The 48 hour reset – Does a weekend away really reset you?

Britain’s wellness habits are changing 

New analysis by holidaylodges.co.uk reveals that searches for restorative wellness experiences have surged over the past year, suggesting more people are looking for simple ways to unwind during short breaks.

Sound baths lead the way, up 182%, and now the UK’s fastest-growing wellness trend, followed by saunas (+126%), wild swimming (+56%), infrared saunas (+52%), breathwork (+45%) and forest bathing (+24%).

At the same time, interest in some of wellness’s more extreme trends appears to be fading. Searches for ice baths have fallen by 74%, while cold water therapy (-19%) and yoga retreats (-7%) have also declined, suggesting many people are gravitating towards slower, more restorative experiences that can easily fit into a weekend away.

Ben Walker, founder and personal trainer at Anytime Fitness, says a well-planned weekend can produce genuine physiological benefits, even if it isn’t a complete cure for ongoing stress.

“Yes, if taking the weekend off training, replenishing your body with water, electrolytes, vitamins, minerals, and substantial amino acids every 2-4 hours, and getting to sleep early, your body will benefit from numerous physiological benefits. Firstly, your sleep patterns should improve. This will increase oxygen intake into your blood and rid your body of cortisol through chronic stress. This means your oxidative system will work better”

Where can you enjoy the ultimate 48-hour reset?

With that in mind, holidaylodges.co.uk set out to identify where in the UK travellers can enjoy the ultimate 48-hour reset.

Analysing hundreds of lodge destinations across the country, the research assessed the availability of wellness-focused features that encourage people to properly unwind, from lodges with hot tubs and spa facilities to indoor swimming pools, open fires, coastal settings and waterside views. The result is a new 48-hour reset score, highlighting the destination’s best equipped for switching off before the start of a new week.

Cornwall leads the way for restorative escapes 

Cornwall takes the top spot, with almost half its lodges offering hot tubs and nearly seven in ten within five miles of a beach, a setting that naturally encourages slower mornings and longer walks.

Catherine Arthur, Cornwall travel expert for holidaylodges.co.uk, said:

“People often associate wellness with spas or retreats, but it’s just as much about the environment you’re in. Cornwall’s coastline, combined with lodges that offer features like hot tubs, cosy living spaces and peaceful surroundings, creates the perfect setting to slow down and recharge.”

Walker says many of the wellness features people increasingly seek out on short breaks also have genuine recovery benefits.

“Hot and cold therapy is great for muscle therapy, but only for short durations. Heat therapy from hot tubs, steam rooms, or saunas is great for increasing the heart rate and increasing the blood flow to the muscle tissues that have been broken down. With more blood getting to the extremities, more nutrients can help the damaged muscle fibres repair more effectively.”

The South West isn’t the only place to switch off 

Neighbouring Devon follows closely behind, offering a similarly impressive mix of wellness-friendly accommodation. Alongside one of the largest selections of hot tub lodges anywhere in the UK, Devon also boasts plentiful seafront stays and beachside locations, making it easy to combine comfort with time in nature.

Rounding out the top three is Wales, where the strength lies in choice. Home to the largest number of lodges included in the research, Wales combines countryside retreats, coastal escapes and properties with hot tubs and open fires, offering year-round opportunities to escape busy routines without travelling far.

Britain’s hidden wellness hotspots 

Yet looking beyond the South West reveals a different side to Britain’s wellness landscape, with the West Midlands emerging as a strong destination for a restorative weekend break. Rather than relying on dramatic coastlines, the region stands out thanks to its concentration of hot tub lodges, indoor leisure facilities and cosy accommodation centred around open fires, proving that switching off doesn’t necessarily require sea views.

Norfolk and North Yorkshire follow closely behind. Norfolk pairs peaceful beaches with an abundance of hot tub accommodation. At the same time, North Yorkshire’s rural setting, characterful lodges and fireside retreats demonstrate why countryside escapes continue to appeal to travellers looking to disconnect from everyday life.

Inday Harrison, Norfolk travel expert for holidaylodges.co.uk, said:

“Norfolk lends itself to the kind of weekend where you don’t feel the need to rush. You can spend the morning walking the coast, come back to soak in a hot tub as the sun goes down, and suddenly realise you’ve barely looked at your phone all day. It’s having that hot tub waiting for you that makes the difference between a nice walk and an actual reset.”

Julie Smith, Yorkshire travel expert for holidaylodges.co.uk, said:

“People often assume wellness has to involve treatments, classes, or expensive retreats, but Yorkshire proves that isn’t always the case. Sometimes all it takes is a change of pace. When you’re surrounded by open countryside and places where life feels a little less rushed, it’s easier to disconnect from the constant pressure to be busy.”

“You can tell who’s had a proper reset; they come back saying they didn’t want to leave the lodge at all. That’s usually down to the amenities on site more than anything else.”

While a weekend cannot completely undo the effects of prolonged stress or burnout, Walker says many people notice when they’ve genuinely recharged.

“It’s quite simple. You simply need to listen to your body. If you feel self-motivated and ready to start again, then you are. The mind-body connection sends us a clear message when we are ready again. We can only follow the protocol.”

The future of the weekend away 

The findings suggest that the modern weekend break is no longer just about getting away. Increasingly, it’s about coming back feeling different.

Rather than viewing wellness as something reserved for luxury spas or week-long retreats, many travellers are embracing smaller moments of restoration that can fit into just two days. Whether that’s watching the sunset from a hot tub, taking a quiet walk through woodland with a forest escape, or swapping notifications for uninterrupted sleep, the most valuable part of a weekend away may no longer be how much you see, but how much you leave behind.

Travel expert at holidaylodges.co.uk, Ellen Sanders, commented,

“For a long time, the goal of a weekend away was to fit as much in as possible. Now we’re seeing the opposite. People are becoming far more protective of their free time and much more conscious of how they want to feel when they come home.

What’s driving the rise of the 48-hour reset isn’t necessarily a growing interest in wellness itself. It’s the fact that more people are feeling mentally stretched and are looking for simple ways to recharge. The most successful short breaks aren’t always the busiest ones; they’re the ones that create enough distance from everyday life to help you properly switch off, even if it’s only for a couple of days.”

For more inspiration and ideas for your weekend away, see our ‘48 hours in‘ section, and don’t forget to subscribe to our twice weekly newsletter, that way you won’t miss a thing.

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