The very best spas in the UK, as chosen by our experts
If there is one thing Prima's team of experts learned during the Prima UK Spa Awards, it's that you don't need to travel far to find an excellent spa. Whether you’re seeking a deep, restorative massage, a soothing dip in thermal waters, or just a moment of quiet reflection, these dream-worthy destinations are the perfect places to indulge in some well-deserved self-care. And better yet, you'll find all of them around the British Isles.
Ready to find your perfect escape? From serene countryside retreats to cosy seaside sanctuaries, these are the key pampering locations to visit in 2025 – both for overnight breaks and day packages. Here, you'll find a mix of exclusively-spa hotels, as well as smaller boutique properties that just so happen to have brilliant spa facilities.
With that, it's time to meet our favourite spa hotels in the UK. Which will be your favourite?
Galgorm, Country Antrim
A wonderland of a spa set against the backdrop of glorious countryside, where you’ll find total relaxation.
Where you'll find it: This luxury resort is set in the lush green of County Antrim. From the moment the doorman ushers you in through the grand doors of the country house hotel, you enter a world where relaxation is the number one priority. The highlight of Galgorm’s gorgeous setting is the River Maine, which runs through the 450-acre estate, wide and splendid, cascading under arches of trees.
How it feels: Galgorm touches all the senses – there’s the historic grandness of the old hotel with log fires and big comfy armchairs, a more modern extension behind with smart corridors leading to plush bedrooms and the downstairs spa area.
Where you'll stay: From shepherd’s huts and chalets to luxury suites, there’s accommodation to suit all. The Deluxe rooms have views of the river and estate (complete with the sound of flowing water to soothe you to sleep), king-size beds, lounge areas and marble en-suites. Open the large wardrobe and you’ll find your signature luxurious brown robe and flip-flops.
What you'll eat: Head to Fratelli. The food is exceptional – and the gluten-free menu is equally exciting, with roast chicken and pesto penne with Parmesan, pine nuts and crispy chicken skin. Enjoy with a glass of Prosecco with a strawberry popped in for added joy. Also worth trying is Castle Kitchen + Bar, a 10-minute ride from the hotel (transport provided free by the hotel). You dine in a welcoming room decorated with pretty blossom trees and there’s an open kitchen, where steaks are a speciality. The hotel itself also has Gillies Grill, a brasserie with an open fire (which is even lit for the first-class buffet breakfast served there) and McKendry’s, a cosy bar.
Now head to the spa: Descend in the lift from the main hotel and you’re in spa heaven. The Thermal Village is a vast outdoor area with frothing hot tubs, saunas, relaxation rooms, steam rooms, ice rooms, plunge pools and even a cafe, all nestled into the landscaped gardens.
Treatments to try: A Full-Body Massage (from £95) begins with a foot and hand massage before an hour of being rubbed, stroked and pummelled (you choose the firmness) with Elemis products. After, you’re shown to a private relaxation area for a home-made mango sorbet and glass of iced water. Another must-try is the private hot tub experience (from £80). A glass of Prosecco waits for you at your secluded hot tub. Sink into the warm bubbles and gaze out at the sweep of river. You may even be lucky enough to see a heron swoop by.
Prima loved: There isn’t one part of Galgorm that doesn’t delight. The vast grounds give you endless opportunities to explore and there’s always a new area of the spa to try. Add to that great food and drink options, including a sumptuous afternoon tea available in the conservatory and a gin library for early evening tipples. A stay at Galgorm is perfection all wrapped up in a fluffy bathrobe.
Treatments from £95; Rooms from £190 including access to the thermal village; Day packages from £79. Galgorm.com.
Champneys Forest Mere, Hampshire
An iconic spa in a late 19th-century country mansion, tucked away in the countryside and overlooking a vast, beautiful lake.
Where you'll stay: Expect (very) comfortable beds and complimentary Elemis toiletries. Most rooms have balconies and spectacular countryside views, but to truly feel you’re in a rural idyll, book one of Champneys’ fun shepherd’s huts.
