The UK’s leading wellness destinations for a ‘zen’ escape in the new year
Ansteys Cove, Torquay
Edinburgh
Shoalstone Pool, Brixham
Wellness experts CFAH have analysed the top 15 UK destinations for a relaxing getaway to see which UK holiday location can provide the best zen escape.
With the new year providing opportunity for a reset, wellness is the top of many peoples’ minds. And with wellness retreats continuing to grow in popularity but international travel still restricted, many are looking at escapes closer to home. With this in mind, CBD and wellness experts CFAH scoured the UK and revealed that Devon is the best place for a ‘zen’ weekend away.
CFAH, a go-to resource for accessible, trustworthy, and up-to-date health and wellness information, calculated the ranking index by analysing the number of spas, retreats, CBD shops and yoga studios in 14 destinations across the UK, as well as the area’s happiness rating, its green spaces and WiFi medium download speed.
Number one on the list of most ‘zen’ places, Devon was named the ‘best UK location for a zen weekend’ thanks to its 85 spas and four retreats. The picturesque southeast England holiday hotspot, famed for its sandy beaches, white cliffs and lush national parks, was closely followed by the southern coastal counties of Cornwall and Hampshire, and the East Anglia county of Norfolk.
Wye Valley, home of popular Netflix hit series Sex Education, took the number five slot due to its 67 spas, 78 yoga studios and one retreat, while sixth place went to Dorset, a neighbour of Devon. The most ‘zen’ location in Scotland was revealed to be Edinburgh, which ranks seventh best in the UK – the city features 104 spas, 84 yoga studios and 40 CBD shops. Another popular weekend location in England, the Cotswolds, came in at number eight, with 56 spas, 45 yoga studios and great green spaces but no retreats.
Other destinations that ranked on the CFAH index include the Lake District, the New Forest, Bath, Pembrokeshire, Oxford and Brighton. Surprisingly, Harrogate came in at the bottom end of the scale. The Yorkshire town may be known for its Turkish baths, but the report ranked it the worst location to go for a zen weekend with only 17 spas, two retreats and a lack of green spaces.
With plenty of excellent options available across the UK, it seems that wellness enthusiasts won’t need to travel far for a new year escape.