England

Spa hotels in Sussex: sumptuous retreats on the southern coast

East and West Sussex are rich in dramatic coastlines, pebbled beaches, luscious parkland and luxurious spa hotels. And don’t forget the region’s glorious centrepiece of Brighton – a stylish and cultured city holiday destination.

Take a break from your busy life with a visit to a contemporary spa hotel in these quintessentially English counties, which offer a variety of wellness and beauty treatments to relax both body and mind. Discover the detoxing properties of the heat in dry saunas or steam away in aromatherapy rooms before taking a dip in your hotel’s swimming pool.

Regency grandeur at a Sussex spa hotel on Brighton’s sea front

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With a prime seafront location, The Grand Brighton is perfect for a retreat. Unwind in the Victorian hotel’s up-to-the-minute spa, a haven of indulgence with a thermal suite, beauty salons and a stylish relaxation lounge. Refresh in the sauna and steam room before having a revitalising facial or body scrub and wrap. Choose from the hotel’s selection of holistic therapies and massages to feel like you’re floating. Finally, complete your head-to-toe pampering with a beauty treatment: nails, waxing and lashes are all on offer.

From one haven to another, your room at The Grand Brighton is a refined combination of neutral and soft grey tones and sumptuous textiles, including Egyptian cotton bed linen. Book a room with a sea view over the pebbled shoreline and Brighton’s distinctive pier.

Take a seat overlooking the beach in the Victoria Bar to sip on a signature cocktail with a unique story behind its name. Try the 1864 which celebrates the year the hotel was founded. After your aperitif, dine at the hotel’s GB1 restaurant, serving British cuisine with a twist and specialising in fresh local seafood. This double AA Rosette restaurant centres on a sophisticated fish bar built around the room’s original regency columns and surrounding an opulent chandelier.

The Grand Brighton

Top rated
Brighton
8.9 Excellent (3667 reviews)

A luxurious Sussex spa hotel in a 17th-century manor

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The historic 17th-century manor of Alexander House & Utopia Spa is nestled within 120 acres of elegant gardens. The original house was famed for its grandeur and can claim connections to the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. A stone in the manor’s brickwork is dated to 1608, and the hotel’s bar is named after this year. Its wine cellar offers 130 varieties of wine and over 30 types of champagne. You’re also spoilt for choice when it comes to dining, with two multi-AA Rosette awarded restaurants offering fine-dining experiences.

Adding to the indulgence is the serene sanctuary of Utopia Spa. Unwind in the indoor pool with powerful massaging jets, lie back in the hydrotherapy pool or de-stress in the steam room. In the garden, you can luxuriate in the bubbles of the outdoor hot tub and lounge in the bespoke barrel sauna for a dry heat ritual. For further treatments, choose a Mediterranean- or Ayurvedic-inspired massage, or refresh your skin with facials, body scrubs and mud wraps. Manicures and pedicures are also available.

Finish your day with a soak in a freestanding bath in your own sumptuous en suite. The exquisite rooms and suites each have individual touches – a statement wall mural, custom-built furniture and lush fabrics, to name a few.

Alexander House & Utopia Spa

East Grinstead
8.4 Very good (963 reviews)

An elegant Victorian Sussex spa resort on the seafront

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Aptly known at the White Palace, the award-winning Grand Hotel is positioned on the Eastbourne seafront a short walk from both the sweeping South Downs and the town’s pier. The 19th-century hotel has been restored to reflect its glory as a holiday resort for the Victorian elite, which had welcomed composer Debussy, King Constantine of Greece and Winston Churchill.

For dinner on site, choose between the Mirabelle restaurant, which serves a seasonal menu of modern European cuisine, or wander across the grand hall to the refined dining room of the Garden Restaurant with its high ceilings. Here, you can sample contemporary takes on traditional British favourites. Afterwards, sleep like a Victorian aristocrat in sophisticated suites with four-poster beds. Each has a spacious bathroom with Jacuzzi baths and many have balconies with sublime views of the coastline. The hotel’s rooms convey the elegance of the hotel with original sash windows complemented by classic furnishings and opulent textiles.

Visit the deluxe Sussex Spa to benefit from the detoxing qualities of heat in the sauna and steam room or soak in the soothing bubbles of the Jacuzzi. Swim whatever the weather with the choice of indoor and open-air pools. Indulge with a treatment that incorporates natural ingredients for hand and foot therapies, facials, massages, scrubs and wraps, or for the ultimate way to rejuvenate your look, opt for a K-lift LED light facial. Finish your session of self-care with an immaculate manicure.

