by With its sleepy thatched villages, lushly wooded valleys and sublime beaches, a spa break in Devon allows you to relax before anyone even lays a hand on your chakras. This vast county, flanked by two stunningly beautiful coastlines, boasts a range of relaxing spa hotels sure to relax even the most adventurous of visitors. It is little wonder that the Victorians flocked to the Devonshire seaside to recover and breathe its fresh air.
Recharging can be as little as sitting in the Devon sunshine on a lounge overlooking the view, to top-of-the-line treatments that will put you back on the path to peace. This and everything else between the hides below is available. We’ve reviewed the best of Devon’s spa offerings, from state-of-the-art hotels and seaside escapes, to grand country estates, historic wonders and high-tech hideaways. These are the best spa hotels in Devon.
How we review
Each hotel on this curated list has been visited by one of our expert reviewers, and is usually hosted on a free basis. They stay for at least one night, test at least one meal and try other experiences the hotel may have.
At a glance, the best spa hotels in Devon
With a state-of-the-art £5-million spa, which hotel guests can use free of charge, this Elizabethan manor house has a lot to offer in a perfectly preserved historic setting. The Gaia Spa is one of the best spa hotels in Devon, with facilities that include a swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool, several steam rooms and saunas, a relaxation room, a large gym and a salon. The treatment list is extensive and includes a range of signature hot stone massages delivered by experts, along with facials, body scrubs and holistic rituals – personalized treatments of up to two hours using the spa’s own brand of products .
• An expert guide to Devon
This new glass and cedar-fronted spa hotel has a commanding position overlooking South Sands beach, just across the estuary from the yachtie resort of Salcombe. An original fusion of Art Deco and rustic design, it has a second-hand, earthy vibe, with sublime views and a good seafood restaurant. Downstairs, there’s a beautiful glass-walled spa with indoor pool, hydrotherapy pool, gym, outdoor terrace with sunrooms and marine-inspired treatments (try the Soul Soother for all-out relaxation).
This contemporary hotel on the East Devon coast boasts views of the Regency town of Sidmouth and the Jurassic coast. There is an impeccably clean spa, lap pool, steam room, sauna, gym and spa offering massages, facials and holistic therapies. The function room doubles as a fitness studio offering regular classes for over 55s. Outside, overlooking the sea, there is a decked terrace and a small heated swimming pool (open March to November). Considering its location, design and facilities for the price; it’s worth a spa stay.
With rustic-chic interiors, heated indoor and outdoor pools, a cinema, restaurant, sun terrace, cozy bedrooms and stylish self-catering apartments, Devon’s coolest coastal hotel is smartly located on a cliff bluff near Salcombe, South Devon. to make the most of stunning sea views. The small Elemis Spa has a blue mosaic pool, sauna and steam room, and offers massages, manicures and facials. There are clifftop yoga sessions in the summer followed by brunch. The rooms have a cosy, rustic, industrial feel, with velvet cushions, pom-pom-fringed throws, rough wooden feature walls, vintage dial telephones and geometric tiled bathrooms.
• The best hotels in Devon
The dinky Spa at this delightful seaside hotel on the south Devon coast has a state-of-the-art hydrotherapy pool. Other facilities include an aromatherapy and phototherapy shower, as well as steam rooms, a sauna and a gym. Two ‘Thalgo’ treatment rooms offer marine-based facials, massages and holistic body treatments. The hotel also boasts a collection of one-bedroom beach huts – six in total – all on the shore, offering floor-to-ceiling views of the Jurassic coast. The best spot in the house in the restaurant during the summer is the Captain’s Table, an elevated part of the outdoor terrace that looks straight out to sea.
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This 50-room luxury hotel has a stunning view of Salcombe Bay, with its mesmerizing waves, sandy beaches and pastel houses. The pool has a ‘children’s hours’ policy; outside of these times, it is a fragrant haven of calm. Treatments include a delightful hot stone massage – using the heat of volcanic basalt stones to ease tension – and Temple Spa facials. Estuary View rooms offer stunning river views that are guaranteed to be attention-grabbing. Head out to one of the nearby coves for bucket and spade adventures or just mess around with boats on the river. Excellent seafood and a great cinema to stay here.
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The spa at this country house hotel from 1910 is a real treat, with an indoor pool, hydrotherapy pool, sauna, steam room and Kubel Dusche ice treatment. The gym is well equipped and two therapists offer massages, facials and beauty treatments using grape-based products from the famous Parisien Caudalie range. The interior has traditional charm with original oak beams, high ceilings and country style furnishings. Lounges are a mix of modern fabrics, floc wallpaper and more traditional artwork. All rooms have countryside views, and there is also a sun terrace and croquet lawn.
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The Spa at this spacious hotel, a five-minute drive from Woolacombe Beach, has an indoor pool with hot tub as well as a steam room and sauna. They are proud to work with mostly vegan and cruelty-free brands such as Natural Spa Factory and Dolly Lemon. Treatments include anti-aging and problem skin facials, body wraps, massages, manicures and pedicures. Other facilities include a gymnasium, fitness classes, nine hole golf and putt course, hard tennis courts, squash courts, championship size snooker table. The indoor pool is a blessing for families on a rainy day – and with set times for children, you won’t have to worry about disturbing other guests.
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A family-run luxury spa and golf hotel overlooking the rugged South Devon coast in the South Hams, near Salcombe. Facilities at the Decléor Spa include a hydrotherapy pool, sauna, steam room and gym. The signature Voyager massage tour is particularly popular and includes a scalp and facial massage. Many of the rooms have balconies and picture windows, where Thurlestone Arch, a rock formation sculpted by waves in the sea, is the eye-catching centerpiece. The food is formal: waiters wear white gloves, even at breakfast, and jackets are required at dinner.
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This stately home on a sporting estate in Dartmoor National Park has an impressive spa with a heated pool and hot tub with sun loungers overlooking the grounds, as well as a steam room, sauna and gym. A range of ESPA treatments are available, as well as multi-day packages which can include champagne and lunch, one or more treatments and full use of the spa. Afterwards, relax in your room with complimentary sloe gin and bathroom with roll top bath, and ESPA toiletries. The Great Western cash service restaurant is very glamorous. The food is great too: try the estate venison or the seatrout trout.
Contributions by Anna Turns
