Book-it list

Sospa, so good

Ease into the new year: these 16 fabulous getaways will refresh mind, body and soul – from sleep retreats in London to boujie treehouses in the Alps

Home… Retreats within reach

Seaham Hall

Seaham, County Durham Best for… sea air The spa here alone is worth the trip, with wood-panelled outdoor hot tubs, a salt sauna, a herbal sanarium and waterbeds. Dinner at spa restaurant Ozone can be taken in your gown and slippers. Nod off in your superking-sized bed to the in-house hypnotherapist’s relaxation videos. Rooms from £295 a night, b&b; seaham-hall.co.uk

The Grove

Chandler’s Cross, Hertfordshire Best for… instant relaxation Popular with celebrities, this is the place to celebrate an occasion, thanks to its ‘urban beach’ and the award-winning Sequoia spa with its black mosaic-tiled pool. The Glasshouse, one of three restaurants, offers all-you-caneat sushi buffets – and don’t miss the dessert cart. Rooms from £370 a night; thegrove.co.uk

Careys Manor and SenSpa

New Forest, Hampshire Best for… playing lady of the manor New Forest ponies munch on the nearby village green and there are three pubs in walking distance, but the highlight here is the 22,000 sq ft SenSpa, with swimming and hydrotherapy pools, saunas and an ice room. Try the 90-minute Thai massage to feel reborn. Rooms from £170 a night, b&b; careysmanor.com

The Cadogan

Chelsea, London Best for… a good night’s sleep Since opening its doors in 1887, this hotel has welcomed all sorts of famous faces, from Oscar Wilde (famously arrested in room 118) to supermodels. A Harley Street hypnotherapist partnered with it to create a Sleep Concierge service – meditation recordings, pillow menus, sleep spray and one-on-one sessions. Rooms from £530 a night, b&b; belmond.com

When travelling, check the latest Government Covid guidelines at gov.uk/uk-bordercontrol

Buxton Crescent Hotel

Buxton, Derbyshire Best for… period splendour It has taken 17 years and £70 million to transform the once-derelict crescent building into a spa hotel and restore it to its Georgian pomp. The 81 bedrooms are suitably grand with roll-top baths and views across the landscaped municipal gardens. The spa itself has naturally heated thermal pools, surrounded by original tiling and ironwork. Treatments include underwater jet massages and a salt cave, plus there’s a fabulous rooftop pool. Rooms from £155 a night, b&b; ensanahotels.com/ buxton

The Parkgate Hotel

Cardiff, Wales Best for… a slick city spa Housed in a former post office that opened in 1897 to mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, this beautifully restored hotel has a smart brasserie restaurant, The Sorting Room, and a top-floor spa, with Elemis treatments, a small pool and heated beds overlooking the skyline. Rooms from £111 a night, b&b; theparkgatehotel.wales

Green Farm

Ashford, Kent Best for… chilled-out yogis Hosts Martin and Maryann are experts in instantly making you feel at home at this weekend yoga retreat, which takes place in their home, a 15th-century building with a beautiful barn converted into a studio. When you’re not ommm-ing, there is a pretty wild-swimming pond and adjoining day spa. Meals are convivial affairs around a big table and breakfast eggs are laid by their own chickens. Two nights from £645 per person (single occupancy), full-board; greenfarmkent.co.uk

Sopwell House

St Albans, Hertfordshire Best for… football fans The signed T-shirts lining the walls of the corridors are a colourful reminder that this hotel was once the pre-match base for the England football team. Today the spa, which recently had a £14 million overhaul, is the draw, with an indoor pool, hot tubs, steam room and gym. The hydropool and chilled outdoor lounge area with its big sofas and cosy braziers is made for lolling in your dressing gown with the Sunday papers. From £245 pppn, half-board; sopwellhouse.co.uk

… and away Spa hotels in the sun

The Grand Park

Istria, Croatia Best for… a ‘fly and flop’ Found in the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the Istrian Riviera, The Grand Park sits across the bay from the town of Rovinj, overlooking its Venetian-influenced architecture. Slick and modern in its aesthetic, the hotel has beautifully designed rooms at affordable prices with spectacular views throughout –from the rooftop infinity pool to the balconies where breakfast is served. Pula airport is less than 40km away, so it’s also a good option for a long weekender. Rooms from £228 a night, b&b; maistra.com

