14 of the best UK wellness retreats for 2022

Whether you’re looking for an urban escape, rural relaxation or a private fitness retreat, Rosie Fitzmaurice has your guide
Sarah Malcolm wild swimming on Fritton Lake, where she will host a spring yoga retreat

In need of a new year reboot? Taking a few days to yourself to focus on your wellbeing can do wonders for the body and mind.

From a digital detox in Essex to yoga and hiking in the Lake District and Tai Chi meditation in the Garden of England, there are plenty of options right here on home turf.

Here are the best retreats in the UK for 2022.

Jeff Phenix Yoga and Meditation retreat, Bedfordshire

Tofte Manor in Bedfordshire

Escape the city for the lush greenery of Tofte Manor, a 17th century estate set on 50 acres of stunning gardens in Bedfordshire countryside, for a weekend of yoga and meditation hosted by seasoned yogi Jeff Phenix.

Expect dynamic morning classes, followed by slower, more restorative afternoon flows with meditation, followed by an indulgent massage for all the zen vibes. The retreat includes two nights of accommodation and three nutritious, vegetarian meals a day.

Where: Tofte Manor, Souldrop Road, Sharnbrook, Bedford MK44 1HH

Date: 18-20 February 2022

Price: from £495 for shared accommodation

Stede Court Private Fitness Retreat

Stede Court in Kent

For those who like an intimate setting, former celebrity PT Kathryn Freeland has opened up her beautiful home to offer bespoke fitness-focused retreats for up to six people (private groups only). Start your day with circuits in the woodland or yoga on the decking by the swimming pond, followed by a long country walk or run, after which you can take a dip, laze in the hammock or unwind in the outdoor sauna (we recommend all three in that order).

Freeland also offers mindfulness and meditation sessions which she’ll weave into your own personal itinerary, and will rustle up tasty and nutritious meals that you can enjoy al fresco — you’ll be begging to take the recipes home with you.

Date: year-round availability

Price: weekend recharge retreats for two start from £1,895

Norfolk Yoga Retreat with Sarah Malcolm

The clubhouse at Fritton Lake

Yoga teacher Sarah Malcolm is gearing up to host an idyllic weekend of invigorating flows and wild dips surrounded by the tranquility of Fritton Lake in the middle of Norfolk countryside this spring.

Retreaters will bed down in luxurious rooms at the 16th Century clubhouse, complete with roaring fires and sumptuous beds, to recharge after a busy day of paddle boarding, swimming and woodland wandering. The two-mile long lake even boasts its own floating sauna for those who do brave the open water.

Date: March 4-6, 2022

Price: from £635 per person based on a shared room

The Power of CBD: OTO X The Coniston Hotel, Yorkshire

Infinity Pool Nadarra The Coniston

Set in the north Yorkshire Dales, country spa The Coniston Hotel has teamed up with CBD brand OTO for a chill-inducing spring retreat. Guests will enjoy sunrise yoga, gong baths, CBD massages, sound healing and wellness talks.

Plus, you’ll get to chill out in the estate’s shiny new Nàdarra Spa, which opened last year and features two infinity pools, infrared, Finnish and Himalayan saunas, an aromatherapy steam room and ice fountain.

Where: The Coniston Hotel Country Estate & Spa, Coniston Cold, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 4EA

Date: March 17-1, 2022

Price: from £549

Men’s Spring Equinox at Broughton Hall, Yorkshire

Broughton Hall’s Avalon Centre

Broughton Hall’s Avalon Wellness Centre is a space dedicated to retreats for healing and self-reflection with events dedicated to everything from herbalism to sound healing, forest bathing and foraging year-round. In March, ex-Leeds Rhino’s player Anthony Mullally will host a three-day Spring Equinox retreat that’s specifically designed to help men reboot and focus on themselves.

There will be breathwork sessions, cold immersion, a sweat lodge and fire temple.

Where: Avalon, Broughton Hall Estate, Skipton, Yorkshire, BD23 3AN

Dates: March 18– 21, 2022

Price: from £595 per person

The Barre Coach Retreat, Cheshire

The Barre Coach

Over in the village of Malpas, nestled in southern Cheshire countryside near the Welshe border, Gen, aka The Barre Coach, will welcome guests to three-days of barre classes in a converted barn, candle-lit stretch sessions, early morning saunas, late afternoon swims and forest walks.

Guests will stay on the 12-acre estate, where a private chef will be on hand to prepare a nourishing plant-based menu.

Date: March 22-25, 2022

Price: from £550 per person

Oxon Hoath Tai Chi and Meditation Retreat, Kent

Oxon Hoath in Kent

Looking for something a little different? Head to Oxon Hoath in Kent for a spring retreat of Tai Chi, Qigong and meditation, while enjoying the peaceful grounds of the country estate. Beginners and total newbies are welcome.

Expect to learn short sequences of slow and flowing movement, combined with breathing techniques to relax and soothe the body and mind. The retreat includes two nights of accommodation and organic meals prepared with homegrown produce.

