Slip into serenity: spa hotels in the north west of England

Welcome to the QHotel the Midland, where you’ll follow the footsteps of royalty: kings, queens and prime ministers have all stayed here. The spacious rooms capture the opulence of this historic hotel with an elegant palette of neutral tones, rich dark wood furnishings and striking modern artwork inspired by the vibrant city of Manchester.

Roll out of bed and into a cocoon of calm at the Spa at the Midland. Every detail is carefully chosen with tranquillity in mind, like private hanging tepees in the serene, softly lit relaxation zone, which has three more areas to explore. The spa’s thermal experience includes a sauna, salt-infusion aromatherapy room, stimulating lifestyle shower, and swan neck fountain designed to ease back and neck tension. Follow this up with a facial, massage, scrub, wrap or holistic therapy like reflexology. The immersive Rasul mud spa experience is the ideal treat for two.

After your zen fix, return to your room to get ready for dinner. There’s a bar and two restaurants to choose from at QHotel the Midland. At Adam Reid at The French (named one of the top 20 restaurants in the UK by the Good Food Guide), dine on the best of modern British fare, like creamy cheese and broccoli custard and silky baked cream cheese served with tart raspberries.

• Spa includes salt-infusion aromatherapy room and swan neck fountain
• Choice of two outstanding restaurants
• Manchester city centre location

Take some time out for yourself at the Park Royal, home to a luxurious spa, with Cheshire’s rolling emerald hills as a scenic backdrop. Start your day in the sauna and steam rooms before spending a little time in the relaxation room to plan your next step. A dip in the swimming pool or bubbling Jacuzzi will refresh you before you head to one of nine treatment rooms, where you can unwind with an energising facial, specialist neck and shoulder treatment or signature body ritual using ESPA products. Feel truly rejuvenated when you add a waxing treatment or glossy manicure and pedicure.

Sate your appetite at the hotel’s relaxed restaurant, Topiary in the Park, where you can sample casual and satisfying dishes such as Thai-inspired crab cake, hearty confit duck leg or succulent cuts of beef. Wind down afterwards with a post-dinner drink at the quiet and intimate Lounge Bar.

Traditional yet luxurious, your room at the Park Royal is the ideal place to wind down. Patterned, textured wallpaper and sumptuous textures like leather headboards create a warm and welcoming feel – just the thing to relax you after a day of exploring. In a suite, sip on a fruity glass of complimentary red wine as you wrap up in your fluffy bathrobe and relax on feather-down pillows.

• Serene Cheshire countryside location
• Nine treatments rooms at the spa with luxurious ESPA products

The restaurant at Innside by Melia is designed to tempt your tastebuds. Discover a fusion of Spanish, Italian and Asian cuisine with dishes like spicy and cheesy potato wedges or smoky Texan ribs, followed up with a delectable banoffee trifle. Drop into Street on First at any time of the day with your party for a get-together or to meet new people. This bar, lounge and terrace encourages you to be social with its sharing platters and open-plan space lit by floor-to-ceiling windows.

When you’re fully satisfied, make the wellness suite your next destination. Lie back in the tranquil atmosphere of the Finnish sauna and steam room, or stay on top of your fitness routine in the modern gym, which features cardio machines as well as weights and yoga mats. Opt for a beauty treatment – such as a calming massage, facial, manicure or pedicure – to help you return from your holiday feeling rejuvenated.

At the end of the day, retire to your sleek, modern room, decorated in soothing shades of charcoal and amethyst. Book into a suite to find your fridge pre-stocked with bottles of a delicious local ale. A blissful rainfall shower in the sleek, open-plan bathroom awaits you the next morning. Feeling refreshed, linger at your window to watch the sun rise over the Manchester cityscape.

• Social dining concept restaurant located in vibrant Manchester neighbourhood
• Spa includes Finnish sauna, treatments and gym

The spa at the Lowry Hotel, a restful haven of crisp whites and serene blues, includes six candle-lit treatment rooms gently scented with premium Elemis products. Treat sore muscles to a massage – whether that’s a bamboo cane style or soothing hot stone – or revitalise your limbs with a wrap or body toner. Targeted facials calm, mattify or soothe depending on your skin type, while manicures, pedicures, lash and brow treatments and waxing give you a little beauty boost.

You’ll walk back to your sumptuous room on a cloud of calm. Lie back on your king-size bed with its textured throws, ultra-soft sheets and earth-toned scatter cushions. Try a tipple from your in-room bar together or have a late-night chat while watching a movie. In a Riverside Suite, offbeat abstract art and vibrant fabrics create an eccentric feel. And what could be better than waking up to views of the meandering River Irwell in the early morning light?

Breakfast is served in the contemporary River Restaurant, where you can eat in the natural-light filled dining room with its natural hardwood floors, or the sun-soaked outdoor terrace. Choose from a diverse menu of breakfast classics, from toasted sourdough topped with creamy avocado and eggs or crunchy granola with tart cherries and sweet pecans.

• Premium Elemis products in the spa
• Six spa treatment rooms

Get away from it all at Lancaster House, a refined hotel with a secluded spa near the quaint village of Ellel. You’ll find plenty of traditional touches here – think an open roaring fire to warm cold toes, cosy rooms with ultra-soft Egyptian cotton bedsheets and delicious Grandma Wild’s biscuits in nostalgic varieties like ginger nut and shortbread.

