Where can I find a great spa day for less than £150?
Illustration: Edith Pritchett/The Guardian
I often joke that I could live in a spa, but if I did, it would cost me a small fortune – and in my experience it’s hard to find affordable options that deliver to the level they should.
It’s worth signing up to the newsletters of any spas you’d like to visit; they’ll let you know about special offers, discounts and cheap off-peak slots. Deal websites such as Groupon and Wowcher often have cheap spa day deals, but check the places on Tripadvisor before you buy – in my experience the most disappointing spas are those attached to a health club, golf hotel or airport hotel. I am wary of huge spas that offer lots of deals. I once visited a spa where I ended up queueing for all the facilities, and it was so busy it felt like a nightclub. Smaller hammams and spas might be more relaxing.
Of the mid-range spas, Champneys Springs in Leicester has spa days from £110, plus fitness classes, plenty of relaxation spaces and acres of open parkland for walks. Center Parcs has several Aqua Sana spas: a full spa day at its Whinfell Forest village costs from £89 including refreshments, a glass of bubbly, lunch and beauty and lifestyle advice sessions.
Ye Olde Bell hotel and spa in Nottinghamshire is one of my favourite hidden gems: a full day starts at £140 and includes a tasty two-course lunch and access to a huge array of experience rooms, such as an alpine sauna, a salt inhalation room, a snowstorm experience and a herbal laconium (dry sauna). Its semi-outdoor pool and lounge areas are great in summer. Aire Ancient Baths off the Strand in central London charges from £115 for 90 minutes, including hot, cold and ice baths, steam rooms, saltwater baths and jet baths. It’s dark, sensorial and instantly de-stressing.
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