The Spa at Carden

First Impressions

You’ll find Carden Park at the end of a mile-long winding driveway; follow a lazy river through 1,000 acres of countryside and a well-manicured golf course until the property gently appears in the distance.

The two-storey Spa at Carden is housed in its own modern detached building to the right of the hotel. It opened in January 2020 and has received much acclaim since.

What's on offer?

Enter the striking glass and wood spa building into a large, high-ceilinged lobby and reception area. Dramatic pendant lights hang over a water fountain and behind the reception desk; the entire wall is covered in rich, green living moss.

Friendly receptionists greeted us, gave us health forms to fill in on iPads and escorted us on a tour of the spa. You’ll find the spacious changing rooms on the first floor. Textured walls, duck-egg blue lockers with wood trim, and eight shiny vanity stations with large mirrors await. Strategically placed low seating provides space to perch while changing; there are four private changing rooms, too.

The vanity areas are well stocked with Oskia cleanser, toner and moisturiser, as well as cotton wool, hairdryers and tongs. Pyramids of rolled towels sit on several shelves; help yourself. Robes, flip-flops and a handy shoulder bag can be found in each wristband-operated locker; showers are roomy and stocked with Carden Park’s own brand of Yuzu shampoo, conditioner and body wash.

The thermal suite is located on the ground floor - arrive via the lift or wind your way down a spiral staircase wrapping around another magnificent pendant light with white petals and butterflies. You can access the 15 treatment rooms, three Relaxation Lounges and spa facilities from here.

The star of the indoor facilities is the 11-metre pool with its bubble seating, two swan pipes and body jets. Through yet more glass, the spa brings the outside in at all opportunities and gives a wonderful feeling of expanse. Bubble away or relax on one of 10 loungers or four heated beds while gazing out at the spa garden.

Beyond the pool is the hot, dry Finnish sauna and a less intense bio sauna, both seating 8-10 spa-goers. Cool down under one of two experience showers afterwards, with overhead and high-pressure side jets, before warming up again in one of three steam rooms. We loved the beautiful blue and brown mosaic tiling of the tepidarium - press your individual button by your side for a refreshing mist.

The spa garden is vast with a lot to experience, including (wait for it...) a heated outdoor 11-metre pool with self-activated bubbles, massage cages and swan neck showers; three square chrome hot tubs, each seating eight to ten; a firepit with covered seating for ten; and an outdoor herbal lounge seating eight - a favourite of ours – with comfy cushioned pads on wooden seating.

Thirsty? Press the button on the table for drinks and await helpful staff to take your order; and five oval glass pods where six people can sit on comfy soft seats and admire the views. At the centre sits a large oval Bollinger Garden Bar serving a range of hot and cold drinks and, of course, Champagne.

The Spa at Carden boasts three relaxation rooms - panoramic is a pre-treatment room with glass walls overlooking the fields, designed with calming soft greys and blues; lie back on big soft chairs and help yourself to water. A video screen dominates one entire wall in Sensory which, on our visit, was scenes of rolling waves - settle into oversized chairs with a snuggly blanket and let the sound of the waves wash over you. A fire flickers and crackles invitingly in the subdued lighting of the Deep Relaxation Room where you can slumber on wave loungers under a warm blanket, privacy curtains separate each lounger.

If this wasn’t enough, there’s a Bollinger Beauty Bar on the first floor for manis/ pedis and finishing treatments, as well as a Mesoboost Clinical Facial. If you fancy a work-out, visit the well-equipped gym and a fitness studio located in the hotel across from the spa.

Tell us about the treatments

We tried Whispers of the Rainforest (95 minutes, £190).

Claire, my therapist, greeted me in the relaxation room and took me to the treatment room. Here she explained the treatment - listed as a ‘unique sensory Amazonian spa treatment’ (certainly new to this Spa Spy) and invited me to disrobe and lie face down on the bed.

After making sure I was comfortable, Claire commenced the treatment with a soothing foot cleanse using warm cloths before introducing rain sticks: hollow bamboo tubes with beads inside which create a gentle rhythmic sound. Claire began shaking the rain sticks near my head which was very relaxing, then used the sticks to tap across my back and down my legs.

