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Spas and spa hotels (47 posts found)

Luxury spa and spa hotels reviewed on travel reviews website ALadyofLeisure.com by travel journalist Sarah Bridge

Birthday treats in five star luxury at Bovey Castle hotel in Dartmoor, south Devon

by Sarah Bridge
added November 2, 2022

Planning a significant birthday is always a scary prospect, but a weekend at the five star luxury hotel Bovey Castle in the heart of Dartmoor, meant that I was assured of a stay fit for the occasion. A birthday weekend at Bovey Castle hotel ...

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A stay at Sopwell House St Albans – luxury spa with VIP access

by Sarah Bridge
added December 3, 2021

Staying at Sopwell House There's a lot to pack in during a stay at luxury hotel Sopwell House, St Albans in Buckinghamshire. There's the popular afternoon tea in the lounge at this four-star Georgian country house hotel; there's a variety of food ...

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A luxury spa hotel in Staffordshire: Hoar Cross Hall hotel review

by Sarah Bridge
added October 4, 2021

Before I visited Hoar Cross Hall hotel in Staffordshire I was fond of declaring that there are hotels with spas and there are hotels which are spas, but after my stay at Hoar Cross Hall hotel I might have to add a third option. A stay at Hoar Cr...

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45 hotels with swimming pools – the best UK hotels with pools

by Sarah Bridge
added August 4, 2021

Hotels with swimming pools are much more than just a lovely place to stay for a night or two; it turns a short break into a real holiday. Staying in a hotel is a treat at any time, but sometimes a hotel stay comes with the feeling you should be visit...

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A perfect Sunday roast at Feversham Arms Helmsley, North Yorks

by Sarah Bridge
added August 21, 2020

I had been told that the Sunday roast at Feversham Arms hotel and spa in Helmsley, North Yorkshire was not to be missed and my informant had been bang on the money. It was pronounced: 'A ten out of ten, the best I've ever eaten' by my dining companio...

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Luxury after lockdown: a Covid-secure stay at Fawsley Hall hotel Northants

by Sarah Bridge
added August 11, 2020

After months of lockdown my first hotel was, reassuringly, at Hand Picked Hotel's flagship hotel Fawsley Hall hotel and spa in Northamptonshire near Daventry. This grand country house hotel and spa - we're talking at least 600 years old here - has wi...

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The Headland hotel Newquay: luxury spa stay in Cornwall

by Sarah Bridge
added June 19, 2020

The Headland hotel Newquay is the perfect place to blow away the cobwebs. Perched right at the end of the glorious Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall and surrounded by nothing but coast and countryside all around, it's ideal for bracing walks in the ...

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West Sussex luxury hotel and spa at South Lodge hotel, Horsham

by Sarah Bridge
added February 28, 2020

South Lodge hotel and spa in West Sussex near Horsham is a great destination hotel. With a huge, modern spa, two restaurants, a bar, acres of lush grounds to explore, a terrace for cocktails or afternoon tea, vast luxury bedrooms and even its own win...

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New Hall hotel and spa in Birmingham – luxury rooms and a moat

by Sarah Bridge
added February 12, 2020

There are probably many historic hotels with a spa and swimming pool but I don't think many of them can say they have their own moat, which makes New Hall hotel and spa in Sutton Coldfield, just a few miles from the centre of Birmingham, a rare hotel...

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9 of the most romantic hotels for Valentines Day

by Sarah Bridge
added February 9, 2020

Who doesn't want to stay in a romantic hotel for Valentines Day? Just picture the scene: a luxury bedroom with a four-poster bed, thick carpet and possibly a fireplace, a bottle of something chilling next to the bed and a massive bathroom with an ext...

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Luxury in the Cotswolds at The Lygon Arms Broadway

by Sarah Bridge
added November 21, 2019

If you're looking for luxury hotels in the Cotswolds The Lygon Arms Broadway will be high on your wish-list. This historic hotel has been a main fixture in the beautiful Cotswolds village of Broadway since its days as a coaching inn back in the 17t...

