Did you know you can visit Centre Parcs for a Spa Day?
The newly renovated Aqua Sana Spa in Longleat Forest is DREAMY. Surrounded by Giant Redwood trees, this incredible spa has five zones and 24 different nature-inspired spa experiences. I visited for the day to celebrate my 28th Birthday with my fiancé Benji, a very lovely treat from my Mum. We spent 7 hours relaxing and loved every minute. Here are a few things to know before you go!
getting to the Aqua Sana Spa
The Aqua Sana Spa is situated at the back of Centre Parcs, about a 5-minute drive from the main entrance. When you arrive, they check your booking reservation and provide a sign to pop in your car window. The closest train station is Warminster 3 miles away from the spa, but we chose to drive and the parking is free.
what’s included in a Spa Day?
We had a package for two people for the day. Prices start at £95pp but increase depending on the time of year. It included:
– access from 9am – 5pm
– pastries on arrival
– glass of champagne
– lunch in Vitalé Café Bar
– Complimentary towel and robe hire
They also offer Twilight Tasters and have The Hideaway available, a private space for small groups. You do not need to be a Center Parcs guest to visit for a Spa Day, but I believe the rates and deals are much better if you are a guest. We didn’t have any treatments so I can’t recommend anything specific, but truthfully I didn’t feel we needed one.
first impressions
On arrival, you enter the reception area with a beauty boutique to the left and a nail bar to the right. You’re provided towels and robes. Slippers are not included so bring your own flip flops. You then enter the changing rooms which were nice. Quite small when lots of people are changing and the ‘sofa’ got very crowded at the end of the day. They give you a band to wear which opens and closes any locker of your choice (so remember which one you pick!). The showers were beautiful, really big individual cubicles with products on the wall. Before you enter the spa itself, you walk through the restaurant. We’ll go onto that later.
the aqua sana spa experience
Most spas I’ve been to have either been in a hotel or on a cruise ship. This one takes it to another level. It’s HUGE, having recently relaunched in 2022 following a £6 million refurbishment. The new 24,000sq ft “Forest Spa” includes 24 spa experiences that draw inspiration from different aspects of nature and the surrounding forest landscape. This video and map below give you a good idea of what to expect.
My favourite area was the heated outdoor pool, located in the centre of the spa. We visited in March and the sun hit perfectly on the area with jets, so you can enjoy a hot tub type of experience in the sunshine within the pool. It wasn’t big enough to do any lengths, but we spent most of our time dipping in and out. I would have personally liked an outside pool with more sun loungers (they had a few outside but not many!). We did also sit in the hot tubs outside which were nice.
We took our time going in and out of the various saunas, steam rooms, multi-sensory showers, foot spa and relaxation areas. There are signs outside each room explaining more, including which order to do things. One relaxation room has egg chairs with fake fires that make fire crackling sounds. There were meditation spaces, a forest Cavern, water beds…you name it, they had it.
lunch & mid-morning break
We had a raspberry and white chocolate pastry and a glass of champagne at 12 pm and then booked our lunch at the Vitalé Café Bar for 2 pm. This worked nicely as we missed the busiest times to eat and enjoyed the spa when most people were having lunch. I will say though, that it didn’t feel particularly crowded at any point in the spa, and we were easily able to find a spot to sit in every room we entered.
Lunch was excellent. This was the menu (left) and included in our spa package was a choice of a panini or pasta, along with a side salad. We both had the lasagne and Caesar salad, and paid extra from some focaccia bread to have. It was all delicious. As a special treat, we ordered a slice of chocolate cake to share which was on the house for my birthday. This was probably the best bit of chocolate cake I’ve ever eaten. Truly doesn’t do justice in a photo! The restaurant area itself is beautiful, and everyone eating is part of the spa so people ate in their robes which was really nice. Really rated the high ceilings, good quality food and friendly staff. Would eat here again!
final thoughts
This is definitely up there as one of the best spas I’ve been to. It ticks a lot of boxes and would make a wonderful addition to a stay at Center Parcs or a day visit like we did. Although I loved spending quality time with my partner to celebrate my birthday, I actually think this would be lovely as a solo day too. Bring a book and enjoy the peaceful sounds of the forest and the opportunity to doze off in one of their many rooms.
My only main critique is the changing rooms. Felt they were poorly designed and lacked space to place your items. I wish it was easier to swap towels for dry ones too. I awkwardly waited until someone was available in my robe in reception. There are lots of water stations though which is great for staying hydrated. Other than that, I couldn’t fault much!
Visiting in March was lovely when it was sunny outside but still a little chilly. I think I’d avoid the summer and return in Autumn/Spring. Overall, it’s a 9/10 from me!
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