When you’re ready for a few modern comforts, head to the hotel spa, the Sandpiper Club. Relish an early morning dip in the indoor pool as sunlight floods through the floor-to-ceiling windows, gaze out on rural views from the outdoor hot tub, or zone out in the spa bath, steam room and sauna. Pamper your whole body with rejuvenating massages, facials, wraps, and hand and foot treatments, or try a new look for dinner at the beauty and hair salons.

As evening rolls around, the Foodworks Restaurant awaits. It’s a delightful cocktail of contrasts: decorative metal light fixtures and sophisticated dark wood create a feeling of grandeur, while sketched artwork on the walls and imaginative, modern dishes have a delightfully inventive feel. Try playful dishes like sweet roast pepper and spicy bloody Mary terrine. There’s also an eight-course tasting menu which could include local fare such as Morecombe Bay potted shrimps and Lancashire cheese scones.

• Secluded Ellel village location with traditional feel
• Spa contains outdoor hot tub and indoor pool

Aesthetics are everything at the super-stylish Vincent Hotel. Each of the 59 rooms is individually designed, though they all share thoughtful touches in the form of super king-size beds, personalised minibars and Nespresso coffee machines. Splash out on a Junior Suite, where opulent details like creamy marble surfaces and Japanese soaking tubs – shaped especially for you to sit comfortably upright – will elevate your bathing experience.

At the double AA rosette-awarded Vincent Café and Restaurant, sample British classics infused with a distinctive Japanese flair. You’ll discover delicate flavours at the Sushi Bar – such as fresh tuna sashimi with fragrant ginger and cooling cucumber. Come the evening, recline on plush armchairs in vivid jewel tones and sip an expertly mixed passion fruit martini in the Vincent Bar.

At the spa, indulge your body and mind with a range of beautifying treatments. You’ll find classic massages like deep tissue and aromatherapy and the stress-relieving L’Homme Deep Relaxing Massage, especially for men. The salon also offers weight loss and cellulite treatments, facials, manis, pedis and waxing, plus makeup, eyebrow and eyelash treatments. There’s also a gym for an endorphin rush. For more gentle exercise, the hotel is positioned close to some of the best golf courses in the country, in an area otherwise known as Southport’s Golf Coast. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned pro, test your swing at the prestigious Royal Birkdale Golf Club, often used for Open Championships.

• Double AA rosette-awarded restaurant
• Beauty salon and gym
• Located close to championship golf courses

5-star hotels don’t come much more special than the Chester Grosvenor, ideally located in the middle of the ancient Roman city of Chester in a historic black and white timber-fronted building. The restaurants also exude a timeless elegance – at the Michelin-star Simon Radley, sit amid dark wood accents and walls the colour of chantilly cream, allowing the head sommelier to tempt you with one of more than 700 wine varieties.

Discover an oasis of calm in the centre of the city at the spa. Head to the vitality-boosting thermal suite to experience the herb sauna, ice fountain, crystal steam room, salt grotto and foot baths. Disconnect from the world and reconnect with yourself in the relaxation area, then opt for a facial ritual, massage, scrub or wrap using luxurious Elemis products. A glossy manicure and pedicure are the icing on the cake.

We think the real stars of the show are the large and lavish bedrooms, each of which is individually designed and epitomises glamour. In a Deluxe Room, unwind in your spacious, all-marble bathroom before cosying up on your king-size bed complete with textured velvet headboard. In a Master Suite, sip some pre-dinner drinks in your sumptuous seating area with ultra-soft armchairs and solid wood furnishings.

• Wine cellar with more than 700 wines
• Michelin-star restaurant
• Spa with Elemis products, salt grotto and crystal steam room

Elegant, heritage-inspired decor at the Rookery Hall Spa Hotel offers a real sense of this building’s history. The Old Hall dates back to the 1800s, and is home to ten atmospheric bedrooms, which feature views over the tree-dotted gardens. Here you’ll find soft, autumnal coloured drapes and bedspreads that bring a sense of calm, plush armchairs and polished dark wood furnishings. As a nod to modernity, TVs in the bathroom mean you can soak in the bathtub while watching a film with a fruity glass of red.

Discover fine dining at the Restaurant at Rookery Hall, which has been awarded 2 AA rosettes. Indulge in exquisite dishes that showcase local ingredients and innovative cooking methods, such as soft king scallops served with succulent ham hock and sweet pea dressing, or charred mackerel with a smoked egg yolk and earthy asparagus.

The tranquil spa hides in the characterful old stable block within 38 acres of lush, rolling grounds. It was awarded the Five Bubble Spa award in 2017, and features a soothingly scented steam room and sauna, indoor pool and hydrotherapy pool, and seven treatment rooms. Choose from a menu of massages, facials, wraps, scrubs, manicures and pedicures to help you feel your finest. Afterwards, opt for a nourishing salad at the Café Bar.

• 2 AA rosette restaurant
• Award-winning spa with hydrotherapy pool and seven treatment rooms