Claire then began the back massage with big sweeping strokes. This is the perfect massage for anyone who dislikes massages or feels too tense to let go; this flowing massage warms the muscles to ease tension and restore balance. She worked down my legs to my feet, leaving me feeling so warm and relaxed that I began to drift off.

Claire gently woke me when it was time to turn over, lifting and moving my arms so that she could massage down from the elbows to the shoulder joints. She then repeated this process on the legs.

The facial element began – cleanse, tone, exfoliation and a cooling mask – and while that worked, Claire worked on my feet (again). I had opted out of the usual head and scalp massage and asked for extra time on my feet.

Mask removed, Claire applied a serum, moisturiser and SPF50 sunscreen. She then led me back to the deep relaxation room, settled me on a comfortable bed with a blanket and a lovely, icy smoothie.

The Spa at Carden offers a wide range of treatments by Germaine de Capuccini and Oskia including facials, massages, eye treatments and Margaret Dabbs hand and foot treatments, as well as a range of beauty treatments. There are also treatments for mums-to-be and those living with, or recovering from cancer, using Made For Life Organics.

Food Facts

Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the Elements Spa Restaurant with light; on a sunny day, there’s an outdoor terrace for alfresco dining. Guests can eat in their robes, and we felt very comfortable doing so.

The menu is varied with a fantastic selection of salads, sandwiches and wraps; there are brunch and afternoon tea options, too, as well as a good selection of puddings. The drinks menu includes English sparkling wine made from the grapes grown in the local vineyard.

For lunch, we opted for a crisp and crunchy Caesar salad with poached hen’s egg and some warm grilled salmon; our spa partner: wild mushrooms on sourdough toast served with poached hen’s egg, rocket leaves and a mustard seed dressing. We also shared some salt and pepper chips. We resisted dessert, despite the temptation of Matcha Crème Brulé with raspberry sorbet and sesame tulle spoke to me.

For our evening meal we were invited to start in Goldie’s Lounge for a selection of Chef’s snacks which we munched whilst browsing the menu of the 3 AA Rosette The Vines.

The tasting menu looked wonderful but, after a delicious lunch, we plumped for the à la carte section. For starter we chose the lightly smoked and tender duck breast; our spa partner: lobster ravioli with dashi, tomato and Shimeji mushrooms with a thermidor sauce.

For mains, we both chose the Beef Wellington with bordelaise sauce and a side dish of broccoli, salsify, mushrooms and pea puree. Arriving by trolley, the Wellington was carved in front of us, revealing the wonderfully pink and tender beef inside the pastry shell. A glass each of red was the perfect accompaniment.

We loved / we didn't love

We loved

The vast facilities: there are pools and heat experiences aplenty, so you can spend all day moving from one to another. Or just lie back and chill.

The gentle service: there are spa butlers and assistants galore to tend to your every whim, but they do so softly. Look lost and someone is there to guide you; look damp and a clean towel or robe will appear.

The spa garden: even when it’s cold and rainy you can warm up in one of the hot tubs or pools and then snuggle down in a pod or the herbal lounge.

We didn’t love

The absence of side tables in the relaxation room: I had to put my glass of water on the floor next to the bed.

Who do you think would like it?

Anyone with an excuse to celebrate: book the Bollinger Experience and head for the luxury garden pod with a glass of Bolly in hand. End your day at The Vines restaurant for a truly celebratory meal.

Outdoor types: there is plenty of space in the grounds for long walks or you could spend all day in the spa garden hopping from hydrotherapy pool to the hot tub, from fire pit to the warm herbal lounge.

Those needing to decompress from a busy life: here is calmness; careful service to make you feel well looked after and space to just rest and relax.

What bubble rating did you award this spa?

Once again, we awarded The Spa at Carden a Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of Five Bubble Luxury. The Spa at Carden has fantastic facilities, divine dining, enviable eco credentials and superb service. We did not want to leave.

Sybaritic Spy visited in November 2025 and awarded it 5 Bubble Luxury