Eden Hall Day Spa

Eden Hall Day Spa is an impressive Gothic-style building dating back to 1875 set in beautifully maintained gardens and lawns. It's full of historical charm and features but the décor is stylish, bright and modern.

We were lucky to visit on one of the hottest days of the year and the spa team had certainly prepared. Dozens of sun loungers were waiting in the lavender-lined gardens and complimentary SPF was available at reception if you'd been caught out.

A friendly butler welcomed us at the front door, and asked us to take a seat while a second butler poured us a cranberry tea. As he did so, we filled out a consultation form and received our treatment and lunch times, and a key-card that you can use to charge for extra drinks and snacks. The reception area, along with the rest of the spa, is radiant with light, fresh and well maintained.

Eden Hall spa is set over two floors with lots to do. We recommend a spa tour so you don't miss anything, but you do get a little map along with a class timetable.

The changing rooms are impressively spacious. The spa was nearly full on the day we visited but the changing area never felt busy. The space is divided into sections of private cubicles, pockets of lockers, mirrored vanity stations with hairdryers, and toilets and showers. You have plenty of places to sit down.

The lockers were easy to use and are big enough to hang up your clothes. Each holds a large fluffy gown and two towels; more towels are at reception if you need them. Body lotion is in the vanity area, while shampoo, conditioner and body wash are available in the showers: all by Spa Find.

The thermal spa suite has twelve different hot and cold zones; they surround the central feature of motion-controlled tropical and cool mist showers. We especially loved these and wanted to try them first. At the beginning of the day, the showers were quite busy with people cooing and laughing as the gentle aromatic warm and cool mist circled them; later on, they were quieter.

The surrounding heat experiences are all generous in size and each can easily fit between 10-12 people. The herbal caldarium was popular: it has a calming lavender aroma. We had to come back to use it later in the day as it was busy and we didn't fancy squishing into each other. You can also try the steamy salt inhalation room, rose-infused steam room, sauna and the saunarium that heats up to 60 degrees. Cool body jets, warm body showers and monsoon showers are dotted in between to refresh your body (with little yelps heard when someone selects the icy cold option).

The ever-popular foot-baths were quite cool (not cold) with water trickling down the tiled mosaic seats: wonderfully refreshing.

Plenty of reclining loungers line the 25-metre salt-water pool. The pool has two corner areas with bubble jets and swan-neck showers. You can also swim outside to the vitality pool.

In the gardens, we found a few hidden nooks to sit and look onto the lily ponds. There were plenty of sun loungers amongst the lavender and bamboo and two outside hot tubs overlooking the lawns. 

A couple of personal training lessons were being held in the quieter corners of the grounds and an outdoor Boot Camp was available on the day, too. The gym is well equipped and the exercise studio has lots of interesting classes such as archery, guided mediation and hula hooping, All are included in your spa day, so we recommend booking in advance.

The "slumber lounge" is a dark, calming and quiet space with smaller beds for one and larger beds for couples to snooze. At the back are hanging cocoon pods where you can close the curtain and take a nap.

The spa also has manicure/pedicure rooms and a shop stocking gifts, candles and swimwear, with products from Clarins, Elemis, Spa Find and Jessica on offer. You can also purchase flip-flops if you have forgotten to bring your own.

Up a flight of stairs are the dining rooms, treatment reception area with 30 therapy rooms, and two conservatories. One is the post-treatment conservatory with large ergonomic beds. (Top tip: take your sunglasses; it's quite dazzling after a treatment.)

The second is the more social conservatory, a beautiful glassed open space with wicker chairs and tables surrounding a large circular central sculpture. Here you can order indulgent treats such as churros, Pimms and vitamin-packed smoothies. A cute ice-cream cart means you can choose a gelato and wander outside onto the decking. In the colder months, curl up with a hot water bottle and a good book. Both conservatories have fabulous views over the lawns and gardens and have been restored to their former glory.

We tried the Elemis Superfood Pro Radiance facial (55 minutes, £65) which is new to Eden Hall's spa menu for summer 2016.

Colette, my therapist, guided me to a treatment room which was tastefully decorated with dark tones, twinkly lights on the ceiling, and three beautiful glass lanterns hanging over the basin.

Colette asked about my concerns (lines!) and explained that the treatment would give a nutritional boost to my skin and leave it feeling smoother and fresher. The facial is based on massage, so my face, head, shoulders, arms and hands were all going to be included. Perfect.

After I settled on the warmed bed, Colette draped my arms and feet with large towels and started with three deep breaths. She massaged my face with cleanser and folded a warm lime-infused towel, which smelled divine, over my skin. After a soothing shoulder massage, Colette applied a thick peel-off mask, then paid some attention to my head. Her deep kneading movements felt incredibly relaxing; I had to try to stay awake. Once she removed the mask, my skin was already feeling refreshed. Colette applied another warm lime-infused towel, then a facial massage and one final mask. While this mask was soaking in, Colette worked on my arms and hands. The finishing serums and moisturisers smelled beautiful and were well suited to my skin type. My facial was completed with three deep breaths.

My face certainly felt smoother and well hydrated; this is a great spa facial for a "pick me up".

At Eden Hall, you can choose from a range of body, face and nail therapies from Clarins, Elemis, Jessica, Lava Shells, and Jennifer Young, whose treatments are suited to those living with or recuperating from cancer. Men and mums-to-be can also choose from some specific treatments.

You eat lunch in a central buffet room with smaller dining rooms leading off a corridor. It was once a chapel, so is very ornate with an elaborate wooden ceiling.

A host guided us to our table then our waitress brought over a bottle of water; you can add any other drinks to your key-card.

Included in your spa day is a three-course menu and a well-stocked and attractive buffet. Prawn cocktails, cold meats, fish, salads, fruit and artisan breads were on offer, as well as a pasta bar, where the chef will cook fresh pasta while you wait.

I opted for grilled halloumi cheese with a tomato and cucumber brochette, followed by fillet of bream with nicoise salad. I couldn't resist the white chocolate cheesecake with raspberry compote for dessert. All equally delicious. 

We loved

The thermal suite: It is vast with lots to do. The central mist chambers are a great addition and there is a good mix of heat and water facilities.

The food: Each spa day includes a three-course lunch which is tasty, varied and indulgent. The superlative salads and while-you-wait pasta bar were certainly highlights.

The outside space: We were lucky enough to visit on a warm day, so we headed outside to bask in the sun on the plentiful loungers, wander around the gardens, and bob in the outside section of the pool. After one day, we left feeling as if we'd been away for much longer.

We didn't love

The post-treatment conservatory is stunning but, as the sun was out in all its glory, it was far too bright after the dark treatment room.

The hot water bottles: Usually we would have loved them, but would have appreciated something more seasonal such as a cool spritzer.

Locals: Nottingham, Leicester and Lincoln are all within 30 minutes' drive. Eden Hall has regular local visitors.

Foodies: The ice cream cart is adorable; we wished we had room for one after lunch!

Social spa goers: Eden Hall was awarded the Best Spa for Sociable Spa-ing in the Good Spa Guide Awards in 2015, and you can see why. There are plenty of lounges, conservatories and outside spaces that don't feel cramped.

Once again, we awarded Eden Hall Day Spa a Good Spa Guide rating of 5 bubbles. The attentive service starts from the moment you arrive with a welcome drink and carries on throughout. The choice of what's on offer is excellent.

The team at Eden Hall are used to a busy spa, so it doesn't feel crowded and the spa is beautifully maintained.

Super Spy visited in July 2016 and awarded it 5 Bubbles.