UK Galentine’s Day: The Ultimate Girls’ Getaways

Whatley Manor Hotel & Spa is the kind of place where you arrive slightly flustered and then forget what you were even rushing for. The headline is Aquarius Spa, with its heated stone recliners, thermal cabins, salt scrub and experience showers. In other words, enough options that nobody is left wondering what to do next. It is exactly what you want from spa breaks for friends - relaxed, minimal decision making and plenty of time to truly catch up. And then what better way to round off a relaxing day than with a feast for all the senses at Whatley’s highly acclaimed Michelin-starred restaurant, The Dining Room?

Blending period charm and modern luxury, The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa turns a Bath weekend into a mini break that feels instantly elevated. Afternoon tea is a particular highlight. Make it properly celebratory with a flight of Taittinger Champagne. After all, it would be rude not to. The city itself supplies the best in between moments: a fun tour of the most recognisable Bridgerton locations, a wander through the many shops and galleries, a slow loop of the crescents and that satisfying feeling of coming back somewhere beautiful to gather before dinner. If you are planning a girls’ weekend in the UK with equal parts style and ease, Bath is reliably brilliant, and this is a perfect base.

Less than a five-minute drive from St Albans, Sopwell House is the friend group’s consensus to “we need a break, but we do not want a journey.” You arrive, exhale and suddenly the only real decisions are whether you start in the water, or the warmth.  The Spa at Cottonmill is a vision complete with a garden with hot tubs and a fire pit and quiet spaces for catching up. When you’re ready to rejoin civilisation, Omboo keeps the mood lively with its Asian sharing plates, perfect for a party because you can graze, laugh, order one more round and pretend you’re not already planning a return visit.

Grantley Hall in North Yorkshire is for the girls who enjoy a little ceremony, the kind of February weekend idea where “bring something nice” goes without saying. Food is a main attraction here, in particular Michelin starred dining at Shaun Rankin at Grantley Hall. Or if you prefer a more immersive activity, you might want to take part in a cookery lesson, or a sommelier-led wine tasting. For those who can manage to tear themselves away, this is prime territory for retail therapy, with charming Ripon close by for independent shopping, or Harrogate for a longer browse through boutiques and the Montpellier Quarter. This is one of those group getaways that Britain does exceptionally well.

Seaham Hall is a girls’ answer to a coastal reset that feels really special. Serenity Spa is perched above the North Sea, with its 20-metre pool and hydrotherapy thermal experiences. Then it’s off to the Zen Garden for that bracing sea air moment, before you drift back inside and decide you’re staying in your robe a bit longer. When you’re ready to regroup, you can keep everything on site with cocktails in Harvey’s Bar, some award-winning fare in The Dining Room or a spot of sushi at Geko. If you do want to leave the bubble, the nearby coastline is ideal for a windswept walk and a good gossip.

Matfen Hall is the UK Galentine’s Day escape when you want pastoral calm with real polish, but none of the stiffness. The hotel’s concierge team is on hand to attend to your every need, which means you can glide from plan to plan without doing any of the legwork. Make a beeline for The Retreat spa, where the pool and poolside thermal suite make it very easy to stay put for the rest of the day. Afterwards, imbibe a signature cocktail – a Hepple Slow Gin Bramble is highly recommended - in the stylish 1832 bar, before an indulgent dinner at the AA 3 Rosette Emerald Restaurant. It’s a weekend with no pressure to keep moving and no need to overplan.

Set within one of Edinburgh’s finest historic buildings, Prestonfield House, with its theatrical and eclectic interiors, understands that friendship weekends deserve a little flourish. Again, afternoon tea is something of a tradition here, served in sumptuous reception rooms with roaring open fires. From here, the city is yours for the taking: an atmospheric wander along the Royal Mile and a leisurely browse through elegant New Town shops and art galleries before you head back to the hotel to raise a glass before the evening begins. This is the kind of break that makes the group chat buzz with anticipation and then gives you plenty to talk about when you get home.