A spa day is a treat, but for an escape that offers the well-being merits of a holiday all you need is a one night break.
Overnight breaks in the UK have the benefits of limited travel time and a real sense of escapism, whether you opt to visit a country house hotel style spa experience like Alexander House Hotel and Utopia Spa, with its indulgent facilities and award-winning service, or a health retreat like Lifehouse Spa and Hotel in Essex.
That said, one night away for two can work wonders for your wellbeing, and there are a number of destinations that are easy to reach in Ireland and Europe, whether you choose to fly or hop on the Eurostar to Paris. What a treat it would be, for example, to whizz off to Hotel Molitor Paris for the night, a bastion of style famed as the home of Clarins and one of the city’s most highly praised Art Deco swimming pools. In Ireland, don’t forget to pop into Knightsbrook Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort for spa time in the Meath countryside.
In the UK, one night hotel and spa breaks offer phenomenal variety. It’s almost impossible to beat the style and range of facilities at Rudding Park in Yorkshire with its celebrated rooftop spa. Meanwhile, hotels such as Stoke Park offer movie magic (with iconic scenes from Bridget Jones filmed on the lake) and unequivocal romance in terms of setting and service. An early morning swim in their orangery-style swimming pool is an experience that’s hard to beat.
Alternatively, beautifully converted inns that are shaped by their history, such as Spread Eagle Hotel and Spa in West Sussex offer cosy and romantic experiences with beautiful spa treatments, ideal for autumn and winter, and then there are the destination spas where a day addressing health and wellbeing concerns can make you feel like a new person.