For Londoners craving space, stillness, and restoration without boarding a long-haul flight, the UK and near-Europe offer an exceptional edit of wellness escapes. From design-led Pilates retreats to thermal bathing sanctuaries and forest-immersed spas, these destinations redefine what it means to truly switch off.
Reformer Retreats
As the original creators and leaders of Reformer Pilates retreats, Reformer Retreats has cultivated a devoted global following of wellness seekers who travel far and wide for its signature blend of movement, design, and mindful living. Hosted in serene locations ranging from the Lake District to the sun-drenched coasts of Spain, each retreat is a masterclass in balance, beauty, and restoration.
Founded by Classical Pilates expert Sophie Hatton, Reformer Retreats champions a philosophy where luxury is not about intensity, but alignment. Guests experience precise Classical Pilates sessions paired with nourishing, chef-prepared meals and thoughtfully curated wellness rituals. Floating sound baths, guided breathwork, and immersive nature walks extend the practice beyond the studio, creating a full nervous system reset.
With a background in design, Sophie brings an aesthetic sensitivity to every retreat, selecting design-led spaces where architecture, interiors, and landscape elevate both mood and motivation. The result is a deeply considered experience that leaves guests not just stronger, but calmer, clearer, and profoundly reconnected.
Champneys Tring, Hertfordshire
Champneys Tring is not just a spa, it is the blueprint. As Britain’s original health spa, founded in 1925 by visionary naturopath Stanley Lief, it has quietly shaped the nation’s wellness landscape for nearly a century. Set within a former Rothschild estate, complete with a grand, Downton-esque driveway, the resort unfolds across 170 acres of Hertfordshire countryside, just 46 minutes by train from London Euston.
Faithful to its pioneering roots while evolving with modern wellness, Champneys Tring offers everything from traditional and contemporary treatments to its groundbreaking Marine and Wellness Spa, the first of its kind in the UK. With relaxation hideaways, beauty salons, and extensive spa programmes, it remains the gold standard for authentic spa escapes.
Marris Barn & The Wagon Shed, Lincolnshire
Hidden within the rolling Lincolnshire Wolds, Marris Barn and The Wagon Shed at Thorganby Hall deliver a luxurious countryside escape designed for connection, comfort, and indulgence. Sleeping up to 16 guests, this spacious retreat is ideal for group wellness weekends, celebrations, or multigenerational escapes.
The private leisure complex includes an indoor pool, sauna, games room, and outdoor hot tub, inviting long, unhurried days of soaking and stargazing. Spa treatments can be arranged on request, while generous communal spaces and open fires create an atmosphere of warmth and ease.
Aqua Sana Forest Spa
With six forest-laced locations across the UK and Ireland, Aqua Sana Forest Spa delivers a deeply immersive wellness experience inspired by nature. Nestled within woodland, each spa offers up to 25 thermal and hydrotherapy experiences designed to calm the nervous system and restore balance.
From bubbling outdoor pools to mineral-rich steam rooms and sensory relaxation spaces, the journey is intuitive and unhurried. Overnight stays in Forest Spa Apartments or Luxury Suites allow guests to extend the sense of retreat well beyond the treatment room.
The Gainsborough Bath Spa, Somerset
Located in the heart of Bath, The Gainsborough Bath Spa offers exclusive access to the city’s naturally heated thermal waters. Its iconic Bath Spa Village centres around a striking cobalt-blue pool beneath a soaring glass atrium, blending historic grandeur with contemporary calm.
The self-guided bathing circuit includes multiple soaking pools, ice alcoves, saunas, steam rooms, and a relaxation terrace. Mineral Cure Rituals by Omorovicza add an indulgent layer to an already restorative experience.
Fairmont Windsor Park, Berkshire
Fairmont Windsor Park sets a new benchmark for luxury wellness in the UK. Its expansive 2,500m² spa spans two floors and features the country’s first multi-person cryotherapy chamber, a Japanese Ashiyu foot ritual bath, and an extensive thermal suite.
With 18 treatment rooms, indoor and outdoor pools, a Himalayan salt room, Hammam, and onsite wellness doctor, this is a destination designed for total transformation. Beyond the spa, fitness studios, tennis courts, and Technogym-equipped gyms complete the offering.
The Culloden Estate & Spa, Northern Ireland
Standing proudly above Belfast Lough, the Culloden Estate & Spa is Northern Ireland’s most prestigious five-star wellness retreat. Recently refurbished following significant investment, the spa blends classic elegance with modern comfort.
Guests unwind in tranquil treatment rooms, a dipping pool, sauna, steam room, and jacuzzi framed by floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking manicured grounds. Treatments using ESPA products range from bespoke facials to deeply restorative body rituals.
Devona Spa at Hilton Aberdeen TECA
Devona Spa is a sleek, award-winning sanctuary designed for modern wellness seekers. Facilities include a 20-metre indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna, steam room, bespoke heated relaxation beds, and a fully equipped Technogym fitness centre.
The spa’s latest evolution includes treatments by Germaine de Capuccini and a cutting-edge Wellness Lounge featuring the Gharieni Welnamis Lounger, offering advanced sound and vibration therapy for deep mental restoration.
Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa, New Forest
Careys Manor’s award-winning SenSpa brings astrology into the spa space with its Star Treatment Spa Day. Guests receive a personalised 60-minute treatment aligned with their zodiac element, alongside a nourishing Thai lunch in the Zen Garden and full access to the hydrotherapy suite.
Thermal highlights include the Crystal Steam Room, Herbal Sauna, Tepidarium, and Laconicum, all designed to cleanse, rebalance, and restore. Thoughtful extras ensure the experience continues long after check-out.
The Scarlet Spa, Cornwall
Perched dramatically on the Cornish cliffs, The Scarlet Spa offers adults-only wellness rooted in elemental ritual and coastal calm. Outdoor cliff-top hot tubs, natural reed-filtered pools, and wood-fired saunas invite guests to reconnect with the rhythms of nature.
Treatments are holistic and understated, designed to complement sea air, slow mornings, and long coastal walks. It is untamed, grounding, and deeply restorative, the perfect closing chapter to this curated wellness journey.
