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When day-to-day stresses threaten to overwhelm you, when you need to rejuvenate after an intense bout of physical activity, when you’re pregnant, when you want to catch up with an old friend or family member; the reasons to visit a spa hotel go on and on! One of the nicest locations in the UK to take a spa break has to be Hampshire; with rolling hills, picturesque towns and villages, a charming coastline, and its proximity to London, it has something for everyone. Your only decision then is which spa hotel to pick and of course, we can help you there. Read on for our guide to the 10 best spa hotels in Hampshire.
1. Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire
The very best spa hotels, as well as excellent spa facilities, of course, offer exceptional service, relaxing surroundings and are nice and convenient to reach. All this and more can be said of the stunning Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire, which lies tucked in north Hampshire on a 500-acre country estate. You are super near to the M3, and central London is only 50 miles away. The hotel itself is housed in an elegant Georgian mansion; as you approach down the long winding drive, the rolling hills and lake welcome you first, and then you catch a glimpse of the beautiful building, and you are seduced. There’s something about this arrival that instantly soothes the soul and puts you in the perfect frame of mind for a relaxing spa break.
The serene spa is located in the hotel’s beautiful, Grade-II listed 18th-century stable block, which adjoins the main hotel. The first-class facilities at the Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire Spa include a vast main pool, an entirely separate family pool (Sharkie’s Reef, and yes, it’s as child-friendly as it sounds!), a sauna, and a crystal steam room. There’s also an outdoor vitality pool which is hard to leave it’s so heavenly; warm enough in chilly months (best still, you slip through a curtain from the main pool, so there is no need to get out and do the dreaded dart across!) and THE place to be when the sun shines. Simply hop out and spend some time chilling on the loungers that surround it when you want to top up the tan and let the zen vibe overtake you. The main pool itself is also rather spectacular, it has a large glass roof, so even on the cooler days, it still feels warm and inviting.
There are also plenty of loungers indoors as well as a selection of magazines and chilled water diffused with the fruit of the day. There’s also a fully equipped gym and a spacious studio where fitness classes are held. Other facilities include Café Santé (the spa café; yes, you can dine in your fluffy bathrobe), which serves mouth-wateringly delicious Asian-inspired cuisine, relaxation rooms, and sleep retreats with additional sauna and steam facilities away from the main pool. There’s also a tea and coffee area where you can help yourself to sweet treats during the day and sit on the sofas there.
Your treatments will be held in one of 15 private treatment rooms, there’s also a VIP couples suite to inspire a little romance. Charmingly, a lot of the treatments are inspired by the Hampshire countryside, and their very popular Signature Therapies use hand-picked ingredients from the estate. You can also opt for a facial, massage, a range of salon-style services, Pre and Postnatal Therapies, and treatments specially designed for gentlemen.
Four Seasons is renowned the world over for their impeccable service, and the Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire certainly meets this reputation; the welcome in the spa is delightful, they are always on hand to assist, and the therapists are lovely without being intrusive – dreading that vital balance perfectly!
After your spa experience, be sure to head to the main building, where the funky-yet-traditional bar with its warming fireplace and gorgeous terrace (of course, with sweeping countryside views to die for) is the place to continue your relaxation with a chilled beverage. And if you’re peckish, there’s a fine dining restaurant or the prettiest lounge you can imagine where afternoon tea is served. The rooms themselves are luxurious, spacious, and wonderfully English; make sure you opt for one with a view so rural Hampshire stays with you even when you’re in your room, giving you the perfect countryside escape vibe. And when you’re all spa’ed out (is such a thing possible!) there’s lots to do onsite; rent a bike, get the adrenalin flowing on the treetop zipline course, or how about horse riding, clay pigeon shooting, fishing in the lake or tennis; there never need be a quiet moment, although we really recommend some of them too, ideally in the Spa!
We share 10 ways to get a discount at any Four Seasons hotel hotel.
2. New Park Manor Hotel & Bath House Spa
Family-friendly New Park Manor is set in a former 17th-century royal hunting lodge surrounded by English parkland. The Stag Restaurant is award-winning, there are 21 bedrooms, and there are lots to do locally (you’re right in the middle of the New Forest here), but it’s the spa that’s got us hooked. For parents, it offers the best of both worlds. Your children will love the family swim times, but you can indulge in some peace and quiet lying back on a lounger on the adults-only terrace and soaking in the hot tub with a forest view! Facilities include thermal rooms, a Hydrotherapy and spa pool, an experience shower, and 3 lightly scented treatment rooms. Products used include Elemis and Jessica for nails and there’s a Spa Café too.