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A relaxing stay at Stapleford Park hotel and spa in Leicestershire

by Sarah Bridge
added November 3, 2019

Stapleford Park hotel in central England was a real treat; a combination of traditional stately home and modern spa, with all the trimmings of a luxury hotel: staff happy to drive you to the spa at the other end of the hotel grounds in little buggies...

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Cornish spa delight at Mullion Cove hotel in Cornwall

by Sarah Bridge
added October 31, 2019

Not having had the luxury of a clifftop spa hotel on the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall before, I didn't have much to compare Mullion Cove hotel with, but judging on my first visit I think it will be hard to beat. A stay at Mullion Cove hotel ...

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A room with a seaside view at Thurlestone hotel Devon

by Sarah Bridge
added October 15, 2019

Getting to Thurlestone hotel Devon is like going down Alice in Wonderland's rabbit hole. You follow one of those high-hedged, single-track south Devon lanes, praying not to meet any oncoming tractors, until, half an hour later, you pop up into the op...

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A most relaxing stay at Ragdale Hall spa in Leicestershire

by Sarah Bridge
added August 8, 2019

There are some hotels with spas and there are some hotels which ARE spas. Ragdale Hall spa in Leicestershire most definitely falls into the latter camp, making a spa break at Ragdale Hall a must for any spa fans. The moment you arrive you are greeted...

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Trying out Park House hotel’s new Germaine de Capuccini spa treatments

by Sarah Bridge
added July 9, 2019

Fans of Germaine de Capuccini who are wondering where to get Germaine de Capuccini spa treatments in the UK, will be delighted to hear that award-winning hotel Park House hotel and spa in West Sussex offers the skin care specialist products. ...

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My stay at Cliveden House hotel (favourite of poets, players and princesses)

by Sarah Bridge
added June 29, 2019

Throughout my own stay at Cliveden House hotel, there was one question which I found almost impossible to answer. Would Cliveden still be as fabulous if it wasn't, well, Cliveden? Cliveden house history The thing about Cliveden, which i...

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Bond, Bridget and me: my stay at Stoke Park hotel Buckinghamshire

by Sarah Bridge
added June 21, 2019

A stay at Stoke Park hotel and country club comes with high expectations. It's where James Bond played golf with Goldfinger, where Bridget Jones spent the night with Daniel Cleaver and where Teri Hatcher and Pierce Brosnan (as James Bond) danced the ...

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The Good Hotel Guide’s ten luxury hotels with swimming pools

by Sarah Bridge
added June 21, 2019

Guest post from the best-selling Good Hotel Guide - their top 10 luxury hotels with pools for the summer Summer’s here and with any luck we’ve all got summer holidays booked in. Come rain or shine, no holiday would be complete without a little swimm...

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A relaxing luxury spa break at Corinthia hotel London

by Sarah Bridge
added June 4, 2019

The first thing that struck me about the five-star Corinthia Hotel London when I stayed there was how utterly huge everything is. From the vast central lobby lounge with its soaring dome and chandelier made of 1,001 crystal baubles, to the high-ceili...

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Medieval charm with a modern twist at The Swan Lavenham, Suffolk

by Sarah Bridge
added May 29, 2019

Returning to The Swan, Lavenham in Suffolk several years after my original stay, I was relieved to find that it was just as lovely as I remembered it. This time it also had the added attraction of its Weavers' House Spa which had been seamlessly adde...

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Relaxing in the slow lane at Brandshatch Place hotel and spa

by Sarah Bridge
added March 13, 2019

It shares its name with a famous motor racing circuit but guests at the Brandshatch Place hotel and spa will enjoy a relaxing stay away from the fast lane. As befits a hotel named after a racing circuit, guests to the Brandshatch Place hotel a...

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A relaxing luxury stay at Mallory Court hotel Warwickshire

by Sarah Bridge
added February 27, 2019

It isn't often I embrace a hotel gym so wholeheartedly but there was something about the spa at Mallory Court hotel in Warwickshire which made it irresistible. The spa at at Mallory Court hotel As we'd just come from enjoying a great stay with ...