The Grand Hotel

Top rated
Eastbourne
9.0 Excellent (2165 reviews)

Relaxation for mind, body and soul at this Sussex spa hotel

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Take a breather from the everyday to refresh and rejuvenate in the calming Chakra Spa at The Felbridge Hotel & Spa. This retreat exudes an aura of serenity, with neutral tones, natural fabrics and a living wall. Feel the detoxing benefits of heat in the sauna and steam rooms, take a dip in the pool or let the bubbling jets massage you while you sit in the warm Jacuzzi. To boost circulation, book in for a wrap with mint and tea leaves or harmonise your energy flow with a poultice massage. The spa’s facials will revitalise your skin and offer anti-ageing benefits, while they also specialise in body maintenance treatments that focus on waxing, tinting and manicures.

From the spa, return to your room where you can have a bath or shower with Elemis products before wrapping yourself up in a fluffy robe and slippers. The club rooms have thoughtful extra touches including a Nespresso machine and a large flat-screen TV.

In the evening, wander down to the cool Qube Bar for a cocktail before dinner or even a light bite. Designer features here include plush velvet armchairs and artistic ornaments. For dinner, the Bay Tree restaurant serves international dishes with a British twist, while its décor has a touch of Scandinavian style.

The Felbridge Hotel & Spa

East Grinstead
7.9 Good (175 reviews)

A pampering Sussex spa hotel set amid manicured lawns on the coast

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Go back in time when you stay at the 18th-century Hythe Imperial Hotel Spa & Golf, set in sweeping gardens that look out towards the English Channel. Here, you’ll dine in the AA Rosette Coast restaurant where modern British dishes include meat from a butcher in nearby Ashford and vegetables from a local greengrocer. After dinner, sip champagne in the chic Moët & Chandon Bar as you watch the waves lap on the seafront.

Head back to your individually designed room with a contemporary feel. Choose a room admiring the gardens, or make the most of the seafront location by opting for a view of the beach. Why not spoil yourself with a night in the Belcourt Suite, which offers panoramic views of the coast?

Start the day by unwinding on the golf course or hitting the gym, before moving on to hotel’s intimate spa, which provides treatments by ESPA, including facials, scrubs, massages and holistic therapies. Rest for a while in the peaceful heated relaxation lounge or find the hidden haven of the hot stone area. You can also swim in the spa’s tranquil pool or soothe your aching limbs in a hot Jacuzzi.

Hythe Imperial Hotel Spa & Golf

Top rated
Hythe
8.5 Excellent (2352 reviews)

A spa hotel in Sussex at London Gatwick

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An easy journey from London, Brighton or the South Downs, Sandman Signature London Gatwick is ideal for a short stay away from the hustle and bustle. This polished hotel has a spacious and open lounge with artistic feature lighting and leather Chesterfields around an open fire – just the spot to sit back and order your favourite tipple. You’ll find the casually cool Shark Club Gastro Bar by the lounge. This chic bar is decorated with New York flair, pairing studded-back chairs with high tables against a backdrop of bare brick walls. The transatlantic vibe continues with Gastro Bar’s menu, which ranges from burgers, steaks and chicken wings to New York cheesecake and cookies with ice cream.

After dinner, retire to your light and spacious room decorated in a sleek but welcoming aesthetic. Rooms feature well-designed bathrooms, white linens, large windows and tactile furnishings in soft shades. Spread out in comfort on the large bed or take a seat in your own living area with an armchair or sofa.

During your stay at the hotel, visit the fitness centre for a dip in the large indoor swimming pool then sit and unwind in the steam room, before finishing your treatment with a refreshing cold shower.

Sandman Signature London Gatwick

Three Bridges
8.2 Very good (2129 reviews)

Modern Sussex spa hotel with views of Brighton Pier

The Jurys Inn Brighton Waterfront is located just steps from The Lanes, the city’s historic neighbourhood of one-off shops and winding alleyways, and directly opposite the bright lights of the pier. Boasting panoramic views of the English Channel from its shoreline location, this spacious and airy hotel is decorated in colours inspired by the sea. Make yourself at home in a room with modern furnishings and chic en-suites.

Visit the hotel’s Atrium Bar with a remarkably high ceiling finished with an eye-catching glass roof. Pull up an armchair around the light sculpture centrepiece and enjoy a drink and a snack, or head to the Seaview bar and lounge with promenade that faces the beach and pier – a great spot to sip on a glass of something sparkling from the hotel’s extensive wine cellar.

Whether you’re after those final touches to complete your look for an evening out or need help to de-stress, spend an hour or two in the hotel’s spa. Take a swim in the indoor pool or detox in the sauna and steam room. At the Pecksniff’s Pamper Studio feel your tension melt away with a massage or rejuvenate your skin with a facial. Beauty treatments for nails, eyelashes and eyebrows, plus spray tans, hair removal and blow drying will leave you glowing, ready to experience all that Brighton has to offer.