Fawsley Hall Hotel & Spa

In the picturesque Northamptonshire countryside, overlooking a peaceful lake, Fawsley Hall is a Tudor-style property. Henry VIII once entertained here, and pictures of his wives hang from the wood-panelled walls. Today, the property is part of the Handpicked Hotel group. The Cedar Restaurant has two AA rosettes, while the attractive spa and health club -- with its chunky sandstone brickwork and vintage wood door -- is located in a separate building.

The light and airy spa reception has wooden floors and exposed brick walls. You'll find comfortable seating, a self-service kitchen area, and stations of Elemis and Comfort Zone products to sample.

Sian warmly welcomed us and took us through to the conservatory so we could fill out a consultation form. She brought us a peppermint tea and an Elemis spa bag containing a waffle robe, flip-flops and Comfort Zone shampoo, conditioner and shower gel to use in the showers. We liked the comprehensive consultation form which covered a range of lifestyle topics from diet and fitness to hormone levels and sleep patterns.

A blend of sandstone brickwork and modern grey slate tiles make up the small changing rooms, which have two toilets, two individual showers, three sinks and a wall of dark wood, keypad-operated lockers by which you can change. There are two hairdryers for post-showering, plus a swimsuit dryer and bags. A private changing room with wheelchair access is next door.

The centrepiece of the spa is a 17-metre pool surrounded by rattan loungers. Floor-to-ceiling windows along one side flood the space with light and showcase the pretty spa garden. There's a sauna and steam room next to the pool; both were lovely and hot on our visit.

Outside is a delightfully warm hydro-pool on the patio of the spa garden. Sit back, relax and listen to birdsong as you bubble away. During the warmer months, you can relax on one of the many rattan loungers in this beautiful space. Champagne and locally-made ice cream are available at extra cost but would make a great accompaniment to a lazy summer afternoon in the spa garden.  

Fawsley Hall Spa's dedicated post-treatment relaxation room is tucked away up a spiral staircase above the treatment rooms; it has faux candles, white ergonomic beds, and cosy brown fleeces to snuggle under. We loved the noise-cancelling headphones playing soothing music and the wide range of magazines on offer.

If you come for a spa day, you can also use the fully-equipped Matrix fitness studio which has treadmills, bikes, cross trainers and rowing machines, as well as weights. Personal trainers were available for sessions on our visit.

We enjoyed an Elemis Hot Mineral Body Boost (55 minutes, £75).

My therapist, Georgia, met me in the relaxation room and took me through to a spacious, candle-lit treatment room. We talked through the treatment and discussed my consultation form.

I lay face-down on the treatment bed, underneath a fluffy towel. Georgia began the treatment by gently pouring hot oil up one side of my body, using long sweeping motions to massage it into my skin. The oil had a subtle scent which reminded me of the ocean and helped to calm my mind. She repeated this on the opposite side of my body before performing more targeted work on my back and shoulders.

The warm oil helped ease any tension, while the short, targeted massage worked out knots. Georgia used a combination of hands and elbows to achieve deep pressure, moving my arms to different positions to tackle any area of tension around my shoulder blades.

I was in a pretty blissful state by the time Georgia asked me to turn on my back so that she could repeat the massage on my front. The head, neck and décolletage massage marking the end of the treatment was the best I've ever encountered. 

Georgia handed me a glass of water before walking me to the dark relaxation room. My dry, thirsty skin felt soft and nourished and, thanks to the refreshing oils used in the massage, I felt uplifted and energised.

Fawsley Hall offers a vast range of Elemis facials, massages (lava shell, hot stone, aromatherapy), reflexology, manicures, pedicures and eyebrow shaping. Comfort Zone treatments include wraps, scrubs and a ritual for new mums.

If you come for a spa day, you can enjoy afternoon tea or a two-course lunch in the Tudor Bar and Lounge in the main hotel. However, you will need to be fully dressed to do so.

There is a wide selection of dishes to choose from, so you can indulge or opt for a lighter lunch as you please. We loved our chicken and Mexican bean salad which was light, fresh and zingy.

If you're staying the night, you're in for a treat: the Cedar restaurant's two AA rosette menu accompanies an impressive wine list. Our ham hock and pickled cauliflower to start whet our appetites for our main course of rump beef, which was cooked to perfection and packed with flavour.

We loved

The countryside setting is simply breathtaking: Our visit felt like a real escape.

The comprehensive consultation form meant our treatment was perfectly tailored to our needs and preferences.

The high standard of customer service: Staff were polite, friendly and always on hand to help with queries. 

We didn't love

Having to get dressed for lunch: The food was delicious but having to de-robe broke up our spa journey somewhat.

Whilst the setting for Fawsley Hall is extremely tranquil, the spa itself is rather busy. While this makes it a great place for a catch-up with a friend or family-member, it isn't the best of places for deep relaxation.

Active spa goers: The 17-metre pool is perfect for swimming lengths and you can work out in the gym while enjoying the garden views.

The sociable nature of the spa at Fawsley Hall means it's popular with small groups of friends and mother-and- daughter duos.

We awarded the spa at Fawsley Hall a Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of 4 bubbles. This sociable spa has everything you need for a great day with friends or family. The high standard of customer service, good range of personalised treatments, delicious food and stunning setting make it a great place for a mini escape.

Scarlet Spy visited in May 2018 and awarded it 4 Bubbles.