Feeling stressed and in need of a break? A spa day or weekend escape might be just what you need to recharge your batteries. London is surrounded by stunning countryside and luxurious spas, offering everything from relaxing massages to rejuvenating treatments. We’ve rounded up seven of the best spa destinations within easy reach of the capital, each promising a unique experience and a dose of serious R&R.
Sopwell House & Cottonmill Spa: Botanical Bliss in St Albans
Sopwell House is a haven of tranquility, nestled in beautiful gardens designed by an RHS Gold Medal winner. The Cottonmill Spa offers a world of relaxation with thermal rooms, salt and steam rooms, and the UK’s largest panoramic sauna boasting outdoor views. If you’re looking for a regular escape, consider joining the Club at Cottonmill for access to the botanical steam room, quiet zones, and cozy cabanas by the fire pit.
The extensive treatment menu boasts partnerships with renowned brands like Elemis and Aromatherapy Associates. The Signature Inner Harmony massage combines Swedish and neuromuscular techniques to ease tension and includes lymphatic drainage, all enhanced by your choice of 12 plant and flower oils for deep relaxation.
Getting there: A short 20-minute train journey from St Pancras International to St Albans, followed by a quick taxi ride, will whisk you away to this tranquil retreat.
Beaverbrook: Victorian Grandeur Meets Modern Spa
Escape to the Surrey Hills and immerse yourself in the history of Beaverbrook, a Victorian mansion that once hosted luminaries like Elizabeth Taylor and Winston Churchill. The modern Coach House Spa is a masterpiece of bold design, with stained-glass windows and tilework that reflect the surrounding countryside.
The spa embraces the natural world with therapy rooms named after plants on the estate and private gardens for a truly immersive experience. A resident naturopath is on hand to create bespoke remedies, ensuring a personalized touch.
For a truly holistic experience, book the Autumn Nourishment package, which includes a breathwork session, hot stone treatment, and a full-body massage to nourish your body and mind.
Getting there: Direct trains from London to Leatherhead take approximately 45 minutes, followed by a ten-minute taxi ride.
The Grove: Indulgent Pampering in a Five-Star Setting
The Grove, an 18th-century country house just 18 miles from London, offers a luxurious escape with a five-star experience. The recently refurbished Sequoia Spa is the epitome of pampering, offering rituals, massages, and facials from the British brand Bamford.
The black mosaic-tiled pool and heat experience rooms are ideal for battling the British winter, while the lush gardens and plush loungers are perfect for basking in the summer sun.
For a truly immersive experience, book a spa day and enjoy full use of the facilities. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, consider a midweek escape with the De-Stress Experience, which includes a Bamford full-body massage and full access to the spa from 9am to 9pm.
Getting there: A short 15-minute train ride from central London to Watford Junction, followed by a ten-minute taxi ride, will bring you to this five-star sanctuary.
South Lodge: A Natural Haven for Body & Mind
South Lodge, nestled between Haywards Heath and Horsham, is a modern spa haven designed for relaxation and rejuvenation. The contemporary facilities encompass both indoor and outdoor spaces, with a stunning 18m-long heated wild swimming pool at the heart of it all.
Fourteen nature-themed treatment rooms, a thermal suite with an infused sauna, a marble-lined salt steam room, jasmine herbal steam rooms, and a multi-level terraced sun deck with outdoor hydrotherapy pools provide a wide range of experiences for every season.
For a truly unique and relaxing experience, try the Comfort Zone Pro-Sleep Treatment. This treatment uses soft brushes instead of hands, activating sensorial receptors on the skin to promote healing and deep sleep.
Getting there: South Lodge is easily accessible by car from London in under two hours. Horsham station is a 13-minute drive away, with trains to London Victoria taking approximately 50 minutes.
Cliveden: Historic Glamour Meets Modern Spa
Step back in time at Cliveden, a historic estate set in 376 acres of stunning gardens and parkland. The recently renovated spa is a haven for both members and hotel guests, offering a blend of historic charm and modern luxury.
