The Spa at the Manor House Hotel — Local services in Great Britain

If you’re looking for a relaxing spa experience – do NOT come here.

Overall: The marketing feels misleading, and this is not the place for anyone seeking a quiet, relaxing spa experience. If you want loud, social, Instagram-friendly vibes—maybe this is for you. But if you’re looking to unwind, I strongly recommend going elsewhere.

My girlfriend and I booked an overnight stay after seeing this place on Instagram. From the marketing, we assumed we’d have access to the beautiful outdoor “Spa Garden” shown on their social media. Only after receiving the booking confirmation did we see a note saying hotel guests have to pay extra to use it. This wasn’t made clear before booking, and we were disappointed to learn that access for hotel guests is limited to the indoor pool, sauna, and steam room.

Still, we decided to go ahead to relax. The evening before our stay (around 6pm), we received an email saying the indoor pool was closed for maintenance but that everything else was open. They offered to let us reschedule, but when we tried calling, using live chat, and emailing—no one responded. We spent the evening stressed, unsure what facilities would actually be open, especially since we couldn’t use the Spa Garden.

When we arrived, reception informed us that not only the pool but also the indoor sauna and steam were closed—but we’d be given access to the Spa Garden instead, plus two extra hours of access on our departure day as an apology. Unfortunately, we hadn’t planned time for the extension and couldn’t use it. It would’ve been helpful if they’d told us this in the email. Still, we didn’t complain since at least we could use the Spa Garden.

However, the experience was far from relaxing. The maintenance didn’t seem “urgent” as claimed—it looked like planned cosmetic work. The Spa Garden itself was noisy, with a swim-up bar full of people drinking and shouting. We felt uncomfortable from the moment we walked in—people were openly staring at us, and it was cold outside, so we rushed to find warmth in the saunas and steam rooms.

Leaving robes outside meant we were freezing when getting out, scrambling to find them among dozens of others. Later we found a “meditation room,” but it was just a cabin with beds, headphones, and a QR code for a phone-based meditation track. The headphones didn’t even work unless you had an aux input.

Everywhere we went, we could hear people laughing, yelling, and drinking in the pool. One drunk man even came into the sauna, talking loudly, laughing, and trying to start conversations with everyone. He later wandered into the meditation room, interrupting again. It felt more like a pool party than a spa. It clearly encourages a social media atmosphere rather than tranquility.

We didn’t use the pool because it was full of people sitting around drinking rather than swimming. That evening, we had dinner at The Stables restaurant, which was also disappointing: prawns hadn’t been deveined, food was lukewarm despite hot plates, and my girlfriend’s lamb was chewy and undercooked. Breakfast was fine—basic pastries and a hot meal option—but nothing special.

We left feeling completely unrelaxed and uncomfortable. I’ve never felt self-conscious at a spa before, but here, with people constantly staring and the loud, boozy atmosphere, it was impossible to unwind. The next morning we tried again to use the spa, but it was the same—loud, crowded, and full of people drinking. We went in the sauna and it was CRAMMED with people and the noise was insane. It was basically 15 people all talking and laughing at once. We only lasted about an hour before leaving.

Later, we checked the website again and noticed it describes itself as a “social spa”—a term we’d never heard before. Apparently, it’s meant to be a place to socialize while using spa facilities. That might suit some people, but it’s not what we expected or wanted. We’re in our early thirties and usually enjoy spas with a calm, mixed-age crowd. Most guests here were under 30, and the whole vibe was more party than...

Very disappointing experience.

I visited Manor House Spa with my partner and sadly left extremely disappointed. As someone who works in the spa industry and has visited many spas worldwide, this experience fell far below expectations for what is advertised as a luxury spa.

Main issues:

Poor communication: Notified less than 24 hours before our visit that the indoor spa facilities were closed for maintenance. This kind of work is clearly planned in advance and should have been communicated much earlier.

No realistic option to reschedule: We were told we could rearrange, but despite calling several times, sending emails, and trying the live chat, no one responded promptly. This made the “option” to reschedule impossible to use.

Unhelpful gesture for inconvenience: Offered two extra hours of spa use to make up for the closure — but since we travelled nearly three hours, staying longer wasn’t an option.

Loud and not relaxing: The spa was far from peaceful. Noise from the swim-up bar completely overpowered the gentle music in the outdoor saunas and steam rooms. A drunk guest even interrupted our time there. Staff made no effort to manage noise or behaviour.

Overcrowded facilities: Both swim-up pool bars were small and overcrowded, with most guests congregating there. The layout concentrates noise in one area, ruining the atmosphere for those wanting to relax.

Lack of guest management: Other spas I’ve worked at limit guest numbers to reduce overcrowding, encourage proper spa etiquette, and ensure guests can truly relax. Manor House Spa should strongly consider adopting this approach.

Misleading booking information: The Garden Spa, the main part of the spa, is not included for overnight guests — something that is very misleading based on how it’s presented online.

Restaurant disappointment:

Food looked nicely presented but lacked flavour and quality. The “medium-rare” lamb was chewy. Prawns were mushy and tasted unfresh — not what you’d expect from a luxury spa restaurant. Food was served on hot plates, but the dishes themselves weren’t actually hot.

Facilities not as advertised: One area was listed as having underfloor heating, but the floors were cold and slippery — a basic health and safety concern.

Meditation summerhouse outdated: The guided meditation experience used AUX-only headphones, which most modern phones no longer support. The meditation could easily be played through speakers instead to encourage guests to actually switch off from phones. This experience was also disrupted by the same drunk guest.

Overall:

Poor communication, overcrowding, lack of guest supervision, disappointing food, and misleading facility descriptions.

For the price and reputation, this was the least relaxing spa experience I’ve ever had.

I would not return or recommend it — especially in the evening, when alcohol and noise levels completely ruin...

A Quintessential Countryside Retreat

The Spa at The Manor House is a truly idyllic escape, set in the heart of the quintessentially picturesque English countryside. From the moment you arrive, you’re greeted with sweeping views of rolling fields, charming gardens, and an atmosphere of pure tranquillity.

The outdoor facilities are nothing short of spectacular. There are four heated pools, each offering something special – from soothing hot tubs to jacuzzi-style bubble areas that melt away tension. The outdoor setting is dotted with swinging beds, hammocks and comfortable seating, making it the perfect place to relax between dips. No bed holding so we can all enjoy!

The spa continues to impress with four steam rooms and four saunas, including two unique saunas featuring a delightful herb gardens, secret gardens and outside views – a quirky, memorable touch that adds a bit of personality to the experience.

Whether you’re soaking in warm, bubbling water under the open sky or enjoying the quiet hum of the saunas, every element feels designed for unhurried relaxation.

Points for Improvement: While the experience was outstanding, there are a few areas that could elevate it further. Drink prices should be consistent with what’s advertised, and the lunch menu could benefit from more variety. Additionally, for guests enjoying an overnight stay, spa access arrangements could be improved to allow for a more seamless and extended experience. The word is to book via spa breaks!

Overall, The Spa at The Manor House is a gem – a blissful countryside sanctuary with world-class facilities. A little fine-tuning on the service side would make it...