Champneys Tring

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Part of the Champneys family of spas, Champneys Tring is a handsome red-brick hotel set in 170 acres of Hertfordshire countryside. Glide up the long driveway to the imposing property which has light and airy rooms, green-finger-tended gardens, tennis courts, a restaurant and a spa.

Pioneering wellness since its inception in 1925, Champneys Tring is proud to call itself the World’s original spa retreat with many beauty and wellbeing breakthroughs in a history spanning almost 100 years. It still regularly scoops awards for its holistic approach to wellbeing.

WHAT'S ON OFFER?

Juxtaposing the rooms and suites, the spa facilities are very much the beating heart of the property - our garden wing bedroom was located directly opposite the gym. The facilities run in a circuit so you shouldn’t get lost; if you do (we did), there are handy maps to help get you back on track.

Day guests will use the changing rooms next to the gym which are fully functional but lacking in some facilities (straighteners please Champneys). The poolside changing rooms are much smarter with attractive pinky-purple mosaic tiles, light wooden lockers operated by a four-digit code, and a vanity section with four hairdryers and one pair of straighteners. Six showers behind glass doors ensure no wait times at busy periods, each equipped with large rain-shower heads and Elemis shampoo and bodywash. You’ll also find two loos and a swimsuit dryer here. Help yourself to rolled-up towels.

Guests preferring the company of the same sex will like the fact that the Laconium is located inside the changing rooms - mosaic-tile seating in creams, roses and purples - accommodates six spa goers at a time; the heat is sufficiently gentle. 

A door from here leads to the attractive indoor pool which – at 25 metres – is perfect for swimming lengths. Chairs (rather than loungers) give it something of a leisure centre feel; grab one of the two creamy leather day beds for more comfort. The water was the perfect temperature for 10 refreshing lengths on our visit, sunlight dappled through the Velux ceiling onto the water as we swam.

From here, the thermal facilities are a little harder to find, with guests having to head back through the wet changing rooms and around the circuit until they reach the large hydropool, with its bubble chairs and water feature doubling up as a swan neck for satisfying shoulder pummelling. To the right is a sunken hot tub seating around six; relax on large rattan loungers or day beds afterwards.

The jewel in the spa’s crown is located down a little corridor from here: a light-filled space with cream rattan chairs and daybeds in the centre and thermal facilities around the edge. A wall of glass offers attractive views of the garden. The sauna and steam room sit either side of a gold-backed plunge pool. Can’t face the plunge? Use the experience shower or ice fountain to cool down.

The sauna and steam room are both resplendent in bronze, heated to good temperatures and roomy enough for six to eight. We braved the plunge pool after a spin in both and found it more refreshing than head-spinning.

If it’s a sunny day, open the door and step out onto a terrace with its large sunken hot tub encased in glass panels adorned with fairy lights. Wooden loungers with dark grey cushions form places to relax - or slip out through a gap in the glass and take full stock of the huge garden beyond.

We loved watching robe-clad guests grab glasses of fizz from the refurbished Spa Café next door – with its summery pink and green hues, Art Deco lighting and bi-fold doors opening onto a terrace – and stride across to day beds, deck chairs and egg swing chairs to sit and sip. Cocktail hour at The Spa Café begins at a very convivial 2pm, even on a Wednesday.

Feeling guilty? Avail yourself of the badminton court, tennis courts, croquet lawn or table tennis tables in the garden; the two white bell tents set up on the immaculate lawn are, we could only assume after peering in, for Yoga and Pilates.

If the weather isn’t playing ball, there’s a sizeable gym with the latest equipment, an all singing-all-dancing boutique, a huge mani /pedi room (one of the nicest we’ve seen) two relaxation rooms, a knowledge pod, a hair salon and 65 treatment rooms. Boredom is not an option.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR TREATMENT

We tried the Heavenly Body Cocoon (50 minutes, price included in Original Spa Break packages).

