Elemis Spa
A relaxing oasis in the city centre, Elemis Spa at The Glassworks Health Club offers a plethora of calming, as well as energising, treatments. Take your pick from facials, wraps, massages and beauty treatments. And, naturally, there’s a whole range of spa days. Our pick of the body treatments has to be the Exotic lime and ginger salt glow, which sounds perfect for an autumnal treat (£45). If you’re time rich though, book a spa day – there are seven to choose from and they all include a treatment, use of the sauna, gym, steam room and Jacuzzi, as well as studio classes. Prices start at £80. Elemis Spa isn’t just for the girls either. It offers several options for men, including the Total Time Out For Men spa day (£135). Prices quoted are for Fridays to Sundays; Monday to Thursday bookings are usually cheaper. But maybe you won’t have to pay – someone special might treat you to an Elemis Spa gift voucher… www.theglassworksgym.co.uk
Y Spa
With its stylish design and innovative facilities, the Y Spa at Wyboston Lakes Hotel is a cool and contemporary hidden-away gem that any spa fan would do well to seek out. They’re big on creating opulent retreats, tailored for the individual, and offer a fabulous range of holistic and beauty therapy treatments. There’s a spacious outdoor hydrotherapy pool, numerous saunas and steam rooms, a ‘frost wall’, and mist and glacier showers to explore, as well as an awesome array of relaxation rooms, in which you can read a book in an egg shaped pod, or even take a snooze on a waterbed if all the spa-ing takes it out of you (we approve!). The café offers hot drinks, smoothies and fizz, and the on-site restaurant serves up great food, too. Go online to take a look at some of the packages on offer – Y Spa is known for offering some excellent value-for-money packages. www.yspa.co.uk
House of Beauty
Established beauty salon and spa House of Beauty offers a range of treatments designed to get you looking and feeling your absolute best. It’s run by Fiona and her friendly team of experts from their premises on Cambridge’s Victoria Road. Their extensive range of facial treatments uses quality products from Clarins, Danné Botanical and Guinot Hydradermie, and offers such treats as the Moisture Replenisher (£55). Designed to give skin a serious moisture boost, it sounds perfect for this time of year as the chill in the air takes its toll. Then again the Radiance Reviver (£55) could be just what you and your skin need to survive the party season. For some TLC for the rest of your body, there’s lots to choose between. A full- body pamper session (£50) with Clarins body oils and creams sounds luxurious, or soothe away tension with a full-body aromatherapy massage (£67.50). For ultimate relaxation, opt for a reflexology massage (£35). www.cambridgebeauty.co.uk
Imagine Spa
Just a short drive from the centre of Cambridge, Imagine Spa at the Quy Mill has a pool, heat rooms, whirlpool bath and luxurious treatment rooms, one of which features a heated hammam table. Relax with a massage, body wrap or exfoliation treatment – either just you or with a friend or partner, or try the Serail Mud Chamber, where healing muds, chalks and salts are applied to the body, then, after you’ve steamed in a herbal bath chamber, washed off in a warm shower. There’s also a relaxation room featuring music and comfy couches, a flotation bed and manicure and pedicure rooms. The spa run hen party packages and couples spa breaks – see Spa Breaks on the website. www.imaginespa.co.uk
Dragonfly
What could be better than a spot of shopping, a slice of cake and then a spa treatment all in one convenient location? Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? But it’s for real – just two miles outside of Cambridge at the Dragonfly Beauty Spa at Burwash Manor. The Dragonfly Beauty Spa lists more gentle massages, aromatherapy therapies and signature treatments than you can shake your cake fork at, but whichever treatment or facial you choose, it’s the perfect way to unwind. What could be better than an aromatherapy massage, other than choosing the 90-minute (£70) version over the 30-minute one? Although it’s a close run thing as the 30-minute Tranquillity scalp/ Indian head massage (£25) sounds divine. And you’re spoilt for choice with the range of facials – the award-winning Ultimate Vitamin Glow (£50) particularly appeals, for a radiant complexion. Alternatively, you could go for glam, letting the spa take care of your eyelashes, nails and make-up for a special event. Whether it’s a wrap, massage or make-up session, rest assured that Dragonfly only use the finest products from Dr. Hauschka, Decléor and CND. www.burwashdragonfly.com
