Aqua Sana Forest Spa Longleat Forest

“A woodland spa deep in the forest with a thermal journey so varied you will want a second day, a back ritual that sent us straight to sleep and a spa café that gets lunch just right.”

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Aqua Sana Longleat sits deep in ancient woodland near Warminster - driving up, we saw rabbits, deer, squirrels and birds before we had even reached the door. Parking is free and right beside the spa building but fills up fast, so arrive early if possible.

The entrance to the spa has a pitched roof that opens into a high, airy reception with loft-like beams. On one side is an area for manicures, pedicures and make-up, with mirrors framed in Hollywood-style bulbs – elegant and a little glamorous - on the other side, shelves displaying hundreds of shiny products.

WHAT’S ON OFFER?

At reception we were handed a soft towelling robe and a towel - flip-flops are not provided, but you can buy a branded white pair for £6.95. Changing rooms have lockers large enough for a cabin-size suitcase, two seated vanity benches with three hairdryers, a private changing area and toilets just inside the door. There are 11 showers stocked with full-size Aqua Sana products in pump bottles, plus a spin dryer for your swimming costume. A cleansing bar allows you to remove your make-up before you head into the thermal areas.

The thermal journey is the star of the show with two of its rooms exclusive to Longleat: The Forest Cavern - inspired by local cave formations: humid, with trickling water and air scented with pomegranate and myrrh - and The Moonlight Steam Room, a tropical rainforest, with changing lights, colours, scents and sounds. This was a favourite. There is also a Finnish sauna, a salt room, an ice fountain and Volcanic Mists: a run of five experience showers that include a cold bucket shower. After the heat, the igloo-inspired Ice Cave gives a welcome contrast - rain showers and mists in different colours and temperatures fill the gaps between the main events, and foot spas near the entrance make a lovely place to sit and chat with your spa buddy before a treatment.

Outside, a heated spa pool sits at the centre of the spa, while the Hot Springs Garden has two hot tubs. Next to the Hideaway room – a private space where groups can sit, eat and chat without disturbing other guests – there is an outdoor barrel sauna and shower. We loved the Scandinavian Snug, a genuinely different place to relax outdoors in the woodland.

The relaxation spaces are just as inventive. In Deep Relax, waterbeds rock you gently, while Forest Nesting has oversized cocoon beds beneath a starry-night ceiling – we could have stayed there all day.

Free 20-minute Discovery sessions give a taste of meditation, sound and skincare. Ours took place in the Forest Meditation room, where guests sit on an oval bench and watch the ceiling move from day into night – mesmerising. The sleep and sound sessions leaned more towards Voya’s homecare products than technique, but they are a good introduction for anyone new to these practices.

TREATMENT TALK

We tried the Ultimate Back Revival (50 minutes, £99) using Aqua Sana’s own products.

My therapist, Dee-Jay, met me in the pre-treatment waiting area and led me to a room with a calm, neutral palette, soft light from rechargeable candles and layers of soft blankets. The extra-wide treatment bed is a new addition and lets your arms rest at your sides – a small thing, but it made it much easier to switch off. My therapist, Dee-Jay, also offered to adjust the room temperature to suit.

The treatment began with one of my favourite moments: choosing my scent from three Aqua Sana oils. I picked Rosemary & Eucalyptus to soothe muscles that ached after the journey. After a few deep inhalations, Dee-Jay gave my back a full exfoliation that left the skin really smooth, then applied a Jasmine & Honey mask. While this worked, she turned to my legs and feet, and eased the tension in my calves – a lovely addition that relaxed me from head to toe.

Once the mask was removed, a back massage followed. Dee-Jay used her forearm in big, deep, sweeping strokes, focusing on my lower back and shoulders. The pressure was intense without being painful, and there were none of those sharp thumb pressures that I can find sore. The massage felt personal, thorough and unhurried.

Aftercare was a card of product recommendations for home, plus advice to drink more water, rest and keep using the facilities. I fell asleep almost as soon as I lay down and woke feeling revived and lighter.

FOOD FACTS

The spa café  - Vitalé Café Bar - is at the heart of Aqua Sana, linking the changing rooms with the thermal and treatment areas. Tall windows look out over the woodland and flood the room with natural light; the earthy green tones suit the setting. You can eat in your robe or in your clothes, and guests are given a booking time to keep things flowing. Most tables seat two, but there are a few larger ones for groups.

Our package included a main course and a drink. The Harissa Chicken Flatbread was a winner: freshly baked, lightly seasoned bread loaded with spicy chicken, rocket and crumbled feta. Iced water with a wedge of lemon was just what we needed. There is something for everyone, from Buddha bowls and potato wedges to glasses of fizz. Service was friendly and timely.

Allergies are marked on the menu, and staff asked about them on arrival and again when we ordered. Our spa partner's dish arrived separately, marked with a coloured flag indicating an allergen - and giving real peace of mind.

In the evening we went to the Sports Bar next door for dinner, which has large screens, bright spaces for groups, music and pub classics such as burgers, fish and chips, sandwiches and loaded fries.

SWEET STAY?

We stayed in an apartment in Redwood: compact, but with everything we needed for a comfortable night. The spa’s neutral tones continue here; a floor-to-ceiling image of trees brings the forest indoors. The room was set up as a twin, with heavy duvets, crisp white linen and a small sofa, plus a table if you choose to dine in. Lamps and spotlights let you set the mood.

A small kitchen with a dishwasher, a large fridge and a separate wine fridge makes it ideal for a longer stay, and we appreciated the coffee maker and real coffee. The bathroom has Elemis travel-size toiletries, a large heated towel rail and big white robes and slippers to carry on the spa feeling. The shower was one of the best we have used.

WE LOVED…

The thermal journey: the scale and variety of facilities here are second to none, and the Moonlight Steam Room won us over.

Time outdoors between treatments: whatever the weather, ensure you carve out time to wallow in the outdoor hot tubs and relax in the Scandinavian Snug, as snuggly as it was Scandinavian-themed.

Dee-Jay’s Ultimate Back Revival: deep forearm strokes, a bonus leg and foot massage, and a sleep straight afterwards… what’s not to love?

WHAT BUBBLE RATING DID YOU AWARD THIS SPA?

We awarded Aqua Sana Forest Spa Longleaf Forest a Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of 5 Bubbles for its peaceful woodland setting, outstanding and inventive thermal journey, skilled and personal treatment, great spa café and genuinely warm service from the moment we arrived.