When it comes to spa breaks, the UK is home to a bevy of exclusive and unique spas designed to indulge every couple’s needs. Ideally, a weekend is the right amount of time to ensure the perfect blend of relaxation, rejuvenation, and connection with one’s partner. Whether that entails indulging in a couple’s massage, a private spa suite or an intimate meal for two, the luxury of a weekend spa break is that there is far more time to enjoy all these activities with a partner.
An essential ingredient in achieving the ultimate spa weekend is novelty. Below are some of the best destinations for couples to unwind, reconnect, and create lasting memories amid total relaxing bliss, which comes as part of one irresistible package.
Gleneagles, Scotland
Scotland's bleak yet beautiful highlands are an exhilarating environment for a spa break that provides unmatched hospitality. Couples can start their weekend in style by reaching the resort on a private helicopter after taking a tour over some of the area's most significant natural highlights and enjoying a glass of the finest highland whisky the amply stocked tasting room serves. Gleneagles spa has a vast range of treatments designed to help couples unwind from what will be a long journey to reach the resort.
The fabulous facilities, including sauna, steam rooms, and relaxation lounges with incredible views of the surrounding highlands, will help take the edge off Scotland’s cooler climate. The option of a private dinner in a secluded corner of the hotel’s two Michelin-starred restaurant is not to be missed for those looking to lean into romance during a fantastic weekend getaway to Scotland’s riviera.
The Dorchester, London
The Dorchester's spa has something of a legendary reputation that dates back to the darkest days of The Blitz. London’s fabulously rich and famous continued to frequent the hotel and demanded more exclusive settings to take shelter during air raids. Thanks to the seemingly impenetrable nature of its design, and the ingenuity of Colonel Victor Cazalet, the Turkish Baths were reinforced so that guests got their wish whilst still enjoying the facilities. The spa today features a comprehensive range of services from relaxing quartz bed massages to skin-scrubbing facials and has nine treatment rooms. Spa products used include brands such as Ishga – famous for harnessing the healing powers of organic seaweed – and leading skincare experts Valmont, and Carol Joy London.
Weekend spa packages at The Dorchester include up to two-night stays in any of the hotel’s expansive suites, a bespoke couple’s spa experience with tailored treatments, all topped off with a fine dining experience at the hotel’s three Michelin-starred restaurant (the only spa in the country with this level of service) run by chef, Alain Ducasse.
Celtic Manor, Wales
Not far from the busy streets of Cardiff, the quiet riverside town of Usk provides the setting for a magical spa weekend in the Welsh countryside. The Celtic Manor Collection are known for delivering a fantastic experience across all of their properties, but the Forum Spa at the resort in Usk is a rung further up the ladder when it comes to quality. Its 20-metre swimming pool complex boasts wonderful views of the rolling green hills of the Usk Valley and by night, its Roman-esq design is beautifully illuminated with lights reflecting off the surface of the pool in the ceiling fresco above, imitating the night’s sky.
Within the grand confines of Celtic Manor, the Ocius treatment rooms offer over 50 bespoke therapies and treatments. From soothing hot stone massages and rejuvenating wraps, to expertly curated ESPA facials - couples can blissfully unwind in this sanctuary of indulgence where relaxation, is its own art form. For those inclined towards more active pursuits, the estate's three championship golf courses, are ideal for couples who enjoy a spot of refined competition. Beyond the fairways, the estate unfolds into a landscape of exquisite dining, scenic walks, and a curated selection of outdoor pursuits from the rush of mountain biking, to the noble art of falconry. A weekend at Celtic Manor is no mere escape, but an immersion into the timeless beauty of the Welsh valleys.
Bovey Castle, Devon
Nestled within the steep hills of Dartmoor National Park, Bovey Castle treats couples to a spa experience that will make them feel very much a part of English nobility. The castle comes complete with a range of beautiful suits (including period furnishings in some), and the spa’s fantastic treatment rooms, relaxation lounges, and outdoor hot tubs, are surrounded by the estate’s lush landscaped grounds. To step out for a session in the warming waters of a hot tub amid a frozen landscape in the cold depths of winter is quite the novelty at Bovey.
Package options vary for overnight and weekend stays, with bookable extras including side-by-side spa treatments, and a candlelit dinner in one of the castle’s private dining rooms. With a round of golf on the estate’s championship course and taking part in a spot of archery or falconry, couples get a taste of a complete, medieval aristocrat experience. Come winter or summer, the charms of Bovey Castle and Spa remain persistent throughout the year.
Ockenden Manor, Sussex
Amidst the rolling countryside of West Sussex, Ockenden Manor is an elegant Elizabethan retreat setting the stage for a tastefully curated weekend escape. The spa, housed in a purpose-built wing of the grounds, has an indoor/outdoor heated swimming pool, hydrotherapy circuit, flotation tank, and a delightful outdoor hot tub area with sweeping views of the South Downs. Spa breaks include a stay in one of the manor’s impressive bedrooms or suites, some complete with Tudor-style four-poster beds, freestanding bathtubs, and private balconies overlooking the gardens.
Spa treatments use all-natural products from British brand ila, with options such as side-by-side full-body massages and bespoke facials tailored to each guest’s preferences. Couples can also enjoy yoga, meditation, and guided walks through the countryside, whilst for those seeking something more adventurous, exclusive wine tastings or a sunrise hot-air balloon ride over the downs can be arranged.
The Chewton Glen, New Forest
Within its New Forest enclosure, The Chewton Glen Spa offers couples an experience of completely new oneness with nature by enjoying their stay within the confines of its magnificent tree house rooms. From the lofty canopy, guests will be able to take in their natural surroundings from an entirely new perspective – a relaxing tree-top hot tub.
Curated packages include a 90-minute couples massage, aromatherapy session, and bespoke wellness consultations. A private dinner with organic, locally sourced ingredients can also be added, as well as private yoga or fitness sessions at any point of the stay. The spa features a hydrotherapy pool, sauna, and a tranquil relaxation area with forest views that are perfect for couples to unwind amid the gorgeous foliage of Hampshire’s greatest national park.
