Winter is for rest and relaxation, and if you’d rather stay in the privacy of a posh place where there’s the chance of a treatment or two, then a spa getaway is a must. There’s nothing like getting out of the city to unwind, but if you’re short on time, you don’t want to stray too far.
Luckily for Londoners, there are plenty of charming rural spa towns within easy reach of the capital, so you can enjoy some indulgent pampering without a mammoth journey.
These are our favorite spas near London to spend the day or a cheeky weekend in luxury.
For a day out
Cliveden House Hotel, Berkshire
You might recognize Cliveden as the hotel where Meghan Markle spent the night before marrying Prince Harry, and the spa offers a menu of treatments by Sarah Chapman, the Duchess of Sussex’s favorite facialist. The devil is in the details here: the spa even has its own scent called Nancy (after Nancy Astor), made with notes of fruit blossom, jasmine, wild mint and lily. Both the indoor and outdoor pools are highly Instagrammable places to relax between treatments, while the garden hot tubs can be enjoyed well into winter.
Time from London: 1 hour 49 minutes
How to get there by public transport: From Marylebone Station take a Chiltern Railways train towards Oxford and alight at High Wycombe. Walk five minutes to bus stop R on the main street and take bus number 31 towards Maidenhead Town Center and get off at Riversdale South. From there, walk 40 minutes to the hotel or take a taxi/Uber.
Customized spa days from €335. clivedenhouse.co.uk
Luton Hoo Hotel, Luton
You will find Luton Hoo Hotel on the border of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, spread over 1,000 hectares of beautiful parkland, meadows, woodlands, lakes, rivers and natural trails. Their ‘feel good’ spa day includes two 55-minute treatments and a two-course lunch in Adam’s Brasserie, along with full use of the facilities.
Time from London: 45 minutes
How to get there by public transport: Take the Thameslink from St Pancras towards Bedford and get off at Harpenden. Walk four minutes to bus stop C of The George PH and hop on the Sapphire 321 towards Luton for 10 minutes and alight at Luton Hoo Hotel.
Spa days start at £180 per day. lutonhoo.co.uk
The Gainsborough Bath Spa, Bath
Gainsborough’s spa puts a modern twist on the city’s thermal water heritage. Located under a glass atrium, this spa offers a number of different spa days, including a welcome drink and afternoon tea. You will use the fitness room, saunas, thermal baths and relaxation terrace and receive a personalized aromatherapy blending session.
Time from London: 1 hour 35 minutes
How to get there by public transport: From Paddington Station take the Great Western Railway line towards Bristol Temple Meads and alight at Bath Spa. Walk seven minutes to the hotel.
Spa days start at £95 per day. thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk
Coworth Park
This romantic country house is located in a meadow with wild flowers. The separate eco spa is an oasis of tranquility and each spa day includes unlimited use of the heated pool, steam room, Spatisserie (a super relaxing, cloud-like dining area) and fully equipped gym. Treatments are carried out using Ishga products, made with the power of Hebridean seaweed.
Time from London: 1 hour 32 minutes
How to get there by public transport: Take a South Western Railway train from Waterloo Station towards Reading and alight at Sunningdale. Take a taxi from the station to Coworth Park – or it’s a half-hour walk.
Spa days from £250 per day. dorchestercollection.com
The Grove Hotel, Hertfordshire
The Grove Hotel is set in 300 acres of lush Hertfordshire countryside, but it’s their award-winning Sequoia spa that you must visit. Enjoy a truly personal treatment with products from Bamford or Natura Bissé.
Time from London: 57 minutes
How to get there by public transport: Hop on a West Midlands train from Euston to Birmingham New Street. Get off at Watford Junction and take the number 10 bus towards Woolside, alighting at Hollytree House. Walk 20 minutes to The Grove or order a taxi/Uber.
Spa days start from £175 per day. thegrove.co.uk
Hartwell House, Buckinghamshire
Just 40 miles northwest of London, you can reach this luxury hotel faster than it takes most of us to commute to work. The Grade II listed Jacobean and Georgian house, owned by the National Trust, is home to a beautiful spa with a swimming pool, spa pool, steam room, sauna and treatment rooms.
Time from London: 47 minutes
How to get there by public transport: Hop on a Chiltern Railways train from Marylebone towards Oxford. Get off at Haddenham and Thame Parkway and walk to Hartwell House in 13 minutes.
Spa days start at £120 per day. hartwell-house.com
Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, Wiltshire
With a range of luxurious, restorative and soothing treatments, this five-star hotel becomes the ultimate place to escape and unwind. To feel blissful, opt for the mindfulness massage that includes breathing and visualization techniques, and a deeply therapeutic full-body massage to promote positivity.
