Wiltshire


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-where">What? Where? </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/Vitality-Day-Spa-team-copy-1000x667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-29336" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/Vitality-Day-Spa-team-copy-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/Vitality-Day-Spa-team-copy-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/Vitality-Day-Spa-team-copy-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/Vitality-Day-Spa-team-copy-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/Vitality-Day-Spa-team-copy.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Tucked away in one of Bradford on Avon&#8217;s pretty honey-coloured stone buildings is this bijoux day retreat, where, this small but professional team will make you feel as pampered as a prize pooch. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Vibe</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/Vitality-day-spa-flowers-RSZ-CR-2.jpg" alt="Vitality Day Spa flowers" class="wp-image-29319" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/Vitality-day-spa-flowers-RSZ-CR-2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/Vitality-day-spa-flowers-RSZ-CR-2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/Vitality-day-spa-flowers-RSZ-CR-2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/Vitality-day-spa-flowers-RSZ-CR-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/Vitality-day-spa-flowers-RSZ-CR-2-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Although it looks like a tiny Victorian shop from the street (it was built in the early 19th century), inside, <a href="https://wilts.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/little-black-book/health-wellbeing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vitality Day Spa</a> transforms into Tardis, with a large reception area, smaller relaxation room and loo upstairs, plus two treatment rooms downstairs. The whole effect is super-soothing the moment you walk in. Open the door and you&#8217;re immersed in a bubble of wellbeing straightaway &#8211; the lighting is subdued, decor is grey-neutral with purple accents, and the staff are very friendly, looking genuinely pleased to see you. They take your coat and sit you down with a footbath strewn with faux flowers while you fill in your registration card. You sense your heart slow to the beat of calming music. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/VITALITY-WAITING-AREA-RESIZE.jpg" alt="Waiting Room at Vitality Day Spa Bradford on Avon" class="wp-image-29316" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/VITALITY-WAITING-AREA-RESIZE.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/VITALITY-WAITING-AREA-RESIZE-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/VITALITY-WAITING-AREA-RESIZE-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/VITALITY-WAITING-AREA-RESIZE-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/VITALITY-WAITING-AREA-RESIZE-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>You sip cold brew herbal tea too &#8211; I plumped for Mango, Passionfruit and Orange. Owner Georgie Farnham was there the day I visited, and was just as positive and kind as her infamous social media posts and videos imply. She&#8217;s always championing her fellow local businesses and home town of Bradford on Avon in an all-inclusive, selfless way, so she&#8217;s a mine of information if you&#8217;re visiting the town for the day.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="999" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/Vitality-Day-Spa-2022-Georgie.jpeg" alt="Georgie Farnham Vitality Day Spa" class="wp-image-29317" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/Vitality-Day-Spa-2022-Georgie.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/Vitality-Day-Spa-2022-Georgie-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/Vitality-Day-Spa-2022-Georgie-1000x666.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/Vitality-Day-Spa-2022-Georgie-768x511.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/Vitality-Day-Spa-2022-Georgie-788x525.jpeg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Georgie Farnham, Owner of Vitality Day Spa</figcaption></figure>



<p>Vitality&#8217;s brand is very clever: The neutral decor stops your mind from wandering, little touches like the bubbly footbath and the tea immediately you feel spoilt and their whole ethos from real life to social media is one of relaxation, kindness and calm. My therapist that day was Jade, who gently dried my feet, then escorted me to my treatment room. Here there was more mood lighting, LED candles, a shower in one corner and a huge treatment bed in the middle smothered in fluffy looking towels dressed with a hand-tied bunch of lavender. It&#8217;s a total cocoon.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/VITALITY-DAY-SPA-TREATMENT-ROOM.jpg" alt="Treatment room at Vitality Day Spa" class="wp-image-29315" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/VITALITY-DAY-SPA-TREATMENT-ROOM.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/VITALITY-DAY-SPA-TREATMENT-ROOM-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/VITALITY-DAY-SPA-TREATMENT-ROOM-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/VITALITY-DAY-SPA-TREATMENT-ROOM-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/VITALITY-DAY-SPA-TREATMENT-ROOM-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>As I needed a serious de-stress, I opted for a Natural Candle Massage combined with an express facial &#8211; because the warm wax is said to encourage deep relaxation. I can&#8217;t pretend I wasn&#8217;t hesitant though &#8211; who hasn&#8217;t yelped when attacked by tealight? But softly-spoken Jade reassured me that the wax would be soft and warming, which it was.</p>



