9 spas for a summer staycation

Ahh those summer holidays abroad… 4am alarm calls, long drives in the dark, airport chaos, missing luggage; you name it, we’ve had it. So much so that this particular Spa Spy will be shunning the fly and flop this year and booking a UK-based spa break instead. With a wide selection of countryside getaways, coastal retreats and buzzing cities to choose from, the only question is which spectacular spa to pick. Stylish Spy selects 9 of the best spas for a summer staycation – see you poolside.

Best for: new spa terraces - Hoar Cross Hall

With over 100,000sq ft of spa facilities on offer in 43 acres of Staffordshire grounds, as well as a variety of stay packages to book - from short resets to week-long retreats - Hoar Cross Hall is perfectly suited to guests seeking a change of pace this summer. This is one of Europe’s largest spas after all, featuring 10 saunas and steam rooms, a Saltwater pool, a Nordic Heat & Ice Suite, and a new Spa Terrace with three balmy Spa Pools, Juniper Log Sauna, Cabanas and Fire Pits. rooms are beautifully designed (book the one with the baby pink roll-top bath if you can); dining options so vast and varied fussy eaters won’t stand a chance. Complimentary bikes make exploring the woodland trails and nearby National Forest a breeze.

Best for lakes, lakes (and more lakes) - Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa

If being close to water is key to your summer staycation this year, look no further than Low Wood Bay. A luxury spa with spectacular scenery, Low Wood consistently wins awards for making the most of its enviable setting (did you also know that it was the first spa in Cumbria to be awarded the coveted 5 Bubble Luxury status by our very own Serene Spy?). As well as a comprehensive treatment menu and well-thought-out pools and facilities, the hotel has its own watersports centre, private jetty and art gallery, as well as two restaurants. You can even book falconry sessions. But its that scenery that seduces time and time again, with vistas across Lake Windermere and the Lakeland fells that are as captivating in the clement as the inclement.

Best for: music lovers - Hope Street Hotel Spa

Voted Best Spa in the North-West by The Times and The Sunday Times, Hope Street Hotel is ideal for city slickers wishing to explore the delights of Liverpool. The spa features a 15‑metre indoor pool with underwater music, an outdoor courtyard vitality pool and plenty of facilities to go hot and cold in; treatments, meanwhile, cover everything from anti-inflammatory CBD facials to salt stone massages. The hotel itself - all exposed brickwork and city views – has two restaurants (we loved The London Carriage Works). But it’s Hope Street’s Georgian Quarter location that really sings with its nods to music; this is the home of the Philharmonic Orchestra, the city’s Music College and a tremendous Beatles tribute. With some of Liverpool’s best bars, theatres and cafes here too, boredom is simply not an option.

Best for: Coastal spa-ing - Serenity Spa at Seaham Hall

As well as a hotel with all the trimmings (including suites with side-by-side freestanding tubs), guests at Seaham Hall can book one of the property’s self-catering lodges, perfect for families wishing to DIY their meals and hang out uninhibited. All overnight stays at Seaham Hall include complimentary spa access; the Outdoor Zen Garden is perfect for soaking up the sun, while medical grade skin treatments facilitate summer glow ups (the spa is the first in the UK to team up with Novara Skin and Aesthetics). After a day exploring the creamy coastline, order a seasonal smoothie and relax poolside. For coastal mains with a watery view sides, book a table at The Dining Room. Gecko is the spa’s new wellness restaurant where you can tuck into Asian-inspired Tapas on a sunny terrace.

Best for: adults-only spa-ing - Gaia Spa at Boringdon Hall

If kids are likely to put the kybosh on your spa time, book into Gaia at Boringdon Hall, an adult-only spa overlooking Dartmoor National Park. Enjoy uninterrupted time in the spa’s indoor infinity pool, outdoor hydro-pool, saunas and steam rooms before booking a Gaia skincare ritual, two-hour holistic journey or gua sha session. Lunch with a view is provided at Spatisserie with its menu of healthy brunches, afternoon teas and cocktails. For longer stays, book one of the hotel’s new Signature Spa Breaks including accommodation, full spa and wellness studio access (for yoga, Pilates and fitness classes), a 60‑minute Gaia treatment, breakfast, dinner at either Michelin-starred Àclèaf or the Mayflower Brasserie and 10% off additional spa sessions. When you’re done spa-ing – and it could take a while – the Delights of Devon are just a blob of clotted cream away.

Best for: outdoor spa-ing - The Spa at Carden

The Spa at Carden features England’s largest spa garden with heated outdoor vitality pools, hot tubs, experience showers and a wealth of spaces to relax and sip a glass of something cold. If the sun has got its hat on (and here’s hoping), you’ll never consider the Costa Brava again. If being outside is really your bag, the 1,000-acre Carden Estate has scenic walking trails, a championship golf course and activities such as archery and Segway on tap. Gorgeous grub can be found in several on-site restaurants – for special occasions, 3 AA rosette The Vines is a must. A good number of the bedrooms were refurbished this year – ask for one when making a reservation. Summer discounts for longer stays include £50 off two nights, £90 off three and £140 off four or more.

Best for: spa + shopping: The Spa at Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly

Not a holiday unless you’ve maxed out that credit card? When it comes to spending, you can really go for broke in Manchester. A love of the alternative can be properly sated in the city’s Northern Quarter; for shopping centres try the Manchester Arndale Centre, intu or the Trafford Centre. Cathedral Street has designer stores aplenty. When the plastic starts to weep, take refuge in the Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly next to the train station. A full refurbishment has ensured that even the standard rooms are some of the largest in the city. The spa – with its sauna, steam room and ice fountain – showcases Elemis and Tribe 517 in a good range of treatments. Book a weekend escape and enjoy a glass of Prosecco on arrival, afternoon tea and dinner. That’ll do nicely.

Best for: a chic getaway - The Club at Cottonmill

A stone’s throw from the vibrant city of St Albans, Sopwell House is a popular spot with locals and Londoners looking for a chic getaway (this Spa Spy can certainly vouch for the new corner suites with their spacious dressing areas, balconies and Gin trays). The spa garden is a thing of beauty with double day beds, sunken hot tubs and pools aplenty. Order a glass of fizz from a passing spa host to really get into the holiday spirit. The spa’s child-free policy will assist here, too. Inside, the spa has two floors of spacious steam rooms, saunas, relaxation rooms and places to eat. Don’t miss dinner at Omboo, with its finger-licking Asian sharing platters, or the new hotel’s cocktail bar: Octagon. New for the summer: weekly barbeques.

Best for: capital spa-ing - The Beaumont Spa

Sightseeing in London during the summer months isn’t for the faint-hearted, particularly with children in tow. The whitewashed Beaumont Mayfair, tucked down a side street of this golden postcode, is the perfect antidote to the city’s bustle, yet minutes from Bond Street and Oxford Street. Use of the art-deco inspired spa – with its plunge pool, steam room, sauna and hair salon - is complimentary for all hotel guests, with treatments extra. Want a massage or facial in the comfort of your room? Book ahead for an hour-long session. Exceptional dining here includes grills and steaks in The Colony Grill (with its corner piano), afternoon tea in The Gatsby Room (with its floor-to-ceiling wine fridges) and classic cocktails in Le Magritte Bar. Feeling refreshed? Our glorious capital awaits.