Fawsley Hall Hotel & Spa

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 a 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 coach house 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, Abbie, 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 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, flooding the room with natural light. 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 – the latter was sadly out of order on our visit.

Relax after a swim on one of the six pool-side 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 with calming lavender - with comfy curved wooden bench seats. Can’t find a comfy seat? You’ll find 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. Spa heaven can be reached by ordering a poolside drink from 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. Get horizontal on one of the rattan loungers and admire the landscaped gardens and chimney top vista.

Feeling restless? Head to the new 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.

We tried the Elemis Freestyle Deep Tissue Massage (55 minutes, £89) followed by the Elemis Pro-Glow Smooth Facial (55 minutes, £89).

My serene-like therapist, Megan, met me in the spa reception and led me to a low-lit treatment room named Bluebell. Megan talked me through the treatment – noting my request for firm pressure in the massage - before leaving the room so that I could disrobe and lay face down on the heated bed.

After a foot cleanse, Megan commenced the deep tissue massage by pouring ultra-hydrating frangipani oil on to my back; using firm strokes on forearms and elbows, she focused on the collection of knots in my shoulders before moving to my lower back, easing the tightness in my troublesome right hip. She continued massaging my legs, releasing tension in my thighs that I never knew I had.

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 heavenly scalp massage. Finally, she massaged my face using skin-lifting massage techniques before applying eye cream.

Megan gently roused me, fetched me a glass of water and placed a heated towel on the floor for me to stand on while I popped my robe on. She then led me up the windy stairs to the relaxation room.

Afterwards, I felt truly relaxed; my tight muscles were soothed and my face plumped, soft and glowing.

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 Jessica.

Feast in your robe in the new 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.

We opted for the Caesar salad with chicken, anchovies, and garlic and rosemary croutons; my spa partner devoured a toasted goat’s cheese and red onion marmalade ciabatta. A slice of the (recommended) lemon drizzle cake was light, fluffy and delicious.  

A tempting selection of desserts and afternoon tea with wine and Champagne is also available. Dietary requirements can be catered for on request.

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; we sunk into a comfy sofa and sipped classic cocktails – an Old Fashioned and an Elderberry Collins - under the watchful gaze of his many wives, whose portraits hang from the wood-panelled walls.

Once your starter is ready, you’ll be escorted to your table in the restaurant; the Tudor-era architecture is stunning – all arched windows, exposed brickwork and oversized fireplaces. We feasted on a light (and delicious) Wye Valley asparagus with quail egg truffle and garlic flowers from Fawsley’s garden, followed by 28-day aged melt-in-the-mouth Angus fillet steak with wild mushroom sauce, Jenga chips, grilled king oyster mushroom and watercress – washed down with a full-bodied Malbec. Regretfully, we were too stuffed for dessert, despite the temptation of the blackcurrant and chocolate mousse with cassis sorbet.

We loved

The bubbly outdoor hydropool: The centrepiece of the spa is as sleek as it is toasty - we loved it.

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

The attentive, friendly and proactive staff: ice water was consistently being topped-up at poolside loungers (no spa hydration here) and complementary sun cream was offered to guests in the spa garden; you’ll spot the spa hosts in their fancy aubergine-hued uniforms.

We didn’t love

Hearing spa goers coming and going from the treatment rooms, thankfully we were too relaxed, mid-massage, to care.

Small groups of friends: the Spatisserie café is the perfect spot to catch up with a bestie over afternoon tea and Champagne.

Couples: the hotel and grounds are very romantic, and the hydro pool screams “moonlit dip for two.”

History lovers: Fawsley Hall tingles with Tudor history; book the Master Suite to spend the night in a room where Elizabeth I once rested her head.

We awarded The Spa at Fawsley Hall Hotel the 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.

Scarlet Spy visited in August 2023 and awarded it 5 Bubbles.