Feeling stressed? Need a break from the hustle and bustle of London? We’ve got you covered! Here are some fantastic spas just a short distance from the capital, perfect for a quick escape or a full weekend retreat. Get ready to unwind, relax, and recharge in these tranquil havens!
Sopwell House: A Garden Oasis
Imagine a spa nestled in serene gardens designed by a renowned expert. That’s Cottonmill Spa at Sopwell House! This haven boasts an array of thermal rooms, salt and steam chambers, and the UK’s largest panoramic sauna with breathtaking outdoor vistas. You’ll need a full day to experience all it has to offer! If you’re a local, consider joining the Club at Cottonmill for exclusive access to the botanical steam room, peaceful zones, and cozy cabanas around the fire pit.
Indulge in luxurious treatments created in partnership with Elemis and Aromatherapy Associates. The Signature Inner Harmony massage is a true gem, combining Swedish and neuromuscular techniques to relieve tension. Lymphatic drainage and a selection of 12 plant and flower oils promote deep relaxation.
Reaching this tranquil retreat is easy! Hop on a train from St Pancras International to St Albans station, a quick five-minute taxi ride away. Alternatively, a ten-minute drive from the M25 and M1 will bring you to this peaceful haven.
Beaverbrook: Victorian Charm Meets Modern Spa
Nestled in the picturesque Surrey Hills, Beaverbrook is a historic Victorian mansion where legends like Elizabeth Taylor and Winston Churchill once graced its halls. Step into the modern Coach House Spa, characterized by its bold design – stained-glass windows and tilework mirroring the surrounding countryside. The spa embraces the natural world with therapy rooms named after plants on the estate, each featuring private gardens. A resident naturopath is available to create bespoke remedies for your unique needs.
Holistic healing is at the heart of Beaverbrook’s spa offerings. Treat yourself to the seasonal special: the Autumn Nourishment package includes a breathwork session, hot stone treatment, and a full-body massage for a truly restorative experience.
Getting to this stunning spa is a breeze! Direct trains from London to Leatherhead take about 45 minutes, followed by a short ten-minute taxi ride. By car, it’s a scenic one-hour journey from west London.
The Grove: A Five-Star Retreat
The Grove is a renowned five-star retreat just eighteen miles from London. This hotel has undergone extensive renovations in recent years, and the newly revamped Sequoia Spa is the place to be for serious pampering. Immerse yourself in luxurious rituals, massages, and facials from the esteemed British brand, Bamford. The black mosaic-tiled pool and heat experience rooms are the perfect antidote to the British winter, while the gardens and plush loungers are made for sunny days.
Book a spa day for the full experience or opt for a more affordable midweek escape – the De-Stress Experience includes a Bamford full-body massage and access to the facilities from 9am to 9pm.
Reaching The Grove is simple. From central London, it’s a quick 15-minute train ride to Watford Junction, followed by a ten-minute taxi.
South Lodge: Modern Luxury in a Natural Setting
South Lodge boasts a modern and polished spa with indoor and outdoor spaces seamlessly blending with nature. The 18m-long heated wild swimming pool takes center stage, surrounded by fourteen nature-themed treatment rooms. Relax in the thermal suite with infused sauna, marble-lined salt steam room, and jasmine herbal steam rooms. On warmer days, head to the multi-level terraced sun deck and outdoor hydrotherapy pools.
If you’re seeking a restful night’s sleep or want to quiet a busy mind, the Comfort Zone Pro-Sleep Treatment is a must-try. This unique treatment utilizes soft brushes instead of hands, activating sensorial receptors on the skin to promote healing and deep sleep.
South Lodge is easily accessible from London. Located between Haywards Heath and Horsham, it’s a two-hour drive. Horsham station is a short 13-minute drive away, with trains to London Victoria taking 50 minutes.
Cliveden: Luxurious Escapism in Historic Gardens
Step into a world of luxury and privacy at Cliveden, nestled within 376 acres of magnificent gardens and parkland owned by the National Trust. The recently renovated spa offers relaxation by the indoor pool or in the garden where you’ll find the Profumo pool, England’s last remaining listed outdoor pool. Treatment rooms feature water mattresses, a perfect remedy for tight muscles.
