FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Aqua Sana Forest Spa at Woburn Forest is located the village of Millbrook in Bedfordshire. At the gate, a member of staff found our booking in seconds. Despite one wrong turn, good signage led us to the spa car park, right outside the building. Disabled parking is available, and lifts give access to every level.
Inside, Melanie greeted us by name and walked us to the Spa Suite Lounge: comfortable sofas, an elegant concierge team and a fragrance that calmed us the moment we sat down. Over a choice of tea, coffee, juice or Prosecco, she talked us through our itinerary, gave us the wristbands to access the lockers, security doors and our suite, and asked us to choose breakfast for the next morning – continental, delivered to the suite, or cooked, in the Vitalé Café Bar. Suites are ready from 2pm, but arrive early to enjoy the spa first.
WHAT’S ON OFFER?
The changing rooms, just beyond spa reception, are spacious and well kept, with lockers in a range of sizes, plenty of showers, a couple of private cubicles and Aqua Sana shampoo, conditioner and body wash. Cleansers and toners at the vanity stations, professional hairdryers and a costume spinner are thoughtful extras. Robes and towels are provided – ask any team member for a dry replacement (we needed one). There is also a dedicated accessible changing area.
Our stay began in the Forest Serenity Suite, new to Woburn and inspired by the surrounding woodland. The décor takes its colours from the forest, and the soundtrack uses local birdsong. Victor chose the programme best suited to us and settled us onto specially designed relaxation beds in separate cubicles, wrapped in blankets, with eye masks and headphones. We had not been sleeping well, so this was exactly what we needed.
The thermal journey is the star of the show: themed rooms built around heat, steam, water, light, scent and sound. We were advised to start upstairs and work down to the more intense experiences – excellent advice. Begin at Sole Therapy, but be patient: the foot baths fill and start to bubble on their own, and some guests leave thinking they are broken. Our favourite was the Salt Inhalation Room, which took us straight to the seaside. Everything was clean and inviting.
Despite the rain, we swam from the indoor section of the hydrotherapy pool out into the open air – it is 1.4 metres deep, with massage jets around the edge and views into the forest. Beside it, the Zen Garden has stepping stones to walk barefoot for a natural foot massage, plus loungers among the shrubs – one for a drier day. In Deep Relax, waterbeds and cosy blankets invite you to switch off.
Wellbeing sessions – Sound Bath, Discovery, Sleep and Sauna – can only be booked on the day, so book with a host before you go in. Our first choice was full, but Donna found us a place on the 10.30am Sound Bath the next morning. Hosted by Poppy in the Sensory Spa, it began with essential oils, a light aromatic mist and body butter, then a warm, scented flannel over our faces and the hum of singing bowls. We drifted into a meditative state; one of the most relaxing parts of our visit.
TREATMENT TALK
We tried the VOYA Calm Seas Massage (50 minutes), included in our Luxury Forest Spa Break.
My therapist, Amanda S, led me to a room with soft lighting, calming aromas and a plush bed.
Amanda began with a soothing back massage in warm oil, using VOYA Lime & Mandarin Essence, Mindful Dreams Oil and Feel the Heat Oil. When I turned over, she adjusted the bolster and the couch itself to keep me comfortable.
Warm seaweed was then wrapped around my hands and feet, wonderfully comforting, before a facial massage that let me switch off completely (I chose to skip the scalp massage). Amanda was calm, knowledgeable and adapted the treatment to suit me.
Aftercare was a personalised card with product recommendations, tips on relaxation, sleep, hydration and food, and a £5 voucher for the spa boutique that day – with no pressure at all. I slept exceptionally well that night.
FOOD FACTS
Dining at the Vitalé Café Bar is casual and relaxed, and you can eat in your robe. Service is friendly and informal. We chose the Buddha Bowl with extra chicken: rocket, carrot, beetroot, tomato, cucumber, spring onion, radish and hummus, with the shredded chicken served separately. Without the chilli, it was fresh, colourful and satisfying, and another glass of Prosecco added to the sense of occasion. Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free diets are catered for.
For dinner, our package included a £70 voucher, which can also be spent in the retail shop. We wrapped up and walked through the forest in the dark to Café Royal in the Village Square – the paths are softly lit, and the fresh air was welcoming. The food was of a good standard: we enjoyed the mussels as a main dish, followed by a tangy lemon tart.
SWEET STAY?
We stayed in Bergamot Suite 079, a luxurious retreat in the heart of the forest. The dining area has a fridge, coffee machine and kettle. Waiting for us were a bottle of Prosecco, fresh milk and chocolate-dipped strawberries – and, as my mum cannot eat strawberries, chocolate-dipped apricots for her.
The living room has a large sofa, a fireplace and a TV, with floor-to-ceiling patio doors onto a generous balcony with a dining set and a snuggle sofa overlooking the trees. In the bedroom, our twin beds were made with crisp, fresh linen, a VOYA sleep spray waited for us and there was a second electric log fire.
The open-plan bathroom has twin sinks behind two large mirrors and a separate toilet, but the standout is the enormous Jacuzzi bath with forest views. The walk-in shower has a rainfall head, side body jets and a handheld attachment, and Elemis toiletries were on the small side. Automatic night lights are a clever touch; a cobweb and some dust were the only small slips. It was so quiet that we simply did not want to leave.
WE LOVED…
The Forest Serenity Suite: birdsong, eye masks and soft blankets – exactly what two tired guests needed.
Amanda’s VOYA Calm Seas Massage: warm seaweed on hands and feet, a couch adjusted just for us and a wonderful night’s sleep afterwards.
The Aqua Sana team: from Melanie’s welcome to Victor’s care and Donna’s follow-ups, everyone we met was warm, skilled and genuinely caring.
WHAT BUBBLE RATING DID YOU AWARD THIS SPA?
We awarded Aqua Sana Forest Spa at Woburn Forest a Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of 5 Bubbles for its varied and inventive thermal journey, outstanding treatments and wellbeing sessions, beautiful forest suite and phenomenal team whose warmth and care made us feel valued throughout.
Rest assured
