9 Spas in Essex to Relax and Unwind!
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If you feel like treating yourself, a great way to relax and unwind is to have a spa day! They are a range of different spas in Essex, from ones offering full spa day experiences with overnight accommodation, to spas that are a little more budget friendly. In this post I share 9 spas in Essex and a bonus one just across the border Suffolk.
Spas in Essex
Spa Break Hotels in Essex
(*Spa day packages and individual treatments are available as well as spa break accommodation packages)
Prested Hall
🗺Feering, Colchester CO5 9EE
Prested Hall in Feering is a multi-purpose venue with accommodation, a restaurant, restaurant, health club and the Elemis Spa. They have an individual treatment menu with the ‘signature’ treatments being quite reasonably priced. But for a full spa day experience, they have several different packages on offer.
The cheapest is the ‘Signature Spa Day’ which starts from £70 per person. It includes a welcome drink on arrival plus complimentary herbal infused water, robes, towels and complimentary slippers, two 30 minute treatments, use of the relaxation room, pool, sauna and gym and a one course lunch.
Talbooth House & Spa
🗺Maison Talbooth, Stratford Rd, Dedham, Colchester CO7 6HN
Talbooth House & Spa in Dedham have a range of premium Elemis spa treatments. They also have both full and half day ‘spa day’ packages. The full day includes 3 specific treatments and the half day has one treatment. Lunch is included in both packages, along with towels, robes and complementary flip flops. Guests can also use the heated outdoor swimming pool, hot tub and tennis courts.
Lifehouse Spa & Hotel
🗺Frinton Rd, Thorpe-le-Soken, Clacton-on-Sea CO16 0JD
Lifehouse Spa & Hotel in Thorpe-le-Soken offer both overnight spa break packages as well as day spas. Packages include a meal along with use of towels and robes and complimentary flip flops. They also run wellness talks and workshops that guests can attend.
For a more budget friendly option, they have evening packages, great for those looking to relax and unwind after a day at work (3.5hr duration). Some of the evening options have a 3-course meal, use of the gym, spa & pool facilities and either a 25 minute or 40 minute treatment.
The Spa at Potters Resorts Five Lakes
🗺Colchester Rd, Tolleshunt Knights, Maldon CM9 8HX
💻The Spa at Five Lakes Website
Potters Resorts Five Lakes is an all-inclusive hotel near Maldon. A weekend break includes meals and drinks, live entertainment and various sports included in the room rate. The spa costs extra but is also available to non overnight guests. There’s a whirlpool, swimming pool, sauna, gym and relaxation room. Half day spa days start from £60pp and include a 40 minute treatment plus light refreshment. The spa is open until 5pm.
Oresett Hall Hotel & Spa
🗺Prince Charles Ave, Orsett, Grays RM16 3HS
Oresett Hall Hotel and Spa have an indoor pool, steam room, sauna, jacuzzi, gym and treatment rooms. As well as a regular treatment menu, spa days are available, including overnight spa break packages. Spa use for hotel residents on a regular stay is subject to availability. Those on an overnight spa break are guaranteed two hours of facility usage on the day of their treatment.
Down Hall Hotel & Spa
🗺Matching Rd, Hatfield Heath CM22 7AS
💻Down Hall Hotel & Spa Website
There’s a fun little fact about Down Hall Hotel & Spa that is worth a mention! The grounds are actually the filming location for the Great British Bake Off!
Down Hall Hotel & Spa is not cheap. A 25 minute back, neck and shoulder massage at the Eden Spa costs £60. Complimentary tea, coffee and cold drinks are included. Use of the ‘Wet Spa’ hydrotherapy pool, steam room and relaxation area is an additional cost (towels, robes and slippers are included for ‘Wet Spa’ guests).
An ‘Eden Spa Retreat’ package for 2 people that includes: 1 night in the hotel (bed & breakfast), a bottle of Prosecco, 2 hours in the wet spa and a 25 minute back, neck and shoulder massage each, starts from £352.
Day Spas in Essex
Bannatyne
🗺Kingsford Pk, Layer Rd, Colchester CO2 0HS
💻Bannatyne Colchester Kingsford Park Website
Bannatyne Spa, Kingsford Park doesn’t have accommodation for a spa break, but it offers spa days in a relaxed location. There are treatment rooms, a hydrotherapy pool and a relaxation room with heated stone loungers. A cafe is on-site.
They often have deals and packages that are reasonably priced and include extras such as breakfast or afternoon tea and ‘spa day bags’ with footwear, a towel, robe (deposit for the towel and robe which is refunded on return). For example use of the facilities plus one 25 minute treatment starts from £49. Virgin Experience Days often have discounted packages for 2 people.
Virgin Active
🗺New Writtle St, Chelmsford CM2 0RR
A more budget friendly option for a spa day is at Virgin Active in Chelmsford. Virgin Experience Days often have deals for cheap spa days in Essex for 2 people. For example you can get a 2 person ‘pamper day’ package for £89. This includes use of the facilities (swimming pool, jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, gym) and a 55 minute treatment each. That works out at around £45 per person.
Being located in a ‘gym’ it’s not necessarily a relaxing environment, but the changing rooms for the pool area are very nice. The treatment rooms are in a more peaceful part of the building. However you will need to get completely dressed again when moving between the pool and the treatment rooms.
There’s a cafe in Virgin Active, but we decided to walk into Chelmsford town centre and have a cream tea at the Tiptree Tearoom in Bond Street instead!
Aqua Springs
🗺Cowdray Ave, Colchester CO1 1YH
Another budget friendly option is Aqua Springs in Colchester. For £16, guests can enjoy the spa facilities. These include a range of hydrotherapy pools, an aromatherapy room, salt inhalation room, steam room, cool pool and ice cold plunge pool.
Massages and treatments can be added for additional fee. For example, a back, neck and shoulder massage costs £36.50. Packages can also be bought which includes use of the facilities, plus several treatments.
Similar to Virgin Active, it does have more of a ‘swimming pool’ like feel to it. I also found that people would keep talking to me while in the pools and the different rooms, so it’s not the most peaceful of places, if you are looking for that ‘escape’.
Spas Near Essex
The Gainsborough Health Club & Day Spa
🗺Sudbury, Suffolk
💻The Gainsborough Day Spa Website
Just across the border in Suffolk is the Gainsborough Health Club & Day Spa. I first discovered it on Instagram and one of my friends recently went midweek and said it was lovely! They have an indoor swimming pool and jacuzzi in a Grade II listed timber framed barn, relaxation areas, a Serail Mud Chamber, sauna and steam room and a gym. A half day spa day with a 25 minute treatment starts at £55. The Mud Chamber package starts from £135 for two, including an afternoon tea.
