The Best Spa Retreats to Book in Cornwall, UK

An outdoor pool, tennis courts, sparkling sea views… This clifftop spa hotel in Cornwall near St Austell comes into its own in the summer, but the Elemis spa is an essential pitstop whatever the weather, thanks to its indoor pool, jacuzzi, heated stone sunbeds, steam room and sauna. Oh, and there’s also a heated outdoor pool for the summer months, too. If you need a further dose of the great outdoors to lift your spirits, you’re in luck. A short stroll along the South West Coast Path will take you to the golden sands of Carlyon Beach, while the Eden Project is just a 15-minute drive away.

If it’s good enough for Sir David Attenborough (one of Tregenna’s former guests), it’s good enough for us. Encircled by 72 acres (29ha) of subtropical gardens and woodland, this Grade II-listed Cornwall spa hotel overlooks the well-to-do town of St Ives, a foodie hub and popular surf spot. Facilities include two heated pools, an 18-hole golf course and an indulgent spa – try the Ayurvedic massage or reflexology for transcendent tension-busting.

Ideally positioned for exploring the Lost Gardens of Heligan, one of the best things to see in Cornwall, this luxury manor house hotel sits within its own glorious 43-acre (17ha) estate. The curved infinity pool looks out over a walled Victorian garden – in summer, the concertina glass windows are flung open to let in a gentle breeze. Wine lover? Soothing spa treatments – such as the crushed cabernet body treatment and vinosource facial – take inspiration from grapes. Handy, since you’ll also find a well-curated list of whites, reds and bubbles at the bar.

Feel your shoulders unfurl from the minute you step inside the spa at Bedruthan. With panoramic views over Mawgan Porth Beach and beautiful gardens dotted with deep, cedar-wood hot tubs, you won’t want to leave. There’s a luxurious hydropool, eucalyptus steam room and toasty sauna, too. Outside, the Sensory Spa Garden takes inspiration from the elements – try a salt scrub, wash it off in the showers hidden amid the trees, then sip herbal tea beside the fire pit. Added perk: you also get use of the Scarlet Hotel spa next door – one of the best in Cornwall – if you book a treatment or hot tub.

Newquay’s grandest hotel may have Victorian roots, but it’s recently been brought bang up to date with the multi-million-pound Aqua Club – a swimming and wellbeing centre with six indoor and outdoor pools (including a children’s pool), sun terrace and Mediterranean-themed restaurant, the Deck. Guests can dip in the pools, throw on a fluffy robe and tuck into garlic flatbreads and local tapas-style dishes. In the hotel, the main spa offers treatments like heavenly Elemis facials.

Wellness is on tap at this clifftop hotel, which stands proudly on the Lizard Peninsula. Outside, sink into the pool with the sea breeze in your hair and those big ocean views stretching out like an especially limber yogi in front of you. Speaking of which, you too could roll out your mat and join one of the yoga and meditation sessions here, followed by a jaunt to the indoor pool, hot tub and gym. In the treatment rooms, drift off with a cleansing salt scrub, tranquility scalp massage or age-defying facial.

Guests at the Gannet Inn are in for a treat if they’re partial to a bit of pampering. They get access to the C Bay Spa at sister property Carbis Bay, one of Cornwall’s best luxury hotels – which is excellent news given its array of pools, subtropical gardens and sumptuous relaxation rooms. The treatment list has enticing options, such as a “sleep deeply” massage designed to relieve physical, mental and emotional stress. There are also treatments tailored to men and mums-to-be.

If you’ve got kids in tow, the spa at Fowey Hall is just the ticket. The indoor and outdoor pools allow children, so you can swim as a family. Or book the little ones into the crèche while you enjoy a soak in the sea-view hot tub. The treatment area is a tranquil place to unwind – book everything from a deep-tissue massage to a manicure. There are even men’s treatments and “mini me” manicures for kids, too.

The spa at St Michael’s is superb – it has a bespoke hydrotherapy pool, indoor and outdoor saunas, 10 treatment rooms and the world’s first Cornish sea salt steam room. A group of up to four can also share a rejuvenating Moroccan-inspired rhassoul mud experience, where you cocoon your body in restorative clay and bask in a traditional hammam-style steam room. Beauty treatments, including waxing and lash lifts, are available for added wow factor.

Near Rock, St Moritz has the UK’s only Cowshed Spa outside the Soho House properties. Expect the trademark rustic-luxe feel and moo(d)-enhancing botanicals. There are six treatment rooms, including a couple’s room. We love the sound of the “sun and sea” treatment, involving body brushing using sea salt mixed in peppermint oil, a deep sea detoxifying body wrap and full-body massage.