Nobu Marbella

Marbella, Spain Best for… haute hedonism A Bloody Mary station at breakfast with a view of the sunlit sea sets the tone at this pleasure-filled hotel. At Chiringuito, its seafront restaurant, waiters serve cocktails, oyster platters and every type of charcuterie imaginable, a DJ plays Ibiza-style house music and double daybeds are dotted around for lounging. By night, there’s a cocktail bar and nightclub. The worldclass massages at Six Senses Spa will ease any hangover. Rooms from £404 a night, b&b; marbella.nobuhotels.com Nana Princess Crete, Greece Best for… a space-age spa This beachfront hotel is all sweeping glass architecture and in-room ‘chromotherapy’ lighting. There are a vast number of bedrooms to choose from – ours came with ocean views, a private pool and more smart-home technology than you can shake a remote control at. The vast basement spa has the feel of a James Bond villain’s lair –all neon backlighting and dark wood. And it doesn’t get more 007 than the ‘Gold Therapy’ anti-ageing body wrap and massage. Rooms from £303 a night, b&b; nanaprincess.reserve-online.net

The Belvedere Hotel

Mykonos, Greece Best for… cocktail lovers This chic resort, found on a hillside overlooking the ocean, has a luxurious but utterly chilled-out vibe. Seven whitewashed buildings are connected by cobbled paths and surrounded by leafy gardens. The pool is the central focus, with a bar area nearby, complete with midcentury record booth and shelves of vinyl where the resident DJ plays. To really unwind, book a Blissful Marma massage, which lives up to its name. Rooms from £245 a night; belvederehotel.com

And finally... Wellness with wow factor

WHAT TO PACK

Corn leather and bamboo trainers, £120, Saye (sayebrand.com)

Hôtel Royal, Evian Resort

Évian-les-Bains, France Best for… regal grg andeur This five-star palace hotel was built in 1909 for Edward VII – who died before he could stay there. It’s high on a hill above Lake Geneva, surrounded by snow-capped mountains; expect top-notch service, seriously delicious food (there’s a Michelin-starred restaurant, Les Fresques, on site) and spa treatments to soothe the stresses of the day. The electric bikes right outside the door were a quick and easy way to whizz down into town. Rooms from £255 a night; evianresort.com

Quilted tote bag, £79, Arket (arket.com)

Towelling dress, £102, Araminta James (aramintajames.com)

Bamboo leggings, £55, Bam (bambooclothing. co.uk)

Cotton towelling swimsuit, £35.99, Oysho (oysho.com) San Luis South Tyrol, Italy Best for… peace and solitude A weekend in this elegant treehouse resort in the Alps will bring out your inner 10-year-old – there’s nothing like the excitement of waking up 15ft in the air, enveloped by pine trees. There are 16 treehouses, each decked out in a cool, modern style with plump sofas, cosy stoves and sheepskin rugs, plus a veranda and swing chairs so you can sit out and enjoy the view over the lake. In winter it becomes a snowy wonderland with ice skating. From £255pppn; sanluis-hotel.com

Waldhotel at the Bürgenstock resort

Lucerne, Switzerland Best for… a touch of old Hollywood No expense has been spared in this ultra-luxurious detox palace in the Swiss Alps, home to a state-of-the-art medical spa complete with cardiologists, endocrinologists, dermatologists, dentists and aesthetic doctors for injectable ‘tweakments’ and more besides. It’s also great for nature walks (try the guided Alpine Detox Walk, where phones are banned) and forest bathing. Three nights from £1,200 pp; buergenstock-waldhotel.ch

Stanglwirt Resort

Near Kitzbühel, Austria Best for… sauna connoisseurs Arriving at this gargantuan spa retreat, at the foot of the Wilder Kaiser mountains, feels like stepping back in time. Staff greet you dressed in dirndls and lederhosen and it has been family-owned since 1772. As well as being home to a working farm and traditional inn, there is a spa with several pools and five saunas, including one lined with rock crystals and an organic spruce one, which was rustic and candlelit –pure romance. From £101 pppn, b&b; stanglwirt.com