Spa Gains
By Lauren Maybank
Spa days aren’t just for gaggles of women, more men still aren’t embracing the art of relaxation and self-care, reluctant of sharing the experience, and needing to be gently goaded along by their partners.
There’s no stigma in self-care - bro’s got to get his zen on!
From deep-tissue massages, hot and cold therapies to rejuvenating facials and couples’ hydrotherapy sessions. Spa retreats offer the perfect escape from the daily stress. Whether it’s a romantic getaway, or a luxury break, these experiences help you to unwind, reconnect and relax.
Your resident ‘Spa correspondent’ Lauren gives you the low down on some of her favourite hot spots she’s visited over the years (hot being the operative word!)
Sopwell House, Hertfordshire
**Full-day access to The Club at Cottonmill (9–6, Mon–Fri) from £199, **sopwellhouse.co.uk
Set in the lush Hertfordshire countryside, Sopwell House is a haven of calm just outside of London. The Club at Cottonmill Spa blends modern wellness with pure relaxation, think Balinese beds you can order refreshments from, outdoor hydrotherapy pools and thermal suites to get your sweat on.
You can soak in the vitality pools, get hot in the panoramic sauna or unwind in the steam room before lounging in the landscaped gardens. The Club experience gives full use of all spa areas, from outdoors vitality pools with a nod to nature, to relaxation zones, with the option to add a treatment or lunch for a little extra indulgence. Sopwell is the kind of place where you’ll lose all sense of time - it’s absolutely divine, clean, calm and indulgent.
Champneys Forest Mere, Hampshire
**Spa Day from £120pp, **champneys.com
Nestled beside a peaceful lake in the Hampshire countryside, Champneys Forest Mere is one of the UK’s most loved spa retreats with many A-list visitors. It also won England’s Best Country House Hotel Spa in the World Spa Awards.
As part of your spa day, you get full access to the thermal suites, hydrotherapy pools, and relaxation lounges with dreamy waterbeds. There are also fitness and yoga classes, peaceful lakeside walks, and a healthy, seasonal lunch included in most day packages. Treatments are what Champneys is famous for: expert facials, reflexology, massages and body rituals that leave you glowing. Head in the clouds is one of my all-time favourite treatments. The food is fresh and delicious, and yes you can get steak! The service is also spot-on. Champneys Spas combine good food, relaxation and beautiful surroundings.
Pennyhill Park, Surrey
Radiance Plus Spa Day from £305 (Mon–Fri), Pennyhill Park Hotel & Spa | Luxury 5 Star Hotel in Surrey
Pennyhill Park in Surrey is one of the UK’s most luxurious spa hotels, a favourite among celebs and spa lovers alike. Surrounded by acres of greenery, the award-winning spa features indoor and outdoor pools, a huge thermal suite, and every relaxation zone you can imagine. The Radiance Plus Spa Day is the ultimate treat: it includes a 60-minute prescriptive facial, a 40-minute dry-water massage, and lunch with a generous food and drink allowance. You’ll also have full access to the spa’s hydrotherapy circuits, saunas, steam rooms and loungers. Expect brands like Natura Bissé and Comfort Zone, flawless service, and the wow factor.
Aqua Sana at Centre Parcs (Various Locations)
**Festive Forest Spa Escape from £89pp, **aquasana.co.uk
Tucked within the trees at Centre Parcs, Aqua Sana has quietly become one of the best-kept spa secrets. Don’t be fooled by its family-holiday setting – this is an incredible spa destination with high-end touches and so many experiences on offer. The forest theme runs throughout, with outdoor infinity pools, herbal saunas, and woodland-inspired steam rooms designed to bring nature inside. There’s even an infinity pool at the Woburn park meandering you from inside, out.
The Festive Forest Spa Escape (available 1–24 December 2025) includes afternoon tea with a glass of Prosecco and four hours of spa access ideal for an afternoon of pre-Christmas pampering. Or, for extra indulgence, upgrade to the Overnight Escape to the Forest (from £250pp) for two full days of spa bliss, dining and a stay surrounded by woodland views.
Titanic Spa, Yorkshire
**Heat and Ice Experience Day from £110, **titanicspa.co.uk
Housed in a beautifully restored Edwardian mill, Titanic Spa is the UK’s first eco-spa, a mix of luxury and conscious living tucked away in the Yorkshire Pennines. Their Heat & Ice Experience Day includes full use of the spa’s thermal suite, hydrozone, salt-regulated pool, and outdoor hot tub, plus a light lunch served in the Spa Bistro.
You’ll drift between saunas, steam rooms and ice fountains designed to shake every sense, before stretching out in the relaxation lounge. Treatments use premium brands like Elemis, and everything about the spa feels calm, warm and quietly stylish.
The Langley Spa, Buckinghamshire
**Full-day spa package from £310pp, **thelangleyspa.onejourney.travel
Set within a grand 17th-century manor and surrounded by 150 acres of manicured gardens, The Langley Spa takes luxury to new levels. Inside its marble interiors, you’ll find a 16.5-metre indoor pool, hydrotherapy pool, and a thermal suite featuring a juniper sauna, amethyst crystal steam room, and hammam. The full-day package includes a three-course lunch in the Spa Lounge and a 90-minute treatment – with Sisley Expert Facials, detox body wraps, or deeply relaxing signature massages. This is luxury at its finest; it’s never overcrowded, and the ultimate zen.