Time from London: 1 hour 40 minutes
How to get there by public transport: Take the GWR line towards Bristol Temple Meads and get off at Chippenham. Take the 635 bus outside the station towards Marshfield, get off at Valley Way Shelter and walk to the hotel in seven minutes.
Spa days start at £175 per day. lucknampark.co.uk
For a weekend stay
Cowley Manor Experimental, Gloucestershire
This classic country house hotel underwent a beautiful, eclectic renovation last summer thanks to a design collaboration with Dorothée Meilichzon and De Matos Ryan. With a 300-year history, it has been an inspiring destination for authors and creatives for centuries – once owned by Edward the Confessor.
The award-winning C-side spa has also undergone a chic interior renovation, retaining its beautiful postmodern exterior. Enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the heated indoor and outdoor pools and enjoy a soul-soothing treatment with natural products from Monu Skin. Then relax in the sauna or steam rooms and don’t miss the chance to try local dishes in the hotel’s new restaurant, where the team is led by celebrity chef Jackson Boxer.
Time from London: 2 hours 51 minutes
How to get there by public transport: Hop on a GWR train from Paddington towards Bristol Temple Meads and alight at Swindon Station. From there take bus 51 (bay 16) towards Cheltenham and alight at Cowley Turn where it is just a 9 minute walk to the manor.
Rooms start at £250 per night, including spa access and breakfast. cowleymanor.com
Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa, Malmesbury
Set in 30 acres of unspoilt Cotswold countryside, this hotel is a beautiful place to escape. The honeystone spa building is the ultimate relaxation space, equipped with an indoor and outdoor hydrotherapy pool, thermal suite and salt scrub showers.
Time from London: 2 o’clock
How to get there by public transport: From Paddington take the GWR towards Bristol Parkway and get off at Swindon Station. Then hop in a taxi to Malmesbury.
Spa days from £160 for half day with 90 minute smoothie and spa treatment. A one night stay starts at £386. whatleymanor.com
Dormy House, Cotswolds
This hotel in the heart of the Cotswolds is a rustic country house with a modern touch and has an indoor and outdoor spa with a Scandinavian feel spread over several floors. It features the Cotswold lavender sauna, rhassoul mud room, nail salon, infinity pool and outdoor hot tub. Choose from relaxing float tank experiences, CBD treatments, or one of the spa’s head-to-toe body treatments, designed to re-energize and restore calm. The House Spa will reopen after renovation work on January 22, 2024, but treatments can be booked during the closure period.
Time from London: 2 hours 40 minutes
How to get there by public transport: A GWR line towards Weston Super Mare from Paddington will take you to Swindon Station where you will need to change from bay 16 to bus 51A towards Stratton. Stay on this bus for an hour and get off at the Park View stop, where Dormy House is located. three minutes walk.
Dormy House Spa days start from £125, hotel rooms from £309 per night. dormyhouse.co.uk
Calcot Manor, Gloucestershire
Calcot’s spa is located in a quiet corner of the hotel grounds and within a typical Cotswold estate. There’s a dreamy outdoor hot tub, steam and sauna room, and a range of treatments available using products from cult brands such as Elemis and Aromatherapy Associates.
Time from London: 3 hours 3 minutes
How to get there by public transport: Take a GWR train from Paddington towards Cheltenham Spa and alight at Stroud. Take bus 63 towards Wickwar from stop N outside the station and alight at Calcot Farm, where the country house is a three-minute walk away.
Spa day packages start at £175 per day, rooms from £314 per night. calcot.com
Lime Wood Hotel, Hampshire
Like something out of a Jane Austen novel, Lime Wood Hotel is the place to live out your lady of the manor fantasies in the heart of the New Forest. It is home to the Herb House Spa, which is inspired by the woodland setting and dedicated to an atmosphere of tranquility. It spans three levels and features a sauna, an indoor hydro pool with forest views, a mud house and a hot outdoor pool. Spa days include a holistic tailor-made package and a perfectly pampered extra special option, including two treatments.
Time from London: 2 hours 19 minutes
How to get there by public transport: If you’re departing from Waterloo, take the South Western Railway train towards Weymouth and alight at Southampton Central. There you change to the South Western Railway train towards Poole. Stay on this for 10 minutes until you reach Ashurst New Forest. From here it is best to take a taxi
Spa days start at £240 per person, rooms start at £495 per night. limewoodhotel.co.uk