here for decades. GH is among the top UK spa hotel's repeat customers, and we’re welcomed back like beloved family members every time.
Ragdale is also known for its top-notch facilities and exceptional treatments, which take a balanced, holistic approach to wellbeing. You won't go hungry here, either, thanks to the delicious, hearty meals and impressive wine list. There's also a beautiful Art Deco-style cocktail bar for socialising over drinks.
Numerous extensions to the original spa building have seen a huge state-of-the-art thermal area added, with multiple saunas, steam rooms and heated relaxation zones (our favourite is the silent, candlelit pool), plus there's a rooftop pool. Exercise fans are kept happy too: there's a large gym, a packed programme of classes and two tennis courts.
Meanwhile, spa lovers are spoilt for choice with a treatment menu that offers Ragdale’s own therapies, plus options from Clarins, Elemis, Medik8, Sea Magik and more.
Our favourite is the Elemis Sole Delight Foot Treatment, upgraded with an LED Light Energiser facial mask. It’s an hour of heavenly relaxation, combining a foot massage, pedicure, mini facial treatment and head massage, which leaves you feeling pampered from top to (very pretty) toe.
Gleneagles, Perthshire
Gleneagles has lots to shout about, from the only restaurant in Scotland with two Michelin stars, to a championship golf course and acres of grounds – so it’s inevitable that it has a super spa, too.
The renowned aesthetics brand Dr Barbara Sturm has a clinic here for restorative facials, or guests can book in for treatments by Tata Harper and Grown Alchemist. There's a heated pool with an outdoor area for refreshing dips. And ingredients such as heather and herbs grown on the estate are put to good use in the treatments.
Four Seasons, Hampshire
The expansive Dogmersfield estate in Hampshire is home to a Georgian manor, which houses the Four Seasons hotel and its superb spa, set in the former stables. It has an indoor pool in a conservatory, a smaller outdoor pool, and various steam and shower experiences. Treatments, which change with the seasons, range from regular facials and massages, to sessions with the hypnotist in residence. The spa has a café for light lunches and juices, or you can hold out for a more indulgent meal at the hotel’s Wild Carrot restaurant.
The great outdoors will assist with your wellbeing journey, too – the 500-acre grounds are home to a lake, an equestrian centre and friendly ponies.
Lucknam Park, Wiltshire
Just outside of Bath in Wiltshire, Lucknam Park is a stately spa hotel with 500 acres of private parkland. A lime- and beech-lined avenue leads to the Palladian mansion, and you’ll find the spa within the walled gardens.
The treatment list includes hot-stone massages and facials by luxury brand 111SKIN, and there’s an indoor-outdoor pool to enjoy before or after. The spa has a relaxed brasserie – but it’s definitely worth saving space for a decadent dinner at the hotel’s acclaimed Restaurant Hywel Jones come evening. And to continue your wellbeing journey, head in to town to take the waters in the city’s famous Roman baths.
St Michaels Resort, Cornwall
The extensive spa facilities at St Michaels Resort in Cornwall include a deck with a barrel sauna and cedar hot tub, experience showers, a hydrotherapy pool with no fewer than 21 massage stations, and a steam room infused with sea salt.
Most spa-day packages include a two-hour hydrothermal experience and lunch or dinner at the hotel’s Brasserie on the Bay. You’ll be able to book treatments such as a rhassoul-mud ritual in a private Moroccan steam chamber, a hot-stone massage, or an intensely cleansing scrub by Elemis, which smoothes and nourishes your skin.
Lakeside Hotel & Spa, Cumbria
For an Aveda spa with a beautiful backdrop, head to Lakeside Hotel on the southern shores of Windermere and enjoy the view from the fire-pit by the outdoor sitting area (without having to get changed out of your robe). You’ll start your spa day with a coffee (or more virtuous juice) by the lake and a bracing stroll through the gardens, followed by your choice of treatment. The spa’s 17-metre pool has huge windows framing the fells opposite.
Come dusk, enjoy cocktails on the terrace overlooking the lake or dine on classic British dishes in the conservatory restaurant.
The Gainsborough, Bath
Fittingly for a hotel in the Roman town of Bath, which is well known for its healing thermal waters, The Gainsborough is home to a superb spa of its own. The hotel, formed from the town’s signature golden stone, is set across a series of listed buildings and in the heart of the Unesco World Heritage Site – which means easy access to the mineral-rich waters.
The spa village has a colonnaded pool and a thermal circuit of baths, ice rooms, saunas and steam rooms, You can also book Elemis facials, bamboo massages and fragrant scrubs. Once you’ve changed out of your robe, enjoy an elegant afternoon tea in the Canvas Room.
Pennyhill Park, Surrey
The spa may be the main attraction of this stately 18th-century manor, but there’s also a Michelin-starred restaurant to look forward to come evening. Back to Pennyhill Park's spa though: there are no fewer than eight pools, an outdoor hot tub, thermal cabins and experience showers, and treatments tailored to you.
It also features a nail salon, a gym and a bar overlooking one of the pools. If you’re hoping to expend a little more energy than the average spa day allows, you can play croquet, tennis and follow the jogging trail in the grounds.
For something to get your melatonin levels rising, try Pennyhill's sleep retreat. While a one-night retreat is a tricky ask, this one deftly calmed our instinct to toss and turn in an unfamiliar bed. It centres around the Tranquillity Pro-Sleep Spa Ceremony, which is less massage, more gentle stroking to calm jangling nerves and fizzing brains. The 80-minute ritual is completed with a booster facial and an invitation to lie down in the dark in the Sensory Room with its heated gel beds.
The sleepy theme continues in your room, with a Comfort Zone pamper pack featuring the same fragrance used in the treatment. Maybe it’s the olfactory association, maybe it’s Pennyhill’s remarkable stillness at night, or maybe it’s the glass of excellent English wine sipped at dinner, but we drifted off quickly...
