With its tranquil and leafy woodland copses, lakeside locations, state of the art new-build health complexes and ideal accessibility, the Midlands offers decadent spa experiences to suit every budget. Whether you’re looking for a rural idyll with all mod cons in historic Sherwood Forest or an ancient Eastern-inspired escape in the heart of Birmingham, we’ve got it covered with a round-up of best Midlands spas.
Set in historic Sherwood Forest at the end of a tree-lined drive, prepare to be wowed by the ingenuity of Aqua Sana’s refurbished Forest Spa. The two-storey layout, set around a heated outdoor pool, comprises six zones – Nordic Forest, Hot Springs and Volcanic Forest on the ground floor with Forest Immersion, Treetop Escape and Treetop Nesting above, creating a relaxing array of heating and cooling experiences. After a soothing Decleor or Elemis skincare body treatment, head to Vitale café for a healthy Mediterranean lunch.
Few spas offer the extensive facilities and elegant surroundings of this Victorian house spa in the rolling Leicestershire countryside. Ragdale Hall’s stunning contemporary Rooftop Infinity Pool and Lounge opened two years ago; the 35-degree centigrade pool is a special place to while away some me-time while enjoying the spectacular elevated views of the valley below. After, relax by curling up in hanging wicker chairs or stretching out on the poolside recliners. The thermal spa is an adventure, featuring a Candle Pool in a magical mosaic tiled cavern, a lagoon-style waterfall pool and eucalyptus-scented Volcanic Salt Bath.
This woodland retreat in the grounds of Ringwood Hall takes nature as its inspiration, from the garden style setting both inside and out, fragrant products and potions devised for treatments through to the blossom steam room, herbal sauna and Himalayan salt sauna. A couples-suite complements the single and dual treatment rooms while serene ‘sleep’ and ‘relaxation’ lounges guarantee that you benefit for as long as possible from the health-enhancing benefits of your personalised treatments.
Fun and creative water-based therapies are a speciality at Ye Olde Bell, a converted coaching inn on Barnby Moor. They have a collection of 10 different thermal experiences including an indoor/outdoor vitality pool, alpine sauna and theatrical stonebath with its mechanical centrepiece and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the spa garden. Relieve any remaining stresses in the herbal laconium, steam bath and salt inhalation room. Feeling brave? Press the snowstorm option on the experience shower or pull the rope on the icy bucket shower. Don't miss: a post-spa Afternoon Tea, served on vintage china - glass of fizz optional.
A modern complex set in 380 acres, Y Spa’s thermal zone is the ideal spot to heat up, chill our and relax. This stylishly designed area features a hydrotherapy pool with a roaring log fire, multiple saunas, a mud rasul, steam rooms and a frost wall. For a thoroughly good pampering, head off to one of the manicure or pedicure stations after experiencing one of the Elemis, Made for Life or Neom de-stress 60 minute treatment.
There’s a homely, yet chic, farmhouse vibe at Dormy House in the heart of the Cotswolds, making it a blissful place to hunker down. The House Spa is heavily influenced by Scandinavian therapeutic practises, and in their Suite of Treats, you can enjoy a range of treatments from exfoliating body scrubs to youth-enhancing facials. The pool and thermal suite feel distinctly glamorous with light spilling in from the outdoor spa terrace: soothe away your worries on even the chilliest days in the heated candle-lit hydrotherapy hot tub in front of a glass-fronted fire.
Elan Spa is in a large house in the beautifully kept grounds of country house hotel, Mallory Court. It has its own gym (with elegant wallpaper), a swimming pool with bubble jets and swan pipes in its ‘drawing room’, a sauna, steam room, nail parlour and delightful café serving delicious locally sourced food. Head out to the decked terrace with its views of the gardens and rolling countryside beyond. Bubble away in the heated outdoor vitality pool, pop into the hot outdoor sauna, and curl up under a blanket around the outdoor fireplace. If you fancy a pamper, Spa treatments use ila and ESPA, Orly and Mii: if you fancy a spa break, book a room here with a spa turndown service.
Mallory.co.uk
Santai Spa’s ancient eastern ethos will transport you to a balmy corner of Asia where you can relax and let yourself submit to their passion for wellness. Built upon the key elements of Chinese Wu Xing philosophy - wood, fire, earth, metal and water - Santai combines the age-old with the modern. After an ESPA treatment, spend your spa day blissed out on the hot stone pool loungers, ionised salt cave and the idyllically positioned hot tub overlooking the lake. It’s Birmingham, but not as we know it!
Described as a reimagined Jacobean home-from-home, Hoar Cross Hall is a spa hotel with extensive facilities and an idyllic location - making it a great getaway. Water therapy is high on the agenda at this luxury spa; the large saltwater vitality indoor pool features volcano and jet massage pools alongside a starlit cave, two whirlpools and a hydrotherapy pool with pummelling body massage jets to ease your aching muscles. You can also enjoy aqua foot and shoulder massagers, Kneipp pools to boost circulation, a cold plunge pool, sensory showers and the Nordic suite’s aroma room, salt inhalation room, ice temple and aspen wood sauna.
The Italian influenced boutique hotel, The Malvern, has a modern destination spa with waters from the Malvern Spring. The crystal steam room, with its fibre-optic ceiling and infusion of essential oils, gently promotes tension release throughout the body while the salt grotto and herb sauna will cleanse your skin and restore balance. The Malvern also boasts a kelo sauna built from naturally fragrant wood found only in the Arctic Circle; it’s one of just 10 in the UK.
Super Spy
2nd April 2020
Spy Likes:
Length size pools; strong swan pipes; seriously deep tissue massages; beautiful views from outside thermal experiences.
Spy Dislikes:
Sniffing therapists; cold treatment rooms; hard sell on products.
