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The most indulgent spa hotels in Northern Ireland for a relaxing break
Be pampered at one of Northern Ireland’s best spa hotels
Now that summer is on the horizon, it’s time to put a spring in our step – and there’s no better place to feel refreshed and revitalised than at a spa hotel in Northern Ireland.
The smallest of the UK’s four nations, Northern Ireland still has plenty to see and do, especially along its famous coastal drive in Antrim – follow the Causeway Coastal Route from Belfast up to the Giant’s Causeway and hear all of the myths and legends along the way.
If you've experienced the incredible spa hotels in the Cotswolds and the serene spas of Scotland, you'll love Northern Ireland's top destinations for a wellness-focused escape.
In Belfast, The Merchant’s spa has a rooftop pool that showcases the city sights – and you’ll be able to dress up afterwards for a drink in one of the hotel’s drinking spots, which include the historic Great Room and a jazz club.
At Galgorm in Ballymena, you could spend days in the spa village, which has a variety of elements, including a walled garden, assorted hot tubs at the rushing river’s edge and the Palm House conservatory, perfect for an afternoon spent reading.
And if you like your spas to have incredible views, book a visit to the turreted Slieve Donard in County Down, which has rugged scenery and windswept beaches in every direction.
These are our favourite spa hotels in Northern Ireland.
The Merchant, Belfast
Belfast’s undisputed hotel queen, The Merchant has a superb spa, in addition to its grand, antique-furnished suites, jazz club and cocktail bar. The listed building is in the Cathedral Quarter and you’ll be able to enjoy many of the city’s sights from the rooftop pool.
At the spa, sign up for Voya treatments, settle in to read on a thermal sun lounger or brave the drench showers and ice fountain. Afterwards, you’ll be able to change out of your dressing gown and visit the Victorian Great Room for drinks beneath its glass cupola and chandelier.
Galgorm, County Antrim
Not so much a spa as an entire thermal village, Galgorm is complete with wooden hot tubs for forest bathing at the edge of the cascading waters rushing by, a river house to lie back and enjoy the view from, and lawns to wander along in case you weren’t feeling serene enough.
The grounds also feature various hot tubs and saunas, a salt cave, a snow cabin, a rasul chamber and there’s a high-ceilinged conservatory to relax in, too – settle onto a day-bed and the staff will serve you raspberry-topped frozen ice. There’s even a timber igloo that you can have lunch in.
Slieve Donard, County Down
Views of the County Down countryside are delivered straight to your berry-coloured sunlounger at this imposing Victorian estate in Newcastle, with a rugged beach in one direction and a golf course in the other. You’ll also be able to spot the Mountains of Morne and the surrounding sand dunes at Slieve Donard.
At the Espa spa, treatments mix ancient and modern techniques, and use pure essential oils, as well as plant and marine ingredients. Enjoy the fresh sea air afterwards with a stroll around the herb garden and grounds afterwards.
Culloden Estate, County Down
Situated in the other Holywood Hills, this expansive estate is just a handy 10-minute drive north of Belfast, making it a great choice for city dwellers seeking a little rural tonic. At the Culloden, that comes in the form of Espa treatments at the recently renovated spa, There are 12 acres of gardens and woodlands to explore, with bicycles to borrow – and the hilltop setting means a vantage point out across Belfast Lough and the Country Antrim coast.
When you’re ready to change out of your dressing gown, head to the Drawing Room for afternoon tea, retreat to the Cultra Inn’s fireplace or indulge in some fine-dining at Vespers.
Lough Erne, County Fermanagh
This hotel – one of the finest five-star retreats in Northern Ireland – is on a 600-acre peninsula in Enniskillen, overlooking the Fermanagh Lakelands and the Faldo golf course. Golf may be a big attraction around here, but Lough Erne's Thai Spa is impressive, too: along with the country’s signature rigorous massages, guests can sign up for circuits of the thermal suite, Espa facials and swims in the infinity pool.
Following a day at the spa, you’ll be able to enjoy local produce, steaks and seafood at the Loughside grill restaurant and afternoon tea – all with a view of those waterways.
Killeavy Castle, County Armagh
It’s impossible not to feel like you’ve got away from it all at the spa at Killeavy Castle in Armagh, especially after a dip in the mountain-facing hydro pool or a nap on a heated, mosaic-tiled lounger. There’s a list of Elemis treatments to choose from, a detoxifying tylarium (a sauna and steam bath hybrid) and a series of aroma and drench showers, along with views of the walled garden and surrounding farms.
The estate is only an hour from both Belfast and Dublin, and there are overnight stays available with some of the spa packages so you can really make the most of your visit.
The Salthouse, County Antrim
Just outside of the seaside town of Ballycastle on the Country Antrim coastline, The Salthouse is a sustainability-focused hotel with dramatic views of the Atlantic Ocean. The eco-friendly credentials extend to the spa, which has outdoor spaces that overlook Fairhead and Rathlin, two hot tubs, seaweed baths, heated, nap-friendly day-beds and tropical rain showers – even the sauna was built with a panoramic window to keep showcasing those views.
