The Hotels to Book Now for Your Next Spa Break
These are the hotels you'll want to book for your next getaway
Matfen Hall Hotel, Spa & Golf
In brief: A stunning five-star country house hotel set in more than 300 acres of unique parkland.
Our highlight: The new stunning Cloisters restaurant and bar at the heart of the hotel.
Insider guide: Newly-refurbished, Matfen Hall offers five-star accommodation, excellent food, a luxurious spa and 27 holes of parkland golf. Each of the 65 elegant bedrooms have been carefully designed and decorated and you can choose between more intimate bedrooms that encapsulate a warm home-from-home atmosphere and impressive stately-sized rooms that invite you to experience luxury like never before. A fusion of classic and contemporary can also be seen in the dining options across the estate, from fine dining in the Emerald Restaurant and relaxed dining in the Needham, to afternoon tea in The Orangery, to all-day dining and a tipple or two in the Cloisters.
Matfen NE20 0RH
01661 886500
matfenhall.com
Grantley Hall
In brief: A luxurious hotel hidden away in the Yorkshire Dales.
Our highlight: There are many, but perhaps Shaun Rankin’s outstanding food is the biggest pull.
Insider guide: Surrounded by private parkland and gardens, Grantley Hall has all the trappings of stately grandeur, with a contemporary feel. No expense has been spared in creating what is Yorkshire’s most outstanding hotel, from the marble-lined swimming pool and high tech gym, to the Japanese garden, the sumptuous lounges and decadent dining options. There are 47 bedrooms with vast marble-clad ensuites, but it’s the dining which draws guests. Star of the show is Shaun Rankin’s Michelin-starred restaurant, but the alternatives include Fletcher’s modern British dishes, whilst the pan-Asian EightyEight offers a fusion of Yorkshire produce and Eastern flavours. Elsewhere the Norton Bar and Courtyard serves classic cocktails and artisan spirits, and in the Three Graces Spa you’ll find state-of-the-art facilities and skilled therapists on hand to tend to your every need.
Ripon HG4 3ET
01765 620070
grantleyhall.co.uk
Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa
In brief: A charming four-Red Star country house hotel in picturesque surroundings.
Our highlight: The hotel is super dog-friendly meaning you can share the experience with your four-legged friends.
Insider guide: Country house hotels come no better than this, set within the privately-owned Bolton Abbey Estate. The sumptuous interiors are peppered with original art, and delectable locally-sourced menus are served in the Brasserie or three AA Rosette Burlington. The 40 bedrooms here are split across two wings; the Old Wing’s traditional rooms are filled with period features, while the New Wing is designed to take full advantage of the commanding views. The spa, housed in an ancient stone barn, has a newly upgraded pool area, featuring vitality jets and relaxation areas and the temptation of indulgent Temple Spa treatments.
Bolton Bridge, Skipton BD23 6AJ
01756 718111
devonshirehotels.co.uk
Rockliffe Hall
In brief: A five-star luxury retreat in the quiet village of Hurworth.
Our highlight: At around 50,000 square feet, the spa at Rockliffe Hall has everything needed for total wellbeing.
Insider guide: Set within a beautiful 365-acre estate, Rockcliffe Hall has an award-winning spa, an 18-hole Championship golf course and a wide range of dining options. In the main house are individually-designed and beautifully furnished rooms and suites, and there are self-catering apartments and luxury holiday homes overlooking the hall too. Whether you choose fine dining in the three AA Rosette Orangery, take afternoon tea in the Old Hall, pick a healthy option in the spa’s Nu Sana restaurant, or tuck into traditional British classics in the Clubhouse Kitchen & Bar overlooking the golf course, expect delicious dishes made with ingredients foraged from Rockliffe’s estate.
Hurworth, Darlington DL2 2DU
01325 729999
rockliffehall.com
Swinton Park Hotel
In brief: An opulent Grade-II listed castle hotel with a stunning spa.
Our highlight: The 20,000 acre Swinton Park Estate, which includes the hotel’s deer-filled grounds, four-acre walled garden and woodland walks and lakes.
