Review: Eden Hall Day Spa, Nottinghamshire – 2026
On a grey January day, we stepped out of the car with rain drizzling down upon us and feeling like we both really needed this. Eden Spa looked pretty even with the dreary weather. As we entered the beautiful foyer, I felt instantly calmer and excited for what was to come as we were given a welcome drink of sour cherry. The foyer was warm and welcoming with soft music playing.
Despite the fact that Eden Hall Spa (which is part of Barons Eden) isn’t very far away from me in Nottinghamshire, and seemingly everyone I know has been, I had never been before, so I was very excited for an entire day of relaxing and rejuvenating with my husband.
I never really relax at home or take any time out to sit and read or watch TV, unless it’s in the evening, and I really do need this downtime, especially in the cold, dark winter months.
The lady who welcomed us was incredibly warm and friendly – and, in fact, all staff members were throughout our day.
She gave us a map of the building, confirmed times of any treatments (just one for me, ha ha ha) and our lunch, handed us our bracelets that we would use to pay for anything throughout the day as well as use to control our lockers, and off we went to our respectful changing rooms.
The changing rooms are huge with loads of lockers, all containing a fresh towel and robe for you, plus plenty of showers, cubicles, and a big open space with hairdryers and a huge mirror.
I love how wherever you are in the building the atmosphere is calm and serene and I sort of felt like I was entering an alternate universe as I entered the changing rooms; a universe where I didn’t have to think about doing my tax return or taking the dog out for a wee.
Purity Spa Day
We were booked in for the Purity Spa Day which gives you full spa access from 9am until 6pm, a three-course lunch and access to the wellness suite, classes and outdoor activities.
There are loads of classes you can take part in, whether you fancy doing a fitness class, a relaxing yoga session or even a sound bath or meditation. I would have loved to do one of the more relaxing classes and I definitely would next time, but they didn’t fit in with my (very busy – ha!) schedule this time.
The treatments
I decided to add a massage to my spa day as my husband had bought me one for my 40th birthday last year and he’d never got round to arranging it, so this was the perfect opportunity for it.
There are lots of lovely treatments available in the peaceful treatment rooms using world-renowned brands Elemis, VOYA and Grown Alchemist – either to add on or included as part of a Serenity Spa Day. I don’t think you need to have a treatment – you can have an entirely relaxing and enjoyable day without one, but if it’s a special occasion or you just want to treat yourself or someone else, then the Serenity package is the ideal choice as you get a treatment included.
I went for an Elemis Expert Deep Tissue Tension-ease Massage as I always have so much tension in my neck and shoulders and because I like it hard – I adore the feeling of them finding a knot and then it being massaged out of me. My massage therapist was so lovely and made me feel totally at ease during my 60-minute treatment, and oh my word my full body massage was amazing.
It was definitely painful in parts, particularly on my legs, but that is exactly what I wanted – and my therapist made sure that I should tell her if the pressure was ever too much.
I struggle to switch off at the best of times, and for a while, my mind did wander a little, but I kept trying to bring myself back into the moment to fully enjoy the massage and I really did properly relax after a while and I could have fallen asleep – but I wanted to stay awake to enjoy it!
Afterwards, I felt very sleepy and zen, with a smooth and silky body. That and the warmth of all the rooms, the chilled music and wandering around in my robe and flip-flops just made it feel so comforting and cosy.
I had a little wander around the spa boutique and then found my husband by the pool, where we put down our phones, picked up our books and actually read a decent amount for the first time in a long time! Then it was time to take a leisurely stroll up to the restaurant for our lunch.
Lunch at Taste of Eden
Taste of Eden Restaurant is made up of lots of lovely smaller dining rooms in a more traditional part of the building, with lofty vaulted ceilings, looking over the beautiful gardens, which is really nice, and we enjoyed our three-course lunch. I joined lots of other diners remaining in my robe for the meal which just added to the feeling of being transported elsewhere for the day.
I went for the belly pork, apple and watercress salad, which I did find a little heavy for lunch and it could have done with more apple and sauce but Paul’s mackerel, celeriac rémoulade, and mustard and herb dressing was really tasty.
I went for a lighter main course and really enjoyed the ginger and sweet chilli glazed salmon, Asian slaw and crispy noodles – it was nice and fresh and perfect for lunchtime. Paul chose the slow-cooked beef with a herb mash and honey-glazed carrots which was nice but quite rich for lunch.
We were pleased to see a cheeseboard included on the menu and Paul went for that whilst I had the chocolate and Bailey’s cheesecake with vanilla cream – I don’t really have much of a sweet tooth anymore and I rarely choose a chocolate pudding but this was SO good. The Baileys cut through the sweetness, the vanilla cream went perfectly with it, and I just devoured it.