Oskia takes center stage on the treatment menu, offering holistic massages and facials that combine acupressure, specialist bodywork, reflexology, and lymphatic drainage with results-driven formulas. For brighter, more radiant skin, an Oskia bespoke facial is highly recommended.
Cliveden is conveniently located 45 minutes west of London by car and 20 minutes from Heathrow.
Ockenden Manor: Elizabethan Charm Meets Modern Spa
Stepping onto the grounds of Ockenden Manor, a historic Elizabethan manor house, feels like stepping back in time. But the state-of-the-art spa is a modern marvel. Indulge in the indoor and outdoor heated swimming pool, eight luxurious treatment rooms, and a flotation tank, and emerge feeling rejuvenated. The spa itself is nestled within a 19th-century walled garden, with the pool fed by the hotel’s natural underground spring.
The Elemental Herbology Rebalancing Ritual is a standout treatment, incorporating hot Thai compresses to release tension, stretches and acupressure to boost energy, a foot scrub, and a brightening facial. Two hours of pure bliss!
Located in the charming village of Cuckfield, Ockenden Manor is a ten-minute taxi ride from Haywards Heath station on the mainline between London and Brighton. The hotel is around an hour’s drive from central London.
Heckfield Place: Realign and Rebalance
The Bothy at Heckfield Place is a spacious haven raising the bar for UK hotel spas. Open exclusively to hotel guests, this serene retreat is designed for realignment and rebalancing. Treatments, ranging from reiki and reflexology to massages, all incorporate Wildsmith Skin products, with sessions offered at dawn, noon, and dusk to help you tune into your circadian rhythm. To encourage relaxation, there are no clocks in the spa, and phones must be left at reception.
Clear your afternoon for Wildsmith Time, a heavenly 135-minute treatment. Weak spots are identified with kinesiology, followed by craniosacral holds to soothe tension, and a top-to-toe massage with Wildsmith products. Afterwards, unwind in the sauna and sun room.
The closest station is Winchfield, reachable from Waterloo via Farnborough. A drive along the M4 from central London takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Retreat at Elcot Park: Quick-Fix Rural Escape
The Retreat at Elcot Park is a popular spot for a quick escape to the countryside. While the spa is on the smaller side, the treatments are exceptional, and the facilities are extensive, featuring hydrotherapy pools, sauna and steam rooms, a salt flotation room, and mud rasul. Treatments are available for hotel guests, members, and non-residents, making it perfect for a spa day, which includes afternoon tea, a treatment, and use of the facilities. Prices start from £140 for a full day.
The Gaia Jade Facial is a must-try, leaving your skin glowing thanks to healing crystal wands that stimulate lymphatic drainage and blood flow.
Located about 1 hour and 45 minutes from London, Elcot Park is a 15-minute taxi ride from Newbury station, with a direct service to Paddington taking 40 minutes.
The Langley: Buckinghamshire’s Best-Kept Secret
The Langley, a former country estate of the third Duke of Marlborough, is one of Buckinghamshire’s best-kept secrets following a million-pound renovation. Forbidden to build upwards, an impressive subterranean spa was created, complete with a 16m marble-lined swimming pool, hammams, vitality pools, Himalayan salt-walled sauna, and an amethyst steam room. If you’re feeling active, book a session with PT Matt Roberts, who heads up the cutting-edge fitness suite offering bespoke wellness programmes.
With treatments from Sisley, La Sultane de Saba, and Margaret Dabbs on offer, you’re spoilt for choice. The Sisley Supreme Facial will leave your skin restored, while signature Spa Journeys are blissful, two-hour treatments inspired by native wellness traditions.
Reaching The Langley is convenient. Central London is a 40-minute drive, or direct trains from London Paddington to Slough take 13 minutes, followed by a ten-minute taxi to the estate.
So, pack your bags and escape to one of these incredible spas for a truly relaxing and rejuvenating experience!
