Destination: Escape

Garnering the highly coveted Condé Nast Traveller 2022 Readers’ Choice Award, notably voted ‘Best Destination Spa in the UK’, The Spa at Coworth Park has clearly mastered the art of well-being via contemporary and eco-luxury imperatives. A day away promises incredible experiences from transportive sound therapy treatments to a work-out area overlooking rambling greens.

ust a 45-minute drive from London and the sprawling Berkshire countryside awaits, as does a little haven in its midst. The 71-room luxury country house hotel, Coworth Park, is situated within 240 acres of picturesque parkland; it is the only UK hotel to feature its own polo fields with a full programme of tournaments. But on non-game days (Ascot, too, is nearby) or for a city break, The Spa at Coworth Park has rejuvenation and relaxation at the ready.

The curved, two-storey Spa features eight treatment rooms including two doubles, a manicure and pedicure suite, relaxation room, The Spatisserie for delicious two-course meals, an indoor pool and an outdoor sun terrace. A steam room, experience showers and comprehensive work-out area, with fine views of nature, complete the offer for our post-pandemic times when health, privacy and enhanced well-being are a recognised priority.

Facial and body treatments are created in partnership with the Spanish specialist, Germaine de Capuccini, who has been responsible for some of the most important breakthroughs in skincare technology for over 50 years. Bringing the Southern sun north, the ‘Mediterranean Candle Massage’ is a warming body massage with choice of aromatic Mediterranean-inspired candles.

Sound therapy treatments are also on call, created in partnership with sound wellness brand Swell, to accompany treatments using luxury seaweed skincare brand, ishga. Swell’s unique approach to therapeutic sound was founded by international DJ and music psychology specialist Brian d’Souza and uses a combination of Sound Therapy, Music Composition and Biophillia. For the ‘ishga Sound Treatments’, he reproduces the natural sounds of the ocean surrounding the Hebrides, Isle of Lewis, a remote Scottish island where ishga sources and crafts its award-winning sustainable skincare products. Its native seaweed has been prized for centuries for its antioxidant, mineral-rich and therapeutic properties. The soundscapes also draw on the musical traditions and instruments found in the Hebrides. They accompany a treatment that begins with a seaweed foot bath, is followed by the chimes of the singing bowl, leads into a Balinese inspired massage, and finishes with warm oil pouring onto the scalp and a relaxing head massage, only to conclude with a calm awakening to the music of the singing bowl. An experience unlike any other for both skin and spirit.

Whilst The Spa at Coworth Park earned an impressive score of 99.09 in this year’s Condé Nast Travellers Readers’ Choice Awards, noted as “a seasoned all-rounder” of a spa, this accolade is not the first. The Spa at Coworth Park also ranked 5th in Condé Nast Traveller’s World’s Top 30 spas, the first UK spa to be listed within the round-up. It has also been recognised in 2012 and 2019 and, in 2021, was voted Best UK & Ireland Hotel Spa at the Condé Nast Johansens Awards.

The ethos of The Spa at Coworth Park certainly seems aligned with the times, in crafting a time and space for a world apart.