The Best Luxury Autumnal Spa Escapes in the UK
The burnt orange and golden hues of nature, roaring fires, long country walks and hearty fare – Autumn is the ideal time to pack your bags and escape to the countryside. Here’s our edit of the best retreats in the UK for some autumnal r&r.
Lime Wood & Herb House Spa, New Forest
Just outside the picturesque village of Lyndhurst, perched on the edge of of the New Forest, Lime Wood is bestowed with Regency house charm. Forest suites and lodges – some with cosy wood burners and woodland terraces – scatter the grounds.
The Herb House Spa sits against an enchanting backdrop and boasts indoor and outdoor hydrotherapy pools, an aroma-steam room, a mud treatment room, a swimming pool and a sauna with magical woodland views. Expect laid back luxury, incredible treatments, top-notch food (courtesy of Holder & Hartnett) oh and wild ponies…
Stoke Park, Berkshire
Remember the ‘mini weekend break’ in Bridget Jones’s Diary? Well Stoke Park was the location for this and many other familiar movie scenes. A quintessentially British country escape, the white mansion house is set among 300 acres of glorious parkland, lakes, historic gardens. You can choose to stay in one of the contemporary Pavilion rooms or traditional rooms in the Mansion House.
If you’re looking to impress, opt for the Pennsylvania Suite (featured in BJD) with a four-poster bed, open fire, and balcony overlooking the grounds. Stoke Park’s spa is housed in The Pavilion and offers a haven of luxury, with facilities that include an indoor heated swimming pool, Italian marble steam rooms, an outdoor Scandinavian sauna and hot tub, nail bar, and a private atrium with a tranquil tropical aquarium…
The Grove, Hertfordshire
Set within 300 acres of woodland and magical gardens, The Grove, otherwise known as ‘London’s country estate’, boasts a championship golf course, an award-winning spa and three top-notch eateries. Previous guests to grace the doors of the former home of the Earl of Clarendon include Queen Victoria and President Obama.
Put your feet up in one of the stunning Mansion rooms or relax in style in the contemporary West Wing. Housed within a tranquil garden, The Grove’s Sequoia Spa offers spa offers state-of-the-art facilities including a stunning 22 metre black mosaic pool, steam and sauna rooms, a saline vitality jet pool, two fitness studios, twelve Asian-inspired treatment rooms and a well-equipped gym.
Treatments on offer include holistic and anti-ageing treatments from luxury brands including ESPA and Natura Bisse.
Gleneagles Hotel and Spa by ESPA, Scotland
Set within 850 acres of breathtaking Perthshire countryside, the Gleneagles Hotel and Spa by ESPA is the quintessential Scottish spa escape. Famed for its championship golf course, Gleneagles also boasts opulent suites, a posh shopping arcade, a Michelin starred restaurant and a state-of-the-art spa
Often regarded as the ‘Best Spa in Scotland’, the award-winning Gleneagles Spa by ESPA offers a serene escape from the bustling hotel with candlelit corridors and tranquil relaxation areas with hypnotic water features. You’ll find an impressive hydro and thermal area with ice and tropical showers, as well as a eucalyptus steam room and saunas.
An extensive menu of traditional therapies as well as complementary and alternative wellness treatments are on offer from luxury brand ESPA.
Gilpin Lake House & The Jetty Spa, Cumbria
Nestled in an idyllic countryside setting, just two miles from Windermere, Gilpin Lake House is an uber-luxe boutique Relais & Chateaux family-run hotel, perfect for a romantic spa escape. A lagoon of spa luxury – five stylish cedar-clad lodges scatter the lake, complete with private hot tubs, steam rooms and gardens.
The Jetty Spa overlooks the lake and includes an indoor swimming pool, steam, sauna, and a candlelit Swedish-style double treatment suite, with floor-to-ceiling windows boasting views of the lake. There’s also an outdoor hot tub and The Boat House – a relaxation cabin with a log fire and comfy day beds for post-treatment lounging.
Barnsley House, Cotswolds
Set within breathtaking gardens designed by Rosemary Verey, Barnsley House is a boutique hotel set in the tranquil Cotswolds. Rooms are uniquely designed and styled, from luxurious two-storey suites to private garden retreats, each reflecting the traditional country charm of the house.
Foodies can choose between The Potager restaurant for delicious fine dining or The Village Pub for posh pub grub.
Designed in harmony with its countryside surroundings The Barnsley Spa and Skincare Centre houses five treatment rooms, steam rooms, a herbaceous sauna and relaxation suite, as well as a stunning outdoor heated hydrotherapy pool with views over the fields and gardens.