Cottonmill Spa & Club at Sopwell House — St Albans, UK
As the ubiquity of private members’ clubs grow, Sopwell House, the grand Hertfordshire-based hotel, has taken the quest for exclusivity quite seriously with the relaunch of its wellness facilities into a sprawling private members' spa comprising Cottonmill and the even more exclusive The Club at Cottonmill
With new interiors overseen by London’s Sparcstudio Design, both the reimagined pre-existing structure and a new extension are now bound by a ‘refined nature’ aesthetic. This translates to indoor-outdoor areas, lush gardens, designed by gold medal-winning RHS Chelsea Flower Show designer Ann-Marie Powell, soothing water features, aqua hues, washed cotton and terracotta textures, and swathes of natural light.
This all sets a soothing tone for a series of facilities including an indoor pool, two vitality pools, a state-of-the-art gym and a lenghty menu of treatments using products from British brands Elemis, Espa and Aromatherapy Associates, along with new innovations such as the UK's first thermal amber and quartz crystal spa bed. Beyond the Cottonmill offerings, an exclusive labyrinth of areas awaits select members and a limited number of hotel guests at The Club at Cottonmill. This includes new saunas and steam rooms including the light-filled organic sauna with panoramic views over the estate; a hushed Whisper Room; and a Deep Relaxation Room laid out with softly vibrating Four Senses loungers.
Although, pre and post treatments, you're likely to find us in the Garden Room, swinging in one of the hanging Dedon chairs, while sipping on a glass of the spa's very own brand of Prosecco and making the most of what we like to call, productive recreation
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Cottonmill Lane, St Albans
Melina Keays is the entertaining director of Wallpaper*. She has been part of the brand since the magazine’s launch in 1996, and is responsible for entertaining content across the print and digital platforms, and for Wallpaper’s creative agency Bespoke. A native Londoner, Melina takes inspiration from the whole spectrum of art and design – including film, literature, and fashion. Her work for the brand involves curating content, writing, and creative direction – conceiving luxury interior landscapes with a focus on food, drinks, and entertaining in all its forms
-
A cubist house rises in Mexico City, its concrete volumes providing a bold urban refugeCasa Ailes, a cubist house by Jaime Guzmán Creative Group, is rich in architectural expression that mimics the dramatic and inviting nature of a museum
-
David/Nicolas raise contemporary craft to a canter at this new Abu Dhabi riding schoolThe Lebanese design duo draw on Emirati equestrian heritage to create two contemporary spaces for ADREA, a new school of classical horsemanship
-
Piet Oudolf is the world’s meadow-garden master: tour his most soul-soothing outdoor spacesPiet Oudolf is one of the most impactful contemporary masters of landscape and garden design; explore our ultimate guide to his work
-
This sculptural London seafood restaurant was shaped by ‘the emotions of the sea’In Hanover Square, Mazarine pairs a bold, pearlescent interior with modern coastal cuisine led by ‘bistronomy’ pioneer chef Thierry Laborde
-
Montcalm Mayfair opens a new chapter for a once-overlooked London hotelA thoughtful reinvention brings craftsmanship, character and an unexpected sense of warmth to a London hotel that was never previously on the radar
-
Follow the white rabbit to London’s first Korean matcha houseTokkia, which translates to ‘Hey bunny’ in Korean, was designed by Stephenson-Edwards studio to feel like a modern burrow. Take a look inside
-
Enjoy a Kyoto-inspired menu with London attitude at this new restaurantAki London offers a serene counterpoint to Oxford Circus, where stately interiors and elevated Japanese cooking cross paths
-
At this charming bolthole in The Cotswolds, doing nothing is an art formLeave your mobile on ‘do not disturb’, switch off and slow down at this 16th-century manor-turned-hotel
-
Lee Broom reimagines the Christmas tree at Mandarin Oriental MayfairThe London hotel unveils an inventive take on the festive tradition – with absolutely no needles
-
Cinema’s tastiest moments to be celebrated by Mubi in an all-day festival‘Let’s Eat! A Film Feast’ spotlights the sensory power of food on film with a day of screenings, talks and culinary delights in London
-
Chef Matt Abé steps out solo with Bonheur in MayfairA former fine-dining institution is transformed through a study of light, tone and materiality, courtesy of Russell Sage Studio