11 best wellness retreats in the UK for 2024
There was a time a few years ago when heading on a ‘wellness retreat’ simply meant checking into a luxury spa with a well-appointed gym. But the wellness landscape has changed irrevocably and up and down the land there are now a raft of dedicated spas catering for weary, burnt-out guests yearning for something a little more than a sleepy weekend steaming in the sauna.
For 2024, the broader definition of wellness retreats means there’s an eclectic range of restorative breaks across the UK to totally rejuvenate your physical and mental wellbeing, from coastal walks and morning sea swims to forest bathing, manifesting workshops and, of course, plenty of yoga. The food is nourishing and plentiful; you’ll certainly find no restrictive ‘juice cleanses’ in our roundup below. Some even offer an evening tipple and afternoon cake, because wellness is about balance – not robbing yourself of life’s small pleasures.
So, here are the best UK wellness retreats to book this year, if you’re in need of some well-deserved me time.
Thomas AlexanderThe Lakes by YOO, The Cotswolds
Located in the heart of the Cotswolds, The Lakes by YOO offers calming countryside retreats for those looking to reconnect with nature. Across their 850-acre grounds, there are several secluded waterfront and woodland cabins for guests to choose from, as well as lakeside dining and an environment-focused spa. The estate's latest endeavour is Lakes Talks, an innovative speaker series hosting leading experts across topics such as wellness, arts and culture. For one night only, The Lakes welcomes Roxie Nafousi, a self-development expert and the bestselling author of ‘Manifest’. She will host a one-hour Manifest Workshop on 7 September, including a seven-step guide, group meditation, and an exclusive QA session. This exclusive event will empower you to manifest success, happiness, and abundance into your life, all on the idyllic backdrop of freshwater lakes and wildflower meadows.
Address: The Lakes by YOO, Coln Park, Nr Lechlade, GL7 3DT, United Kingdom
Price: Event-only tickets start from £75 per person; overnight tickets start from £495 for two guests
Website: thelakesbyyoo.com
Armathwaite Hall Hotel & Spa, Lake District
The sprawling 400-acre estate of Armathwaite Hall Hotel & Spa in the Northern Lake District has just opened new Spa Garden Suites which gives guests direct access to the spa facilities. Each suite has a biophilic design, with an earthy palette and raw materials, such as oak and stone, used to connect guests to nature outside. The hotel hosts a variety of wellness retreats throughout the year including the Moon and Star Bathing Package which connects guests to the wonders of the dark skies above this region. The mystical nature of the lunar light is known for cleansing the mind, body and soul, and this experience features a guided grounding meditation and star gazing tuition, led by mindfulness teacher and natural wellbeing coach Jen Grange. It also includes a dinner at the Lakeside restaurant. For something a little less passive, the liberating Scream Therapy experience offers a cathartic outlet for individuals to release pent-up emotions and stress. Taking place in the retreat’s private woodland, guests will discover a haven where they can alleviate emotional tension, reduce anxiety and nurture a profound sense of emotional relief and well-being.
Address: Bassenthwaite Lake, Keswick CA12 4RE, United Kingdom
Price: From £110 per person for the Moon and Star Bathing package; the Scream Therapy is complimentary to guests
Website: armathwaite-hall.com/spa
Ockenden Manor, West Sussex
Whether you’re into astrology and healing celestial powers or simply want to reconnect with nature, Ockenden Manor’s Full Moon Retreat is sure to bring some quiet calm to your year. In the heart of South Downs National Park in a dark sky reserve (protected areas that offer unparalleled clear views of the night sky), the Full Moon retreat has been created by yoga teacher and forest-bathing guide Helena Skoog, who has spent six years living off-grid in the Sussex woodlands. Described as a ‘sensory journey embracing wisdom, nature and compassion’, the retreat includes forest bathing, yoga, evening polestar meditation, isopod flotation and an aroma massage. Available upcoming dates are: 19-21 August, 17-19 September, 16-18 October.
