Spa Days in Yorkshire - my top picks for a sensational spa day
Looking for the best spa days in Yorkshire? Yorkshire is home to some heavenly hotels, with many of these gorgeous gaffs having sensational spas which I’ve been lucky enough to get to road-test some of them. Here’s three recommendations for the best spa days in Yorkshire. These heavenly haunts are perfect for a day of relaxation, escapism, plenty of head-to-toe pampering and it goes without saying, a glass or two of fizz thrown in.
A memorable spa day also brings with it the opportunity to reconnect with a loved one, much needed peace and quiet and of course all of this is the ultimate self care. For us mums this all sounds very indulgent but a spa day is a rare treat that we absolutely 100% deserve once in a while.
And now is the perfect time to plan your spa days in Yorkshire for the rest of the year. Why not drop a few hints for vouchers for Mothers Day, your birthday, or just because. You need some ‘you’ time to be the best version of you the rest of the time. Ask for a babysitting voucher whilst you are at it.
Spa days are a necessity in my opinion. and selecting the right spa is paramount. There are a lot of spas out there. There are a lot of leisure centres claiming to be spas and that is NOT what you want. You want the bells and whistles, you want to feel like you’ve gone to Heaven for the day so make sure your not so subtle hints tell them exactly which vouchers to buy. In fact just send over the link to this blog!
The three spas below – all of which I have personally experienced and I can promise you I went to Heaven and back on all three occasions – are nothing short of absolutely incredible.
State-of-the-art selfcare at the award-winning Rudding Park spa in Harrogate
Harrogate is a well known UK ‘spa town’, which dates back to the 16th Century when a guy named William Slingsby drank from a well in Harrogate and claimed that the water tasted like spa water. People believed that this water had medicinal qualities so they flocked from miles around to settle in the town.
More of these wells were discovered over the centuries with people believing in these magical healing powers. The NHS even funded treatment at the Royal Baths in Harrogate right up until the 1960s.
This affluent North Yorkshire town lays claim to quite a few decent spas in and around the area. One of which, and my personal favourite is The Spa at Rudding Park Hotel. It’s a belter. And is it any wonder with a plethora of awards under its belt including the Good Spa Guide’s Best Destination Spa 2022!
This state-of-the-art spa had a full makeover in 2017 costing an eye-watering £9.5million and is nothing short of an oasis.
The spa is housed in a separate, very contemporary building – a seamless stroll down a connecting corridor takes guests from the traditional walls of the grand house into the large bright reception area of the Spa which also boasts an incredible gift shop and a 3 AA Rosette winning restaurant; Horto.
The Spa is renowned for its rooftop spa garden. Featuring a sun deck complete with outdoor jacuzzi, sauna, relaxation areas and a hydrotherapy infinity pool over-looking the gardens. The outdoor space is well thought out to deal with our good old Yorkshire weather. Which is what we tested out and I can confirm that immersing ourselves under the bubbling water of the hydrotherapy infinity pool on a cold Winter’s afternoon was even more satisfying than I imagined!
The powerful water jets massaged our shoulders and the rising steam in the frosty air drew similarities with the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. Well, as close to Iceland as one can get in Yorkshire. A little piece of heaven.
Without a doubt, laid out on that rooftop sundeck of Rudding Park’s Spa on a scorching summer’s day would be nothing short of dreamy. But there is something very cathartic, invigorating and rather privileged about relaxing in hot, bubbling water, outside on a sub-zero Saturday afternoon, with the option of a glass of chilled champagne in one’s hand – especially looking out over the Yorkshire countryside.
In addition to the outside space of the rooftop garden there is also lots going on inside. The spa boasts ‘experience’ showers, foot spas, two steam rooms, a large indoor swimming pool, chill out areas with electronic, reclining beds and plenty of highbrow magazines for guests to read.
If this wasn’t enough there were 2 state of the art therapy rooms. A sunlight therapy room – whilst relaxing on heated, sculpted loungers you are exposed to safe ‘sunlight simulators’ that replicates natural sunlight, without the harmful UV rays. This has the ability to boost vitamin D levels which in the winter months is certainly needed. And an Oxygen pod. Whilst relaxing in here you are breathing in oxygen concentrations levels up to 27% (dry air usually contains 21% oxygen). This is said to help prevent signs of ageing and strengthen the immune system. I’m sure I walked out at least a year younger!
Beyond the norm of wellness and relaxation is an area dedicated to stimulation of the mind and soul – Visual, Relax, Audio and Mind. The Visual area is strewn with comfortable seating facing a huge screen streaming incredible footage of Yorkshire’s best nature scenes through the elements.
Relax and enjoy the peace and quiet in a dark room featuring comfy beds. Stick a headset on in the Audio room then curl up in one of the comfy booths and listen to some meditation tracks. And, over in Mind, you can complete a puzzle, read a book or play a board game.
If that’s not enough, and believe me a day in this spa is NOT enough, you must make time for a treatment.
