Spa travel: Good clean fun!
Olivia Falcon rounds up her pick of guilt-free spa breaks where the kids are welcome, too
Country
Lucknam Park, Wiltshire
This sandstone mansion is set in the rolling countryside just outside Bath. While you slip to the spa for an Anne Semonin facial, kids can giddy up at the equestrian centre or book into the cookery school. Or, pad across the courtyard to the spa hand-in-hand with your little one. The Little Miss collection of treatments features mini Leighton Denny manis and pedis, while tweens will love the Petit Visage facials. lucknampark.co.uk
Beach
Domes Of Elounda, Crete
There’s a private cove that’s fringed with olive trees for optimal shade, making it the perfect spot for small swimmers. The hotel, a collection of luxury suites and villas, is huddled on a hillside and offers uninhibited splashing in private pools. Easily navigated by little legs in snappy golf buggies, the resort features a crèche and a kids’ club, while the spa’s Mini Menu is a fun-filled first foray into beauty: chocolate facials, Mummy & Me manicures and hair styling. domesofelounda.com
Mountain
Schloss Elmau, Germany
Tucked away in the Bavarian Alps, this castle is the stuff of fairytales. While grown-ups relax at the Badhaus, which features the largest Hamman west of Istanbul, kids can ski on the slopes at Seefeld and Garmisch. Or, in the summer, they can skip across the meadows to the Nature Spa, an outdoor playground with swinging ropes and saunas on the banks of a creek – it’s Huckleberry Finn meets Heidi. schlosselmau.de
Home-spa treats
If you don’t have time to get away, bring the relaxation to you with these soothing treats for the whole family
1. This bubble bath from new botanical brand 100 Acres is scented with lavender and rose – a child-friendly formula that smells refreshingly grown up. Rose & Lavender Bubble Bath, £14, 100acresapothecary.co.uk
2. Weave this soothing oil into your post-bathtime routine. The blend of Omega-rich cranberry and grape seed oils nourishes and protects. Vitamin Rich Body Oil, £58, annesemonin.com
3. This miracle salve works wonders on sensitive skins and rashes. Combining soothing arnica and calendula, this promises an instantly calmer complexion. Natura Bissé NB: Ceutical SOS Instant Rescue, £100, harrods.com
4. Loved by the likes of Gwyneth, celebrity facialist Sonya Dakar’s anti-inflammatory blend is a great all-rounder, working wonders on everything from fine lines to chapped skin. Sonya Dakar Organic Omega Booster, £39, cultbeauty.com
