It's the perfect time of year to put on a jacket and head out for a walk in the fresh air - here are some of the most beautiful spa gardens for a seasonal stroll.
Home to a famous gardener: Horwood House, Buckinghamshire
A four-star country house hotel surrounded by 38 acres of Buckinghamshire landscapes, Horwood House is a historic property with a brand new spa. Its charm, location and style make it perfect for romantic escapes, but its triple rooms and welcoming atmosphere also make it suitable for groups and families. The H Spa at Horwood House is the pièce de résistance, drawing inspiration from the gardens, which are a running theme throughout the hotel. A day here is a treat, but a weekend would be even better.
Gorgeous garden features include:
- It's the birthplace of the famous gardener, Percy Thrower
- Rooms and suites look out onto an enchanting lily pond and manicured Pytheas Gardens
- Harry’s Bar & Kitchen is named after Harry Thrower - the original Head Gardener and father of the aforementioned Percy
A spa hotel on the Duke of Northumberland’s 200-acre estate: Hilton London Syon Park, London
Built in the grounds of a 200-year-old estate, the Hilton London Syon Park is an ideal base for a leisurely break from the fast pace of everyday life. Wander the grounds, soak up the estate’s history and luxuriate in the contemporary Kallima Health Club & Spa, where facilities include a swimming pool, hot tub and steam room. To complement the wet facilities, the spa menu is made up of a selection of decadent body rituals and facial treatments designed to leave you feeling very relaxed.
Gorgeous garden features include:
- It has its own herb and vegetable gardens
- It's set within the Duke of Northumberland’s 200-acre, Syon House estate
Acres to explore: Redworth Hall Hotel, County Durham
You’ll find many reasons to want to visit Redworth Hall Hotel, not least its spectacular Jacobean architecture and 26 acres of glorious landscaped grounds. The Retreat leisure club and spa is a big drawcard, whether you’re looking for a solo spa retreat or celebrating something special with friends. Indulge in an ESPA beauty treatment, relax in the indoor heated pool, take a nap in the tranquil relaxation room or enjoy a bite to eat in the Retreat Lounge.
Gorgeous garden features include:
- 26 acres of glorious landscaped grounds
- Outside space includes tennis courts, crazy golf and Frisbee golf
- Stroll and enjoy the view of a Jacobean manor house dating back to 1693
Wellness on the edge of Great Windsor Park: Fairmont Windsor Park, Surrey
Situated on the edge of Windsor Great Park, just an hour outside London, Fairmont Windsor Park is a five-star hotel that represents the best of history, contemporary elegance and exceptional hospitality, as well as being home to an exceptional spa. Surrounded by 40 acres of grounds and gardens it is an expansive 2,500metre square environment that has been exquisitely designed complete with state-of-the-art facilities, holistic therapies and innovative health assessments and wellbeing treatments. Its beauty and luxury make it perfect for a romantic break, while the size, space and variety of experiences make it ideal for groups of friends, and the array of wellness offerings in the spa mean you could even use it as an opportunity to simply focus on yourself.
Gorgeous garden features include:
- Set in 40 acres of grounds including a tranquil lake
- On the edge of Windsor Great Park
- There's an outdoor gym as well as three outdoor tennis courts
Historic gardens at Rowhill Grange Hotel, Kent
Nestled in Kent countryside, Rowhill Grange Hotel & Utopia Spa is just 30 minutes from London and offers all the four star amenities you’d expect from this 19th century manor house, from an award-winning restaurant to a gorgeous spa. The Utopia Spa is one of Kent’s best kept secrets, tucked away down a winding driveway in a converted summer house, with a Neoclassical style pool, Jacuzzi, therapy pool, steam room and sauna complete with a waterfall for added effect.
Gorgeous garden features include:
- A property dating back to 1868
- A spectacular spruce tree planted by in the 1900s
- Beautiful gardens planted by the family of Sir George Cole (Lord Mayor of London and a keen breeder of Shetland Ponies), who owned the house from 1916
A blissful spa garden at Alexander House Hotel Utopia Spa, Sussex
A five-star country house in East Sussex, which dates back to the 17th century and once held connections to the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, Alexander House is a fusion of luxury style and exemplary hospitality. There's a variety of spaces to stay in, including the contemporary Cedar Lodge Suites, set within the grounds, and food is treat with two award-winning restaurants and a Champagne bar. The Utopia Spa is a luxury haven of its own, with Neoclassical style honouring the hotel's location on a Roman road. There's even a Spa Garden with heated spa pools, a barrel sauna and plenty of loungers.
Gorgeous garden features include:
- A 120-acre estate
- A Spa Garden with heated spa pools, a barrel sauna and plenty of loungers
- A 17th century with connections to the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley
The Marquis of Lansdowne's estate: Bowood Hotel and Spa, Wiltshire
With countryside views and space to breathe, Bowood Hotel is a special escape from the pace of everyday life. Historic Bowood House is your neighbour here and so too is its glorious gardens, but finding time for the spa is a must in order to benefit from its elegant facilities. The infinity pool overlooks the woodland, as does the Jacuzzi, while the Spa Bar offers refreshments in a light-filled tranquil setting – perfect after a relaxing treatment.
Gorgeous garden features include:
- An infinity pool with woodland views
- An 18-hole golf course
- Set within the historic Bowood House and Gardens
- 100 acres of beautifully landscaped 'Capability' Brown parkland
The Garden Spa at Appleby Manor Hotel & Garden Spa, Cumbria
With the Lake District as its backdrop, this hotel prides itself on offering a warm and relaxing atmosphere that follows through to its Garden Spa. Here, you’ll be treated to a menu of over 80 decadent spa therapies designed to ease you into a feeling of deep relaxation. Your experience includes the aqua thermal facilities, which involve different heat experiences and a hydrotherapy pool, as well as two outdoor hot tubs and the gorgeous spa garden area.
Gorgeous garden features include:
- A Lake District location
- A spa garden and aptly named Garden Spa
- Two outdoor hot tubs and a hydrotherapy pool
Golf in the glens at Gleneagles, Scotland
First conceived as design homage to the French aristocracy’s chateaux tradition, the architecture of Gleneagles is a visual indicator of the five-star service that lies within. Looking out onto three of the top 18-hole golf courses in Scotland, it's got a world of experiences to enjoy, from two Michelin-starred gastronomic restaurants, to a plant-filled cafe for light lunches, coffees and pastries. Overlooking the idyllic glens of Perthshire, the very special thing about the spa at Gleneagles is the way in which it caters not only to every person but every health requirement. With three pools, a thermal suite and gym on offer, there’s plenty in the way of fitness facilities, but the spa, together with the hair and beauty lodge provide the full package to make you look and feel gorgeous.
Gorgeous garden features include:
- Surrounded by the glens of Perthshire
- Home to three of the top 18-hole golf courses in Scotland
- A Courtyard Garden in the spa
Open-air wellness at Wild Spa Wowo, East Sussex
Wild Spa Wowo is an open-air wellness experience that helps you to reconnect with nature and yourself through a series of bathing treatments, practices and rituals from around the world. All about getting back to nature, it's set in a magical forest glade in the Sussex countryside with experiences spread across an outside space. A meaningful retreat that's both joyful and soulful, it's ideal for sharing with friends or a partner, and is a truly special experience for groups.
Gorgeous garden features include:
- All outdoor sauna experiences
- Set in a forest glade in the Sussex countryside
- A steamy warm greenhouse with a forest view