Basically, a “day spa” is one you visit. A “destination spa” is one you stay at. Think of it like the difference between out-patient and in-patient at a hospital.

To confuse things slightly, many hotels have day spas and there are packages that combine spa therapies with a night in a hotel room.

Originally, a spa referred to spring waters which gave health benefits to bathers.

Today there is an increasing tendency for the “spa” label to be applied to any vaguely pampering service regardless of whether there is any water anywhere. A “Nail Spa” may only offer manicure and pedicure.

For the purposes of this site, we’re focusing on places you can go for a massage or other therapy (yes, including manicure) but which contain at least one water-based or heat-based ‘feature’.

In other words, spas that you can make a day of.

So whether it’s a massage and a sauna, or a swim and a facial, we’ll be guiding you to the best Britain has to offer, and answering your UK Day Spa questions when we launch later in the year.

If you’d like us to feature your day spa, read how we can work together.

If you’d like to join our review team, read how to apply for a place.