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Rowhill Grange hotel and spa: a relaxing stay in the Kent countryside

by Sarah Bridge
added May 21, 2018

It goes without saying that anyone doing battle with the traffic on either the M25, A2 or A20 routes is probably in need of some serious relaxation, but they might be surprised to learn that there is an oasis of calm just moments away in the form of ...

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14 wines at dinner and a relaxing spa: a memorable stay at The Vineyard hotel Newbury

by Sarah Bridge
added March 20, 2018

The Vineyard hotel Newbury is a hotel serious about wine and its Judgement of Paris is the perfect meal for wine-lovers and food-lovers alike. With 14 wines and some first-class cooking, dinner at The Vineyard was one of the most memorable meals I've...

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Bovey Castle hotel Devon: a friendly, historic, luxury Dartmoor stay

by Sarah Bridge
added February 9, 2018

If a hotel is called a castle, then you want it to look seriously impressive, and Bovey Castle hotel Devon did not disappoint. Once we'd handed the car to the friendly and efficient team of valets who welcomed us on arrival, we walked through the hot...

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A romantic seaside stay in a beach suite at Cary Arms and Spa hotel, Devon

by Sarah Bridge
added February 6, 2018

I've been lucky to stay in some of the best hotel rooms in the country but for sheer romance it's hard to beat a Beach Suite at Cary Arms and Spa on Babbacombe Bay, Devon - in the heart of the 'English Riviera'. Beach Suites at Cary Arms and spa...

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A night in a Chewton Glen treehouse: luxury from spa to treetop

by Sarah Bridge
added January 16, 2018

It isn't often you spend the night at a five-star country house hotel and find yourself sleeping in a treehouse on stilts in the middle of a forest. But a Chewton Glen treehouse, located in the famous Chewton Glen hotel and spa located deep in the he...

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A relaxing stay at the historic Spread Eagle hotel Midhurst

by Sarah Bridge
added January 15, 2018

Just one night at the Spread Eagle Hotel Midhurst felt like a really long stay, which I mean in the most positive way. A stay at the Spread Eagle Hotel Midhurst I arrived there on Sunday afternoon, and by the time I left 24 hours later I'd had ...

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Time for some serious pampering at Ockenden Manor hotel and spa

by Sarah Bridge
added January 13, 2018

Walking into a really gorgeous hotel room like my spa suite at Ockenden Manor hotel and spa in West Sussex can be such a bittersweet moment. There is the initial reaction of 'Wow! This is really, really nice....!' and delight that this is actually al...

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A luxurious country escape at Bailiffscourt hotel and spa, West Sussex

by Sarah Bridge
added January 12, 2018

If lockdown has left you feeling in serious need of a relaxing break with country walks, a first-class spa and restaurant and cosy rooms to hide away in, then, once we are allowed to stay in hotels once more, Bailiffscourt hotel and spa is the place ...

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Park House hotel: a West Sussex spa secret (but not for much longer)

by Sarah Bridge
added October 17, 2017

It's been receiving guests for more than 60 years but Park House hotel is still making the transition from well-kept local secret to firm fixture on the British country house hotel scene. A stay at Park House hotel With its spa PH2O being short...

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Whatley Manor hotel and spa: a true Cotswolds gem

by Sarah Bridge
added September 27, 2017

Just when you think you’ve stayed in the best hotels in the Cotswolds, along comes Whatley Manor hotel and spa luxury hotel and tops the lot. From the moment the gates opened to reveal a beautiful cobbled courtyard, the entrance garlanded by wisteria...

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A classically English estate at Bowood hotel, spa and golf

by Sarah Bridge
added September 25, 2017

If you like visiting beautiful English stately homes but hate the queues, the drive, the parking and the general hassle which usually goes with such visits, then Bowood hotel, spa and golf in Wiltshire has the perfect solution: its own fleet of golf ...

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The Greenway hotel and spa, Cheltenham: luxury hotel with the fizz factor

by Sarah Bridge
added August 21, 2017

I hadn't meant to embark on an impromptu Champagne cocktail-tasting session just after breakfast, but in keeping with the overall spirit of relaxation and pampering at The Greenway hotel and spa Cheltenham it seemed the right thing to do. It w...