Address: Ockenden Ln, Cuckfield, Haywards Heath RH17 5LD, United Kingdom
Price: From £899
Website: hshotels.co.uk/ockenden-manor/spa
Penny BirdGlass House Retreat, Essex
Found just a stone’s throw from the capital, Glass House Retreat in Bulphan, Essex, has everything you need for a restorative detox, including an indoor and outdoor swimming pool plus a natural swimming pond, a Himalayan salt block sauna, an Elemis spa, state-of-the-art gym equipment and a cryotherapy chamber. In September 2024, its popular Wim Hof weekend returns, during which attendee attendees can deep dive (literally) into the techniques, mindset and general philosophy of cold-water therapy. Glass House also offers a four-night Skincare Retreat which kicks off with a skin assessment with a high-tech scanner to understand your skincare needs. Your tailored package included three facials with specialist brands such as Image Skincare, Dermalux Light Therapy and Mesoboost. During your downtime, you can use the spa facilities, join fitness classes and wellness workshops.
Address: Harrow Rd, Bulphan, Orsett, Upminster RM14 3BP, United Kingdom
Price: From £480 for the Wim Hof retreat per person and from £1,410 for the Skin Retreat per person
Website: glasshouseretreat.co.uk
Our Retreat, Somerset
Taking place at 42 Acres Farmhouse in the Somerset countryside, Our Retreat is ideal for yoga lovers craving a restorative break for body and mind. Check in to a luxury farmhouse for two nights and enjoy mindful yoga classes each morning, Pilates each afternoon, guided meditation, wild swimming, breathwork sessions, woodland walks, evening bonfires and nourishing, delicious meals and snacks. Dates for 2024 are: 16-18 August, 13-15 September, 8-10 November, 22-24 November.
Address: 42 Acres, Holt Road, Witham Friary, Frome BA11 5HL, United Kingdom
Price: from £595 per person
Website: ourretreat.co.uk/retreats
The Detox Barn, Suffolk
The word ‘detox’ needn’t conjure up images of stuffy, silent classes and meals that leave your body rumbling with hunger. Run by sisters Lauretta and Sharon Gavin, ‘The Gentle Detox’ retreats run for two nights throughout the year in a large barn conversion in the Suffolk countryside. Lauretta and Sharon describe themselves as healthy, plant-based food lovers, ‘without being hippy-dippy tree huggers’, and also happen to be a comedy double act, so you know they won’t be taking themselves too seriously during the retreat. As well as plenty of laughs and a laidback atmosphere, expect delicious vegan meals, smoothies, juice and healthy snack demos, yoga classes for all levels, meditation, guided countryside walks and free time to enjoy massages, facials and reflexology. On one of the nights, there is a sound bath experience – a deeply relaxing session using the vibrations of crystal singing bowls, Himalayan bowls, symphonic gong and Koshi chimes. The retreat is also a digital detox, so no phones allowed (but there is a movie night to watch a documentary, so you’re not entirely banned from screens).
Address: Prospects, Nedging Tye, Suffolk, IP7 7HJ, United Kingdom
Price: Prices start from £550 for one person
Website: gavinsisters.co.uk
The Gainsborough Bath Spa, Bath
In the heart of Bath, The Gainsborough is the only hotel in the country where you can experience Bath’s natural thermal waters. It’s no wonder guests flock here to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life, and rest their minds and bodies. Spa Days immerse you in the award-winning spa and the ancient practice of social bathing in Bath’s thermal waters. You can enjoy the natural thermal pools, saunas, a steam room and an ice alcove, as well as personalised treatments. The hotel has recently partnered with Omorovicza, a Hungarian skincare brand that harnesses the natural minerals of healing waters. The Gold Hydralifting Mineral Facial, for instance, uses colloidal gold, nanoparticles of gold suspended in a liquid making the gold more easily penetrable to heal and calm micro-damaged skin.
