Aqua Sana Forest Spa Elveden Forest

“A spacious, dual-level, purpose-built spa with more thermal rooms, experiences and relaxation spaces than most (25 and counting) as well as a lovely indoor-outdoor café and 19 treatment rooms” (Stylish Spy)

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Aqua Sana Forest Spa Elveden is set in lush, verdant forest in Thetford, Norfolk. After a relaxed drive through the high, fragrant trees (which provided a nice amount of shade on our summer visit) you will arrive at the spa's dedicated car park. A few steps around the corner will lead you to the standalone, nature-inspired spa.

Already on site? Follow the signs for Aqua Sana Forest Spa to put yourself in front of the glass sliding doors.

WHAT’S ON OFFER?

There’s a lot to enjoy at this sprawling dual-level spa; a £6.5 million refurbishment in 2024 has made the space even more appealing (if that were possible) with even more room to relax.

We were warmly greeted by Daisy in the spacious reception area, with its large desk and wall of products to tempt. To the right you’ll find a dedicated mani-pedi suite. Here, she handed us white robes and bands to wear to operate the lockers, and invited us to complete consultation forms at will (but before treatments) by using the QR code to download a digital form. Need flip-flops? You can purchase a branded pair here for £6.95.

The changing rooms are spacious and squeaky clean with wooden lockers operated via wristband (forgotten which one is yours? Put your wristband up to a screen and it will handily tell you), spacious showers, plenty of loos, white towels to help yourself to and a vanity bar with hairdryers. Take the door out marked ‘Forest Spa’ - availing yourself of the cleansing bar ahead if you wish (and as many were) - and head down to spa nirvana.

We began our journey at Sole Therapy, Japanese footbaths with ceramic benches and bubbling floor panels set around a central fountain. The spa’s warmer-than-average Outdoor Spa Pool is opposite – head down a handful of steps from the inside and turn left. Bird song on a speaker and foliage (albeit fake) hanging down from an open sky makes this a lovely spot to wallow, particularly in the sunshine. Pummel those shoulders under one of two central swan necks before heading to the far end to bubble away at the touch of a button.

Back inside, and opposite the pool, is a circuit of heat rooms: Lava Volcanic Sauna (hot, dry), Volcanic Steam (warm steam in an amber glow), Volcano Mists (a refreshing shower experience), Fireside Relax (relax by crackling fires) and Waterfall Shower (select a programme to suit your mood).

Behind the pool is a Nordic area which joined the spa as part of the refurbishment. The huge Sauna is one of the largest this Spa Spy has seen with floor-to-ceiling windows offering garden views. The soothing dry heat affords a good amount of time in here, so settle in and relax.

Cool down in the Ice Cave afterwards, snapping stalactites of ice from the ceiling above to rub on your warm body. Warm up again in the huge Alpine Sauna, bathed in green, before cooling down in the Forest Rain Walk, a sequence of shower experiences.

A door form here leads outside to a separate round building: Scandinavian Snug – all fur, fires and squishy sofas. Beyond here are three bubbling hot tubs, each accessed via two steps. Wall hooks allow you to de-robe before climbing in; push a button on the side for bubbles. Rattan day beds and sofas afford post-bubbling relaxation.

The spa is arranged in a circuit so if you can’t find the internal stairs to the second floor, just keep walking around until you reach the Forest Canopy sign, then head up. There’s as much on offer here as there is on the lower floor with Forest Nesting (large comfortable beds with ambient lighting), Deep Relax (water beds with heavy blankets), Sweet Slumber (heated, body-contoured loungers), Forest Glade (a steam room in a forest setting with cooling mists on a timer – although this was too hot to stay in long enough on our visit), Rainforest Showers, The Nest (dry heat with panoramic views), Forest View (an immersive forest experience) and Forest Meditation (gaze up at the forest sky from the comfort of a huge bed). Phew.

Six hours in the spa (including lunch and a 50-minute treatment) was just long enough to experience it all at leisure. Lost (and you might well be)? Refer to the comprehensive map at the entrance to the spa. Help yourself to water and crisp green apples throughout the day. Baskets on the floor contain dry robes and towels; spa hosts in attractive sage uniforms circulate regularly.

TREATMENT TALK

We tried a Voya Organic Illuminating Facial (50 minutes, £99).

My therapist, Ashleigh, met me in the pre-treatment waiting area and led me to treatment room 1 (of 19), a compact yet cosy space with a bed in the middle.

Ashleigh explained the steps of the facial before leaving the room to allow me to pop on a pair of disposable undies and get comfortable on the bed, lying face up.

Returning, Ashleigh checked the temperature of the room and asked about my daily skincare routine (cleanse, tone, serum, eye cream, moisturiser) before enquiring how my skin behaves (no blemishes but generally dehydrated).

The facial began with a double cleanse using Voya’s Totally Balmy balm followed by their Cleanse & Mend milky cleanser. Ashleigh wiped both layers off with incredibly warm – and soothing – mitts.

A Ritzy Spritzy toner closed the pores in preparation for a scrub to clear my skin of any impurities. Next up: a Hydra Viel Mask which my skin literally drank in. While it did so, Ashleigh treated my scalp to a deliciously rigorous massage, moving my head form side-to-side afterwards to release tension from my neck.

The treatment ended with some serum, small dots of eye cream and a dollop moisturiser. After handing me a glass of water and a mirror to inspect her work (top marks for glowing skin), Ashleigh led me through to the relaxation room where I met my spa partner looking glowing after his Comfort Zone HydraGlow Facial (50 minutes, £89).

FOOD FACTS

Spa guests can enjoy a drink, lunch or afternoon tea en robe in the newly-refreshed Vitale Café Bar, with its table-top trees adorned with fairy lights and deep red leather bank seating. Doors at the back open for alfresco dining, which we took advantage of on our sunny August visit.

Included in our spa day was one main course and a drink (either tea, coffee, juice, a fizzy drink or Prosecco - which we went for). On the menu: pasta dishes, wraps, salads and Buddha bowls; desserts, wines are afternoon tea are extra.

For our main course, we opted for the chicken Caesar salad which was light and creamy with plenty of succulent chicken breast; our spa partner went for the Seasonal Special: lemon and olive oil linguine with pesto, feta and pine nuts served with a side salad. Both dishes were perfectly light and summery.

WE LOVED…

The size of the spa: whether swimming, sleeping, relaxing, reading or steaming up / cooling down, Aqua Sana Elveden’s huge footprint means there’s plenty to experience.

Our treatments were just what the doctor ordered.

Our lunch was just the right side of healthy-cum-indulgent – perfect for a spa day.

WHAT BUBBLE RATING DID YOU AWARD THIS SPA?

We awarded Aqua Sana Elveden Forest Spa a Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of 5 Bubbles for its mountain of experiences to try (both indoors and out), healthy spa café and extensive treatment menu.