The icing on the cake to this spa day is Rudding Park’s staff. Friendly, professional, and willing to go that extra mile to ensure that your experience at Rudding Park is nothing short of flawless.
The layout and design ensures that it never feels overly busy but if you did want a more intimate experience book a mid-week session. Every inch of the place was absolutely spotless too. Whilst you’re walking around with your head in the clouds, look out for the splendid display of fantastic retro swimming caps.
Packages include;
Morning Spa – includes a treatment and brunch in Horto, from £122pp
Afternoon spa – includes a treatment and lunch in Horto, from £128pp
Starlight spa – includes a treatment and glass of prosecco, from £131pp
Calm in the countryside at the Secret Spa, Devonshire Arms in Bolton Abbey
The Devonshire Arms Spa is small but perfectly-formed. It’s a real intimate affair and another one of my favourite spa days in Yorkshire. The spa is located in a barn conversion across the road from the hotel – it’s a lovely little oasis of calm and the ideal place for some pre-dinner or post-hike R&R.
A spa day at The Secret Spa at The Devonshire Arms involves your very own bell tent – a little place of sanctuary just for you and your spa buddy. With only 6 bell tents available, it’s certainly one of the quieter, more intimate spa days in Yorkshire experience.
Each bell tent boasts a log burner so you can cosy up on those cold wintery days curled up on a beanbag with a hot drink from the facilities included.
I love the Secret Spa at The Devonshire Arms because it really feels like you’ve got the place to yourself. Plus, the bell tent provides a glamping experience to boot. With onesies, marshmallows and hot chocolate provided, the Devonshire Arms have succeeded in creating a really unique spa day experience, which mixes rustic with real relaxation.
Take your cossi for a dip in the indoor swimming pool and a soak in the hot tub. And if you really want to get messy, slather each other in mud in the Rasul Mud Chamber Experience.
Read my full review of The Secret Spa – link below.
This country hotel in the beautiful village of Bolton Abbey in the Yorkshire Dales is a tranquil place to spend a weekend relaxing, exploring the Bolton Abbey estate and indulging in some gourmet fine dining at the Devonshire Arms Burlington restaurant or its Brasserie.
Packages include:
The Champagne One – includes a signature treatment, mud rasul treatment, light lunch and a bottle of Laurant Perrier champagne, £320 for 2
The Winter One – includes mud rasul treatment and light lunch, £145 for 2
The Winter Muddy One – includes signature treatment, mud rasul treatment, light lunch and glass of prosseco, £245 for 2
A Garden Spa of dreams at Rockliffe Hall in Darlington
A hop, skip and a jump over Yorkshire’s border is Rockliffe Hall – an award-winning hotel and spa complex boasting its very own golf course – so if swinging an iron is your thing, here you can combine the course with the luxury of Rockliffe’s spa.
My mum and I were blown away by the grandeur of Rockliffe Hall when we arrived for a gifted spa day, which included lunch at the newly opened Nu Sana Restaurant.
A lot of money has been invested in upgrading the spa facilities here. The Garden Spa was added in 2018 and if the weather behaves itself, it’s really easy to forget you’re in the North of England, rather in the grounds of some gorgeous Spanish spa hotel abroad. We really did feel like we were on our jollies.
The main spa is bursting at the seams with all sorts of self-care facilities – a 20m indoor swimming pool, plenty of relaxation areas and a large hydrotherapy pool. Plus an infrared room, the igloo, tropicarium, a Roman sauna, salt steam, foot spas, tepidarium and experience showers. Step outside and indulge in the drench shower and hot tubs.
It doesn’t end there, in fact it gets better! The hotel’s Garden Spa is on another level. This circular spa area is WOW with a capital W. A glass–fronted building reveals the infinity pool which looks out over that golf course. Featuring relaxation beds, seating areas, a sauna and with limited access, the Garden Spa promises peace and tranquillity which is what it delivered.
The main indoor spa has a no alcohol policy, instead a delicious juice bar is available. But outside in the Spa Garden, you can indulge in a glass of champagne.
For lunch we dined in the restaurant dressed in our robes. Nu Sana, meaning nutritious, is all about nourishing the soul with food. It is fresh, seasonal and tastes deliciously healthy – comfort food with an Asian twist.
I can highly recommend the facial treatment – in fact the facial here was the best facial I’ve ever experienced – it was so utterly relaxing and the Neom products left my face feeling brand new. I came out of that treatment room on cloud nine.
There are a number of spa day offers on at the moment including;
Skin Regim Detox – includes morning spa, lunch in Nu Sana and a treatment, £150pp plus £25pp upgrade for the Spa Garden or Mud Rasul
Spa Your Way – includes day spa, breakfast/brunch/lunch in Nu Sana, Spa Garden use and a treatment, £185pp
Half Day Hideaway – includes a half day spa, lunch in Nu Sana or Afternoon Tea in the Old Hall, £105pp
The best spa days in Yorkshire - because you're worth it
For more information on each of these spa days in Yorkshire then check out the HANDY LINKS section and get your next self care session booked in. Because you’re worth it.
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