My therapist, Alison, met me in the treatment waiting area - with its calming palettes of pinks and putties and impressive glass artwork hanging from the ceiling - and led me to a cosy treatment room with a shower in the corner. After enquiring about any concerns, Alison asked me to de-robe and get comfortable on the treatment bed, lying face down.

The treatment began with a scrub using a blend of sand and Champneys body lotion which the spa mixes themselves; the coarse substance felt like it was doing its job without feeling too abrasive. Alison then ran the shower and invited me to step in, turning the bed over as I washed the very last grain off.

Back on the bed and lying face down, Alison used Champneys own firming body butter to massage my skin, asking me to turn over so that she could repeat the process on my front before checking that it was OK to massage the butter into my stomach (it was).

The treatment ended with a scalp massage with oils and a very soothing foot massage which nearly sent me to sleep. Afterwards, our spa partner confirmed that this part of the treatment did, in fact, send him to the land of nod.

Champneys Tring has an extensive treatment menu with over 100 options to choose from, including high-tech facials, massages, scrubs, Mii manis and pedis, reflexology and more. They also have their own range of creams, scrubs and butters which are used in treatments, together with products from Elemis and Clarins.

FOOD FACTS

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in overnight stays and served in The Restaurant. Here, simple, seasonal ingredients are based around Champneys' own healthy cookbook. Lunch is very much a robe affair with glasses of wine paid for separately.

Dusty pinks, deep reds and soft whites pair beautifully with pale herringbone floors, an original stucco ceiling and statement lighting; French patio doors let the fresh countryside air in.

From a buffet, we tucked into a create-your-own Caesar salad which was fresh and tasty with pour-on Caesar dressing and succulent chicken. Hot dishes on offer during our stay included fish, rice, chicken thighs and light curries. Grab a little pot of loveliness for dessert or seasonal fruit from the large selection. A glass of light and fruity white wine proved to be the perfect lunch partner.

You’ll need to dress to return to The Restaurant for dinner, which was in full swing at 8pm on a Wednesday. The menu is extensive with a good range of starters, salads, fish dishes and heartier plates such as steaks and burgers.

We began our meal with chargrilled Halloumi with tomato basil salsa and grilled sourdough toast; our spa partner opted for the pan-seared Scallops with toasted coconut, pickled raisins and parsnip crisps.

For mains, we braved the seafood Mac ‘n’ Cheese – which was as bizarre as it was beautiful - and the Grilled Pork Chop with corn salsa and crispy onions. We complemented all our dishes with a bottle of light, summery rosé. Too full for a pud each, we ordered a blueberry and lemon Eton Mess, and two spoons.

WE LOVED / WE DIDN'T LOVE

We loved

Our room in the garden wing with its comfy lounge area, Jack-and-Jill bathroom and sliding door out onto the garden.

The cult status: if you love spas (and we know you do), you’ll fall for the history and ethos behind Champneys Tring.

The garden is fabulous on a summer’s day: grab a drink from the Spa Café, hunt out a free deckchair, lounger or day bed and settle in. Our afternoon sipping wine on swinging egg chairs gave us holiday feels.

We didn’t love

The changing rooms for day spa guests could do with some love.

WHO DO YOU THINK WOULD LIKE IT?

Health nuts: this is the original spa with an absolute mind-boggling number of treatments to choose from – from the classic to the cutting edge - as well as a 25-metre pool, large gym, and tennis and badminton courts. The food is healthy, too.

Couples: despite its health credentials, Champneys Tring is as romantic as hell, particularly under a blue sky.

Londoners can be here within a mere 50 minutes - lucky, lucky things.

WHAT BUBBLE RATING DID YOU AWARD THIS SPA?

We awarded Champneys Tring a Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of 5 Bubbles for its cult status, incredible choice of treatments, attractive thermal facilities, glorious gardens and good-for-your-gut grub.

Stylish Spy visited in July 2024 and awarded it 5 Bubbles