Wales: Most Budget-Friendly Area for a Winter Spa Stay

5 Most Affordable Areas for a Winter Spa Escape This Christmas

As Christmas approaches, a spa break makes the perfect gift for that much-needed winter getaway.

A new study by beauty and wellness marketplace Fresha, using data from Booking.com, reveals which UK regions offer the most affordable winter spa stays.

The research focused on hotels with a ‘Spa and Wellness Centre,’ calculating the average cost of a two-night weekend stay for two adults between November and January. It also considered the price for a solo traveller and the average ratings for each region.

Wales is the cheapest UK region for a weekend spa stay this winter, with an average price of £324.10 for two adults. As well as being the cheapest UK region for two adults, it’s also the cheapest for one adult with an average price of £309.36. Spa hotels in this region were found to have an average rating of 8.43 out of 10.

North East ranks second, with an average price of £340.32 for two adults. For one adult, the average price in the North East is £324.38, and spa hotels offer an average rating of 8.39 out of 10.

West Midlands is placed third, with an average price for two adults being £343.44. In the West Midlands, the average price for one adult is £335.77, and spa hotels offer an average rating of 7.81 out of 10.

Ranking fourth is Yorkshire and the Humber, with an average price of £387.50 for two adults. A weekend spa stay in Yorkshire and the Humber for one person this winter costs £368.45, and spa hotels have an average rating of 8.40 out of 10.

Rounding out the top five is the East of England, with £409.44 being the average price for two adults. For one adult, this price is £372.28, and spa hotels have an average rating of 8.00 out of 10.

At the other end of the scale, London is the most expensive UK region for a winter weekend spa stay for two adults, with an average price of £1,048.79 – 224% more expensive than in Wales.

South West ranks as the second most expensive region for a winter weekend spa stay, with an average price of £606.79, while Northern Ireland ranks third with an average price of £484.90.

Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson for Fresha said:

“Winter is often a slower season for travel in the UK, especially outside the holiday period, so many hospitality businesses adjust their prices to attract more visitors. By identifying the cheapest spa stays, we get a sense of how different regions strategize their pricing to stay competitive. Cheaper prices often reflect a need to fill rooms, indicating areas or establishments where winter demand is lower.

“The cheapest spa stays across different regions can reflect economic conditions or cost-of-living differences. For example, a luxury spa in London might cost more than an equivalent in a rural area, simply because of location and overhead costs. Comparing prices across regions can reveal where visitors might get the best value, factoring in not just room costs but regional cost differences.”