Serenity Spa, Seaham Hall
Even the most demanding spa-goer will be kept happy for hours thanks to Serenity's unrivalled "wet area" - a hammam, steam room, sauna, sanarium (a cross between a sauna and a steam room), large hydrotherapy bath, hot and cold plunge pools and 20m ozone-cleansed pool with massage stations. An array of unusual treatments are on offer in the numerous rooms and the Ozone restaurant serves excellent light, Thai cuisine.
Best treatments: The 90-minute Santosha (Contentment) package costs £130, including use of the wet areas; back exfoliation and massage; mini facial; well-being massage and chakra balancing and three-course Taste of Siam lunch.
Prices: £70 entrance for use of the facilities and Taste of Siam lunch (unless you are a hotel guest when use of the facilities is free). Treatments start at £30 for 30 minutes and most of the hour-long treatments cost from £50. The Serenity Spa Dream Massage, £50 for 55 minutes of Swedish massage, is a great stand-alone massage.
To stay: From £265 per room per night full board midweek; £315 weekends. Includes use of facilities.
Where to book: Seaham Hall, Co Durham, 0191-516 1400, seaham-serenityspa.com.
Ragdale Hall Health Hydro
Ragdale has a reputation for lack of pretention and value-for-money spa breaks. Some 50 therapists perform countless top-to-toe treatments. Wine is available at dinner.
Best treatments: The 40-minute Equilibrium body massage, £32, or the deep-cleansing 100-minute Kanebo Kai-Kutsurogi prescriptive facial £54.
Prices: Day packages from around £102. The Ragdale Day includes full use of facilities (indoor/outdoor pools, whirlpool, sauna/steam rooms, plunge pools, gym and all exercise/relaxation classes); buffet lunch; 25-minute facial; 25-minute back, shoulder and neck massage.
To stay: £224pp for two nights (minimum stay) including all meals, full use of facilities and one 50-minute or two 25-minute treatments.
Where to book: Ragdale Hall, Leicestershire, 01664 434831, ragdalehall.co.uk.
Aqua Sana spas at Center Parcs
Center Parcs has managed to create an inclusive rather than exclusive vibe at its spas thanks to its array of communal heat/wet areas. All spas have globally influenced facilities: Japanese salt steam bath, Turkish hammam, Roman laconium, Arabic rasul room, Tyrolean sauna, Greek herbal bath and an ice fountain, hydrotherapy pool and aqua meditation rooms where you can let it all hang out together.
Best treatments: Dry Floatation, £47. You are dry body brushed, enveloped in one of four exclusive concoctions (strawberries and cream to give you a glow, Belgian Chocolate to nourish) before being wrapped up in a water blanket like a fajita and lowered into warm water taking the weight off your mind and body for a good half hour.
Prices: Stress Relief Day, £89, includes access to wet areas and heat sequence; 30-minute facial; 30-minute Elemis or Decleor back/neck/ shoulder massage, or the Aqua Sana Overnight Escape, as above plus overnight stay, £160pp (Sunday-Thursday), £175pp (Friday-Saturday).
To stay: From £286pp (three nights, weekend) or £313 (four nights, midweek) at the Oasis Whinfell Forest, from June 4-11.
Where to book: Center Parcs, Longleat Forest (Wiltshire), Sherwood Forest (Nottinghamshire), Oasis Whinfell Forest (Cumbria) and Elveden Forest (Suffolk), 0870 5200300, centerparcs.co.uk.
Champneys Health Resort and Springs
Champneys is still one of the most famous health farm/spa names in Britain and there are now four properties in the group. The original resort, Champneys Tring, is situated in a private mansion in 170 acres of quintessentially English parkland and has one of the most extensive spa treatment menus in the country including diet and nutritional advice, weight-loss programmes and regimes for food cravings and intolerances. It's currently undergoing a major refurbishment to keep up appearances with its younger sisters in the group - Champneys Henlow, Springs and Champneys Forestmere. All offer an unmatched array of beauty, fitness, nutrition and holistic wellbeing treatments.
Best treatments: La Stone Therapy by Champneys, £90, a full-body massage using hot and cold stones.
Prices: Treatments start at around £30 for a 30-minute treatment; full-day basic packages start at £89.95, including use of all facilities, and buffet lunch.
To stay:From £299.95pp for two nights at Champneys Henlow, including one body massage, one facial or neck massage, one thalassotherapy session, one eastern scalp massage, one de-stress wrap and two lunches.
Where to book: Health Resorts in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Hampshire and Springs in Leicestershire (08703 300300, champneys.com).
Hoar Cross Hall
One for the more traditional spa-goer, offering oak-panelled, Persian-rugged country estate comfort. People come here to lose weight, check out the state of their cholesterol and chill out.
Best treatments: Vishesh and Swedana, £90, a firm ayurvedic massage carried out by two therapists, followed by a herbal steam treatment.
Prices: £30 for a basic facial/pedicure, £50 for a more advanced detoxifying body treatment. Spa Experience Day, £82, includes use of wet areas, outdoor activities, exercise classes, gymnasium, lunch in the Plantation restaurant and complimentary beverages throughout the day plus a 30-minute facial or part-body massage.
To stay: £304pp for two nights' full-board, one facial or one massage, one hydrotherapy session, one session on the toning table (women) and one hair conditioning (men).
Where to book: Hoar Cross Hall, Staffordshire, 01283 575671, hoarcross.co.uk.
Best spa break
1 Seaham Hall
2 Ragdale Hall
3 Center Parcs
· The Spa Directory by Suzanne Duckett is published by Carlton at £12.99.
