And the winners are...

Good Spa Guide celebrated the Best Regional Spas in the industry at a lavish afternoon tea yesterday at Piccadilly’s Fortnum and Mason. In a distinctly Christmassy-themed event, eight UK spas were crowned the best in their region; we also celebrated the winner of the coveted Best New Spa award for 2024, a fought-ly-won title with some hot contenders.

The regional awards - sponsored by ESPA - are based on our rigorous Bubble Rating system as well as opinion of our Spa Spies following individual visits. Taking the crown is no easy feat.

Dressed in their finest, industry leaders and representatives from the world of spa gathered to sip fizz and catch up before sitting down to a pretty afternoon tea, with layers of sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and pretty little cakes, as well as pots of tea.

And here they are folks - your 2024 regional winners:

Best Spa in London, sponsored by Elemis
Guerlain Spa at Raffles London

The Guerlain Spa at Raffles London at The OWO is a serenely restorative spa, coupled with a contemporary fitness space that completes the transformation of this historic address. Spanning 27,000sq ft, and spread across four floors, the Guerlain Spa was conceived by interior design studio Goddard Littlefair. A calming and secluded space, it’s home to a 20-metre indoor pool, vitality pool, sauna, steam and experience showers. Guerlain take care of treatments for face, body and mind.

Best Spa in the South-East
The Spa at South Lodge

This nature-inspired spa makes the most of its South Downs location with floor-to-ceiling glass; their sustainability credentials are industry leading (a B Corp spa, no less). The staff are super-friendly but professional, the food exciting, and the treatments luxurious and effective. The spas new product range, in partnership with Pelegrims, uses grape leaf extract from the 19,500 vines in spa’s very own vineyard.

Best Spa in the East Midlands & East
The Spa at Breedon Priory

The Spa at Breedon Priory is a contemporary, no-expense-spared glass-fronted spa sunk into the landscape in peaceful Derbyshire. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook an impeccably landscaped garden and 24 acres of countryside in the charming village of Melbourne. Highly skilled therapists provide treatments from Temple Spa, Tribe 517 and Proverb; service is top class with a dedicated spa host attending to every whim.

Best Spa in the West Midlands & Wales, sponsored by Natura Bissé
Hoar Cross Hall

Nestled in the picturesque Staffordshire countryside, surrounded by well-loved gardens, Hoar Cross Hall is an idyllic spa resort destination which now adds a brand new £3million spa terrace, to its name. Inside, the spa is one of the largest around, with two swimming pools, stylish relaxation areas, inviting thermal facilities, a spa restaurant, a hair salon and 41 treatment rooms where Elemis, Grown Alchemist and Voya face and body treatments are on the menu.

Best Spa in the South-West
The Headland Spa

The Headland Hotel is an imposing red-brick Victorian mansion set on a clifftop with far-reaching views over Fistral Beach. The five-star hotel has a 2 AA rosette restaurant, a stylish spa and a £10 million wellness complex - The Aqua Club - with six sleek pools (three indoor; three outdoor), including a 25-metre pool, a vitality pool and an infinity edge pool with Atlantic views to die for.

Best Spa in the North-West sponsored by Germaine de Capuccini
The Spa at Carden

Drawing inspiration from the tranquil 1,000-acre Carden Park estate on which it sits, The Spa at Carden has carefully curated a range of treatments using natural botanicals to improve wellbeing in a separate wood and glass building. The extensive Spa Garden (one of the largest in the UK) – with its pool, sauna, variety of hot tubs, glass pods, fire pit and Bollinger Bar – is spa nirvana.

Best Spa in Scotland
One Spa Sheraton Grand Hotel

Part of the five-star Sheraton Grand Hotel, and overlooking Conference Square, the four-storey, 34,000 sq. ft One Spa is connected to the hotel through an elevated glass walkway. A rooftop hydro-pool and 19-metre swimming pool go hand-in-hand with a thermal suite containing a hammam, bio sauna and aroma grotto. One Spa also offers a selection of ESPA treatments and a range of ayurvedic spa treatments.

Best Spa in the North-East sponsored by Comfort Zone
Rudding Park Spa

Rudding Park is a Regency country house hotel close to the spa town of Harrogate. Expect three floors of spa heaven with glass walls to show off the beauty of the surrounding gardens. Inside, it has an indoor pool, juniper log sauna, Rasul, and four ‘mind and sense zones’. The Roof Top Spa and Garden is a Spa Spy favourite, complete with a hydrotherapy infinity edge pool, a fabulous range of thermal experiences and a sun deck.

Best New Spa sponsored by ESPA
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London

The five-star Mandarin Oriental Mayfair is the newest property in the brand’s portfolio of high-end hotels with a super-glam subterranean spa to boot. Green Ming marble, shipped in from China, sets the scene, while the sleek black 25-meter indoor heated swimming pool sparkles in candlelight. A sauna, vitality pools, experience shower and steam room, alongside a gym complete the facilities. Six carefully curated partners - from Mandarin Oriental Signature to Clinique La Prairie – offer an innovative array of bespoke age-defying and wellness treatments.

Huge congratulations to all our winners and finalists.

That’s it for another year – that just leaves me to thank our sponsors, without whom this annual event could not take place, and to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

With love,

The Spa Spies