I am not a pampered princess, I am a Go Girl — a woman of the world who travels often and explores daily. My passport is my most treasured possession. I don’t have the time to be ill, nor do I have the time for those who try and hold me back. But ask me whether I have the time for a spot of relaxation therapy, and I’d answer that I can always find the time for that!

Long gone are the days when spas were thought to be merely luxurious retreats for women who had too much time, and way too much money, on their manicured hands. These days there are spas popping up all over the UK. With many of them holding promotions to suit all budgets, there really is no excuse, even for those with a hectic schedule, not to take a few spa breaks. And with the abundance of spas in the UK, nine times out of ten you’re never too far away to travel to one for the day (but for those of you who are, then surely a two day break is the perfect solution?).

Check out my top suggestions for great spa getaways in the UK:

The Sanctuary Spa, Covent Garden, London

The incredible koi carp lounge at The Sanctuary Spa, Covent Garden, London. Image courtesy of www.hellomagazine.com
The incredible koi carp lounge at The Sanctuary Spa, Covent Garden, London. Image courtesy of www.hellomagazine.com

This is perhaps the most well known Spa in London, if not the UK, and if their treatments are anything like the products you can buy in the high street, then you’re onto a winner. Popular with the rich and famous, The Sanctuary has everything you could possibly think of to relax you and make you feel positively pampered, including a Koi Carp lounge, no less.

Spa at The Cube, Birmingham

The Club & Spa at the Cube, Birmingham. Photo from http://www.theclubandspabirmingham.co.uk
The Club & Spa at the Cube, Birmingham. Photo from http://www.theclubandspabirmingham.co.uk

This modern spa sports a vitality pool, salt halotherapy, mud therapy, dry flotation and relaxation pods; it’s also home to a sauna made with wood from the Arctic Circle, well how about that? It also offers reasonably priced day passes.

Babington House, near Frome, Somerset: Home to the ‘Cowshed Spa’ and yet another popular retreat for the rich and famous (don’t they have anything better to do?!), this place is actually family friendly. It also ranks highly on the romance scale, with James Corden (star and writer of Gavin and Stacey) and his fiancee choosing to exchange their marriage vows here last year.

Stobo Castle Health Spa, Scottish Borders

Stobo Castle, photo from http://yummymummybeauty.com/win-a-spa-day-at-stobo-castle/
Stobo Castle, photo from http://yummymummybeauty.com/win-a-spa-day-at-stobo-castle/

With great value Spa days to be had here, you’re guaranteed to feel pretty relaxed after you’ve had a leisurely dip in its glass walled pool with infinity edges, it also serves pretty yummy food, and let’s face it, relaxing can give you quite an appetite.

The Grove, Chandlers Ford, Hertfordshire

Colette's at The Grove. Photo from http://www.foodepedia.co.uk/
Colette’s at The Grove. Photo from http://www.foodepedia.co.uk/

The award-winning Sequoia Spa is housed in 18th century stable buildings and again, has attracted various celebrities from far and wide. It has no less than 12 treatment rooms and a 22 metre swimming pool.

There are many opportunities to find a little luxury near you. And remember, most offer a huge variety of treatments, so whether you feel like simply sweating away your troubles in a sauna, or making somebody else work hard to relieve your aches and strains with a deep tissue massage, there is bound to be a treatment or activity to suit your needs.

Well I don’t know about you, but all of this relaxation talk has convinced me that I need to take an urgent time out, so if you don’t hear from me for a while, you’ll know that I’m busy being scrubbed, rubbed, oiled, preened and pampered to within an inch of my life; and I’m definitely worth it!

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