Insider guide: Owned by the Cunliffe-Lister family since the 1880s, and the ancestral seat of the Earl of Swinton, this former stately home retains a traditional approach to hospitality, with plenty of attention to detail and impeccable service. The interiors boast lots of personal touches, family portraits line the walls, flowers picked from the garden are crammed into vases and there’s always a fire burning in the drawing room where you can relax undisturbed with the day’s newspaper. The addition of the Country Club and Spa means alongside the thermal suite, indoor pool and natural outdoor pool and wellness area, there are treatments and classes to try. The Terrace restaurant here serves a seasonal menu using produce from the hotel’s walled garden, while in the hotel itself, innovative fine dining at Samuel’s under executive chef Ruth Hansom is some of the very best in the county.
Masham, Ripon HG4 4JH
01765 680900
swintonestate.com
Middleton Lodge
In brief: A stunning hotel and spa set in 200 acres of private estate.
Our highlight: The new Forest Spa with its heated outdoor pool and stone hot tub.
Insider guide: There are a range of rooms across the estate including in the honey-coloured Coach House, the Dairy, the Old Farmhouse, and shepherd’s huts nestled in the orchard. All individually designed, they share a mix of uniquely charming features including vaulted ceilings, exposed beams and sliding barn doors. In the walled garden you’ll find acres of fig, apple and peach trees and vegetable beds which supply the hotel’s kitchen. The hugely popular Coach House restaurant serves delicious, locally-sourced produce all day following an estate-to-plate ethos, and the fine dining Forge restaurant is where you’ll find an innovative six or 10-course tasting menu from head chef Jake Jones. Alongside the heated pool, the new spa has several treatment huts, a thermal spa with sauna and tadelakt steam room, and a stunning pool room with open fire.
Kneeton Lane, Middleton Tyas, Richmond DL10 6NJ
01325 377977
middletonlodge.co.uk
The Coniston Hotel, Country Estate & Spa
In brief: A country hotel and estate offering lots of exceptional experiences alongside warm hospitality.
Our highlight: The sleek, award-winning Nadarra Spa with its outdoor infinity pools with breathtaking views over the estate.
Insider guide: Each one of the 70 rooms here provides the perfect place to relax and unwind following an afternoon of adventure on the estate and most offer spectacular views of the surrounding countryside and hotel lake. With golden getaway breaks in the contemporary hotel or country cottage retreats, award-winning spa facilities and incredible outdoor activities, you’re bound to fall in love with The Coniston. A favourite for foodies, their autumn dining offering is something special. As advocates of the ‘estate on a plate’ ethos, menus include grouse, pheasant and wild duck, as well as lots of seasonal accompaniments. Cosy up next to one of their many open fires throughout your stay, admire the panoramic vistas from The View Restaurant or breathe in the fresh country air of the Dales.
Coniston Cold, Skipton BD23 4EA
01756 748080
theconistonhotel.com
Feversham Arms Hotel & Verbena Spa
In brief: An award-winning, country lifestyle retreat, located in the picturesque market town of Helmsley.
Our highlight: Guests staying here love the intimate and friendly ambience of this four-Red Star spa hotel, with outdoor heated pool and six poolside suites which give the hotel a ‘resort style’ feel.
Insider guide: This is a welcoming (dog-friendly) hotel with 33 rooms spread between the original coaching inn and the newer rooms around the courtyard, including two poolside suites. With wood burning fires inside and a fairy lit terrace outside, it feels cosy yet you’ll find plenty of break out spaces throughout. Food is important here, and in summer guests are encouraged to eat al fresco poolside on locally sourced produce. Inside, head to the two AA Rosette Weathervane restaurant for seasonally-driven modern British menus showcasing the best of Yorkshire in a relaxed setting. The popular Verbena Spa has six treatment rooms alongside a thermal suite, all centred around that outside pool.
High Street, Helmsley YO62 5AG
01439 770766
fevershamarmshotel.com
Read More: How to Plan the Perfect Weekend in Harrogate
Rudding Park
In brief: A privately-owned luxury hotel set in 300 acres of landscaped gardens and woodland.
Our highlight: The destination rooftop spa.
Insider guide: With 90 bedrooms and suites, self-catering cottages and lodges, Rudding Park’s rooms feature contemporary design with special touches ranging from roll top baths and personal steam rooms, to individually selected artwork and private terraces. The three AA Rosette Horto Restaurant uses seasonal ingredients from the hotel’s kitchen garden and there’s a selection of places in which to dine. If sport is more your thing the hotel boasts two golf courses, but the spa is a must-visit here.
Follifoot, Harrogate HG3 1JH
01423 871350
ruddingpark.co.uk