The treatments on offer at this Causeway Coast hotel, which is an hour’s drive from Belfast and Derry, include Mindful Dreams, designed to help you get the perfect night’s sleep.
The Bushtown Hotel & Spa, County Londonderry
Surrounded by woodland on the edge of Coleraine, Bushtown is a perfect pampering pitstop on Northern Ireland’s north coast, conveniently located for anyone driving the Causeway route. It’s close to attractions such as the Giant’s Causeway, Dunluce Castle, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and (good news for all whiskey lovers) the Bushmills distillery.
At the spa, there’s a thermal pool, steam room and Jacuzzi, along with four treatment rooms where you can book in for salt scrubs, Indian head massages and hydrating facials. Afterwards, head to Cushy’s Grill for the craic and, on Monday nights, the hotel hosts lively local country music acts.
Roe Park Resort, County Londonderry
This Limavady resort is also home to an impressive golf course, making it the perfect choice for anyone hoping to combine a spa break in Northern Ireland with several rounds of golf. Handily for regularly returning guests, there’s a treatment of the month to try; and, for the ultimate indulgence, you can book in for the four-hour Roe Serenity package, which includes a salt scrub, Elemis facial, full-body Swedish massage and a mani-pedi.
A gorgeous riverside retreat, Roe Park Resort has an indoor pool, as well as a sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi.
Corick House, County Tyrone
Surrounded by countryside in the Clogher Valley, this spa hotel unsurprisingly looks to nature for its approach to wellbeing and relaxation. There are eight treatment rooms at Corick House's spa, including double ones for couples and the thermal suite consists of a hydrotherapy pool, sauna, steam room and heated lounger.
For an extra treat, book an hour at the Serenity Suite and enjoy a glass of fizz in the outdoor hot tub. And if you want the pampering to extend to a makeover, you can book everything from spray tans to eyelash and eyebrow tints.
Enniskeen Estate, County Fermanagh
With a backdrop of the Tollymore Valley in the Mourne Mountains, the Enniskeen Estate in County Fermanagh is soothing simply by virtue of its setting. Helping things along further is its forest spa, hidden in the woods overlooking the Slieve Donard mountain, with Finnish sauna cabins set beneath the lofty fir trees, cosy, crackling fires, and an outdoor waterfall shower to cool off in between spells in the sauna.
Guests can continue their wellness journey by booking an overnight stay in one of the estate’s glamping cabins, each of which has a king-size bed and a private wood-fired hot tub.
Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel, County Fermanagh
A kilometre from the centre of Enniskeen in County Fermanagh, Killyhevlin is a family-run hotel on the banks of Lough Erne, with a padel court, lodges in the woods with their own hot tub, and dining by the lake. It’s the gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way and a perfect pitstop to bookend a road trip around the west of Ireland.
At the Elemis spa at the edge of the lake, facilities include an outdoor hot tub, an indoor swimming pool and a sauna. Treatments on offer include lime and ginger salt scrubs, frangipani body wraps and reflexology. And spa guests can enjoy a light lunch without having to change out of their robes at the Lakeside Grill.
Lusty Beg Island, County Fermanagh
This spa hotel is in the Northern Ireland county of Fermanagh. As the name hints at, it’s on an island at the lower end of Lough Erne, near Boa Island, with a ferry service connecting the two.
As befits the locale, seaweed harvested off the coast of Ireland is a key ingredient in the spa’s treatments – the marine world’s premier antioxidant is used to detoxify, hydrate and nourish skin. The spa has also partnered with Italian brand Comfort Zone, for glow-giving facials and more. Lusty Beg Island is also home to a hair and beauty studio, so you can complete your spa day in style.
Dunadry Hotel, County Antrim
Over in County Antrim, Dunadry Hotel has a history dating back more than 400 years, during which time it has been a fort, a home to the High Kings of Ireland, and both a paper and linen mill. Nowadays, it’s a family-run spa hotel with gorgeous grounds, an AA Rosette-awarded restaurant and resident peacocks.
The spa’s facilities include thermal areas and a heated indoor pool, and the estate is just as relaxing elsewhere, not least beside a fireplace with a good book. You’ll be able to reserve a traditional Thai massage with the resident specialist.
The Rabbit Hotel, County Antrim
Also in County Antrim, the Rabbit Hotel has a spa with a particularly attractive outdoor pool, complete with a giant disco ball (unsurprisingly, it’s available for private-hire pool parties). The spa was designed to have a bohemian, Balearic atmosphere, even if the weather is less likely to match.
The treatments range from hot candle or healing obsidian and onyx massages to pomegranate body scrubs, personalised facials, couple’s clay rituals and muscle-soothing rubs performed with energising cinnamon-infused balm. You’ll also be able to relax in hot tubs at the edge of the lake, in a cabana, in the salt cave or in the aroma steam room.
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