3. Careys Manor Hotel
While the historic building with its funky modern touches is very welcome, it’s the award-winning Thai SenSpa that is the real highlight of Careys Manor, which is located in Brockenhurst. The facilities list is long and inviting to read, let alone experience; you are greeted by a large ozone pool with a whirlpool tub, sauna, and steam room. Head to the hydrotherapy area, where you’ll come across an oversized hydrotherapy pool, herbal sauna, crystal steam room, laconium, tepidarium, health showers, and an ice room. If you need any further encouragement to relax, the relaxation room offers a range of refreshments. There are also mind and movement classes held in the Thai Temple Room. The treatments focus on holistic wellness with a Thai twist; from authentic Thai massages to detoxifying rhassoul mud treatments.
4. Chewton Glen Hotel
To combine your spa break with some English sea air, look no further than Chewton Glenn, which lies just an hour from the sea in New Milton on the edge of the New Forest. If you’re staying, be sure to opt for a room with your own private walled garden, balcony, or terrace; or better still, one of the contemporary treehouse suites. The elegant spa is award-winning and boasts Europe’s largest hydrotherapy pool as well as not to be missed aromatherapy saunas, crystal steam rooms, an outdoor hot tub, and a swimming pool. The spa has a distinctly Grecian feel with mosaic tiles and columns galore.
5. Solent Hotel & Spa
Easily reached just a mile from the M27, the four-star Solent Hotel & Spa is set in woodland just outside the town of Fareham in Hampshire. It’s modern inside with a relaxed vibe. The spa has an indoor pool, sauna, solarium and hot tub. You can take treatment in one of the 8 treatment rooms, although the best option would be to make use of the double treatment room with a private outdoor hot tub! The treatments use products from Caudalie is a rather glamorous French skincare brand, which combines the latest scientific techniques with the ancient secrets from their vineyards in Bordeaux. Take some time out before and after your treatment in the relaxation room, or better still, indulge in an afternoon tea to make a real day of it. There’s also a gym, tennis courts, and the AA Rosette restaurant boasts a large outdoor terrace.
6. Lime Wood
Another New Forest favorite, Lime Wood is known as a luxury country-house hotel but is also home to the luxe Herb House Spa. Facilities here include an outdoor and outdoor pool, hydrotherapy and steam pools, a mud house, relaxation rooms, and a gym. The changing rooms are rather lovely, with deep copper baths in the private bathrooms. And don’t miss a trip up to the rooftop garden to admire the views. The treatment list includes massages and facials as well as innovative Sarah Chapman skincare treatments, such as micro-needling and LED light therapy. Head to Raw and Cured for a healthy, raw food treat, stay hydrated at the juice bar, or really indulge at the rather eccentric restaurants on site.
7. Champneys Forest Mere
For a hotel that’s literally all about the spa, look no further than the exclusive Champneys Forest Mere, tucked in the heart of the beautiful South Downs. The grounds are almost as inviting as the luxury treatments and there’s an innovative restaurant that serves nutritious delights. The 43-room spa is seemingly never-ending; you can spend the best part of a day just exploring. On your wanderings, you’ll come across various indoor and outdoor pools, a hot tub, tropical rain showers, steam rooms, several relaxation rooms, and a fitness center. Plus, of course, the beauty treatments and therapies make the very best of the Champneys range of products. If you stay over, make sure you upgrade your room to one with a balcony or terrace to make the most of those views.
8. Norton Park
Located outside of the city of Winchester, Norton Park offers a contemporary alternative to those seeking a more modern feel to their Hampshire spa hotel. There is a large lounge and bar area and a comfortable restaurant. The spa treatment rooms can be found next to the Health Club, which includes a large indoor pool with a vaulted glass ceiling that is surrounded by loungers. There’s also a steam room, sauna, experience shower, heated loungers, and a gym. Take a pampering treatment in one of 8 luxury rooms, the treatments use all-natural products from ESPA.
9. Old Thorns Manor Hotel Golf & Country Estate
Old Thorns is perfect if some of your party are golfers while the rest would rather retire to the spa; it features its own 18-hole, par-72 golf course amidst the beautiful 400-acre estate located just off the A3 near Liphook. The hotel itself is contained in a stunning 17th-century building and offers luxury accommodation and a whole host of amenities, including a helipad, tennis courts, a ballroom, a vast state-of-the-art gym, a sports bar, and a champagne lounge. The spa itself offers a 20-meter swimming pool, a sub-tropical bubble pool, a steam room, a sauna, foot spas, experience showers, a relaxation room, heated loungers, and 15 treatment rooms in which to truly indulge, plus a dedicated aesthetic clinic. Amongst the extensive treatment menu that verges on the medical with a range of non-surgical cosmetic and aesthetic treatments, the facials are truly not to be missed.
10. Macdonald Botley Park Hotel & Spa
Botley Park Hotel is set just north of Southampton and works well for the city as well as nearby Paultons Park and Marwell Zoo. The 4-star hotel has an award-winning restaurant, 130 bedrooms, complimentary parking, a Technogym, and two popular bars. The spa has a welcoming 15-meter pool, a steam room, a sauna, and the products used are Elemis and Jessica. The massages are great for a pampering session, and there’s a separate beauty suite to ensure you leave looking as good as you feel.
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