Fawsley Hall Hotel & Spa

First Impressions

Fawsley Hall Hotel and Spa is an impressive country pile set in the rolling Northamptonshire countryside. Rich in history, this opulent Tudor manor was once a royal bolthole; Queen Elizabeth I rested her crown-weary head here. Free-roaming sheep graze contentedly on the lawn. Fawsley Hall became part of the Handpicked Hotels portfolio in 2013; it has 60 bedrooms and a two AA Rosette Restaurant.

The Spa at Fawsley Hall sits within a separate building - a renovated coach house to the right of the hotel - which underwent a £1.5M refurbishment in 2021.

What's on offer?

Spa guests can park in the main car park and head straight to the renovated spa building. Impressive glass doors lead to a light and spacious reception area which cleverly pairs exposed sandstone brick, wood beams and original windows with white walls, modern pendulum lights, and a cool palette of pale pinks and greens. Behind the spa reception is the Spatisserie café where you’ll find your designated table – complete with mini blackboard welcoming you by name to the spa (a lovely touch) – and your fluffy white robe, flip flops and towel bundle.

After filling in the consultation forms and pre-ordering lunch, we were given a tour by our Spa Host, Sian, before being shown to the changing rooms.

The changing rooms are calm and spacious with natural-hued floor tiles, wood effect walls and silver accessories. On entering you'll find three white hand basins beneath rounded silver mirrors to your left and a vanity area - with its row of GHD hairdryers and straighteners perfect for post-spa preening in front of Hollywood-style mirrors – behind. Lockers, of which there are plenty, are operated by a key code; undress beside one of several benches or nip into one of two private changing cubicles. Each of the four showers contained Scentered De-Stress body & hand lotion, shampoo and conditioner. You’ll find the swimsuit dryer just outside the changing rooms.

The re-imagined 17-metre pool looks sleek with a dark grey wall on one side and floor-to-ceiling glass on the other. The pool is large enough to swim laps, although not particularly deep at just 1-metre. Perfect your back-stroke while looking up at the mirrored ceiling which is illuminated with spotlights. Poolside you’ll find a deliciously hot Finnish sauna and steam room.

Relax after a swim on one of the several rattan loungers and look out onto the terrace. Complimentary iced water is available on every side table and is topped up regularly. Around the corner, you’ll find two thermal rooms: a Himalayan Salt room with a glowing orange and red brick wall and a gently-heated herbal sauna - scented on our visit with peppermint - with comfy curved wooden bench seats. There are a further six grey cushioned rattan loungers beside a shower.

Open the glass doors to access the spa’s pièce de résistance: a sleek infinity-edged hydropool surrounded by white pebbles. We sank into the steamy pool and enjoyed 365-degree views of the spa and towering tree-tops. Drinks can be ordered poolside and delivered in plastic glasses by one of the Spatisserie team.

If the sun is shining, climb the steps to the raised garden area beyond the pool and breathe in the country air. Feeling restless? Head to the spacious gym beside reception and work out in front of green fields, visible through floor-to-ceiling glass.

You’ll find the treatment rooms down a flight of stairs from the reception area. Take the spiral staircase from here up to the mezzanine floor where the relaxation room lives; five beds, fleecy blankets and colourful lights projected on the ceiling will help you zone out.

Tell us about the treatments

We tried the Elemis Deep Tissue Massage (55 minutes, £95) followed by the Elemis Expert Touch Nourish Facial (55 minutes, £95).

Megan, my therapist, talked me through the treatment before leaving the room so that I could disrobe and lay face down on the heated bed.

After a lovely warm foot cleanse, Megan used ultra-hydrating frangipani oil containing frangipani flowers and coconut oil for the deep tissue massage. Megan’s slow, firm back massage left me melting into the bed. Long firm strokes down the back with her hands were alternated with her forearms, which she moved outwards on reaching my shoulder blades. This did wonders for my overly tight shoulders (caused by too much driving and typing on my laptop – not at the same time, mind).

Moving onto my arms, legs and hands, Megan focussed on every joint, easing them loose with firm, deep strokes. Turning onto my back, Megan covered my eyes with a heated mask and popped cushions under my knees to ensure my lower back was comfortable. She continued massaging the front of my legs, arms, hands, neck and décolleté - her flowing movements sending me into a deep state of relaxation.

The facial element of the treatment commenced with a double cleanse, tone and exfoliate before the application of the thick cooling mask; while this worked its magic Megan commenced a firm scalp massage. Finally, she massaged my face using skin-lifting massage techniques before applying a heavenly-scented Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Oil. When Megan gently touched my shoulder to indicate the treatment was finished, I was reluctant to open my eyes.

Fawsley Hall offers a vast range of massages, facials and signature treatments including Elemis Biotec facials, Comfort Zone rituals and OTO CBD body treatments. The spa also offers treatments for pregnant women, reflexology and nails by Mii.

Food Facts

You can eat in your robe in the Spatisserie Café under a wood-beamed ceiling with hanging pendulum lights. An exposed brick wall lines one side of the café with floor-to-ceiling glass showing off the hydropool on the other.

On the menu: nibbles, sandwiches, salads and healthy plates, such as smashed avocado on sourdough bread, plus tempting fresh cakes. A selection of desserts and afternoon tea with wine and Champagne is also available. Dietary requirements can be catered for on request. We opted for a light dish of hummus served with warm flatbread sprinkled with sea salt.

If you’re staying the night, don’t miss dinner in the two AA Rosette Cedar Restaurant located in the South Wing of the hotel. Start the evening in the Great Hall where you can pre-order your dinner from beneath a striking 14-metre high ceiling. Built in the 16th-century, Henry VIII once entertained here; portraits of his many wives hang from the wood-panelled walls. The fireplace is big enough for a tree trunk and certainly plenty large enough for the Yule log which was is said to have to burned here non-stop for the 12 days of Christmas.

Once your starter is ready, you’ll be escorted to your table in the restaurant. There are several extra courses including three very tasty canapes (smoked salmon ‘meringue’, a tiny tart of rich soft beef and goat’s cheese in a choux bun) followed by an intensely flavoured tomato confit with chives served cold in a small cup. Our starter of sea trout with tiny beetroots and samphire was perfectly cooked; our lemon sole with a crab ravioli for mains full of intense flavour. Our spa partner managed three perfectly ripe local cheeses with quince jelly for dessert (we had no option but to throw in the towel).

We loved / we didn't love

We loved

The bubbly outdoor hydropool: set in a central courtyard, this stays warm and sheltered whatever the weather.

The setting is simply breathtaking: the historic hotel is surrounded by 2,000 acres of parkland; the gardens were designed by Capability Brown.

The attentive proactive staff: ice water was consistently being topped-up at poolside loungers and there is always someone close to hand to bring a drink, find a dry towel or answer your questions.

We didn’t love

Hearing spa goers coming and going from the treatment rooms.

The spa garden is very sheltered by trees, but does need more than a few wicker loungers.

Who do you think would like it?

Friends: the spa has everything you need for a spa day with pals. 

Anyone who needs to unwind: the spa offers retreat days, starting with some meditation, then a guided walk through the woods followed by a session of forest bathing.

History lovers: as soon as you turn into the long drive you could be in a Gainsborough painting of rolling countryside, huge oak trees that have stood for hundreds of years, sheep safely grazing in front of the village church and the hall itself complete with towers and turrets.

What bubble rating did you give this spa?

We awarded The Spa at Fawsley Hall Hotel A Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of 5 Bubbles for its beautiful, historic location; sleek light-filled spa; super-attentive staff; and good range of treatments.

Sybaritic Spy visited in September 2024 and awarded it 5 Bubbles.