It feels naughty skipping work for an afternoon, even if you’re on a very important mission to check out a new luxury spa in Tunbridge Wells… ok, especially when you’re off to a luxury spa. But, when it comes to being pampered you can’t be put off by little details like “deadlines” and, anyway, five minutes at the Royal Day Spa is guaranteed to put those niggling worries about missed-meetings and overflowing inboxes out of your head completely.
The spa is a one-minute stroll (or trot, or skip, depending on how excited you are) from Tunbridge Wells station. You’ll need to keep your eyes peeled for the discreet sign – it’s tiny, but that just adds to the exclusive air of the place. Inside, you soon see why it’s called the Royal Day Spa in the pretty shabby-chic reception and the chill-out area whose huge gilded mirrors are a very regal flourish. 
One of the most stunning features of the spa is the slate-lined pool. In the natural hush of the spa, stepping into the inky salt-water depths is a world away from your typical “municipal” experience. The pool itself is large enough to get a bit of exercise with a few lengths before you take a breather with a magazine in one of the poolside deckchairs or among the bubbles in the moor mud infused Jacuzzi. It would be easy to lose hours and hours swapping between roasting in the sauna or steam room, sweating it out in the gym and rippling through the cool waters of the pool.
Facilities aside, though, the Royal Day Spa is exceptional in the number and range of pampering treatments they offer. You can indulge yourself in anything from a 20 min manicure to a full-body mud mask and massage. We went for the “Royal Body”, the spa’s signature treatment, which is an hour-long tissue-relaxing massage with aromatherapy oils, followed by a complete facial. If you go for the same, I think it’s safe to say it might just be the most indulgent two hours of your life. The therapists are incredibly skilled at tension-melting massage. They use Ko Bi Do, Reiki and Craniosacral therapy for the facial, none of which I really understood, but as well as feeling amazing and smelling delicious it left my skin glowing – in fact for a couple of days afterwards I noticed my skin was smooth and much clearer than it had been. 
Despite not being a massive spa, the Royal Day Spa is incredibly professional and the team of lovely ladies who run it really make you feel special. In fact, the scale of it adds to that exclusive boutique feel. Add that to the flawlessly stylish décor and a scrumptious cream tea (just to make sure we weren’t feeling too healthy) and we couldn’t have asked for more from a cheeky afternoon away from our desks.
Kings and Queens - book yourself in for a right royal pampering with a Royal Day Spa ritual for two £185 including full use of the spa facilities plus a 75 minute massage and a facial for each of you.
Sara Sha'ath
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