The best spa hotels in Devon
With its sleepy thatched villages, lushly wooded valleys and sublime beaches, a spa break in Devon relaxes you before anyone’s even so much as laid a hand on your chakras. This vast county, which is flanked by two epically beautiful coastlines, has a raft of soothing spa hotels guaranteed to relax even the most pent-up of visitors. It’s little wonder the Victorians used to flock to the Devonshire seaside to convalesce and breathe its restorative fresh air.
Recharging can be as little as simply sitting in the Devon sunshine on a lounger looking out at the view, to top-to-toe treatments that will set you back on the path to serenity. All of the hideaways below offer this and everything else inbetween. We’ve reviewed the best of Devon’s spa offerings, from snazzy state-of-the art hotels and seaside escapes, to grand country estates, historical wonders and high-tech hideaways. These are the best spa hotels in Devon.
How we review
Every hotel in this curated list has been visited by one of our expert reviewers, who are usually hosted on a complimentary basis. They stay for a minimum of one night, test at least one meal and trial other experiences that the hotel might have to offer.
At at glance, the best spa hotels in Devon
The best spa hotel in Devon overall – Boringdon Hall
The best spa hotel in Devon for families – Woolacombe Bay
The best value spa hotel in Devon – Sidmouth Harbour Hotel
With a £5-million state-of-the-art spa, which hotel guests have complimentary use of, this Elizabethan manor house offers pampering-a-plenty in a perfectly-preserved historic setting. The Gaia spa is one of the best spa hotels in Devon, with facilities that include a swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool, several steam rooms and saunas, a relaxation room, large gym and beauty salon. The treatment list is extensive and includes a range of expertly-delivered signature hot-stone massages, along with facials, body scrubs and holistic rituals – personalised treatments of up to two hours using the spa’s own-brand products.
This sleek new glass and cedar-fronted spa hotel has a commanding position overlooking South Sands beach, just along the estuary from the yachtie resort of Salcombe. An original fusion of Art Deco and rustic design, it has a laid-back, earthy vibe, with sublime views and a good seafood restaurant. Downstairs, there’s a lovely glass-walled spa with an indoor pool, hydrotherapy pool, gym, outdoor terrace with sun loungers and marine-inspired treatments (try the Soul Soother for all-out relaxation).
Attracting style conscious retirees, this contemporary East Devon seafront hotel has knockout views of the Regency town of Sidmouth and Jurassic coastline. There’s a spotlessly clean spa, lap pool, steam room, sauna, gym and spa that offers massages, facials and holistic therapies. The function room doubles an exercise studio offering regular classes for the over-55s. Outside, overlooking the sea, is a decked terrace and a small heated lap pool (open March to November). Considering its location, design and facilities versus price; it's a good value spa stay.
Devon’s coolest coastal hotel, set on the bluff of a cliff near Salcombe, South Devon, has rustic-chic interiors, heated indoor and outdoor pools, a cinema, restaurant, sun terrace, cosy bedrooms and stylish self-catering apartments, all cleverly positioned to make the most of spectacular sea views. The small Elemis spa contains a blue mosaic pool, sauna and steam room, and offers massages, manicures and facials. There are sunrise clifftop yoga sessions in summer followed by brunch. Rooms share a cosy, rustic, industrial feel, with velvet cushions, pom-pom-fringed throws, rough timber feature walls, vintage dial phones and geometric-tiled bathrooms.
• The best hotels in Devon
The dinky spa at this delightful seaside hotel on Devon’s south coast has a state-of-the-art hydrotherapy pool. Other facilities include an aromatherapy and phototherapy shower, as well as steam rooms, a sauna and gym. Two 'Thalgo' treatment rooms offer marine-based facials, massages and all-over body treatments. The hotel also boasts a collection of one-bedroom beach huts – six in total – all on the seafront, offering floor-to-ceiling views of the Jurassic coastline. The best spot in the house in the restaurant during summer is the Captain’s Table, a raised section of the outdoor terrace that looks straight out to sea.
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This 50-room luxury spa hotel has a magnificent view of Salcombe Bay, with its mesmerising waves, sandy beaches and pastel cottages. The pool has a 'children’s hours' policy; outside these times, it’s a fragrant haven of calm. Treats include the blissful hot stone massage – using the heat of volcanic basalt stones to iron out tension – and Temple Spa facials. Estuary View rooms offer startling river scenes that are guaranteed to promote mindfulness. Head out to one of the nearby coves for bucket-and-spade adventures or just mess about on boats on the river. Superb seafood and a cinema top off a stay here.
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The spa is a real treat at this 1910 country house hotel, with an indoor swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool, sauna, steam room and Kubel Dusche ice treatment. The gym is well equipped and two therapists offer massages, facials and beauty treatments using grape-based products from the renowned Parisien Caudalie range. Interiors have a traditional charm with original oak beams, high ceilings and country-style furnishings. Lounges are a mix of modern fabrics, floc wallpaper and more traditional artwork. All rooms have countryside views, and there is also a sun terrace and a croquet lawn.
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The spa at this expansive hotel a five-minute stroll from Woolacombe Beach has an indoor pool with hot tub as well as a steam room and a sauna. They are proud to work with brands that are mostly vegan and cruelty-free such as Natural Spa Factory and Dolly Lemon. Treatments include anti-ageing and problem-skin facials, body wraps, massages, manicures and pedicures. Other facilities include a gym, fitness classes, a nine-hole pitch-and-putt golf course, hard tennis courts, squash courts, a championship-sized snooker table. The indoor pool is a blessing for families on a rainy day – and with set times for children, you won’t have to worry about disturbing other guests.
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A luxury family-run spa and golf hotel overlooking the rugged South Devon coastline in the South Hams, near Salcombe. Facilities in the Decléor spa include a hydrotherapy pool, sauna, steam room and gym. The signature Voyager massage journey is particularly popular and includes a scalp and face massage. Many of the rooms have balconies and picture windows, where Thurlestone Arch, a wave-sculpted rock formation in the sea, is the eye-catching centerpiece. Dining is formal: waiters wear white gloves, even at breakfast, and jackets are obligatory at dinner.
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This grand stately pile on a sporting estate in Dartmoor National Park has an impressive spa with heated swimming pool and whirlpool tub with deckchairs overlooking the grounds, plus steam room, sauna and gym. A range of ESPA treatments are available, as are several day packages that can include champagne and lunch, one or more treatments and full use of the spa. Afterwards, relax in your room with complimentary decanter of estate-made sloe gin and bathroom with roll-top bath, and ESPA toiletries. The silver-service Great Western restaurant is dazzlingly glamorous. The food wows too: try the estate venison or the seat trout.
Contributions by Anna Turns