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Pennyhill Park – a luxury hotel fit for the England rugby team

by Sarah Bridge
added April 4, 2017

If the England rugby team need somewhere to recharge their batteries after a tough game then they needn't travel very far: their training ground at Pennyhill Park luxury hotel in Surrey is just a drop kick away from one of the finest spas in the coun...

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Rooftop cocktails and a spa make Montcalm Royal London House a top to toe destination

by Sarah Bridge
added January 31, 2017

Good rooftop bars in the capital are few and far between, so the discovery of another one is cause for celebration. Enter the Aviary, the rooftop bar and restaurant on top of Montcalm luxury hotels group's newest hotel, Montcalm Royal London House. ...

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A deeply relaxing day at Lime Wood hotel spa in the New Forest

by Sarah Bridge
added November 2, 2016

You have to be deeply relaxed to nod off during a massage, so falling completely asleep, not once, but twice, during my treatment at the Lime Wood hotel spa shows what an incredibly relaxing spa treatment it was. This was quite an achievement...

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Dormy House hotel in the Cotswolds – so snug, you’ll never want to leave

by Sarah Bridge
added January 29, 2016

It isn't easy to stand out among the best hotels in the Cotswolds, but the award-winning boutique hotel Dormy House more than meets the challenge. From the moment I walked in the door and saw the cosy sofas and roaring fireplaces, to the frien...

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Calcot Manor luxury hotel: a family-friendly hotel in the Cotswolds

by Sarah Bridge
added December 31, 2015

For those who love the idea of staying in a luxury spa hotel in the Cotswolds (and who doesn't?) and are travelling with children in tow, Calcot Manor luxury hotel, just the other side of Circencester, is a great choice - a Cotwolds hotel and spa f...

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Bodysgallen Hall hotel North Wales: a country house with impressive views

by Sarah Bridge
added October 14, 2015

Bodysgallen Hall hotel in North Wales was the starting point for my week exploring Wales and it was a great place to begin. One of the top luxury hotels in Wales, its location just outside Llandudno on the north coast is right at the top of Wales and...

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Ashdown Park hotel in Sussex: luxury hotel in beautiful grounds

by Sarah Bridge
added June 16, 2015

As beautiful settings go, Ashdown Park hotel in East Sussex certainly has the 'wow' factor. A stay at Ashdown Park hotel Ashdown Park hotel is easily one of the best hotels in Sussex and is a hotel with stunning views. Walking through a stone a...

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Luton Hoo hotel: a classic country house (with Hollywood glamour)

by Sarah Bridge
added June 13, 2015

It isn't often you get to share a sink with Hugh Grant but the sign in our bedroom at the five-star Luton Hoo hotel and spa proclaimed it to be true: the rather quirky sink-in-a-cupboard in the corner was indeed the very same cupboard from Four Weddi...

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Nirvana Spa: A hard day’s relaxing at this top day spa near London

by Sarah Bridge
added June 9, 2015

You would have to start early and finish late to squeeze in the maximum amount of relaxation possible at Nirvana Spa day spa near Reading, the award-winning spa near London and one of the top day spas in the country. A day at Nirvana Spa I spen...

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The Athenaeum hotel London: a charming boutique hotel in Piccadilly London

by Sarah Bridge
added December 31, 2014

All hotel visits linger in the memory afterwards but some leave a physical presence too - and in the case of the Athenaeum Hotel, a boutique hotel in Piccadilly London, it was Arthur. The teddy bear guarding my room was so sweet he just had to be lib...

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One Aldwych hotel London: a Lion King-sized bite of luxury in a West End hotel

by Sarah Bridge
added November 19, 2014

Hotels in London don't get more central than One Aldwych, the imposing luxury hotel on The Strand, one of London's main roads which flows from Trafalgar Square to Aldwych. A stay at One Aldwych It's also the closest hotel to the highly-succ...

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The Swan at Lavenham: a pub as charming as its location

by Sarah Bridge
added July 8, 2014

[Editor's note: This review of the Swan at Lavenham was first published in 2014. For a more up to date review of this hotel click here or go to https://www.aladyofleisure.com/the-swan-at-lavenham-review/ ] The Swan at Lavenham is located in one of...

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