What you'll eat: Buffet-style breakfasts and lunches are relaxed affairs (most people eat in robes and flip-flops), while The Mere restaurant has the feel of a country house and offers a more formal setting for dinner.
Now head to the spa: Enter through spacious changing rooms to find a 25-metre pool, waterbeds, Jacuzzis, an ice room, a steam room and tropical rainfall showers. A mock log fire soothingly crackles you into a deep sleep in one of the relaxation rooms, while an outdoor area features another large sauna and a hydro pool. Deeper into the grounds there’s a beautiful outdoor swimming pool with a pop-up bar that’s perfect for long summer days.
Treatments to try: It’s almost impossible not to feel total relaxation during the Heaven Cocoon (from £98); after a full-body exfoliation, you’re covered in a delicious body cream and wrapped up in a cocoon of warm towels, while being given a scalp massage.
Prima loved: Wandering the 160-acre spectacular grounds in our white Champneys robes. There’s no need for formalities at this spa, which feels like a peaceful and relaxing world where the only thing that matters is your own wellbeing.
Rooms from £500 a night (including breakfast, lunch and dinner for two); Treatments from £53; Day Packages from £180. Champneys.com.
The Relais Cooden Beach, East Sussex
This jewel of a seaside retreat brings a touch of Hamptons chic to a pebbly East Sussex beach.
Where you'll stay: All rooms take inspiration from the water’s edge in a calming but uplifting style. Bag a Verandah or Seascape Room for English Channel views.
What you'll eat: Dine in the spa lounge for a menu of healthy drinks and light lunches, or head to the Rally Restaurant for something more substantial, including the catch of the day. If the weather is fine, dine on the Seaview Terrace.
Now head to the spa: It’s bijou but has everything you need for a top wellness experience, including a wet area with a steam room and sauna, wellness shower, vitality pool, foot spas and heated beds, and three treatment rooms (which are where the magic really happens).
Treatments to try: Treatments here work in harmony with the location, favouring products from local vineyard-to-skin brand Pelegrims alongside seaweed harvested from the local beach. A 90 minute signature Seaweed Leaf Body Wrap (£130) started with a body brushing exfoliation, included a gorgeous mini facial and finished with a shoulder and neck massage.
Prima loved: A bracing dip in the waves and a walk along the pebbly coast. Take your dry robe if you’re a seasoned sea swimmer and a pair of sturdy shoes, too!
Rooms from £170 a night; Treatments from £60; Day packages from £50. Therelaiscoodenbeach.com.
Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa, Lake District
Find this escape in England’s largest national park, perched between hills and peaks, and overlooking Lake Windermere.
Where you'll stay: Rest your head in one of Low Wood Bay’s 130 gorgeous rooms, where sleek modern style meets earthy tones. Not only do the rooms feel spacious, the marble bathroom floors and soft lighting ooze luxury.
What you'll eat: Scrub up and dine in one of two chic restaurants: Blue Smoke, with its wood-fired grill and melt-in-your-mouth steaks, or The W for elegant modern-British cuisine.
Now head to the spa: Low Wood Bay’s welcoming spa, with its calming wood panelling and slate-grey stone, makes the most of its incredible location with floor-to-ceiling windows, an outdoor infinity pool and hot tubs with sweeping views of Lake Windermere.
Treatments to try: Some packages include the Mud Room, where you’ll apply three different muds to exfoliate and hydrate your skin. A full-body Aromatherapy Massage (from £110) is stand-out for all round relaxation, and can be personalised to support aches and pains, improve sleep quality or boost your mood.
Prima loved: Helping ourselves to chocolate brownies from the complimentary snack baskets offered around by friendly staff, then drifting off to sleep on a swinging chair for two in the Herbal Lounge.
Rooms from £245 a night; Treatments from £110; Day Packages from £165. Englishlakes.co.uk
Carden Park hotel & Spa, Cheshire
Set in a 1,000-acre estate in the heart of Cheshire, this luxurious golf hotel has its own destination spa with a huge and glamorous spa garden.
Where you'll stay: Rooms here are comfortable and relaxing – if you can, ask for yours to be at the front of the hotel for stunning views over the rolling Welsh hills beyond.
