Spa hotels in Cambridgeshire | culture and countryside for an indulgent break

Experience the magic of Cambridge and witness the academic world in action at the Varsity Hotel and Spa. This boutique hotel places you within a 5 minute walk of some of the city’s most picturesque colleges, with their arched gates leading to grassy quads. Settle into a sofa on the rooftop terrace and watch the punts on the River Cam glide by as you sip Pimms or a cocktail made with one of the 30 gins on offer. Hire your own punt – the front desk will make the arrangements – to sit back and admire the landscape at a leisurely pace as your guide shares tales of the city.

Views from the Glassworks Health Club, a former 19th-century brewery, equal those from the punt. One-sided windows give you a secret glimpse of life on the River Cam from the Jacuzzi. Invigorating Swedish and relaxing aromatherapy massages are on the treatment menu, as well as scrubs, wraps and Elemis facials. There’s no need to remember to pack a robe, towel or slippers as they’re provided. Finish with an Aveda hair treatment or mani/pedi by Jessica. Mums-to-be are catered to with treats such as a foot soak and massage of the lower legs.

After a day navigating the cobbled streets and browsing independent music, jewellery and clothing shops, head to the Six Panoramic Brasserie. Look out over St John’s college and choose from hearty dishes like crispy pork belly and cannelloni cooked in the wood stone oven. Then, retire to your room and prepare for bed in your modern bathroom with its spacious walk-in monsoon shower. Each of the 44 individually decorated guestrooms gives a taste of college life in days gone by, with rustic trunks and sleigh beds.

Surrounded by 20 acres of conservation parkland, Best Western Plus Orton Hall Hotel and Spa is a secluded spot for a romantic break. The former home of Marquess Huntly, this 17th-century country manor has maintained the charm of its glory days with high ceilings, antique decor and stained-glass windows. Take a walk among the Wellingtonia trees that reach for the skies in the expansive grounds, before finding a snug nook in the Ramble Inn and settling down for an award-winning ale.

Book in at the Imagine Spa for a couples treatment. Relaxing massages, facials and wraps are available alongside a host of beauty treatments such as manicures, pedicures and waxing that will have you feeling polished and pampered. Try a salt body peel to leave your skin silky soft, or venture into the mud chamber where healing muds combine with steam for a therapeutic experience designed for sharing. Complete your morning with a dip in the Jacuzzi or a sauna session before retiring to your room for a rest on your four-poster bed. If you wake in need of a breath of fresh air, practise your putting on the 18-hole Thorpe Wood golf course, less than a mile away.

The elegant Huntly Restaurant is an impressive choice for a romantic dinner. Wood-panelled walls and ornate stained-glass windows with rich drapes speak of the building’s historic charm, while the menu gives you a flavour of the region using local produce. Dine on succulent dishes like grain-fed chicken or grilled sea bass and end your meal with home-made chocolate truffles and coffee. Afterwards, the library bar awaits, where you can retire to a sofa and order a single-malt whisky before bed.

Swap city for country at DoubleTree by Hilton Cambridge Belfry. On the edge of quiet Cambourne, this modern red-brick hotel sits in front of a peaceful lake, and your complimentary warm chocolate cookie at check-in only hints at the indulgence that lies ahead. With Cambridge just 30 minutes away by bus – which stops directly outside of the hotel – you can plan a girls’ morning at the spa followed by an afternoon punt under the Bridge of Sighs in the city.

Book ahead for your treatment at the ESPA spa, where you can start your weekend with a spell in the sauna or steam room, followed by a Jacuzzi where the last of your cares will escape with the bubbles. Try the Revitalising Ritual, using sea salts and essential oils, to give your skin a healthy glow. Wraps, facials, massages and nail treatments are also on the menu. Or, pep yourself up from the night before with a session in the Relaxation Room. Prepare for the evening ahead in your walk-in shower or with a long soak in your bathtub (all guestrooms feature them). Vibrant orange throws and framed prints create a homely environment to return to, setting the scene for a comfortable night’s sleep.

For dinner, head to the Bridge restaurant, with its specially commissioned artworks depicting the famous sights of Cambridge, such as its towering Gothic architecture. Peruse the menu at your leisure with a pre-dinner Martini, before selecting a warming dish like lamb shank. Dishes here are made from locally sourced produce while the extensive drinks list features classics from the hotel’s own wine cellar, so you can find the ideal accompaniment to your food.

