The best spa hotels in the north of England
The north of England offers many things: dramatic landscapes (Lake District, North York Moors), empty beaches (Northumberland), creative musical hotbeds (Liverpool, Manchester), rich history (York, Durham) and supremely good food (the region has over 25 Michelin-starred restaurants). Less appreciated is that the north has some great spa hotels, many of which are independently owned and, thus, have all the flair and individuality that brings.
Forget any misguided notions that the north is all about being tough, hard and hearty. The top spa hotels in these parts take indulgence and rejuvenation very seriously. Here you can find woodland hot tubs, rooftop infinity pools, outdoor Finnish saunas and languorous thermal experiences, plus sprawling grounds in which to unwind with a superfood smoothie or a glass of fizz. Expect a whole host of treatments (spanning bespoke facials and reflexology, to nurturing full-body rituals) using both high-end brands and more niche, locally made products. All that's left to decide is whether you want the buzz that comes with an city centre location, the grandeur of a country house escape, or the peace of a truly rural setting.
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 a glance, the best spa hotels in the north of England
Best value hotel spa in the north of England – The Midland Hotel, Manchester
Best luxury hotel spa in the north of England – Middleton Lodge, Yorkshire
Best spa hotel in the north of England for families – Armathwaite Hall, Lake District
Best spa hotel in the north of England with hot tubs – Gilpin Hotel & Lake House, Lake District
The Midland Hotel has one of the north west's best-looking spas. The Thermal Experience is where the fun starts, with its alder wood sauna, aromatherapy steam room and artfully lit relaxation pool. Body treatments feature oils and scrubs from organic skincare label Ishga, while facials are performed with results-driven Germaine de Capuccini products. You'll be ushered into the relaxation room afterwards, where ergonomic sleep chambers and hanging pods await. Book one of the bedrooms or suites with city views and be sure to nab a table at The French for a menu featuring tatties, trotters and plenty of truffle.
• The best spa breaks for couples in Britain
This 100-acre boutique retreat with its own boat house is about as far from a big, blingy spa hotel as you can get. Hot tub fans will enjoy padding between the cedarwood and Japanese-style ofuro iterations, and private ones can be found in most of the suites, too. The spa's main draw has to be the couple's treatment room – suspended in a woodland canopy above the water – and therapies include rasul mud rituals and targeted massages designed to soothe walk-induced aches. There's also a salt snug, a swimming pool, and those partial to wild swimming can take a refreshing dip in the private lake.Middleton Lodge is a rambling Georgian country estate not far from the market town of Richmond. With a scene-stealing heated outdoor pool at the heart of it, every inch of the Forest Spa has been thoughtfully considered. Nature-inspired treatments – courtesy of VOYA and Aromatherapy Associates – take place in charming woodland huts kitted out with tin baths and log burners. The thermal spa space meanwhile is home to a sauna, a steam room, an arch stone plunge pool, and a relaxation zone complete with sink-in sofas and a crackling fireplace. Explore the seemingly endless grounds on the complimentary bikes, head to the three-AA-Rosette restaurant, The Forge, for a garden-to-fork dinner, then retire to one of the rustic-luxe suites.
• The best hotels for spa breaks in the UK
A curving, contemporary state-of-the-art spa that makes the most of its Lake District scenery. The crowing glory is the Thermal Experience with Finnish cabin, ice fountain, Himalayan salt steam room and lava sauna. Treatments are inspired by Lake District flora: think sweet orchid body wraps and frangipani-soaked hot-stone massages. Facials are of the whizzy superfood and dynamic resurfacing calibre. A private spa for couples has a 'heat-and-steam' cabin, and those committed to the cause can book the Spa bedroom – its humongous bath faces French windows that open straight onto a private terrace.
• The best Cotswolds spa hotels
A Grade I-listed hall surrounded by acres of parkland, with an award-winning tri-level spa fed by natural spring water. Along with a sleek indoor lap pool, a juniper log sauna and rows of outdoor loungers, it has a vast rooftop garden with a hydro infinity pool, a panoramic sauna and a herbal steam room. Treatments feature Natura Bissé products, and in addition to a menu of massages, facials and manicures, guests can book multisensory sauna sessions guided by the spa's resident Aufguss master. There are a several relaxation rooms to laze in post-treatment, too. When it comes to bedding in for the evening, the newer spa suites open out to the gardens and are kitted out with built-in hammams and jetted bathtubs.
• The world's best hotels for spa breaks
York's only five-star property – just a ten minute stroll from the Minster – is one of the best spa hotels in the north of England. The cracking facilities include an indoor jet pool, aromatic steam room, Nordic dry sauna and mosaic-tiled whirlpool. Facials incorporate Elemis' patented Tri-Enzyme technology and massages feature dry body brushing, lymphatic drainage techniques and hot stone therapy. Overnight guests can bed down in Egyptian cotton sheets and enjoy bathrooms with Molton Brown products, and suites have his-and-hers showers as well as roll-top baths.
• The best spa hotels in the Lake District
This former derelict Victorian mansion is now a five-star golf resort and spa with all the trimmings. The spa garden has an infinity-edge pool with bubbles and massage jets, a second heated pool and landscaped gardens overlooking the grounds. There's also a glass-fronted sauna and clutch of clever self-heating sun loungers. The spa here has collaborated with Neom to launch a line-up of cornerstone treatments for the stressed and sleep-deprived, drawing on everything from Thai massage and shiatsu to meditation. Book an Old Hall Suite for marble bathrooms with tubs and TVs set into the wall tiles, the finest Egyptian cotton sheets and superb countryside views.
