Whether it’s sinking into a warm thermal bath and feeling your aches and pains melt away, or an invigorating scrub to get your circulation flowing and your body feeling revitalised, there’s nothing quite as indulgent as a spa day.
With a host of spas just far enough from home to feel a million miles away from the daily grind, SoGlos rounds up 10 relaxing spa days you can enjoy by GWR train from Gloucestershire – with plenty of options to spend the night, too.
Bamford Wellness Spa at Daylesford
Set within the idyllic Cotswold countryside, Daylesford has a farm shop and wellness spa on its organic farm near Kingham, as well as holiday cottages where guests are treated to a bespoke welcome pack with classes at its Bamford Wellness Spa included.
Offering a range of relaxing massage treatments, a herbal sauna and hydro pool, Bamford Wellness Spa also offers holistic treatments such as Reiki, crystal healing and reflexology; and wellbeing classes including yoga, Pilates, meditation and sound healing. Treatments cost from £70 and wellness classes cost from £18 for a 60-minute class.
Daylesford is around eight-minutes’ drive from Kingham station.
The Malvern Spa in Malvern
Known for its indoor-outdoor hydrotherapy pool, which can be used throughout the year regardless of the weather, The Malvern Spa also boasts a crystal steam room scented with aromatherapy oils; healing salt grotto; herb sauna; relaxing foot spa; and an invigorating chilled bucket shower, as well as an extensive treatment menu with everything from massages to HD Brows.
Its Discovery Spa Day costs from £145 and includes a welcome smoothie, 60-minute treatment, £10 towards lunch and access to all the spa facilities – with treatment options including an Elemis full body massage, deluxe manicure or pedicure, or a bespoke facial. The Malvern Spa also offers spa, bed and breakfast packages, too.
The Malvern Spa is around six-minutes’ drive or 19-minutes’ bus journey from Malvern Link station.
The Gainsborough in Bath
The luxurious Gainsborough Hotel in Bath has its very own Spa Village open to hotel guests. Fed by water from the original thermal springs, guests can slip into the therapeutic waters and enjoy a self-guided circuit of its thermal pools, infrared sauna, steam room and ice alcove – all bathed in natural light from the glass atrium.
The treatment menu at The Gainsborough includes aromatherapy massage, thermal candle massage, ‘renew’ or ‘refresh’ facials and a body scrub, with treatments costing from £120 for 60 minutes. The Spa Village itself is only open to those staying overnight at The Gainsborough, with rooms costing from £250 per night or from £310 with breakfast.
The Gainsborough is around six-minutes’ walk from Bath Spa station.
Bank House Hotel in Worcester
The Bank House Hotel in Worcester is home to the Malvern View Spa, offering award-winning treatments, as well as a 10-metre heated swimming pool; thermal suite with steam room, hot tub and experience shower; spa boutique; and garden view restaurant.
A full spa day costs from £115 for the ‘Discover’ experience, which includes a 60-minute treatment and a light lunch. The Bank House Hotel also offers a one-night spa break from £159 per person, including either one 60-minute or two 30-minute treatments, dinner, bed and breakfast.
Bank House Hotel is around 13-minutes’ drive from Worcester Foregate Street station.
HarSPA Bristol
Bristol’s subterranean spa offers a range of treatments in an utterly unique setting, deep beneath the busy streets in a former bank vault. Its treatment menu includes a sea salt body exfoliation; rasul mud wrap; lava shell massage; and rose quartz stone therapy facials – all using its own HarSPA and TEMPLESPA product ranges.
Its Ultimate HarSPA Experience costs £160 and includes access to all of the luxury spa facilities, as well as a 90-minute treatment and prosecco afternoon tea in the restaurant. HarSPA also offers one-night spa breaks with prices available on request.
HarSPA is around 16-minutes’ walk from Bristol Temple Meads station.
The Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa in Bath
The Royal Crescent Hotel in Bath has an award-winning spa and bath house, complete with a 12-metre heated pool; vitality pool with massage jets; Himalayan salt-infused sauna; herbal steam inhalation room; and a menu of indulgent treatments – not to mention a Taittinger Spa Garden to enjoy a glass of fizz after your treatment.
The Royal Experience Spa Day costs from £170 per person and includes a 90-minute signature treatment, 60-minutes’ spa usage – with robes, towels and flip flops, of course – High Tea in the garden and two gifts to take home. It also offers a Royally Good Night package with a one-night stay, full English breakfast, 90-minute signature treatment, use of the spa facilities and spa gifts to take home from £500 for two people.
The Royal Crescent Hotel is around 18-minutes’ walk from Bath Spa station.
The Randolph Hotel in Oxford
The Wellness Centre at Oxford’s Randolph Hotel offers a variety of holistic and therapeutic treatments, from mindful massages; organic facials; tea and therapy sessions using breathing techniques and facial acupressure; to a range of Touch Therapy treatments for those recovering from cancer.
It also boasts an impressive thermal suite with rock sauna; bio sauna with detoxing, aromatic herbs and spices; aroma steam room; ice fountain and experience shower. Access to The Randolph Hotel’s thermal suite costs £30 for one hour, with treatments costing from £60 each and including access to the thermal suite, too. For those looking to spend the night, the hotel offers a ‘Stay + Relax’ package, which includes breakfast and £100 credit to use at the Wellness Centre, with average prices from £242 per night.
The Randolph Hotel is around 11-minutes’ walk from Oxford station.
Bowood House and Gardens in Chippenham
Wiltshire’s spa hotel, Bowood House and Gardens, has a luxurious spa with a 15-metre indoor pool and Jacuzzi overlooking the grounds, as well as a crystal steam room, rock sauna, aromatherapy showers and relaxation area – plus, a range of body treatments and facials costing from £50.
Bowood offers three spa packages from £95 per person, each including a 30-minute treatment and either brunch, afternoon tea or dinner. Or from £168 per person, guests can enjoy a night’s stay, dinner in the Shelburne Restaurant, breakfast, a 30-minute spa treatment and 55 minutes in the spa pool – as well as complimentary access to Bowood House and Gardens for anyone staying between April and October.
Bowood House is around 14-minutes’ drive from Chippenham station.
Bristol Lido
Housed inside a restored Victorian swimming bath, Bristol Lido offers massages, facials and exfoliation treatments; a 24-metre heated outdoor swimming pool; plus a poolside restaurant and bar.
For guests looking to enjoy everything the lido has to offer, there is a swim, massage and meal package for £100 per person, with timeslots throughout the day from 9am until 5.15pm. While Bristol Lido doesn’t have overnight accommodation, there are several hotels nearby in Clifton, including the four-star Berkeley Square hotel and the three-star Clifton Hotel.
Bristol Lido is around nine-minutes’ walk from Clifton Down station.
The Cross Bath in Bath
As one of the oldest baths in the city, The Cross Bath has been around since the Iron Age, with The Cross Spring being recognised as an official sacred site, where the ancient Celts would have revered the goddess, Sul.
The Cross Bath is available for exclusive hire, offering groups of up to 10 bathers a truly intimate experience. The open-air thermal bath is housed within its own building and has its own changing facilities, with hire costing from £800 for a 90-minute session – including towels, robes and slippers for all guests, Champagne or juice and a selection of gourmet snacks. There is no overnight accommodation at The Cross Bath, however its central location means there are plenty of hotels nearby at a range of price points.
The Cross Bath is around seven-minutes’ walk from Bath Spa station.