Where: Oxon Hoath, Oxenhoath Road, Hadlow, Tonbridge TN11 9SS

Dates: May 20-22, 2022

Price: £375 per person, inclusive of all workshops, food and accommodation

The Human Method at Fair Oak Farm, Sussex

Fair Oak Farm, Sussex

Feldenkrais teacher Nahid de Belgeonne, founder of The Human Method, will host two weekends of healing at Fair Oak Farm in Sussex in 2022. Her May retreat has already sold out, but you can still snap up a spot on her autumnal weekender set on 12 acres of blissful Sussex countryside.

Spend your days practising breathwork, somatic yoga and focusing on personal development, while nestling down in your own private lodge, treehouse or cottage and feasting on a seasonal vegetarian menu made with local produce. Leave rested, refreshed and with an enhanced sense of mental clarity.

Where: Fair Oak Farm, Mayfield, Sussex

Dates: September 30–October 2, 2022

Price: £995 per person

Birch, Hertfordshire

Birch

Set in a grade II listed mansion in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, Birch is a newly opened members’ club and hotel surrounded by 55 acres of luscious greenery where you can wild forage and reconnect with nature on long walks. Just half an hour from Liverpool Street on the train, this is where London’s creatives go to rest their weary heads and recharge for a day, night, or weekend. You can create your own retreat here.

There’s an open-air lido, screening room, yoga and bootcamp classes, pottery, sourdough rituals and gong baths. Or just go to sip on margs and enjoy dreamy facials from re:lax skin studio in Hackney.

Where: Lieutenant Ellis Way, Cheshunt, Goff’s Oak, Waltham Cross EN7 5HW

Dates: open year-round

Price: Rooms from £110 a night

YogaHikes in the Lake District

yogahiking.com

Yoga Hikes arranges retreats at cosy cottages and stately homes in and around the Lake District. Retreats run Friday to Sunday and include a healthy vegetarian menu to keep you fuelled for long walks in amongst the dramatic scenery.

Guests typically begin each morning with an energising flow, before setting off for a day of hiking. After a quick pitstop for tea and homemade cakes, there’s another yoga session before dinner.

Where: various locations in the Lake District

Dates: March-November 2022

Prices: from £315

Mindful Wild Camping in Dartmoor National Park

Mindful wild camping in Dartmoor National Park

Wandering Wild hosts mindful wild camping and walking retreats in Dartmoor National Park. Expect three days of guided meditations, wild swimming, stargazing and walking among wild ponies and stone circles. Groups are kept to a maximum of seven and led by trained hill and moorland guide Henriette Lofstrom, who knows all of the sweet spots.

On arrival you’ll be supplied with a backpack containing everything you need for living under the open sky, including a private tent, sleep mat, head torch, cooking equipment and food and snacks.

Where: various locations in Dartmoor National Park

Dates: April-September 2022

Price: From £290 per person

Wild Sea Swimming in Cornwall

Wild swimming in Cornwall
St Michael’s Resort

St Michaels Resort in Falmouth will host another series of open-water swimming retreats in partnership with Swim Lab in 2022, meaning you can perfect your front crawl in turquoise Cornish waters.

Swim guru and coach Salim Ahmed will lead guided sea swims and lessons in breathing and technique. Indulge in beach yoga and coastal walks, before recovering with a treatment in the wellness spa, complete with a Cornish sea-salt steam room and outdoor barrel sauna. The three-night retreats, open to both experienced open-water swimmers and novices wishing to dip their toe in the water, will run once in the Spring and twice in the Autumn.

Where: St Michaels Resort, Gyllyngvase Beach, Falmouth TR11 4NB

Dates: 20-23 May, 22-25 September and 29 October-1 November, 2022

Price: £595 per person

Digital detox at Glass House in Essex

Glass House Retreat

Another one that’s nice and close to the capital for a quick getaway, Glass House Retreat in Essex offers all you need to detox, including a new natural outdoor swimming pond and Finnish sauna. Day and overnight spa packages include a 25-minute facial or body scrub in the Elemis spa; yoga, cardio and/or Pilates classes; vegan cooking workshop; use of the indoor heated swimming pool and Himalayan salt block sauna; as well as a mobile phone safe to ensure you have a complete digital detox.

Head chef Miguel Gouveia prepares organic plant-based dishes and alcohol and caffeine are strictly off the menu at this detox-focused retreat.

Where: The Glass House Retreat, Harrow Road, Bulphan, Orsett, Upminster RM14 3BP

Dates: year-round availability in 2022

Price: Day rates from £100 per person, overnight stays from £152.50 per person (based on two people sharing a room)

Yoga, Pilates and Mindfulness in Somerset

Our retreat

Set in a secluded farmhouse surrounded by 42 acres of serene Somerset countryside, Our Retreat hosts series of two-day luxury retreats filled with mindful yoga, Pilates, wild swimming, sound healing, wellness workshops and guided woodland walks.

Chefs will prepare a healthy plant-based menu for retreaters, with each day ending in a sociable buffet-style meal around the dinner table where guests can interact and discuss the day’s activities.

Where: 42 Acres, Holt Road, Witham Friary, Frome BA11 5HL

Dates: January-November 2022

Prices: starting from £595 per person