Spa Snapshot
About an hour by train from central London, the Beaverbrook estate unfolds like a myth come to life. The drive from the station winds through gold-tipped grasses and rolling hills before revealing a grand mansion once called home by Winston Churchill. It’s the kind of surreal grandeur you’d expect from another era, preserved and reimagined for today’s sybaritic traveler.
Tucked beside the palatial house where Churchill and other high-profile guests once stayed, The Coach House Spa is a revelation. Just when you think the manor itself is unbeatable, this wellness sanctuary steals the show, one treatment and amenity at a time.
Design & Character
The entry is whimsical: A-frame ceilings, jewel-toned mosaic windows, and a green-tiled reception desk set the stage. Renowned British designer Brian Clarke created the atriums and tilework as an ode to the surrounding ancient woodlands. His artistry dazzles—vivid blues, greens, and reds shimmer across the lobby, while hand-painted leafy panels glow overhead.
A river-like installation runs along the walkways, its trickling sounds blending with faint birdsong. The result is what Germans call Gesamtkunstwerk: art that embraces everything in space, and makes the space itself a work of art. Gone is the beige minimalism of most spas; here, color and calmness exist in perfect harmony.
The Treatment Breakdown
Lino, the lead therapist, is like listening to a meditation podcast in human form. I booked the Meadow Hut therapy, which begins with a seasonal tea (mine was mint-basil) and a traditional foot wash. A short path behind the main house leads to the hut—a fairylike space surrounded by butterflies, woodpeckers, and bees.
The treatment itself was transportive. Lino methodically worked into muscles I didn’t even realize needed attention, guiding me into a deep, meditative state. The finale was a sound-bathing ritual. Gonnnggggg—the Tibetan bell reverberated as my body felt weightless, time slipping away. Whisper-light chimes eventually stirred me awake, as if from another dimension.
Moral of the story: book the Meadow Hut Signature and ask for Lino. Or, if 90 minutes won’t cut it, opt for the three-hour Sensorial Signature. Who knows, you might just reach a fifth dimension.
Wellness Amenities
Locker rooms are spacious, with secure storage, plush towel robes, and slippers. After your treatment, freshen up with showers, hair dryers, and all the essentials before re-entering reality.
And then there are the swimming pools. Along the hallway leading outside, a brief history of the lido features Roger Deakin’s famous line: “Lidos are to swimming pools as lingerie is to underwear.” Inspired by the Venetian practice of 1930s open-air swimming, The Coach House embraces this spirit, reinterpreting it through a lens of health, leisure, and sun-soaked style.
A checkerboard pool framed by navy chaise lounges sets the scene. Guests sip spritzes, teas, and poolside cocktails, embodying Beaverbrook’s chic reimagining of what lido lounging was always meant to be.
Fast Facts
Location: Surrey Hills, England
Atmosphere: Whimsical yet restorative, with stained-glass windows, woodland-inspired design, and a fairytale-like setting.
Price Point: $$$$
Amenities: Locker rooms with full facilities, outdoor checkerboard pool and lido, jacuzzis, ice baths, relaxation corners, and a café.
Our Favorite Thing About the Spa: The colorful, Brian Clarke-designed passageway to the pre-and-post treatment lounge.
Recommended Treatments: The Meadow Hut Signature with Lino (90 minutes); for a deeper reset, the Sensorial Signature (180 minutes). Full moon circles, vitamin infusions, sound-bathing sessions, and naturopathic therapies are also available.
Anything Else? Book well in advance. Between the design, the treatments, and the outdoor lido, The Coach House Spa has become a destination in its own right.
