Spa Days

A spa day is the most booked wellness experience in the UK: arrival mid-morning, a robe and slippers, and the run of the thermal facilities — usually a pool, sauna, steam room and relaxation lounge — for anything from four hours to a full day. Most packages bundle one or two treatments, typically a 25 or 55-minute massage or facial, and many include lunch, afternoon tea or a glass of fizz.

Day spas and hotel spas sell them in tiers. A twilight or half-day package with facilities and one short treatment is the entry point; a full day with two treatments and lunch is the classic gift; premium days add a longer signature treatment or private use of a suite. Weekday packages are noticeably cheaper than Saturdays, and gift vouchers often carry restrictions on which days they can be redeemed.

Expect to pay around £60 to £90 for a weekday facilities-and-one-treatment package outside London, £100 to £180 for a full day with lunch, and £150 to £300 at the better-known London and country-house spas. Most venues require guests to be 16 or 18 and ask about pregnancy and medical conditions at booking, since some heat facilities are not advised for everyone.