The Cambridge Belfry
Perfect the art of relaxation at The Cambridge Belfry’s dedicated spa in Cambourne. The modern, stylish facilities include seven spa treatment rooms, one double treatment room, a relaxation room, indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room and extensive health club. It’s open seven days a week, 9am-6pm (until 8pm Monday-Thursday). Take a look at their one-night spa break, which includes an overnight stay at the four-star hotel, full English breakfast, light lunch and evening meal, and a 60-minute spa ritual or two 30-minute mini treatments. Choose from the likes of the Fit For Business Back Ritual, perfect for anyone who spends too long at their desks, and an Invigorating Foot Treatment. www.qhotels.co.uk
Bedford Lodge
Not long opened in Newmarket, The Spa at Bedford Lodge Hotel is the town’s first luxury spa, offering a wide range of beauty and well-being treatments based on the revered ESPA product range. The location – a grand, Georgian villa – is idyllic, and inside the rooms are pristine and polished (think soft dove greys, chocolate browns and squishy armchairs). And the stunning pool (pictured) and rooftop Jacuzzi are simply not to be missed. This winter, make the most of their Winter Retreat Break, worth £290. You’ll receive bed and breakfast, a 60-minute ESPA personalised massage or facial, three-course dinner in the award-winning Squires Restaurant, use of the hydrotherapy and heat experiences and also use of a fluffy robe, towel and slippers. It’s available from 1 November until 31 December. www.bedfordlodgehotelspa.co.uk
Pure Day Spa
Anyone looking for some pamper time in the St Ives area should indulge in a visit to the Pure Day Spa at One Leisure. Open to both members and non-members, it offers a range of treatments and day packages, nail care, heat experience rooms (sauna cabins, scented steam bathsand–ifyoudare–anice fountain), aromatherapy treatments and more. Skincare treatments use trusted Decléor products, and all treatments are provided by experienced professional therapists. Treat yourself to their Twilight Evenings package, which lets you choose from a range of 25-minute treatments for just £20: a Jessica manicure, pedicure, back and neck massage, Decléor Discovery facial or men’s express energising facial, plus use of the heat experience rooms. Available from 4pm on Mondays. www.oneleisure.net
Weaver’s House Spa
Set within the beautiful Swan Hotel, just one of Lavenham’s wonderful jumble of listed medieval and Tudor buildings, there’s nothing antique about the newly opened Weavers’ Spa. This sleek, stylish space exudes relaxation and offers more than 30 feel-good treatments for mind and body. Facilities include six treatment rooms, one of which is a couple’s room, with two relaxation suites; a manicure and pedicure area; aromatic steam room; hot stone sauna and a vitality pool; plus a retail boutique offering Temple Spa products to take home. Inspired by the Mediterranean, Temple Spa products are all about natural, luxurious ingredients like black truffle, champagne, diamonds and gold. Treat yourself to a Weavers’ House Hug, a two-hour signature treatment which begins with a Repose facial, then a deep tissue massage using lovely warm oils and hot stones. www.theswanatlavenham.co.uk
Champney’s Henlow
When we heard that Champneys are offering £75 off a one-night pampering break during November, we got all overexcited. Then we read what you get for your money and were almost too excited to write about it. Anyway, we’ve calmed down now so… For £174, you can indulge yourself with two treatments, a thalassotherapy session, unlimited use of the facilities and up to 20 classes. And of course, there’s a three-course evening meal to savour before you fall into a comfortable bed for the night, a healthy buffet breakfast to enjoy the next morning and a tasty lunch to appreciate before you say your goodbyes at 4pm – that’s a full 26 hours after your 2pm check-in. The hardest part of the whole experience will be choosing your two treatments. Which duo will it be: a Champneys massage, a relaxing facial, aromatherapy wrap or a Head in the Clouds scalp massage? And don’t forget there are plenty of other spa days, breaks and retreats to choose from all year round. www.champneys.com
