The Spa at Pennyhill Park

First Impressions

Pennyhill Park Hotel and Spa is set in 123 acres of beautiful Surrey countryside near Bagshot. The original house was built in 1849 and has been extended significantly - and sympathetically - since it became a hotel in 1972. It became part of the Exclusive Group of Hotels and Venues in 1981.

The Spa was built in 2003 and sits within its own 45,000 square foot wing of the hotel, blending seamlessly with the outdoor thermal areas and pool.

What's on offer?

The spa reception area is spacious and bright with statement lighting. We were warmly welcomed and handed a digital wristband for the lockers – where super-soft robes await – as well as a map to navigate all three floors of spa wonderland.

You’ll find the spa restaurant, Themis, on the left of reception, and a seating area with sofas and chairs on the right overlooking the outdoor pools. Walk down the corridor to the changing rooms which are unusually large and well-equipped with plenty of private cubicles, several benches, piles of fresh fluffy towels and robes, seven huge showers with all the heavenly-scented Comfort Zone amenities you could wish for, a double swing seat (why not?) and two round vanity areas with Dyson hairdryers and tongs. Mention must be made of the lockers which were spacious enough for our winter coat, boots and handbag; store small valuables in the drawer inside. Male guests will find a sauna in their changing rooms.

From here, head downstairs for the outdoor facilities which lie in a natural valley between the main hotel and the spa – you will have seen the pools glimmering temptingly on your way to the spa wing. Here you will find an 18-metre heated outdoor pool surrounded by loungers. There are comfortable seating areas with tables tucked between lavender beds, all protected by white parasols and sails on sunny days. In the warmer months the poolside café offers drinks, snacks or more substantial meals.

There is a very warm and bubbly indoor/outdoor hydrotherapy pool here, too, which is large enough for 15 people and three smaller hot tubs. Four large cabanas can be hired for private use for two people. Each has a copper bath, two recliners, a fridge and a butler service for those all-important top ups.

Indoors you’ll find the serene 25-metre ballroom pool with fibreoptic lighting and underwater music, a raised hot tub to one side and comfortable loungers along the windows facing the outdoor pools. Make sure you carve out enough time to experience ‘thermal heaven: 11 experience rooms including two foot-spas, a Tepidarium with nine heated beds, a dry heat sauna with floor-to-ceiling-glass walls, two fragrant circular steam rooms (one scented with rose and jasmine, the other with menthol), a warm Laconium, a gently heated, ladies’ only ‘blu room’, a hot steam room and a herbal steam room. Phew. We loved the rose-scented steam room with its dusky pink mosaic tiles and alcove-style seating. Couples can get hot and dirty (stop it) in the mud room.

Cool down in the spacious ice igloo, brave the drench bucket, drop into the deep plunge pool or try the three experience showers.

There’s also a relaxation room with a semi-circle of loungers, and a candle-lit post-treatment sensory room with six round wicker beds and a large double bed with cushions and duvets to keep you snuggly warm.

Want to work out? Use the new equipment in the large gym – which can be linked to an app for tracking progress or take a class in the studio.

Tell us about the treatments

We tried the 111Skin Black Diamond Facial (90 minutes, £280).

My therapist, Thembi, met me in the reception area and escorted me to a cosy treatment room where she explained the stages of the treatment before leaving me to snuggle down on the bed, lying face up.

I quickly learnt that this anti-ageing facial is multi-faceted with an exfoliation, three masks, (two for the face; one for the neck and decolletage), some pretty serious products from 111Skin’s Intensive collection (thought to encourage skin regeneration) and some actual diamonds in the form of Fine Diamond microspheres (to deliver retinol, glycopeptides and collagen-stimulating actives).

Thembi began the treatment with a double cleanse followed by a surgical gauze soaked in anti-oxidant essence, which she laid over my face to calm and prepare the skin for the lifting massage. Thembi warned me she would work hard on my sagging jawline using 111 Skin’s signature deep facial muscle massage techniques – and boy did she. This deep lifting massage was just this side of painful but very effective.