Bring the girls together for a weekend of indulgence at the Peterborough Marriott’s Beauty Within You Spa. Begin with a relaxing yet reviving dip in the pool, which is naturally lit by floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over the 11 acres of  grounds, or a session in the fitness centre. A spell in the sauna will help melt away any lingering tensions, and when followed by time in the Jacuzzi you’ll be drifting into a state of bliss. Massages, facials, wraps and scrubs are all on the menu of treatments to enable you to select a bespoke combination. Using sea mud, the mud-wrap therapy improves circulation to leave skin soft and glowing. Finish with a manicure or pedicure while you sip a glass of chilled rosé.

Once you’re refreshed, explore the regal Burghley House and Gardens with its parklands designed by Capability Brown, 12 miles away. If you’d prefer to stay close to home, sit by the lake with a cappuccino and simply soak up the atmosphere as you flick through the pages of a country lifestyle magazine. Later, gin cocktails await at the Senses Lounge for a pre-dinner gathering before you move on to the Cast Iron Grill. Here, you can sate your appetite with choice picks such as baked Camembert or pork ribs. Dim lighting and cosy red booths set the tone for an intimate evening.

When you’re ready for bed, wind down with a chamomile tea from the 24-hour room service menu and sink into your feather-bed mattress and soft, Egyptian cotton sheets. Guestrooms are an eclectic mix of modern and traditional decor. Wood and leather headboards add a contemporary touch, while high-backed armchairs give you a cosy spot to sit as you take in the grounds from the windows with your morning coffee.

Rest and relaxation are delivered in a rustic setting at the Holiday Inn Cambridge. Dedicate some exclusive time to each other and treat a loved one – and yourself – to a romantic couple’s massage at the on-site Spirit Health Club. Take a turn in the sauna before completing your rejuvenation ritual with a spell in the steam bath or Jacuzzi. Body scrubs, wraps and facials, as well as manicures, pedicures, reflexology and waxing, are all on the treatment menu, enabling you to spend a weekend enveloped in a state of bliss.

The pancake-making machine brings a sense of fun to breakfast at the Junction – make your own tasty stack drizzled with syrup. If your sweet tooth takes a while to wake up, build a full English from the buffet to fuel up before heading into Cambridge, which is just 2 miles away. Spend a morning at the Market Square, perusing the candy-striped roofed stalls selling antiques, sweets, books and more. Then, return to the Hub in the hotel for a Starbucks coffee and satisfying classics, such as beef Wellington.

The wood-panelled exterior of this hotel blends with its peaceful lakeside setting, while inside, traditional meets modern decor with exposed wooden beams and bright abstract artworks adorning the walls. Your guestroom here encourages a sense of tranquillity and easy peace of mind with its palette of blue and white tones. Slip on your complimentary robe and pamper yourself with Seaweed Therapy toiletries before bed. Generous pillow menus and blackout shades (not to mention the secluded location) encourage a restful night’s sleep.

Nestled within sprawling grounds and overlooking Ferry Meadows Country Park, the eco-friendly Holiday Inn Peterborough is a haven for nature lovers. The hotel is part of the chain’s ‘green engage‘ scheme, which strives to make its properties as sustainable as possible. Stroll just under a mile to the park and hire a rowboat for a romantic tour of the meadow lakes at a leisurely pace, in keeping with the tone of your weekend. Afterwards, retire to the Lounge Bar and take in the views of the landscaped gardens with a mug of warming hot chocolate in hand, sitting back in the softly lit space.

Moody black-and-white shots of the city add to the contemporary aesthetic in your room. Black leather armchairs sit next to bare wood furniture for a sleek finish, while beds take pride of place with large panelled headboards that bring a sense of drama. Sit back with a book and order a herbal tea from the 24-hour room service menu before prepping for bed. Then, sleep comfortably thanks to the pillow menu, blackout blinds and soundproofing.

Start your day with freshly baked pastries from the continental breakfast selection before checking into the Zula Beauty Sanctuary. Then spend the morning alternating between the heated pool, steam room and Jacuzzi before selecting a treatment that suits your state of mind, as well as your physical needs – if you’re struggling to decide, perhaps start with a facial consultation. The mood-booster massage will help to invigorate you, by using a handpicked blend of energising essential oils. The menu also includes reflexology massages as well as scrubs, wraps, facials and nail treatments.