The best January spa deals in and around Exeter

January calls for a gentler pace - fewer plans, more pauses, and time set aside simply to rest and reset. From city spas to seaside retreats and woodland hideaways, these are the places to soak, steam and slow down, offering the perfect excuse to prioritise self-care and start the year feeling restored.

1. St Sidwell's Point
The Spa at St Sidwell’s Point offers a great city centre escape - a calm, glassy space with a hydrotherapy pool overlooking the skyline, saunas, steam rooms and heated loungers. The treatment menu features GAIA therapies, from hot stone massages to restorative facials, and there are special experiences such as the Twilight Spa sessions for those who prefer an after-dark unwind.

This January, the spa is running its Reset Package: Yoga & Spa Experience - a two-hour yoga workshop followed by an hour in the rooftop thermal suite and a freshly made smoothie to finish. It’s £25 for Exeter Leisure members, £35 for non-members.

2. H2B Hair and Beauty Salon and Spa, Exeter
Tucked within Exeter College’s Hele Road site, H2B Hair and Beauty Salon and Spa offers a touch of luxury without the hefty price tag. (A one-hour Swedish full body massage will set you back just £20.) Treatments are carried out by Exeter College learners training in beauty, hairdressing and barbering, all under the supervision of experienced lecturers. Spread across four beauty salons, two hair studios, a nail bar and a barbering suite -  plus a sauna and steam room - H2B offers everything from Swedish and Indian head massages to volcanic stone therapy and its signature “ultimate back” treatment with thermal massage stamps.

There are also advanced options such as radio frequency and LED light therapy, plus make-up artistry, nail extensions and precision barbering.

This winter, manicures and pedicures start from £12.50, facials from £20 and eye treatments from £6. Pamper packages begin at £45 for a half day or £75 for a full day, which includes lunch at the award-winning @34 restaurant next door.
exe-coll.ac.uk

3. You Can Sauna
If your idea of a reset involves fresh air and a hint of adventure, this new sauna and cold-plunge retreat in Haldon Forest could be just the ticket. Located deep within the forest and opened only a few months ago, it sits quietly among the trees, with sweeping views across Dartmoor. The traditional wood-fired sauna - built by Baltic specialists and fuelled by firewood from regeneratively managed forests - is kept between 70 and 100 degrees, with a sweet spot around 90, though the live fire means no two sessions are quite the same.
Cold plunges are on hand for the restorative highs of contrast therapy, while a fire pit and outdoor seating invite lingering between rounds. Early-morning sessions are coming soon, with 7.30am starts planned for Fridays, and there’s a growing programme of guided rituals led by Sian Hurrel: multisensory experiences combining breathwork, aromatherapy and herbal salt scrubs with aufguss, the practice of melting frozen essential oils on the sauna stones and wafting the scented heat through the air. Sauna sessions start at £15.
youcansauna.com

4. Saunton Sands
Perched high above the dunes on the North Devon coast, Saunton Sands Hotel is a gleaming art deco landmark overlooking miles of golden beach. But beyond the sweeping sea views, it’s the hotel’s spa that truly steals the show - a haven of calm and coastal luxury.
For deep relaxation, step into the marine-inspired thermal suite, where a salt-inhalation steam room, Finnish aroma sauna, ice fountain, contrast shower and marine vitality pool await. The ritual of alternating hot and cold temperatures works wonders: stimulating circulation, easing tired muscles, rejuvenating skin and giving your immune system a gentle boost.
New to the spa this year have been the infrared saunas - the latest wellness trend. The Sunlighten® mPulse Smart Sauna combines red light and near-infrared LEDs to soothe pain, reduce inflammation and enhance skin and cell health. In other words, it’s the perfect antidote to a grey January. Spa days start at £65 per person.
sauntonsands.co.uk

5. Boringdon Hall
On the edge of Dartmoor, just outside Plymouth, the Grade I-listed Boringdon Hall Hotel has a heated indoor pool at 30°C and a hydrotherapy pool with an outdoor swim-through, set against open views of the surrounding countryside. The thermal suite includes a Finnish sauna, crystal salt steam room, laconium herbal sauna and traditional steam, while the experience showers offer changing temperatures, sounds and scents.

Private outdoor hot tubs are available for those who want time under the sky. A deep relaxation room overlooks the fields, and daily movement and mindfulness classes - yoga, meditation, barre and breathwork - give guests a chance to pause and breathe. Visitors can come for the day, or take one of the hotel’s Signature Spa Breaks, which include a one- to four-night stay, a 60-minute treatment and unlimited access to Gaia Spa’s pools, thermal suite and classes, plus breakfast - a calm way to ease into the new year. A half spa starts at £150, a ful day £175. The one-night Winter Spa Break starts at £415 per couple. 
boringdonhall.co.uk