Recommendations for solo 2 night break

[Ilovethatforyou]

I’m in the South East, happy to travel by train anywhere under two hours from London. Feeling overwhelmed and on the verge of burnout so just need some peace!!

I’ve looked at spa breaks but a) they don’t massively appeal b) they seem pricey for what they are, but happy for someone to recommend if they’ve really loved a place! Often they are out of my price range though.

main priorities are a lovely place to wander around and somewhere good to go for a massage/facial. Doesn't have to be at the hotel. Budget wise would like it to come in around £100 a night max for the hotel. I don’t even mind a premier inn if it’s in a great location with lots of lovely things nearby.

current top of my list is Oxford with York a close second (although expensive to get there).

Any specific recommendations would be fabulous!

I do a few nights in Nov/December in Norwich every year. Lovely city with plenty to do and see and a good choice of restaurants and shops. Gives me a chance to do some Christmas shopping in Jarrolds too.

Oxford is a great idea.

I might choose the Travelodge at the far end of the Abingdon Road. It’s in a deeply unappealing area between the ring road, the tip and a closed Go Outdoors, and it’s the ugliest building on God’s earth, but if you can get past that, it’s cheap as chips, convenient and is pretty new - with Travelodge that means small rooms but it won’t be as tired as some of them. Fairly easy bus ride from the train/coach station or it is very close to a Park and Ride. There’s a small Tesco just up the road.

The bus ride going back to the centre is short and you’ll then be right in the middle of Oxford and it really is lovely. For a massage/facial I was a very heavy user but tended to go to the outskirts - for a central place maybe try Neals Yard in the Westgate centre (terrible website, better if you search by location). I have been to Tao Beauty which is on St Aldates and have had a nice facial there, but it’s on the first/second floor over a shop so doesn’t necessarily feel that glamorous, the Westgate shops tend to be more spacious.

Bath or Norwich would both fit the bill, though Bath gets very busy (and probably hotels booked up) during the Christmas market season in late Nov/early Dec. Bath has the Bath Spa with 2/4-hour packages if you want saunas, massages etc but not a full spa break.

York is lovely! I stayed at a Radisson once - can’t remember if it was in York - it had a pool & a spa. Was bliss!

£100 a night is very cheap, even for a chain hotel. If you can up your budget a bit, you'll get something much nicer. How about Southwold/Aldeburgh?

I’ve always fancied a night or two at this hotel, https://burfordbridgehotel.booksundays.com

(I don’t work for them!!)

It’s right at the foot of Box Hill (one of the most beautiful parts of the Surrey countryside), and close to Box Hill and Westhumble station. You can get the train/bus (or walk) to Dorking, which is a lovely little town (especially if you like antique shops). And it’s close to Denbie’s wine estate. I think if you book in advance it’s well within budget too.

We just stayed at the Premier Inn at Layerthorpe (York Central) for York and it was very convenient, we had a lovely time. I think it was over your budget (just) especially with parking. There’s a Travelodge near there as well I think.

These are such great and thorough recommendations! Thank you. I’m going to set about making a plan….

You could stay in a haven holiday park for that budget near the seaside. soemwhwre like camber sands/rye?
if you can triple your budget then I love the glasshouse retreat in Essex

The Cathedral Lodge in Canterbury is set within the Cathedral grounds & is very tranquil. There are lots of beauticians within the city walls & a real serenity in this hotel.

Canterbury a really good suggestion.

Windsor is nice too.

Chichester! Lovely historic town, fab cathedral, Pallant Art Gallery, Roman museum, green spaces, architecture, Festival Theatre, shopping, sea nearby, etc.

I used to stay at the PI, easy walk from the station, and walk into town. Nicer hotels are available. Lunch at Brasserie Blanc, dinner at the Ivy? Near the PI is a Nuffield gym where I used to show my PI card and swim for a fiver. They did massages and beauty treatments, but I haven't tried them personally.