TAKE ME WITH YOU…
Congham Hall is a luxury hotel housed in a whitewashed Georgian manor in the Norfolk countryside, close to the market town of Kings Lynn. Accommodation - in 31 rooms and suites - goes beyond the norm with homely touches and a dash individuality: upgrade to one of five detached open-plan cabins for views of the apple orchards from your own alfresco tub.
The hotel also has a 2 AA restaurant with its own kitchen garden, a cosy lounge and all-weather tennis courts. Occupying a separate building, The Secret Garden Spa blends seamlessly with the garden on which it sits.
SHALL WE SPA?
Walk through pretty garden – full of summer blooms on our visit – and push the pale blue door open to enter the reception area with its plum- and rose-hued sofas and chairs. Ladies in attractive purple outfits welcomed us and invited us to take a seat so that we could complete a consultation form and answer a few questions about our favourite seasons, colours and foods... to determine our element (we came out as wood).
The changing rooms just off from here and are small but functional with tiny wooden lockers operated by a good old-fashioned key – choose a locker with the key still poking out, place your belongings inside, lock the door and open the safety pin to attach the key to your cossie.
As well as two showers containing Elemental Herbology products, you’ll find three loos, two sinks, two hairdryers, one pair of straighteners, a basket containing white slippers and plenty of rolled up white towels to help yourself to. There’s also a swimsuit spinner for wet cossies.
A door from here leads directly to the star of the show: the 12-metre indoor pool with its high vaulted ceiling and entire wall of bi-fold doors, some opening out onto a large deck with sunken hot tub – easily seating eight - and several dark grey rattan loungers. Push a button for ripples (rather than bubbles); the temperature is perfect for dips of up to 30 minutes (just enough time, we discovered, to sip a glass of Prosecco whilst watching birds fly across the Norfolk sky).
Back inside, we managed 15 uninterrupted lengths in the pool before pummelling our shoulders under a powerful swan jet. You’ll find the thermal facilities at the other end with two foot baths at the helm. On the left is a hot sauna (hovering at a toasty 75 degrees) seating six; on the right a cooler, larger bio-sauna for longer stays. Cool down under one of two experience showers in the centre afterwards, each with four settings. We loved the sound of bird song as we cooled off.
Our fave was the steam room with its arc bench in two sections, pearly mint-green mosaic tiles and central salt crystal which helped banish our unseasonal summer sniffles.
TREATMENT TALK
We tried Total Tranquillity (90 minutes, £125), a brand new treatment for the summer.
My therapist, Clare, met me in reception and led me to one of five treatment rooms, each named after a herb growing in the spa garden. Mine, Saffron, was as cosy as they come.
Clare explained the various stages of the treatment – body brush, hot oil, massage, facial, hot oil scalp massage (yes please) - before inviting me to disrobe and get comfortable on the treatment bed, lying face up.
The treatment began with some deep inhalations of an oil containing frankincense, a grounding body walk and hot mitts on my feet.
The body brush that came next had a good amount of satisfying vigour, Clare brushing up each leg to my thighs and then my arms. Asking me to turn over, Clare repeated the brushing on the back of my legs before dripping hot Detox Bath & Body Oil up my legs and down my both arms, massaging it in in an upward motion.
After another turn, Clare began the facial with a double cleanse using Elemental Herbology’s Cleansing Balm and Vital Cleanse, each removed with hot mitts. She then applied an exfoliator; while this tingled (and boy did it), she brushed and massaged the front of my legs and arms using the same hot oil.
Exfoliator removed, Clare added a mask and treated my scalp to a hot oil massage (heavenly). Mask removed, Clare added a plethora of Elemental Herbology finishing products, including an Anti-oxidant Hydration Mist, Hyaluronic Booster Serum, Vital Eyes, Facial Souffle Ultra-Rich Cream and some lip balm.
HOW DID IT MEASURE UP?
A body brush was the perfect pre-tanning ritual for this Spa Spy who is off on hols next week; my entire body felt super soft and my face simply glowed.
SPOT OF LUNCH?
Despite its 2 AA Rosette status, the Samphire Kitchen is a casual space with a buzzy atmosphere and French doors letting the outside in. Dishes change daily and are created using ingredients from the hotel’s own herb garden, kitchen garden and apple orchards, of which there are five. As well as lunch, the restaurant also offers afternoon tea and Sunday roasts.
Arriving too late for lunch, we first traipsed into Samphire Kitchen at dinner time, when candlelight graced the tables. We began our meal with a light dish of whipped goat’s cheese with beetroot followed by the poached fillet of Halibut with red wine and crisp Pancetta. Our spa partner opted for the smoked salmon to start (with pickled cucumber, crème fraiche and capers), followed by the roast rump of lamb with Hasselback potato, black pudding and crisp Cavolo Nero. We washed all this down with a bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
For dessert we opted to share Congham’s Mini Puddings and tucked into dark chocolate mousse, Pimm’s jelly, sticky toffee pudding and summer pudding.
Everything we ate was as tasty as it was beautifully presented; the staff here work hard to ensure a memorable dining experience.
GOT ALL DAY?
Book one of the incredible Orchard Cabins, run a bath in the outdoor tub, pour yourself a cold beer or wine from the fridge and drink in those views orchard views. Our bath in the great outdoors was (and always is) a real highlight.
SHORT ON TIME?
Spend as much time as you can in the spa: swim lengths in the indoor pool, heat up in the thermal facilities, admire the view from the outdoor hot tub (with glass of fizz in hand?) and enjoy a treatment.
Good Spa Guide
20th August 2025
