Champneys Henlow

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

The iconic Champneys Henlow is set within a sprawling red-brick Georgian manor in Henlow, Bedfordshire. The property is surrounded by 150 acres of parkland next to a flowing river, running weir and romantic gardens – keep an eye out for deer, ducks and ducklings.

As well as 71 charming rooms and suites, you’ll find a cosy lounge, a restaurant, a pretty conservatory for sundowners and a huge spa. This year, Champneys celebrates 100 years since it first opened its doors to guests in desperate need of a health kick – quite the feat.

WHAT’S ON OFFER?

After checking into our room - and donning our robe and Champneys flip-flops - we headed down the winding staircase to the spa which runs across a long, candle-lit corridor.

The spa’s dry facilities follow a line with rooms to the left and right, including a mani/pedi studio, a hair salon, a fitness studio with Technogym equipment (the weights room is separate and opposite) and a comprehensive boutique selling Champneys products as well as designer handbags, flip-flops and posh choc. On the right from here you’ll find a large dance studio with ballet bar; tucked in the corner is a Rasul.

Keep walking and you’ll come across a Garden Room with hanging rattan egg chairs. A real strip of garden - with chocolate brown rattan egg chairs and huge plants - runs the length of the spa corridor, visible through full-heights windows as you saunter through en robe.

Changing rooms are sleekly bathed in marble with everything you could wish for, including a steam room and Laconium in the female changing rooms, and a steam room and sauna in the men’s – perfect for those favouring same sex facilities.

A highlight of this spa is the 25-metre main pool accessed from the changing rooms. The room is light and bright with white walls and huge windows set in a recess with sloping glass roof. At the far end: cream day beds big enough for four, divided for couples with a bolster; at the top end a sunken rectangular hydro-pool seating eight.

After swimming lengths, head to the Thalassotherapy pool towards the female changing rooms for bubbly bliss. The unisex sauna is here too and is super toasty with two levels of wooden seating. Or head out the door at the top end to the pretty spa garden dotted with lie-flat loungers. We loved the retro cream van selling glasses of wine and Prosecco. Saunter around in your robe, taking in the countryside views and marvelling at the large waterfall.

Don’t miss a dip in the sunken rectangular hydro-pool either – this was lovely and warm on our visit with plenty of jets for bubbling away.

TELL US ABOUT THE TREATMENTS

We tried the 100 Year Face & Body Reset (80 minutes, £150) designed exclusively to celebrate the centenary.

The spa’s Treatment Suite is like a spa in itself with a huge reception area luxed up with chandeliers, gold velvety circular sofas and a statement round ceiling light.

Kim, my therapist, met me here and led me to one of 40 treatment rooms. Inviting me to sit on a chair, Kim explained the reasoning behind the treatment: to showcase the history of Champneys. The first step: a glass of lemon water to signify that Champneys used to be the place to go to lose weight.

Kim then left the room so that I could disrobe and get comfortable on the treatment bed, lying face down. The treatment began with a spritz of a lemon and pine spray in the room; Kim then asked me to lift my head so that she could pop a heated mask over my eyes. Taking three deep breathes, I relaxed for the gentle back massage - Kim drizzling Aromaworks Serenity Oil onto my back and using long, soothing strokes to ease tension. She then grabbed a wooden paddle and ran it across my body in an upwards motion to aid lymphatic drainage. This felt wonderfully cooling. The paddle represents the past, when technology wasn’t part of spa-ing and more rudimentary methods – and instruments - were used.

Kim repeated this on each leg in turn before asking me to turn over so that she could work on the front of my legs, arms and hands.

For the facial element, Kim removed my eye mask and doubled cleansed my face before massaging my décolletage and shoulders, commenting on how tight they were. She then moved cold Cryo balls around my face, eye sockets and chin – used to represent a future where Cryotherapy machines and pods are the norm.

Next up: a nourishing mask; as this soaked in, Kim expertly massaged my head. The finishing products included an Elemis eye cream, their Pro Collagen Moisture Essence, a slick of Future Restore Serum and some Morning Matrix moisturiser.

Coming to, Kim tied a blue ribbon adorned with ‘100 years of Champneys’ around my wrist, and gifted me the room spray used at the start of the treatment, as well as a voucher for a complimentary cup of lemon tea from the spa café.

Champneys Henlow offers a range of its own treatments, as well as Clarins facials, ESPA and Elemis body treatments and facials, and Nails by Jessica.

FOOD FACTS

Spa goers can enjoy a delicious buffet lunch in the spa’s own restaurant with its outdoor terrace through French doors. Aqua squashy-backed bank seating runs the length of the room with comfy cream cushions to sit on; our spa partner can sank into one of the cream chairs opposite. Huge plates in earthy colours and vivid blues line the walls above. We loved the parquet flooring which - given the age of the property – could be original, and the gold ceiling lights above.

In the middle of the room: a table heaving with fresh buffet food. Look up at the lights created out of whisks – something this Spa Spy would love to recreate at home.

Arriving too late for lunch, we headed to the main restaurant for dinner with its vast menu of healthy dishes including starters (think: hot smoked salmon tart), mains (think: baked fillet of cod or roasted breast of duck) and desserts (spiced apple brioche pudding anyone?).

After much deliberation we tucked into a succulent North African Spiced Lamb Stew and a lighter Baked Khobez Flatbread with harissa hummus, artichokes, feta, rocket, mint yoghurt and olives. We complemented these dishes with two side salads: rocket, hard cheese shavings, cherry tomatoes and olives; and iceberg lettuce, ranch dressing, crispy onions and crumbled stilton. A glass of Prosecco was the perfect accompaniment. Too full for pud, we ordered a Champneys cheese plate to share and whisked it up to our luxe suite.

Breakfast the next day was a grand affair with no end of cereals, creamy granola pots, freshly baked nutty breads and all the pastries you could pass by (if you dare). We went for a toasted bagel with spicy guac and a perfectly poached egg, as well as endless cups of fresh coffee and a tomato juice with all the Worcester sauce and chilli flakes we could stomach. Yum.

WE LOVED / WE DIDN’T LOVE

We loved

Our luxe suite, with its dual aspect window seats looking out onto the garden, was a real treat.

Our treatment was the perfect combination of inventive, different and effective. Kim is a highly talented therapist who I would definitely book again.

The outdoor space: with its sunken hydro-pool, retro booze van, comfy loungers and plenty of grass to spread out on - it's a delight in the summer months.

We didn’t love

The plastic flowers and Astro turf we spotted on our visit: real stuff please, Champneys.

WHO DO YOU THINK WOULD LIKE IT?

Wellbeing gurus: this spa regularly wins awards for its wellbeing principles, treatments, ethos and classes.

Couples: this is an adults-only spa with plenty of places to cosy up, be it on the lawn, in a hydro-pool or in a cosy lounge in the main building.

Those looking for a reset: swim, treat yourself to a treatment or two, do some classes, eat healthily and relax. Want to learn more about wellbeing? Join one of the many sessions set up in the Elemis room.

WHICH BUBBLE RATING DID YOU AWARD THIS SPA?

We awarded Champneys Henlow a Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of 5 Bubbles for its iconic status, huge spa, good range of treatments and classes, and general approach to wellbeing.


Stylish Spy visited in August 2025 and awarded it 5 Bubbles