What you'll eat: Light bites and leisurely lunches are served at the spa’s Elements Restaurant, but the hotel’s fine dining restaurant, The Vines, is the culinary highlight, featuring a spectacular Beef Wellington for two and a Baked Alaska dessert that’s flambéd at your table.
Now head to the spa: It’s an impressive pampering hotspot with nine indoor thermal experiences and a large, neatly manicured spa garden dotted with outdoor hot tubs and lounging areas. Spend the day in your robe and slippers, rotating between the bubbling pools and serene treatment rooms.
Treatments to try: Carden Park’s Signature Facial (£160) combines vitamin-rich skincare with a facial massage that leaves skin feeling plump and revitalised. But whichever treatment you choose, every moment in the rooms is considered, from music of your choosing to the soothing star-effect lights on the ceiling.
Prima loved: Admiring the views from our sunlounger with a glass of fizz (Carden’s very own sparkling wine, produced from the vineyard on the estate) in one hand and a book in the other.
Rooms from £149 a night; Treatments from £80; Day Packages from £85. Cardenpark.co.uk.
The Barnsdale, Rutland
With its open fire, warm welcome and a glass of wine on arrival, this retreat has all the cosy charm you could wish for.
Where you'll stay: Each of the hotel’s 45 rooms are individually styled, decorated in heritage tones and feature king-size beds with bespoke Bramley toiletries in the bathrooms. The Fort Henry suite even has a freestanding copper bath, with views over the fields towards Rutland Water.
What you'll eat: Classic British dishes focus on local produce and include Rutland Gin Pickled Mackerel Fillet and Slow Cooked Lincolnshire Pork Shoulder, which were both highlights.
Now head to the spa: The hotel’s new Signet Spa is small and delightfully rustic, with two treatment rooms and wooden cladsauna and steam rooms (a short walk through the garden), plus an outside pool and hot tubs (dry robes are provided for guests to walk from the hotel across the grounds).
Treatments to try: Everything here is designed to nurture and restore. A 60-minute Gaia Bespoke Massage (from £90) is the ultimate wellbeing experience; a mix of deep tissue and Swedish massage works wonders on tired, achy muscles, while aromatherapy soothes the mind.
Prima loved: Relaxing in the cocooning waters of a hot tub, surrounded by green fields and big skies. As for that nightcap in the cosy bar before retiring – it was just too hard to resist!
Rooms from £150 a night; Treatments from £80; Day packages from £150. Barnsdalerutland.com.
The Nici, Bournemouth
For a Miami Beach-inspired riot of colour with boutique hotel vibes, an outdoor heated pool framed by cabanas and miles of golden sand below.
Where you'll stay: Opt for a Poolside Garden Suite for a comfortable lounge area, plus an outdoor terrace and your very own hot tub – a fun way to keep the spa experience going.
What you'll eat: Kick off proceedings with a cocktail in the bar, then move to the South Beach Restaurant (where you’ll want to order everything) for a moreish starter of Crab Cake with Mango and Red Pepper Salsa, followed by the juicy Rib-Eye Steak.
Now head to the spa: While the hotel is fun and funky, the spa is where the decor shifts to neutral and low lighting creates a cocoon like effect. The indoor pool is big enough to get in some lengths, while a well-equipped gym includes a space to strike a few yoga poses, if the mood takes you – or just relax in the Jacuzzi, steam rooms or sauna.
Treatments to try: Skilled therapists offer a range of bespoke treatments; choose a 60-minute Oskia Massage (from £125) and it will be tailored in response to your body’s needs.
Prima loved: Working up an appetite with a stroll along the promenade; perfect for dog-watching and admiring the colourful beach huts.
Rooms from £160 a night; Treatments from £45; Day Packages from £155. Thenici.com.
Ragdale Hall, Leicestershire
A classic destination spa in an ivy-clad Georgian mansion, with 13 acres of gardens and an iconic rooftop pool.
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Where you'll stay: You won’t spend much time in yours, but the classic, cosy rooms are lovely places to retire if you ever feel spa-ed out.
