I visited a luxury spa hotel in Buxton for a weekend of relaxation and pampering and left rejuvenated and revitalised.
The Buxton Crescent Ensana Health Spa Hotel is breath taking, when I drove around the corner and saw the Crescent in front of me, I was awe struck.
The interior is equally as stunning, and I was raring to check in.
My room was bigger than my London flat and absolutely gorgeous – the highlight for me was the huge four poster bed which was bigger than any bed I’ve ever seen before.
Another amazing and unique thing I loved about the suite was the enormous bath right next to the window so can look out at the gardens next to the hotel as you bathe and relax.
One of my favourite touches at this hotel was that when we arrived, the hotel televisions had been set to have roasting fireplaces on them making it feel cosy and welcoming.
Each room had an ornate, glass chandelier as well which made me feel like a celebrity as I dumped my case and collapsed on the sofa.
But I quickly got myself changed into my swimming costume and robe to head down to the main event – the spa.
I can confidently say that I have never set foot in a spa as jaw-dropping as the one at Buxton Crescent Ensana Health Spa Hotel – it has literally everything you could possibly ask for.
Before I started exploring though, I had chosen to have a hot stone massage.
Something I really loved here was that you were asked to wait in the relaxation room before you were collected for your treatment.
The room was dimly lit and warm with incense burning and cushioned beds for you to lounge on as you wait.
My masseuse then came in and said hello before taking me to my treatment room.
I hopped onto the massage table which was I was pleasantly surprised to find was heated, I could honestly have fallen asleep I was so comfy.
The hot stone massage was heavenly, with hot stones being used to massage your back, neck, arms, legs and chest to ease any tension and soothe your muscles.
As it happened, time drifted away from me and I felt more relaxed than I have in a very long time.
When it was over, I headed to the spa to explore.
I started at the indoor-outdoor pool which was potentially my favourite feature of the spa.
It was an indoor and outdoor pool with a door linking the two so you can swim I and out as you please.
Even though it’s winter, it did not feel cold at all, the water was warm and it was a really fun experience to see steam coming off of the water as I overlooked Buxton, especially when the sun is starting to go down.
There were even little jacuzzies around the pool for anyone wanting to sit and chat instead of swimming.
The rest of the spa was downstairs, underneath the hotel.
Staff ask guests to leave valuables in their rooms and head down already in their swim stuff and dressing gowns and it was really nice to spend some time with no phones in sight to properly unwind.
The spa offers multiple different types of sauna, an aroma room, a steam room and various thermal pools amongst so many other things.
Personally, I love a steam room and I was not disappointed – the room was massive as well so there was no likelihood of not getting a seat.
Opposite the steam room was one of the thermal pools where guests can cool down and have a breather if they get too hot.
I adored that this pool has a black ceiling with twinkling lights like the stars, giving it a tranquil, peaceful feel.
Until this weekend, I had never been in a thermal pool before and didn’t really see how it could be more relaxing than any other pool but the warm water and the calming music made me feel so mellow and chilled out – I could not recommend it more.
The spa has a lovely café for anyone looking to enjoy afternoon tea or bubbly after their trip to the spa.
I went for a coffee as I chilled out and relished the time I had just spent being pampered before heading to my room to get ready for dinner.
Just like everything else at this hotel, the restaurant did not disappoint.
The staff were so friendly and bubbly. They were happy to chat with us as we chose what to eat and knew endless nuggets of wisdom about the hotel which was fascinating to hear.
How personable they were really made us feel at home and comfortable at dinner making the experience all the more personal.
To start, I chose the mussels mariniere which came with chargrilled sourdough.
The mussels were amazing – they were moist and filled with flavour and the sauce was creamy and delicious.
For my main course, I chose the Merryfield free range duck breast which came with duck leg confit, turnip tatin, parsnip puree, toasted cobnuts and a redcurrant reduction sauce.
Every element of this plate was perfect to me.
The duck was cooked exactly the way I like it, the puree was creamy and rich, the sauce was sweet and tasty and the nuts added a scrumptious crunch.
For dessert, I had a rich, dark chocolate praline which came with honeycomb, passionfruit sorbet and a mango coulis.
I had never thought of pairing chocolate with mango but it was surprisingly delicious, the fresh sweetness or the fruit was wonderful with the richness of the chocolate. You best believe I demolished this dessert.
We then headed to bed for one of the best night’s sleep I have ever had before heading back down for breakfast.
The hotel does a continental spread of everything you could ask for: Toast, pastries, meats, cheeses, fruit, cereals, smoothies – and more.
You can also order a hot breakfast from a menu if you would like something more substantial so I chose to order the full English breakfast but I customised it to have just the components I like most which staff were lovely about and were happy to alter the meal for me.
I was so sad to check out, Buxton Crescent Ensana Health Spa Hotel is truly special and it was a phenomenal weekend away.
I could not recommend this spot more, especially for anyone wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of London for a weekend of peace, quiet and pampering.
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