<p>One of the most stand-out aspects of a Vitality experience is the attention to detail; the way you&#8217;re almost swaddled in towels, the comfiness and quality of the large, padded massage bed that doesn&#8217;t leave you with a big red ring around your face, and the massage&#8217;s  &#8220;Welcome Touch&#8221;  &#8211; hot flannels on your feet to signal the start of the treatment. Jade was also softly spoken and didn&#8217;t engage me in too much conversation (even though I had to ask questions for this review), because she &#8211; like the rest of the Vitality team &#8211; understand that to truly relax, their client needs to let go and drift off into a state of semi-slumber. The massage was blissful and actually as good or even better than treatments I have had at much larger spas &#8211; the intimate nature of the Vitality means you feel very well looked-after. Every attention is paid to client care &#8211; therapists don&#8217;t have sharp fingernails and towels are big enough to cover you as you turn over, without so much as a square inch of skin exposed to the air. Afterwards you&#8217;re left for as long as you like to enjoy the feeling of pure bliss. No hurry, no stress.</p>



<p>Vitality flies the flag for natural beauty and wellbeing, using only natural and organic products &#8211; Botanicals, Natural Spa Factory and Delicia Ray.&nbsp;It&#8217;s very much a massage menu, although facials, reflexology and a brow shape and tint are available too. But this experience very much about the feelgood factor.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/Vitality-botanicals-products.jpeg" alt="Vitality Day Spa products Bradford on Avon" class="wp-image-29351" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/Vitality-botanicals-products.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/Vitality-botanicals-products-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/Vitality-botanicals-products-1000x667.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/Vitality-botanicals-products-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/11/Vitality-botanicals-products-788x525.jpeg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Scoff &amp; Quaff</h2>



<p>Aside from the chilled herbal fruit tea, Vitality also serves locally-made <a href="https://www.hennyandjoes.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Henny &amp; Joe&#8217;s Chai</a>, but isn&#8217;t anything to eat at Vitality. However, they often run special link-ups with local businesses, like <a href="https://www.weaving-shed.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Weaving Shed</a> restaurant, so ask when you book and keep an eye on social media for other collaborations too.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Disability access</h2>



<p>Unfortunately the age of the building means that this spa is not suitable for wheelchairs. There is a steep set of stairs leading downstairs but no lift. Please contact Vitality directly to find out how other disabilities can be supported.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Out and about</h2>



<p>Bradford on Avon is a beautiful little town not far from Bath and the perfect size for a day trip, although you should definitely allow for several hours of doing nothing after your treatment to benefit from the sense of utter relaxation you&#8217;ll feel.</p>



<p>To fill a morning, go for a stroll along the Kennet and Avon canal, stopping at <a href="https://avonclifftea.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">No 10 Tea Gardens</a> or <a href="https://crossgunsavoncliff.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Cross Keys at Avoncliff,</a> or mooch around the independent shops like <a href="https://www.strawberrybluehome.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Strawberry Blue</a> and <a href="https://collectableboa.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Collectable</a> in The Shambles,  <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cloudandcove/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cloud and Cove</a> across the road and Sassy and Boo in Lamb Yard. If you have a morning treatment, have a snooze at lunchtime then book afternoon tea in <a href="https://www.thebridgetearooms.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bridge Tearooms</a> on the other side of the town bridge. Pick up some expertly curated wine at <a href="https://www.cru-wine.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cru Emporium</a> for the evening.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Muddy Verdict</h2>



<p><strong>Good for: </strong>Natural treatments that leave you with a feeling of total wellbeing. Set aside a good three hours to make the most of the experience. A perfect treat if you are exploring the West Wilts/Bath area. </p>



<p><strong>Not for:</strong> Aesthetic beauty treatments, or if you&#8217;re looking for a pool/sauna/jacuzzi spa experience. This place is very much about personal service and expert care rather than amenities.</p>



<p><strong>The damage: </strong>Massages from around £60 for 50 minutes, 80 minute treatment around £90. Payable in advance.</p>



<p></p>



<p><em><a href="https://vitalitydayspa.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vitality Day Spa</a>, 8 Market Street, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1HL, 01225 309 356</em></p>


Review: Vitality Day Spa, Bradford on Avon

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