After a three-course meal and a glass of white wine each we were feeling very sleepy, so we headed back to the indoor pool area for a bit – I read my book feeling very relaxed, and Paul was so relaxed and fell asleep! I did have to wake him up after a while though as he started snoring (story of my life)!
A lazy afternoon swimming, sauna-ing and hot-tub-ing
When we were sufficiently rested we made the most of the extensive facilities at Eden Spa. Paul had been raving about the hydrotherapy pool where he had spent most of the morning so we went there first.
The spa garden
The Spa garden is such a beautiful area, with loads of outdoor seating and beds, a hydrotherapy pool, and a fire pit, and it’s such a pretty area to enjoy, and particularly gorgeous once the sun has gone down. It would be an amazing space to relax in the summer with a drink and a good book.
Outdoor hydrotherapy pool
This beautiful outdoor pool has built-in massage jets and water features to offer water therapy to boost wellness. It’s really lovely and warm and feels so good stepping into it from the cold winter air around it. We did hear someone mention that it’s usually hotter but it still felt nice and warm enough to stay in for a while.
We loved trying out the different areas of jets, with areas for standing, sitting and lying down to experience the jets of water all over your body.
The two water cannons weren’t on whilst we were there, and the massage jets aren’t on constantly and they seemed to come on at slightly random intervals which was a shame. At one point there were lots of us just waiting to experience the jets and it felt like a long time before they came on, with lots of people giving up and getting out. They aren’t on for ages either so I would love for that to change and for them to make it clear when they will be on and for how long so you can get the most out of them – say they’re on every 15 minutes for 15 minutes, for example. I think that would work really well.
In this outdoor area, there’s also a sauna which was great to chill in and sweat out some toxins, as well as a Reflect and Relax room which I poked my head into. This relaxation room is SUCH a lovely, calm space – beds with sheer curtains between them and dimmed lighting make it such a soothing place and I would have spent some time there if I’d wanted to lie down some more.
Indoor pool, outdoor hot tubs, and the Thermal Spa Suite
We had a great time checking out the different spa areas, swimming in the indoor pool, wandering in and out of the multiple different saunas and steam rooms and then shocking our bodies with the cold water shower – I did have to force Paul into that one! We made sure to try them all, including the lovely rose-infused steam room, the herbal caldarium and the salt inhalation room, as well as the outdoor hot tubs, and then we did it all again!
It felt so lovely doing our bodies good whilst relaxing, and we swam lots too so I really felt like I was nourishing my body in a way that it really needed after months of cold, dark weather and central heating.
Unsurprisingly, we didn’t use the gym but it looked really good and if you can make yourself do a workout then you could head to the slumber room nearby afterwards. I wanted to make sure I’d seen all areas of the spa, so I popped my head in here to have a look at the end of the day and it made me wish I’d taken some time to have a snooze in there or just do more reading. The Slumber Lounge is filled with individual reclining beds, hanging pods as well as full-on double beds, with calming music and low lighting for total relaxation.
Overall thoughts
The whole place is designed to help you restore and relax, and I love how tranquil it feels from the moment you enter. The facilities are great and the staff go out of their way to provide you with what you need – nothing is too much trouble for them and the excellent customer service really makes a difference to how at ease you feel throughout the day. My massage was amazing and the therapist so friendly and skilled.
There are so many places to just sit and relax, from the upstairs Conservatory, the Vinery brasserie in the Spa Garden, or the many outdoor seating areas. We loved the contrast of the cold on our skin against the heat of the hydrotherapy pool or the hot tubs when outside, but it would also be amazing to visit in the summer.
We didn’t wander around the grounds as it was freezing and raining most of the day, but it would be lovely in nicer weather to wander the pretty grounds and maybe sit with a cocktail at The Shepherd’s Hut which is open in nicer weather. The new Spa Garden seating area is beautiful as is the area outside of the conservatory.
We had such a wonderful day; it was a proper luxurious treat after the chaos of the festive season, A’s birthday and just general life in a long, dark January and we would love to do it all again.
A spa day at Eden Spa is not cheap, but it is a real treat, and it was so nice to make the most of a full day there, knowing we had hours to just enjoy the facilities and not worry about anything.
It would be a great place to go for a smaller, calmer hen do or to treat someone for a special occasion.
As I lay by the pool in my robe, basking in my newfound freedom, I started thinking about going to their sister spa – Hoar Cross Hall in Staffordshire, which is a hotel too – and how wonderful it would be to spend a night there on top of the amazing spa day. Next time maybe!
We had a wonderful, blissful day at Eden Hall Day Spa and left feeling refreshed and restored. This award-winning day spa retreat is the perfect place for a winter pick-me-up.
We were invited for a day at Eden Spa, but all words and opinions are my own and I paid for my massage. See my full disclosure policy here.
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