What you'll eat: The choice and quality of food is impressive and we loved picking from the huge buffet selection at lunch… and the traditional oak panelled dining room felt like being on a Gilmore Girls set.
Now head to the spa: There’s very little you could want that Ragdale doesn’t provide, with a host of steam and sauna options, shower ‘experiences’, fitness classes and six pools – including a magical candlelit cave, a pool you can swim in from indoors to outdoors, and the showstopping rooftop infinity. Prima spent two full days in our robes, dressing only for dinner in the evening, though no one would have batted an eyelid if we’d turned up robed then, too.
Treatments to try: Treatments at Ragdale Hall are excellent; carried out by kind and experienced therapists, who know how to squeeze the most out of your time on the bed. The 40-minute Serenity Touch (one of Ragdale’s inclusive treatments) includes a mini facial, as well as a lovely relaxing massage.
Prima loved: Getting to know the warm, friendly and good humoured staff, who really go above and beyond to make every stay a good one. Cocktails in the modern Twilight Bar and taking in the views from the rooftop pool were also memorable experiences.
Rooms from £490 for two nights (including 40-minute treatment); Treatments from £24; Day packages from £152. Ragdalehall.co.uk.
Cameron House, Loch Lomond
This majestic building on the banks of the loch is one of Scotland’s most impressive spa hotels, combining Scottish heritage with state-of-the-art facilities.
Where you'll stay: The rooms are the perfect mix of traditional and contemporary – think ginormous squashy beds, tartan throws and upholstery, and statement wallpaper, with plenty of light streaming in from large windows or balconies, many of which overlook the loch.
What you'll eat: Traditional-yet-elevated dishes at Cameron Grill restaurant, where Scottish grass-fed, dry-aged beef is a real highlight, and fresh pasta, seafood and antipasti at Italian eatery La Vista, down by the marina.
Now head to the spa: A short drive up the road (catch a ride on the hotel’s hourly shuttle) and set over three floors, Cameron House’s elegant spa has various steam rooms, saunas and bubbly hydro pools, as well as more unusual thermal experiences, such as an aromatherapy room and a tepidarium. There’s also a small rooftop infinity pool with more of those breathtaking views over the loch, and a cafe with a short but excellent menu.
Treatments to try: Prima tried the 25-minute couples’ Rasul Mud Chamber experience (£145); slathering ourselves in a detoxifying mud mask before sweating it off in the steam room left our skin unbelievably soft.
Prima loved: The bagpipe welcome you’ll receive if you arrive on a Friday or Saturday – the perfect start to your Scottish getaway.
Rooms from £350 a night; Treatments from £110; Day packages from £165. Cameronhouse.co.uk.
Aqua Sana Forest Spa, Center Parcs, Eleveden Forest
An entire spa village (with its own map) set deep in the tranquillity of Suffolk woodland, best accessed by bicycle.
Where you'll stay: You don’t have to stay at Center Parcs to visit Aqua Sana, but if you want to make more of your trip, book a one night stay in one of the spa’s on-site suites (these are adult-only and flanked by a spa day on either side) or do as Prima did and stay in the Center Parcs village with your family, and sneak off to the spa while someone else braves the water slides with the kids!
What you'll eat: At the Vitalé Café Bar you can choose anything from healthy snacks to a glass of fizz or an indulgent afternoon tea.
Now head to the spa: There are 25 experiences in the spa, arranged over five zones on two floors, including everything from hot tubs and a light-filled pool to a Nordic sauna and an ice cave. And this is before you’ve even seen a spa therapist!
Treatments to try: Elveden’s signature 50-minute Tree Of Life Ritual (£110) includes a relaxing-yet-invigorating full-body massage and facial using Aqua Sana’s own gorgeous Natural Glow line. The treatment leaves us feeling calm and grounded.
Prima loved: A mooch around the Aqua Sana gift shop on the way out…we may even have treated ourselves to some healing crystal jewellery.
Rooms from £250 a night (50-minute treatment included); Treatments from £65; Day packages from £69. Aquasana.co.uk/centerparcs.co.uk.
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