Rudding Park Spa

First Impressions

Rudding Park is a grand Georgian property with immaculate gardens. The Roof Top Spa and Garden is a separate building across the courtyard garden - after parking in the spa's dedicated car park, follow the path lined with rhododendrons to the contemporary building with glass double doors.

What's on offer?

Three floors of spa heaven that’s what. On the ground floor: the spa reception, changing rooms, swimming pool - you’ll also find a touch screen map on the wall. Take the glass staircase (or the lift) down to the Escape Zone, a serene space for guests having a treatment, or up to the thermal facilities and rooftop garden.

The reception area is light and bright, with high ceilings. Here you’ll find a boutique, 'Retail Therapy' selling a tempting range of beauty products, home, travel and gift items. The hair studio is here, too should you fancy a blow dry after your spa day.

The changing rooms are spacious and L-shaped, with large lockers containing fluffy stone-hued robes, flip-flops and dark grey towels. Change beside leather benches or nip into one of four private changing rooms.

Shampoo, conditioner and shower gel is provided, and you can make good use of the large, mirrored vanity area with Cloud Nine hairdryers and straighteners, as well as Rudding Park cleanser, moisturiser and toner. All you need is your swimwear.

The 17-metre indoor swimming pool is large enough for some serious swimming, with loungers along one side. This area can also be used by members. Children are welcome to use the pool during family swim times; check the website for information. There is a large juniper log sauna overlooking the gardens which is roomy enough for 12 people. Cool down under the bucket shower afterwards.

The Roof Top Spa is available for spa day guests and members: hotel guests can pay to upgrade. Begin your thermal journey with a foot spa: sit on warm seats and select cool or warm water, followed by jets that massage the feet. There are several steam rooms to try, ranging from moderate to hot. The ‘luxury’ steam room is circular with a domed ceiling filled with twinkly lights. Individual ‘thrones’ are marked out in white mosaic tiles on the navy-tiled bench; water hoses allow you to trickle cool water on your feet. This is probably the grandest steam room this Spa Spy has seen on her travels.

Try the Sunlight Therapy room where you can lie back and ‘bathe’ in sunlight to boost your vitamin D levels or sit on a stool in the Oxygen Pod (our ordinary atmosphere has 21 per cent oxygen, but here it’s 27 per cent) - this feels like a stroll at the seaside and would be especially refreshing if you had overindulged the night before.

Allow plenty of time to enjoy the Roof Top Garden, including the views and the stylish loungers with umbrellas set out among the fragrant salvia. Call an attendant – or order via barcode - for a glass of fizz to sip in the sunshine. We could have spent all afternoon in the bubbly 11-metre hydrotherapy infinity pool, with its warm water and powerful jets, and the hot Panoramic sauna with its wooden and glass exterior. We joined one of the free group sessions here with the fabulous award winning Aufguss master, Jenna who combines essential oils, ice, water music and a towel twirling technique to create a multi-sensory ritual to raise endorphins - and leave you feeling rather hot.

There is another sauna out on the rooftop with two Brass Monkey Ice Baths alongside it - warm up in the sauna, nip out to dunk in the cold water (5 degrees has never felt so cold) and then scoot back to the sauna.

Screens of plants divide seating areas; groups can hire a private cabana near the hydrotherapy pool which has a fire pit. Beyond here, you’ll find the secluded Woodland Spring Bathing Area where you can immerse yourself in the chemical-free heated spring water, sip Champagne and listen to nothing but birdsong.

Need some quiet relaxation? The tranquillity area has heated loungers and headphones. Tucked away behind the tranquillity area is yet another garden.

The quiet Escape Zone and treatment rooms are two floors down. The Escape Zones are quirkily - but descriptively - named: try ‘Mind’ for mind-stimulating games, ‘Audio’ for headsets playing meditative tracks, ‘Visual’ for a huge screen showing restful, colourful images. Our favourite was ‘Sleep’ which has huge comfy recliners and a ‘starry, starry night’ ceiling, plus gentle music to lull you.

Tell us about the treatments

We tried the Signature Treatment (120 minutes, £276).