Unwind by the indoor pool or explore the gardens, where you’ll find the Profumo pool, the last remaining listed outdoor pool in England. All treatment rooms feature water mattresses, providing the perfect respite for aching muscles.
Oskia leads the treatment menu, offering holistic massages and facials that combine acupressure, specialist bodywork, reflexology, and lymphatic drainage with results-driven formulas. For a radiant glow, the Oskia bespoke facial is highly recommended.
Getting there: Cliveden is a 45-minute drive west of London and a 20-minute drive from Heathrow Airport.
Ockenden Manor: Timeless Elegance Meets Modern Spa
This Elizabethan manor house, nestled in the charming village of Cuckfield, offers a blend of historic elegance and modern spa facilities. The state-of-the-art spa, housed within a 19th-century walled garden, boasts an in-and-outdoor heated swimming pool, eight luxurious treatment rooms, and a flotation tank.
The pool is fed by the hotel’s own natural underground spring, adding to the sense of tranquility and connection to nature.
The Elemental Herbology Rebalancing Ritual is a standout treatment, combining hot Thai compresses to release tension, stretches and acupressure to boost energy, and a foot scrub followed by a brightening facial for a truly blissful experience.
Getting there: Ockenden Manor is a ten-minute taxi ride from Haywards Heath station, which is on the mainline between London and Brighton. The hotel is approximately an hour’s drive from central London.
Heckfield Place: A Sanctuary for Realigning and Rebalancing
Heckfield Place is a serene retreat designed to help you reconnect with your inner self. The vast spa, known as The Bothy, is exclusively for hotel guests, ensuring a tranquil and secluded experience.
The spa is a space for realignment and rebalancing, with treatments ranging from reiki and reflexology to massages, all incorporating Wildsmith Skin products. Sessions are held at dawn, noon, and dusk, encouraging you to tune into your circadian rhythm. To promote relaxation, clocks are absent, and phones are left at reception, allowing you to fully immerse in the present moment.
The Wildsmith Time treatment is a heavenly 135-minute experience that starts with kinesiology to identify weak spots, followed by craniosacral holds to soothe tension, and culminates in a top-to-toe massage using Wildsmith products. You can then relax and unwind in the sauna and sun room.
Getting there: The closest station is Winchfield, which can be reached from Waterloo via Farnborough. The drive along the M4 from central London takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
The Retreat at Elcot Park: A Quick Escape to the Countryside
The Retreat at Elcot Park is a popular choice for a quick escape from the city. While the spa is on the smaller side, the treatments are top-notch, and the facilities are comprehensive, including hydrotherapy pools, sauna and steam rooms, a salt flotation room, and a mud rasul.
The spa welcomes hotel guests, members, and non-residents, allowing you to book in for a spa day, which includes afternoon tea, a treatment, and access to the facilities.
The Gaia Jade Facial is a highlight, using healing crystal wands to stimulate lymphatic drainage and blood flow for a radiant glow.
Getting there: The Retreat at Elcot Park is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes from London. Newbury station is a 15-minute taxi ride away, with a direct service to Paddington taking 40 minutes.
The Langley: Subterranean Luxury in Buckinghamshire
The Langley, a former country estate of the third Duke of Marlborough, is a hidden gem in Buckinghamshire. A million-pound renovation has transformed the estate, culminating in an impressive subterranean spa.
The spa features a 16m marble-lined swimming pool, hammams, vitality pools, a Himalayan salt-walled sauna, and an amethyst steam room. For the active guest, a state-of-the-art fitness suite offers bespoke wellness programs with PT Matt Roberts.
The treatment menu boasts a selection of luxurious brands like Sisley, La Sultane de Saba, and Margaret Dabbs. The Sisley Supreme Facial will leave your skin restored, while the signature Spa Journeys offer blissful two-hour treatments inspired by native wellness traditions.
Getting there: The Langley is a 40-minute drive from central London. Direct trains from London Paddington to Slough take 13 minutes, followed by a ten-minute taxi to the estate.