Address: Beau St, Bath BA1 1QY, United Kingdom
Price: Rooms start from £275 per night, with treatments starting from £150
Website: thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk
The Bothy by Wildsmith at Heckfield Place, Hampshire
Launched in January 2024, the new nature-focused retreat at Heckfield Place is hosted by a team of Master Practitioners. The four-day ‘Reconnect’ retreat is aimed at groups of four or less and is led by The Bothy resident Ecopsychologist, Amy Steadman. During the four days, you will discover a slower rhythm with nature immersion walks, Wildsmith treatments, such as the Botany Facial, and naturopathy experiences, which will look at diet, herbal medicine and nutritional medicine. Also included is an osteopathy session with Master Practitioner Jennifer Harper-Deacon, who will help aid joint mobility and ease muscle tension. Integral to the retreat are nutritional menus curated by the hotel’s culinary director Skye Gyngell, with a focus on microbiome health.
Address: Heckfield Pl, Heckfield, Hook RG27 0LD, United Kingdom
Price: From £6,885 for the four-day Reconnect retreat.
Website: bothy.heckfieldplace.com
Laryssa ErrattThe Coach House Spa at Beaverbrook, Surrey
Found in leafy Surrey, the Coach House Spa at historic country house hotel, Beaverbrook, is leading the way when it comes to its holistic deep dives into nature. As well as naturopathic treatments in a quaint Meadow Hut, overlooking the Surrey Hills, the spa is hosting two different day retreats this year. Taking place on the 8-9 August, 4-5 October, 6-7 December, the Amanda Porter Abdominal Therapy aims to improve gut health, help with reproductive concerns and post-surgical abdominal scars. During the day retreat, guests join Amanda for a consultation and a personalised therapeutic abdominal massage. Amanda Porter is one of the founders of The Abdominal Therapy Collective and was trained by the last of the Mayan healers in this traditional approach to health, based on the work of Dr Rosita Arvigo. Also taking place this year is a The Wim Hof Method Retreat (12 August, 19 August, 2nd September, 13 September, 27 September) during which guests will learn the three pillars of the Wim Hof Method: Breathing Technique, Cold Exposure and Commitment. Guests will also take part in a guided ice bath session and, on both days, will be able to enjoy lunch in The Coach House Deli and use of The Coach House Spa facilities.
Address: Reigate Rd, Leatherhead KT22 8QX, United Kingdom
Price: From £350 per person for the Amanda Porter Abdominal Therapy; from £260 for the Wim Hof Retreat.
Website: beaverbrook.co.uk
Combe Grove Metabolic Health Retreats, Bath
Located within 70 acres of mature woodland and meadow in Bath, Combe Grove is a health and wellbeing centre focusing on metabolic health retreats (which look at how the body responds to food and how we process energy). Devised by Dr Campbell Murdoch, GP, there are a variety of specialist offerings which all come with a one-year online support programme. The Menopause Health reset is a week-long retreat, taking place on various dates throughout the year, which looks at nutrition, movement, mindset, environment and sleep. Improving one or more of these will help menopause symptoms as well as general well-being. Participants will receive personalised nutritional advice, tailored exercise programs, and support for improving sleep habits. The retreat encourages intuitive movement, such as gentle yoga or outdoor swimming, and there are mindset sessions designed to help women navigate this transitional phase of life and rediscover their inner selves.
Address: Brassknocker Hill, Bath BA2 7HS United Kingdom
Price: From £2,900 per person for the Metabolic Health for Menopause
Website: combegrove.com
The Heartbreak Hotel, Peak District
A sanctuary for women who are going through breakups, the Heartbreak Hotel is a one-of-a-kind bolthole run by psychologists Alice Haddon and Kate Scruby. As well as day retreats, it offers three-night residentials for a maximum of 10 guests. Found on the North Norfolk coast, the next offering will take place from 20-23 September 2024. Group sessions, good food, yoga and brisk outdoor walks in nature help to heal those who have been hurt or are going through trauma. The retreats are alcohol and tech-free, with the focus on looking toward a brighter future rather than drowning your sorrows. “We are trying to help as many women as we can, to transform their heartbreak into hope,” says Alice, who released her book, Finding Your Self at The Heartbreak Hotel (Harper Collins), earlier this year.
Address: Bleaklow Farm, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1NR United Kingdom
Price: From £2,496 per person
Website: theheartbreakhotel.co.uk