• The best hotels for spa breaks in Europe
This cossetting Georgian mansion has a huge Feng Shui-inspired spa. There's an ozone-cleansed pool with massage jets, a salt sauna, an amethyst crystal steam room, outdoor hot tubs, an ice fountain, plunge pools and an impressive roof terrace. An aerobic studio and a hydrotherapy pool complete the offerings. Wellness packages draw inspiration from the hotel's coastal location – therapies incorporate sea salt scrubs and meditative soundtracks by Swell, and there are health-boosting seaweed shots to look forward to afterwards. Rooms are decorated with bold wallpapers, deep-coloured velvet sofas and luxuriously big bathrooms, and there are free bicycles to borrow for guests keen to take in the surrounding beaches.
• The best places and cities to visit in England
A modern development just southwest of Chester, Carden Park sits in 1,000 acres of rolling countryside. What it lacks in traditional character is more than made up for with impressive facilities, though the jewel in the crown has to be its £10 million spa. The feel throughout is lavish and luxurious, with high-spec finishes, white orchids at every turn and super-comfy treatment beds. Indoors, you'll find a swimming pool, thermal experiences, a beauty lounge, a number of relaxation rooms and a restaurant. Outside meanwhile, the spa garden features various hot tubs to pick between, heated seating pods, a fire pit, a sauna and a bar.
• The best spa hotels in Yorkshire
This sprawling Palladian-style hall on the eastern fringes of the Yorkshire Dales has an entire sweep of distractions: from 30 acres of parkland to explore (there are walking maps available and wellies to borrow) to a wine-tasting room and a choice of restaurants, including that of Michelin-starred chef Shaun Rankin. Most impressive though is the Three Graces Spa, with its colonnaded swimming pool, indoor-outdoor hydrotherapy pools and soothing treatments by Ila and Natura Bissé. There's also a well-equipped gym, a Nordic Spa Garden where guests can pad between an outdoor sauna and an ice bath, and a relaxation zone to kick back in post-treatment.
• The best spa hotels in Cornwall
With its superb position overlooking Derwentwater and the surrounding fells, this landmark Lake District stay has moved into the 21st century with a swish spa in a lodge-style building. The star of the show has to be the breathtaking outdoor hydrotherapy pool, although the champagne bar makes for another highlight – inviting guests to enjoy a post-treatment tipple on a lounger. There are plenty of places to stretch out and relax, including a conservatory and a vast terrace, plus gardens with views of the waterfall after which the hotel is named.
• The best spa hotels in Cheshire
• The best spa hotels in Manchester
You’ll need a whole weekend to do justice to the swanky spa in this ivy-cloaked Baronial pile that once belonged to a Bradfordian mill owner. Come in summer for the outdoor sauna and fire pit. The dipping pond is fabulous on sunny days, too – though relaxation beds topped with heated canopies (and furnished with sheepskin rugs and gloves) allow guests to enjoy these spaces in winter too. An 18-metre lap pool, a smaller hydrotherapy pool, and nature-scented steam rooms provide further pampering. Opt for an hour-long therapy in one of the many treatment rooms. Highly recommended is the Oskia Renaissance Vitamin Body Glow, which features a top-to-toe scrub with Himalayan salt and starflower oil, the application of a warm clay body mask and a tension-melting scalp massage.This remarkably pretty riverside inn has been much extended over the years, though a great amount of care has been taken to preserve its original charm and character. The sleek indoor-outdoor spa has six treatment rooms (one being a double) and a menu of Temple Spa facials, massages and rituals. There's also a fragrant spa garden with a vitality pool, a steam room, a hot tub and a Finnish sauna. Bedrooms meanwhile take on a modern, country-fresh feel with bold wallpapers and cushions in fruit-drop colours, and some of them look out over the river.
This grand-looking country house hotel, set in a former stately home at the head of Bassenthwaite, comes with spectacular views and a swathe of resort-style features. With its extensive grounds, tennis court and spa – plus the next-door Wildlife Park to which guests are granted discounted entry – there's no shortage of things to do. Along with an infinity pool, an outdoor hot tub with soothing garden views and a thermal suite, the spa features a dedicated manicure space, a tranquility terrace and 10 treatment rooms. For active types, there’s a sleek gym, plus a range of classes and activities like archery, alpaca-walking and clay pigeon shooting. The surrounding woodland is a delight to wander through, with a direct path to the lakefront, or you can just admire the view from the terrace.
A landmark hotel in the Lake District that has been transformed into a modern resort with a brilliant watersports offering and a smart spa (though there is a £50 entry fee unless you've booked a treatment). Peering out across the lake, the heated outdoor infinity pool is a real showstopper, there are a couple of outdoor hot tubs just right for a post-ramble soak, plus a sauna with views across the fells. Inside, you'll find a bubbling vitality pool, a coconut steam chamber and a dry salt sauna. There's also a gym, and a large health club pool for those keen to swim lengths. Treatments incorporate products from ESPA as well as the hotel's own skincare label, Berry and Birch.
The smart spa at this sprawling, 350-acre country estate is the ideal escape for those wanting an 'away-from-it-all' setting. With one of the UK's largest hydrotherapy pools along with a sauna, a cold plunge pool, plenty of treatment rooms and a seriously hi-tech gym, you can easily spend a full afternoon here, though it does get rather busy. Treatments are tailored and wide ranging: golfers will love the Freestyle Deep Tissue Massage, while those who struggle to nod off ought to try the Voya Mindful Dreams Ritual, featuring sound bowl therapy and sleep-inducing motions. There’s a great deal on offer for couples too, including the Mud Rasul Ritual, which involves earthy handfuls of mud and your own private steam chamber.
Contributions by Cathy Toogood, Charlotte Eggleston-Johnstone, Harriet Charnock-Bates, Hattie Garlick, Helen Pickles, Suzanne King and Tina Walsh.
