Six of the best: British spas

SEAHAM HALL, SEAHAM

Situated on more than 15 hectares of landscaped gardens in a striking clifftop location with views out over Durham's coast line; Seaham Hall has attracted the famous and fashionable since the 18th century. Case in point, Lord Byron, who chose the hall as the venue for his wedding back in 1815. Since then, this stately Georgian pile has continued to impress, most recently with its multi-awarded Serenity Spa. This contemporary Thai-influenced complex includes a 20-metre pool, sauna, solarium, steam room, 17 treatment rooms, plunge pools, a hamman and outdoor hot tubs; all guaranteed to satisfy even the most demanding of spa-hounds. Eating options span the casual pan-Asian spa lunch spot, Ozone, alongside fine dining restaurant, Byron's, in the main hotel. For overnighters, there are 23 chic suites to choose from, the newest of which is also the most grand. Named after Byron's daughter, Ada Lovelace, the split-level suite features an elevated sleeping mezzanine and a sizeable bathing deck perfect for two. A double room starts at $370 a night.

See seaham-hall.co.uk.

THE GAINSBOROUGH BATH SPA, BATH

You can't put together a spa hotel round-up and not include a property in Britain's most famous spa town of Bath. Paying homage to the Romans who constructed a collection of buildings surrounding the thermal springs back in 43AD, the Gainsborough Bath Spa has reproduced a luxurious spa complex that wouldn't look out of place in ancient Rome. Utilising the famed mineral-infused springs – making it the only hotel in the country to use thermal waters in its spa – guests are able to "take the waters" through an array of thermal baths, saunas and steam rooms. Spread over two levels, the in-house Spa Village also features exclusive spa rooms, which offer guests in-bathroom access to the healing waters, a beauty salon and 11 treatment rooms, where rituals such as the two hour-long Malaysian Experience – a hybrid of Malay massage, Indian scalp massage and Chinese acupressure point massage – are guaranteed to relax even the most knotted of customers. Double rooms start at $440 a night including breakfast and access to the spa facilities.

See thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk.

CORINTHIA HOTEL, LONDON

Though one of the newer kids on the London hotel block – at least among the city's large five-star properties – the five-year-old Corinthia Hotel is already packing one hell of a punch. In one of the capital's grandest Victorian buildings with an enviable location steps away from Embankment tube station and directly opposite from the London Eye, it already has a lot going for it. However, it's the hotel's in-house spa that really makes this place stand out from the crowd. Spread over a jaw-dropping four floors and encompassing 3300 square metres of total indulgence, the ESPA Life spa takes city hotel pampering to new heights. A labyrinthine collection of wavy, futuristic, black marble corridors – as cool as any nightclub – connect a large hydrotherapy pool, crystal steam room, stainless steel pool, hammam and striking flame-lined sauna. Unsurprisingly, the Corinthia has become something of a go-to for visiting A-listers, with the likes of Johnny Depp, George Clooney and Beyonce passing through its marbled halls, with many taking advantage of the spa's beauty salon overseen by society coiffeur, Daniel Galvin. Doubles start at $764 a night.