Thembi then used a cool Wrinkle Minimising Wand to spot combat my wrinkles with Celestial Black Diamond Contour Gel. I didn’t realise I had so many until Thembi worked around the face, focussing on the frown lines on my forehead, the smile lines around my eyes and the horrid matriarch lines that run down from my nose and sides of my mouth. This magical wizardry with the Wand was obviously much needed.

Then came the masks: one for the face, one for the neck and one for the eye area. While they worked their magic Thembi massaged my shoulders and arms. The final step was the rich Black Diamond Emulsion cream, Black Diamond Eye Cream and lip balm.

Once heart-shaped, my face has sadly succumbed to ageing and started to droop. After this treatment, I noticed a much firmer jawline and improvement to my overall face shape. The tone of my skin was much more even; those pesky wrinkles visibly reduced. This treatment - dubbed a non-surgical face lift - is certainly the closest thing this surgery-adverse Spa Spy is going to experience. It felt luxurious and made a noticeable difference to my skin - and appearance.

The Spa at Pennyhill Park offers a wide range of facials, massages, scrubs, wraps, manicures, pedicures, beauty treatments and holistic therapies from spa heroes 111 Skin and Comfort Zone. They also offer ‘recovery’ treatments for anyone dealing with cancer, make-up by Mii and nails by Jessica.

Food Facts

Themis is the large, bright café/restaurant next to the spa reception where you can feast in your robe. It serves a selection of fresh, healthy dishes whilst catering to dietary requirements. Nibbles, wraps and sandwiches all feature on the menu, alongside mains such as super food salads, Surrey charcuterie boards and poached Pollock. There’s also a tempting selection of desserts, plus afternoon teas, wine and fizz.

Our lunch was perfect for a spa day and consisted of grilled pitta bread with pots of hummus, Tzatziki and juicy olives; our hungry spa partner opted for the Surrey Benedict: two poached eggs on muffins with ham and Hollandaise sauce.

If you’re staying overnight, don’t miss dinner at the Hillfield Brasserie Bar and Restaurant. We loved the fresh palette of spring greens and whimsical woodland wallpaper; grab a seat by the window for pool views. This restaurant prides itself on being hyper-local, with everything sourced – where possible – from Surrey.

For supper, we opted for a well-seasoned rabbit terrine with some toasted sourdough and Jersey potatoes. Our spa partner tucked into a large bowl of hand-rolled pasta with mushrooms and spinach. A glass (or two) of a light French rosé proved to be the perfect pairing.

We loved / we didn't love

We loved

The amount of spa on offer: Pennyhill Park has every fire and ice experience you could wish for, plus saunas, steam rooms and Laconiums, as well as several pools. The large indoor pool even has underwater music.

The amazingly range of treatments: the focus is on top quality products delivered by very able therapists.

The very peaceful relaxation room is tucked well away from the pools and thermal area making it easy to have a post-treatment snooze.

The changing rooms facilitate a luxurious start to your spa day with plenty of space, lockers that can take your bag, coat and boots and fluffy robes, comfortable seating and even a swing seat.

We didn’t love

The unattended treatment reception desk: a sign simply suggested that we take a seat, complete consultation forms and wait to be collected.

Who do you think would like it?

Romantics: book a private cabana, call the butler to deliver a glass or two of fizz and settle down in your very own copper bath.

Water babies: there are so many pools – both in and out - to enjoy. A fan of cold water swimming? With no heating during the winter months, the outdoor pool will hit the spot.

Friends in need of a good catch up: as well as the lovely pools and thermal facilities, the spa has several small seating areas where a few friends can settle down for a good gossip without disturbing others.

Rugby fans: the English rugby team train here – you might well catch a glimpse of them during your stay.

What bubble rating did you awards this spa?

We awarded The Spa at Pennyhill Park our highest Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of 5 Bubble Luxury for its extensive water and heat facilities, excellent customer service and good range of top-notch treatments. It has everything a keen spa-goer could want (plus a little bit more).

Sybaritic Spy visited in October 2025 and awarded it 5 Bubble Luxury.