At a Glance
This imposing manor house in the Cotswolds boasts a renowned, awarding-winning spa.
Review
The tree-lined driveway and electric solid-oak gates are a good indication of Whatley’s ethos. From the proprietors of the Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne comes a rather Swiss place—efficiently run to say the least (and sensibly renamed from the original Twatley Farm). Nothing is too much trouble at the hyper-polished hotel, which can be a little too stylized and done up for some (the bronze donkey sculptures in the garden are especially questionable).
But it’s the 12,000-square-foot Aquarias Spa that’s the main attraction. Set within the skeleton of the old stable block, it’s a destination spa for those in the know, and has won awards and dedicated fans. The water-based therapies take center stage with one of the largest indoor/outdoor hydrotherapy pools in England. You’re not expected to swim—just wade around and be pummeled by the whooshing waterfalls and bubbling jets, then waft through the spa’s thermal suite if you have the energy, from tepidarium to laconium to caldarium to chamomile steam grotto to, finally, a Finnish sauna. You’ll emerge blissed out and ready to feast in one of the hotel’s two restaurants.
Who Should Stay
Travelers looking to relax and unwind.
Written by Daisy Finer