Fairmont Windsor Park Hotel and Spa
Behiye Hassan checked into Fairmont Windsor Park where you can relax and unwind like royalty.
The historic town of Windsor is synonymous with the British Royal Family, with its 11th century castle the oldest continuously occupied castle in the world and now one of the official residences of King Charles III.
I certainly felt like royalty when I checked into the nearby Fairmont Windsor Park hotel and spa, a regal looking building in rural surroundings, nestled as it is on the edge of Windsor Great Park, a 5,000 acre former Norman-era hunting ground stretching from Windsor Castle in the north to Ascot in the south.
Just a short scenic drive through woodland from the nearest train station in Egham, the hotel emerges at the end of a long tree-lined driveway that then crosses a small bridge over a beautiful lake, before lovely staff are at the door ready to welcome you into a gorgeous glass domed lobby filled with sublime floral displays.
It turns out initial impressions can be deceiving. Though the Fairmont Windsor Park looks like a grand old mansion, it was purpose built to replicate the exterior of the Jacobean manor house that previously occupied the spot and only opened in 2022, so the interiors are immaculate in their modern splendour.
Surrounded by 40 acres of lovingly tended grounds, the hotel has more than 200 rooms and suites, all exuding understated luxury. This is an exceptionally high-end affair, which you can tell from the luxe cars in the driveway and the fact that the hotel website tells you how to get there by helicopter.
I stayed in a one-bedroom suite with delightful views overlooking the hotel gardens and parkland beyond and instantly relaxed as soon as I stepped through the door. The soothing decor was all elegant neutral hues coupled with lavish furnishings and the room featured the usual bells and whistles you’d expect from a five-star hotel, like a Nespresso machine and plush bathrobes. The huge white marbled ensuite was a knockout too and included an absolutely heavenly-looking bath.
I didn’t have time for a soak though, as I had an appointment at the award-winning spa, which includes 18 treatment rooms and sprawls across some 2,500 square metres.
The lift down to the spa opens straight into the stylish reception area, which is next to the colourful Greens Café, a wellbeing eatery that serves pressed juices and light lunches, with decor featuring pretty pink and white flowers garlands hanging from the ceiling.
The spa itself has a mind-boggling range of facilities, including a 20m indoor pool, the Japanese Ashiyu Foot Ritual Bath featuring a stunning pink cherry blossom tree where mineral rich warm water soothes tired feet, and next to that Thermal Suite with an experience shower, tepidarium bench, sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi and ice fountain, as well as a Himalayan Salt Room where the microclimate apparently promotes respiratory wellness, and the salt-infused air can alleviate allergies and clear your sinuses.
There’s also the outdoor heated Courtyard Vitality Pool, which is decorated with flowers and plenty of hanging egg chairs to sit in, as well as a traditional marble hammam, the Salutaris Suite, Cryotherapy, The FaceBible and Aquavibe beds.
It’s an exceptionally beautiful spa with the pink flower theme continuing throughout, and the calming, tranquil atmosphere is boosted by the sound of birdsong and relaxing music piped throughout the spa.
As well as the huge range of facilities, there’s an extensive range of luxurious treatments you can choose from on top.
They include the Liquid Gold Facial, which yes, uses 23 carat gold, as well as argan oil, caviar and pearl, the Ultimate Diamond anti-aging facial which includes LED therapy and myofascial massage, the Fairmont Signature Ritual, which is half tailored facial and half bespoke massage, and the Signature Windsor Citrus Ritual, a two hour antioxidant treatment, all of which use renowned brands including Natura Bissé and La Sultane de Saba.
I went for the Diamond Well Living massage that relaxes, hydrates and restores. You can pick from four choices: energising, de-stress, detox, and fitness. Each has its own oil for the experience, all rich in antioxidants. I went for de-stress which was a lavender dry oil, and my therapist Alayna took me through an in-depth consultation beforehand to ask if there were any areas she should avoid or concentrate on.
She asked if I wanted a scalp massage as part of the treatment, and she was also the only therapist I’ve ever had who’s asked me if I wanted my stomach included as part of the full body massage (I said yes).
The whole treatment was utter bliss. Lying on a soft, heated massage table under a weighted blanket to make me feel even more comfortable and snug, from scalp to feet, she didn’t miss a single area with her expert touch and I could feel each and every muscle loosening as the massage went on. It was an incredibly relaxing, rejuvenating experience that left me feeling like a new woman.
The spa also features a gym with reformer Pilates, a spin suite, plus hi-spec Technogym Artis cardio and strength machines, and outside of the spa, there are tennis courts, padel courts, an open-air gym, bike hire to discover the rest of the Great Park and an outdoor hydrotherapy pool if you’re seeking other ways to look after body and soul.
After my treatment however, I was so zen I was fit for nothing, so instead, I enjoyed a turmeric and rose herbal tea in the spa’s ‘Quiet Room’. In fact, I felt so incredibly relaxed for the rest of the day I was still floating on air as I headed off for dinner.
As well as Greens next to the spa, there are six other eateries and bars to choose from, including the wood-panelled Library Club which features fixtures from the previous mansion house, such as the ornate open fireplace, Schroders Botanicals for your gin fix and The Orchid Tea Room for some afternoon indulgence.
The main venue for dinner is the 1215 fine dining restaurant, named after the year the Magna Carta was signed in nearby Runnymede and with wonderful views over its outdoor terrace onto the manicured gardens. The cuisine here is focused on local, seasonal produce, including from The Royal Farms, Windsor artisans and the hotel’s own herb and vegetable garden. The menu includes Windsor Estate venison tartare and duck breast glazed in the hotel’s own honey and served alongside carrots from their garden.
It was also great to see a vegetarian menu served alongside the normal a la carte, including an incredible salt-baked celeriac with caramelised onion, spring leaves and black truffle, and the original mocktails they served were to die for. I tried the Sakura Sling with apricot, pineapple and lime juice, white peach and jasmine soda and Everleaf Mountain, and it was utterly delicious. Service was impeccable, and in fact each and every member of staff I encountered were first rate, as well as being lovely, warm, welcoming and friendly. They are the hotel and spa’s crowning glory.
It’s fair to say that when it comes to grand country house-style luxury, Fairmont Windsor Park really does treat all its guests like royalty. I felt regally serene after my spa stay there at any rate…