My therapist, Hannah, collected me from the vibrant treatment waiting area surrounded by healthy green plants and guided me down the corridor to a spacious treatment room. Seated on a corner chair for the consultation, Hannah ask if I’d want to feel relaxed or energised after the treatment – I opted for the latter - Hannah explained she would tailor the experience to combine a full-body exfoliation, a back massage and glow-boosting facial. Whilst I got comfortable on the treatment bed, Hannah whisked away my damp cosy for it to be dried – a nice touch.

Lying face up, Hannah applied warm Elemis frangipani oil to my right arm and leg; a frangipani scrub followed which was gently removed using warm mitts before the oil was re-applied. Hannah repeated the sequence on my left side before asking me to turn over.

Every inch of the back of my body received the same loving attention. With skin silky-smooth, it was time for the back massage. Hannah worked methodically to melt away tension, targeting the familiar knots that tend to settle into my shoulders and upper back.

Turning back over, the facial consisted of a beautiful sequence of cleanse, tone and exfoliate, followed by a drift-off-inducing facial massage and cooling gua sha routine to sculpt and lift the skin. A soft, rubbery setting mask was then applied; the scalp massage that ensued had me close to sleep. Once the mask was removed, the facial finished with toning essence, serum and moisturiser, leaving my skin luminous - and my mind blissfully calm.

A gentle chime indicated the end of the treatment; Hannah showed me to Mind Zone to find my spa partner sunk into a chair: we compared notes whilst tucking into our frozen grapes.

We also tried The Rasul, offering something delightfully social yet equally restorative (ideal for up to four pals). From the private changing and shower area, we stepped into the steam-filled chamber complete with four heated stone seats and three bowls waiting to be explored: face mud, body mud and a refreshing mint scrub. First, we applied layers of warm mineral-rich mud to our face and body. The steam then increased, drying the mud to draw out impurities. Just as the warmth peaked, a soft rainfall shower cascaded from the ceiling. The final stage: an invigorating body scrub to buff our skin smooth.

Rudding Park Spa offers a menu of facials, massages and other body treatments using Elemis products, as well as treatments for mums-to-be, post cancer treatments from Jennifer Young and bathing rituals. Finishing touches include manicures and pedicures from local brand Navy.

Food Facts

A two-course lunch is served in Horto, the contemporary café overlooking the gardens with floor-to-ceiling windows, a warm palette of emerald greens and mustards, and a south-facing terrace - perfect for some fresh air and a refreshing drink in the sunshine.

To start, we shared freshly baked focaccia and perfectly blistered Padrón peppers, lightly salted and ideal for grazing whilst browsing the menu. For mains, we tried the waitress-recommended smashed beef burger served with golden skin-on fries – indulgent yet oh so satisfying. Our spa partner opted for the crispy duck salad.

Later that evening, we dined in the Clocktower Brasserie where the mood shifts to classic, relaxed elegance. Our starters included slices of house sourdough followed by a generous shared fish platter (think smoked salmon, garlic lemon squid, peppered mackerel, lemon and dill prawns and potted shrimps). For mains, we couldn’t fault the salmon en croute; while our spa partner’s rich, slow-cooked beef cheek bourguignon delivered hearty, melt-in-the-mouth comfort.

A decadent Black Forest chocolate mousse and a perfectly sharp-yet-sweet lemon tart were the perfect dishes to finish our meal.

We loved / we didn't love

We loved 

The high level of service: warm, intuitive and genuinely attentive, we felt cared for from arrival to departure.

The Aufguss session: an expertly-led performance of rolling heat and essential oils transformed a simple sauna visit into a memorable experience.

The variety of experiences on offer: there is so much to explore beyond the pools and thermal experiences, including a sun light therapy room, oxygen pod and sleep rooms.

We didn't love 

Staying for only one night - this is a destination that begs for a longer visit.

Who do you think would like it?

Couples: over half the guests on our visit were couples enjoying time together.

Peace and quiet seekers: this is a large spa with several quiet spots where you can curl up with a good book.

Treatment aficionados: skilled therapists deliver carefully personalised, top-quality treatments.

What bubble rating did you give this spa?

Time and time again, we award Rudding Park Spa a coveted Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of Five Bubble Luxury for the excellent customer service, variety of facilities and tasty food. This year was no exception.

Serene Spy visited in November 2025 and awarded it 5 Bubble Luxury.