When the aim is to slow down and properly switch off, a day spa allows time for rest and rejuvenation, without the need for an overnight stay.
A spa experience doesn’t have to involve a long break or careful planning. Across the UK, there are day spas offering the same sense of calm, thoughtful design and high-quality treatments without having to commit to a weekend away. For those looking for some R&R, sometimes a day can be enough to get you back on track.
Having only ever been to Sopwell House before in a work capacity (conference), it was a pleasure to return and experience its standout spa. Located in St Albans, 25 miles from London and easily accessible by rail, it’s a convenient countryside retreat set within 12 acres of landscaped gardens. You can even combine a visit with an exploration of this historic Roman city.
Housed in a former Georgian country hotel, The Cottonmill Spa features two sections. The main spa, open to most guests and day visitors, includes pools, a gym, sauna, steam rooms, relaxation areas, salon services and a terrace.
The Club at Cottonmill, accessed separately, is a premium area with exclusive gardens, loungers, cabanas, hot tubs, a fire pit and indoor spaces such as the Whisper Room and Deep Relaxation Room, designed for a slower-paced experience. Thermal experiences range from a hydrotherapy pool to panoramic, herbal and salt steam rooms, plus an organic sauna. Access from 12pm is limited to guests on club spa breaks, selected suite stays or members, giving the space a noticeably quieter, more considered feel.
Sopwell House’s signature treatments
The Cottonmill Spa works with British brands Elemis and Aromatherapy Associates to offer a wide range of treatments — that I have to say are really hard to choose from. I opted for the Elemis Expert Deep Tissue Tension-Ease Massage, while my guest had the Full Body Scrub followed by the Back, Neck, and Shoulder Massage; both are designed to relieve muscle tension and restore balance.
Read more: These are the best affordable saunas in London in 2026 — from just £9.50 per hour
Alternatively, the Cottonmill Signature Vichy Experience combines a full-body exfoliation and massage on a heated marble Vichy bed where warm water jets cascade over the body. Other treatments include the Quartz Poultice Massage and the Elemis Expert Deep Tissue Tension-Ease Massage.
Book in for cocktails at the Octagon Bar, followed by dinner at Omboo, Sopwell House’s Asian-inspired restaurant, where sharing plates are paired with a bottle of wine or sake recommended by the server.
Read more: This countryside spa hotel is the perfect weekend getaway — less than one hour from London
Other spas to try
The Grove, Hertfordshire
The Grove, set on 300 acres near Watford, offers a discreet retreat popular with premier sports stars (footballers) and is an easy spa escape from London. Its contemporary spa focuses on light-filled spaces and my favourite — a large black mosaic-tiled salt-water pool.
Signature treatment: Natura Bissé Oxygen Facial
Pennyhill Park Spa, Surrey
More of a destination spa than a day spa, Pennyhill Park Spa states it is a Mediterranean-style escape in the summer, thermal haven in the winter. And true, it does both things well, offering one of the one of the most extensive thermal spa journeys in the UK, with over 20 experiences, including hydrotherapy pools, saunas and steam rooms.
Signature treatment: Gaia Crystal Healing Massage
Heckfield Place — The Bothy Spa, Hampshire
Another former Georgian family home, Heckfield Place’s Bothy Spa focuses on a quieter, nature-inspired wellness experience. Its holistic treatments make use of oils and botanicals harvested directly from the estate — all with the aim of offering you the chance to slow down and spend time outdoors too, when the weather permits.
Signature treatment: The Heckfield Body Ritual
Feature image: Sopwell House
