My wife sends me to the spa occasionally. I go under protest and then spend the entire time wondering why I don't do this more often. Southport has a growing wellness offering — between the hotel spas and the independent studios, there's enough to fill a proper spa day without driving to Manchester.
Hotel spa options
The Grand and the Bold Hotel both have spa and wellness facilities. The Grand's offering is more traditional — treatments, steam room, the kind of environment that feels appropriately indulgent. The Bold has a more boutique feel, which suits its hotel aesthetic.
Both are worth calling ahead to book, especially for popular weekend slots. They fill up for hen parties and birthday spa days, so spontaneity isn't always rewarded.
Independent day spas
Southport has a good number of independent beauty studios and spa rooms that offer day spa experiences at better value than the hotels. The quality varies, but the best ones are genuinely good — trained therapists, proper treatment rooms, and the kind of care that a small business brings when its reputation depends on it.
What Southport's wellness scene does well
There's a growing number of yoga studios, pilates classes, and wellness practitioners that have established themselves in Southport over the last few years. The market for wellness services has expanded as the town's demographics have shifted. For a coastal town of this size, the offer is solid.
Booking tips
- →Book at least a week in advance for weekend slots
- →Ask specifically about what's included — not all 'spa days' include the same amenities
- →Check whether the spa has a pool or hydrotherapy facilities if that matters to you
- →For couples' treatments, availability is more limited — book early
💆If you're visiting for a special occasion — birthday, anniversary, a break from the kids — a spa day in Southport makes for a complete and reasonably priced day out without leaving the town.
Terry
Chief Editor, SouthportGuide.co.uk — Lives in Churchtown with his wife,
four kids, and Frank the bulldog.
