England's Best Wellness Retreats for a Better You

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Emma Lavelle

Escape to the coast for a Cornish surf trip or go wild swimming in Berkshire after a morning yoga class. These wellness holidays are guaranteed to leave you feeling revitalised.

From yoga and meditation retreats to moorland adventures on horseback, the wellness scene in England is blossoming. There’s no end to the inspiring variety of mind-boosting, body-challenging holidays here. Whether you’re looking to master your warrior two pose, soothe anxious thoughts or learn a new skill, here are our favourite UK wellness retreats.

Meditation, yoga and wild swimming in Berkshire

If you’re keen to delve into the world of meditation, this four-day Thames Valley retreat organised by Culture Trip may be what you’re looking for. Held at the stylish Swan at Streatley (which dates from the 17th century), the refreshingly varied programme kicks off with breathwork, yoga and beginner meditation classes in a soothing riverside studio, followed by a hike around the Goring Gap valley. There’s also paddleboarding and wild swimming in the River Pang, not to mention a cider-tasting session and cosy rooms for switching off.

2. Yoga, horse-riding and ayurvedic talks on a New Forest farmstay

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Cyclists on a forest trail near Linwood, New Forest National Park, Hampshire.
© Robin Weaver / Alamy Stock Photo

Escape to the New Forest for a three-day wellness stay at 100-acre (40ha) Warborne Farm near Lymington. The boutique-style barns provide a dreamy setting for recharging. With 10 yoga and meditation sessions, Nova Milesko’s retreat combines morning vinyasa and pranayama with evening yin, plus optional add-ons of acroyoga, ayurvedic talks or yoga nidra. You’ll also get the chance to go horse-riding, cycling and hiking. Organic vegetables from the garden mean delicious plant-based and gluten-free meals.

3. Embrace sisterhood with yoga, massages and mindful walks in Kent

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Tibetan singing bowl in sound meditation therapy.
© Science Photo Library / Alamy Stock Photo

Celebrate the summer solstice, autumn equinox or International Women’s Day with a three-day mindfulness programme for women, set on flower-filled The Quaives estate, just outside Canterbury. Hatha, kundalini and womb yoga classes complement yoga nidra, massages, mindfulness walks, meditation and sound-healing sessions. There are also discussion circles around a log fire, home-style vegetarian meals, and workshops on communication, moon cycles and more. You’ll stay in a cosily styled cottage or a smart eight-bed dorm.

4. Practise yoga and soak in an outdoor hot tub in Yorkshire

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Mid adult woman relaxing in a hot tub with her friends.
© DGLimages / Alamy Stock Photo

Based at boho-chic Deighton Lodge farmhouse, surrounded by the rippling countryside south of York, Debbie Jenkins’ three-day retreats challenge, soothe and refresh both mind and body. Expand your yoga and meditation practice with vinyasa, ashtanga, yin and yoga nidra sessions, which happen al fresco when the sun shines. The super-fresh vegetarian meals are another highlight. And in your spare time? Laze in the outdoor hot tub, roam the Yorkshire Dales or just cosy up fireside with a book.

5. Luxury yoga and spa retreat in Kent

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Group of athletic people keeping yoga pose during the training in the white studio
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A stylishly restored 15th-century farmhouse, Green Farm sets the luxe tone for a three-day yoga escape in rural Kent. Join Caelia Butcher’s hatha, vinyasa, yin and restorative yoga sessions in a light-flooded barn or, in warmer weather, out in the gardens, before feasting on farm-fresh meals crafted by nutritional therapist Alice Yeates. There’s plenty of time for cycling, walking, running, reading, and kicking back in the boutique spa, which offers ESPA treatments, a sauna and open-air hot tubs overlooking a glinting lagoon.

6. Yoga, wild swimming and paddleboarding in the Lake District

Cottages

Two women in wetsuits wading into Semerwater, England UK
© John Morrison / Alamy Stock Photo

Embracing the nurturing power of nature is the focus on this Wild Times retreat in the Lake District. The setting at Nab Cottage couldn’t be more magical: a charmingly converted 16th-century home overlooking Rydal Water, which has a sauna, firepit, piano and yoga barn. Over three days, you’ll practise vinyasa, yin, yoga nidra and meditation with teacher Jen. Jump into stand-up paddleboard yoga, mountain hiking and early morning lake swimming, all fuelled by home-cooked vegetarian meals.

7. Cornish surf camp in Newquay

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surfing in Cornwall
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Dive into the wave-riding scene in the surf capital of England on a four-day, small-group retreat, courtesy of independently owned Base Surf Lodge. Daily two-hour group classes happen on Fistral or Towan beach, with coaching tailored to your personal level. Accommodation is in cosy dorms or private rooms, overlooking a palm-studded garden. Hosts Rob and Lou – both experienced surfers and skiers – organise wood-fired barbecues and health-focused breakfasts packed with fresh Cornish produce.

8. Horse-riding escape in Exmoor

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Courtesy of BookHorseRidingHolidays

Designed for intermediate and advanced riders, this four-day adventure is all about soaking up the wild beauty of Exmoor National Park from the saddle. Alongside a handsome four-legged companion, you’ll explore 40mi (64km) of off-road trails, surrounded by windswept moors and dazzling coastal views. The guided hacks tackle a different area each day, plus there’s also a horse-and-rider workshop. Your delightful base is a 15th-century farmhouse on the National Trust’s 12,000-acre (4,856ha) Holnicote Estate, with original beams and vintage furniture near the pretty village of Porlock.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

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