Best UK spa/thermal baths?

[johnpsanderson]

Mrs S and I have enjoyed a few trips to our nearest Centre Parcs spa at Elveden (https://www.aquasana.co.uk/spa-locations/elveden-forest.html) over the years; especially the myriad of steam rooms - the range of saunas - and the little touches like the crushed ice 'fountain'/etc. From looking online it seems this sort of setup is a step above the average fancy hotel/spa type setup.

But I was a bit disappointed when they redeveloped the site and got rid of what I thought of as the "Turkish baths" bit - it was almost like a little maze of booths within one massive steam room.

Are there any places in the UK that are like this? I've had a Google - and not turned up anything obvious yet - what i have found often looks more 'modern' (like https://www.thermaebathspa.com/ which we went to years ago, nice but not quite qhat i'm after)

I think i'm hankering after some sort of original Roman baths vibe!

We're not bothered either way about posh (or super healthy) food; or all the treatment/massage/pampering stuff, that come along with places like this - it's mainly the peace and quiet, heat and humidity in a nice setting i'm after!

[Ussrcossack]

Harrogate Turkish baths

https://www.turkishbathsharrogate.co.uk/?gad_sourc...

[Slow.Patrol]

OK, I know it's not the UK, but this has to be one of the top spa experiences ever. (Not suitable for kids as you need to be a naturist)

https://friedrichsbad.net/

We did the whole day package, including the scrub down. My skin was amazing. I don't think I have ever been so clean.

I really want to go back at some point.

We have done Bath Thermae. It's OK, but not stunning, but we just went for the pool and no treatments.

I do have Budapest on my list. I have a weird fascination for bathing in natural hot springs, even if I come out smelling like a boiled egg. The other half is not so keen.

[johnpsanderson]

Slow.Patrol said:

you need to be a naturist

https://friedrichsbad.net/

The FAQ say “ Every Wednesday and Saturday, we have swimwear days - on these days, bathing is exclusively with swimwear.” so worth the tip, thanks!

[Slow.Patrol]

johnpsanderson said:

Slow.Patrol said:

you need to be a naturist

https://friedrichsbad.net/

The FAQ say Every Wednesday and Saturday, we have swimwear days - on these days, bathing is exclusively with swimwear. so worth the tip, thanks!

Interesting. It was about 10 years ago we were there, so they may have changed their policy.

Annoyingly, the day package we had is not an option either. We had 12 different experiences - steam, sauna, cold plunge, pools and deep scrub to name a few, as well as lunch.

[Peterpetrole]

Closest to a Roman Spa would be in Brighton:

https://www.bghs.co.uk/

Apodyterium, Palaestra, Tepidarium, Caldarium, Frigidarium, Sudatorium/Laconicum, Bibliotheca (yes really).

[Every day a journey]

Peterpetrole said:

Closest to a Roman Spa would be in Brighton:

https://www.bghs.co.uk/

Apodyterium, Palaestra, Tepidarium, Caldarium, Frigidarium, Sudatorium/Laconicum, Bibliotheca (yes really).

Yeah... you might want to be a bit careful with BGHS

[Peterpetrole]

Every day a journey said:

Peterpetrole said:

Closest to a Roman Spa would be in Brighton:

https://www.bghs.co.uk/

Apodyterium, Palaestra, Tepidarium, Caldarium, Frigidarium, Sudatorium/Laconicum, Bibliotheca (yes really).

Yeah... you might want to be a bit careful with BGHS

OP asked for Roman so......

[Every day a journey]

Peterpetrole said:

Every day a journey said:

Peterpetrole said:

Closest to a Roman Spa would be in Brighton:

https://www.bghs.co.uk/

Apodyterium, Palaestra, Tepidarium, Caldarium, Frigidarium, Sudatorium/Laconicum, Bibliotheca (yes really).

Yeah... you might want to be a bit careful with BGHS

OP asked for Roman so......

Well I guess...

[johnpsanderson]

Peterpetrole said:

Every day a journey said:

Peterpetrole said:

Closest to a Roman Spa would be in Brighton:

https://www.bghs.co.uk/

Apodyterium, Palaestra, Tepidarium, Caldarium, Frigidarium, Sudatorium/Laconicum, Bibliotheca (yes really).

Yeah... you might want to be a bit careful with BGHS

OP asked for Roman so......

Is this heading towards pampas grass territory or similar?

[Every day a journey]

johnpsanderson said:

Peterpetrole said:

Every day a journey said:

Peterpetrole said:

Closest to a Roman Spa would be in Brighton:

https://www.bghs.co.uk/

Apodyterium, Palaestra, Tepidarium, Caldarium, Frigidarium, Sudatorium/Laconicum, Bibliotheca (yes really).

Yeah... you might want to be a bit careful with BGHS

OP asked for Roman so......

Is this heading towards pampas grass territory or similar?

Very much so. It's an ......'interesting' place.

[Peterpetrole]

Every day a journey said:

johnpsanderson said:

Peterpetrole said:

Every day a journey said:

Peterpetrole said:

Closest to a Roman Spa would be in Brighton:

https://www.bghs.co.uk/

Apodyterium, Palaestra, Tepidarium, Caldarium, Frigidarium, Sudatorium/Laconicum, Bibliotheca (yes really).

Yeah... you might want to be a bit careful with BGHS

OP asked for Roman so......

Is this heading towards pampas grass territory or similar?

Very much so. It's an ......'interesting' place.

You're both being very English about this

[Every day a journey]

another option in Brighton is The Harbour Hotel (No idea why it's even called that as there's no harbour anywhere near Brighton apart from Chi.)

[DodgyGeezer]

Peterpetrole said:

Every day a journey said:

johnpsanderson said:

Peterpetrole said:

Every day a journey said:

Peterpetrole said:

Closest to a Roman Spa would be in Brighton:

https://www.bghs.co.uk/

Apodyterium, Palaestra, Tepidarium, Caldarium, Frigidarium, Sudatorium/Laconicum, Bibliotheca (yes really).

Yeah... you might want to be a bit careful with BGHS

OP asked for Roman so......

Is this heading towards pampas grass territory or similar?

Very much so. It's an ......'interesting' place.

You're both being very English about this

hmmm I'm not convinced that 'being very English' is the case...

[reggie82]

Nirvana Spa is excellent.

[Slow.Patrol]

reggie82 said:

Nirvana Spa is excellent.

Good call.

I'd not heard of his one and it's not too far away from me either.

[dontlookdown]

Ussrcossack said:

Harrogate Turkish baths

https://www.turkishbathsharrogate.co.uk/?gad_sourc...

Another vote for Harrogate. For less than £30 it's amazingly good value. You do only get 2 hrs now rather than the 3 they used to give you, but still a supe relaxing experience.

[omniflow]

This place in Bath might meet your requirements:

https://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/bath?gad_source=...

I'm not a "Spa person", but I went to this one and really liked it. The hotel itself isn't brilliant for the prices they charge. The standard rooms are quite pokey and not good VFM, but the SPA really is quite impressive.