First Impressions
Perched on a hill overlooking the English Riviera in Torquay, Lincombe Hall is a quintessentially British coastal retreat. After parking in the hotel car park - edged with palms - head up the slope to the grand 19th-century white house and through the revolving doors to the hotel reception. The spa is in a separate building from the hotel but connected via an internal corridor.
What’s on offer?
A designer spa for grown-ups that’s what. On one floor you’ll find the spa reception; stairs lead down from here to four beautifully designed treatment rooms, a couple’s treatment room and a mani/pedi suite- all in dark green, gold and hand-picked natural materials. Follow the long corridor to the left of the reception to find the changing rooms, sleek lap pool, hydrotherapy pool and thermal pods.
The reception area is decked out in a calming combination of blues and greys with seating in the middle, positioned below centrepiece pendant lights. A display of Temple Spa products lines one wall and, on the other, two shelves of elegant glass jellyfish paperweights – trailing tentacles sparkle in the light.
You approach the spa changing rooms along a long well-lit corridor lined with white textured tiles, offering a glimpse of the outdoor summer terrace. On the ladies changing room door, you’ll notice a handprint on the glass and would be forgiven for thinking someone is adjusting their clothing – panic not: this Hitchcock-esque quirk is all part of the design.
There’s a communal leather seating area with a central column clad in mermaid-tail tiles with plenty of large key-operated lockers to one side. The vanity area has mirrors and Dyson hairdryers; the two showers are stocked with Temple Spa products. Two individual changing cubicles are cleverly fitted out with motion sensor smart lights, glass frosted doors and leather seating; there’s two loos, too. We changed into our white robe and grey flip-flops in our room, where you’ll also find your grey spa towel. There’s a handy swimming costume dryer and plastic bags for post-spa-ing.
The sleek 15-metre lap pool is large enough for lengths, edged with floor-to-ceiling windows and blue jellyfish artwork that reflects ethereally in the water and on the ceiling. The neighbouring 13-metre hydro-pool- a balmy 34 degrees on our visit - has 10 different stations including hot and cold jets and bubbling volcanoes. Hang your towel on one of the ‘diving men’ hooks, sink onto one of the 14 stylish pool-side loungers – complete with a leopard print cushion - and order a glass of bubbly from the poolside phone.
Four glass-fronted thermal pods overlook the pools. Start your thermal journey in the large Ibeca wooden-clad Scandinavian sauna (our favourite) – with lounging room for eight people – before cooling off in the Nordic-inspired bucket shower.
The aromatherapy steam room, with its mosaic walls and sparkly ceiling, is scented with essences of either coconut, orange blossom, Eucalyptus or vanilla, depending on the day. There’s also an ice room complete with ice fountain and beautifully backlit ice wall for the brave.
You’ll also find a heated Himalayan salt room; lie back on one of two wooden loungers on a floor of pink salt and gaze at the twinkly ceiling or glowing orange and red brick wall.
During the summer months, you can enjoy the outdoor terrace with its 15-metre outdoor heated pool surrounded by loungers. There’s also a mini gym complete with kettlebells, medicine balls and Life Fitness machines.
Tell us about the treatments
We tried Thermal Tranquillity – The Ultimate Back, Face & Scalp Experience (90 minutes, £170).
My therapist, Rebecca, collected me from the spa reception and led me downstairs to one of the four treatment rooms (called Nirvana) complete with striking dark green and gold wallpaper, and a glowing salt lamp.
Rebecca talked me through the treatment, exclusively designed for Lincombe Hall, and asked me about my areas of concern (the usual neck and shoulders aches; dreaded eye bags) before leaving me to disrobe and lay face down on the heated bed. She began the treatment with three inhalations of TempleSpa’s Breath of Life oil – a sinus-clearing mix of menthol, Eucalyptus and tea tree - before beginning a cleansing foot ritual.
Rebecca then placed hot stones on the soles of my feet and the base of my spine, which felt comforting; this immediately settled me into the treatment. Using TempleSpa Drift Away, a Mediterranean-inspired oil, she then performed a back, neck and shoulder massage using hot stones – stretching and releasing the tension in my neck and easing out my tight muscles.
Turning onto my back, Rebecca commenced the facial element with a double cleanse, and tone, before using the hot stones on my face, neck and shoulders. Next, a heavenly pressure point scalp massage, using a leave-in conditioner.
Rebecca then applied a Trufflesque Hydrating Radiance Mask to my face; while this worked its magic, she treated me to a wonderfully indulgent arm massage using hot stones.
Mask removed, cool rose quartz stones were gently applied, refreshing the skin and leaving me feeling revived. Rebecca then layered on targeted serums, oils, SPF moisturiser and firming neck creams, along with Windows of the Soul hydrating eye treatment, specifically designed to help banish puffiness and eye bags.
Rebecca handed me a glass of water - advising me to stay hydrated for the rest of the day - and let me gently come to from my blissed-out haze. A quick peek in the mirror confirmed my usual dry and dull looking skin looked noticeably glow-y and plumped up – impressive.
Lincombe Hall Spa offers a good range of TempleSpa results-driven facials, massages and body treatments, as well as menopause relief, wellbeing and pregnancy treatments. They also offer Jessica manicures and pedicures.
Food Facts
Both spa day and overnight guests can dine in The Brasserie from 12pm – 9pm every day where robes are welcome during the lunch service. Grab a table by the windows for views over the gardens and across Torquay’s rooftops.
As we were staying overnight, we enjoyed an evening meal here with the main menu on our visit featuring burgers, local fish dishes and Thai curries, along with open sandwiches, afternoon tea and desserts. Free-from alternatives, vegetarian and vegan options are also available.
We opted for the Small Plates menu, selecting four dishes: Dusted Calamari, Halloumi Fries with cucumber and mint yoghurt and almond duqqa (a sort of condiment of toasted nuts, seeds and spices), and Roasted Heritage Beetroot with feta cheese. The Pork Belly Bites with bacon jam were a firm favourite. Loosening the waistband, we ordered the Cherry Frangipane Tart with clotted cream and savoured every single mouthful.
We Loved
The treatment rooms: forget boring neutrals, Lincombe’s have opulent dark green and gold wallpaper, hand-picked natural materials and striking honeycomb shelving.
The food: every dish we tried on the Small Plates menu was delicious. Do not miss the pork belly bites with bacon jam.
Getting our contrast therapy fix: toast in the roomy sauna (a deliciously hot 78 degrees on our visit), before cooling off in the ice room or beneath the drench bucket shower. Rinse and repeat for optimal happiness.
Who do you think would like it?
Couples: this spa hotel is just for grown-ups. The food is delicious, the beds are huge and there’s a couple’s treatment room, so you can take full advantage of your ‘us’ time.
Design lovers: from the hand-picked local stone sinks and diving men hooks in the spa to the large overhead propeller-like ceiling fans and colourful display of Panama hats, the whole hotel has been a labour of love.
Girlfriends: after bubbling in the hydro-pool, order a Prosecco (via barcode) and catch-up on side-by-side loungers.
What bubble rating did you give this spa?
We awarded Lincombe Hall Spa a Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of 5 Bubbles. This adult-only spa feels stylish yet unpretentious; we loved the design details - all natural materials and quirky touches. The food is delicious, the staff are down-to-earth and friendly and there’s a great choice of TempleSpa treatments.
Scarlet Spyvisited in January 2026 and awarded it 5
Bubbles.
Rest assured
