With the stress of modern life, work and personal relationships, a relaxing retreat can be the ultimate way to reset. A relaxing getaway gives you the much-needed opportunity to recharge, de-stress, and rejuvenate.
A relaxing getaway can look different to everyone, but for most, it involves spending time in a spa, receiving a massage, or reconnecting with nature in a countryside cabin. But where is the best place to spend a relaxing retreat in the UK?
The experts at Slingo have done the hard work for you, so all you have to do is sit back and book your trip to one of the top destinations on our list.
The Most Relaxing Getaways in the UK
1. Bath, England | Relaxation score: 9.51/10
The city named after its stunning Roman baths is officially the most relaxing spot for a getaway in the UK. Bath is not only home to natural hot springs, but tourists can choose from 32.8 spas and wellness centres per 100,000 people. Second only to Durham, the spas in Bath offer massages and facials, creating the ultimate relaxation experience. Those visiting Bath can also enjoy a luxury stay with 33.8 five-star accommodation options per 100,000 people, including the Gainsborough Bath Spa. Bath is also in the top five cities for green space, with a fifth (21%) of the city covered by trees, making the perfect scenery for a relaxing trip.
2. Exeter, England | Relaxation score: 8.22/10
Exeter is known for its Roman history and rich culture and is the second city in our top three with a Roman bathhouse. Within 15 miles of Exeter, there are 36 log cabins with hot tubs, giving you endless opportunities to relax in luxury and nature. Around 18.6% of the city is covered by trees, which is no surprise considering Exeter’s reputation for beautiful natural scenery. The city also has 22.2 massage parlours per 100,000 people, including Orchid Traditional Thai Massage, offering deep tissue massage.
3. Salisbury, England | Relaxation score: 7.56/10
Salisbury is a picturesque Wiltshire city, a popular destination for those seeking a relaxing escape. The area is home to more massage parlours per 100,000 people than any other city on our list, at 45.4. Vita Skin Spa offers couples massages and an infrared sauna, making it a must-visit location for tourists in Salisbury. There are also 16.7 five-star accommodations per 100,000 people in the city, including Stonehenge Cottages, located across from a 17th-century rustic country pub and just a ten-minute drive from Stonehenge. Salisbury also has 21.5 spas and wellness centres per 100,000 people, including Lime Tree Spa, offering holistic wellness treatments for the face and body.
Southampton has the most tree cover in the UK
Southampton has more tree cover than any other city on our list. Over one-fifth (22.8%) of the port city is covered by tree canopy, making the city one of the ultimate destinations to relax in nature. Southampton Common is one of the most extensive woodlands in the city, offering 365 acres of green space.
Wells is the best location for cabins with a hot tub
Wells in Somerset is the best place to visit if you want a luxury stay in nature. Within 15 miles of the city, you can find 42 log cabins with hot tubs. Chapterhouse is a luxury outdoor cabin with a fenced yard and private wood-fired hot tub, while Bramley Apple Tree Glamping offers a similar experience to vacation-goers.
Truro is the best spot for 5-star accommodation
Truro is known for its historic culture and beautiful architecture, so it’s no surprise that the city is the best place in the UK for five-star accommodation. There are 95 five-star accommodations for every 100,000 residents in the city. Fal River Cottage offers a unique luxury experience, with views of the Truro River and options for fishing and hiking in the local area.
Durham is the best place for spas
It’s no secret that Durham is a city of rich culture, home to the Durham Cathedral and Castle - a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986. Durham is the best place to visit for those seeking a spa experience, with 33.7 spas and wellness centres for every 100,000 of the population. The Spa at Ramside offers visitors a luxury spa experience, complete with a hydrotherapy pool and thermal suits.
Salisbury is the best place for massages
Salisbury ranked in the top three cities for a relaxing escape and is also the best city for massages. There are 45.4 massage parlours in the city for every 100,000 people, including Live Well Holistics, home to organic aromatherapy and hot stone massage.
Methodology
We wanted to reveal the most relaxing getaways in the UK, so we looked at all major cities in the UK for the following factors. We gave each city a normalised score out of ten for each factor using a per cent rank scoring system, then calculated the average score for each city. This formed the ‘Relaxation Score/ 10’, used as the basis for our ranking.
We sourced the tree canopy cover of each city from Forest Research on 19 October 2023.
We sourced the number of log cabins with hot tubs within 15 miles of each city from Airbnb on 5 November 2023. We used the filters: ‘hot tubs’, ‘cabins’ and ‘two adults’.
We sourced the number of five-star accommodations in each city from Booking.com on 1 November 2023.
We sourced the number of spas and wellness centres in each city from Tripadvisor on 2 November 2023.
We sourced the number of massage parlours in each city from Yelp on 2 November 2023. We searched for ‘massage’ within five miles of each city.
We calculated the number of five-star accommodations, spas and wellness centres, and massage parlours per 100,000 people in each city. We sourced population estimates from CityPopulation on 7 November 2023.
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