Top 5 Luxury Spa Hotels in Europe

If you're looking for a relaxing weekend break, a few nights at a spa hotel can really recharge your batteries. Discover a world of relaxation and indulgence at Europe's top luxury spa hotels, from award-winning afternoon teas to exotic treatments.
Here's the low-down on the best spots for a massage that the continent has to offer...
1. Berkeley Hotel, London, UK
Contemporary elegance is the best way to describe the beautiful Berkeley in Knightsbridge. Escape the pressures (and pollution) of the big smoke with a relaxing rooftop swim beneath the stars or one of the infamous Pret-a-Portea afternoon teas. What could be more relaxing than haute-design treats, such as Chanel lime cakes and Christian Dior pink chocolate biscuits? The legendary hotel is also top of the list for treatments; soothe yourself with a delicious LaStone massage or traditional Balinese therapies.
2. Canbonastre Wine Resort Hotel, Masquefa, Spain
This divine wine resort in Spain is a masterpiece of indulgence - great Mediterranean food, fine wines, luxurious Lanvin accessories and the excellent Acuba Spa. Alongside the myriad treatments, there's a pool, sauna and steam room to enjoy. There's also a 'wine therapy' programme to ensure your total relaxation.
3. Capri Palace Hotel and Spa, Capri, Italy
Capri is the destination for glitz and glamour. A firm favourite with the stars, it's easy to see why this island pulls in the crowds year after year. The hotel takes uber-chic to a new level, but the spa is still the real gem here. It's the kind of place where you can book a vascular stimulation treatment and a simple mud wrap all in one day. The pool scene is fabulous, too - enjoy the views of celebs sunning themselves, and the cliffs and sparkling seas beyond.
4. Lucknam Park Hotel, Colerne, UK
Another exceptional spa in England, the Lucknam Park near Bath lies in the Wiltshire countryside. It's a romantic hideaway of serenity and calm and the spa is a brand new multi-million pound extension to the manor house. Enjoy the hydrotherapy pools, long list of treatments and body-moulded heated beds - and if you get hungry, there's a smart, contemporary brasserie on hand for a snack or two.
5. Alchymist Grand Hotel and Spa, Prague, Czech Republic
Further afield in the Czech Republic, this gorgeous neo-Baroque boutique hotel is located in the centre of Prague. The Alchymist has certainly never heard of minimalism; downstairs in the spa, the style switches to neo-Bali for the extensive health club facilities. Top of the list is the Jacuzzi lit by chandeliers.

Tom Ingrams is a travel writer who specialises in the higher end of the market, paying particular attention to boutique and luxury spa hotels.