The arched windows around Matfen Hall’s new indoor pool are inspired by the stained glass in its Grand Hall. A vaulted, beamed ceiling rises above the water, while an open-air courtyard brings a vitality pool into a garden of herbs, flowers and aromatic plants. The historic house and its landscape have given Aurelius Spa a distinctly Northumberland setting.
Matfen Hall has opened the spa this November, completing what the hotel describes as a six-year, £55 million transformation of the wider estate. Set within 300 acres of private parkland, approximately 30 minutes from Newcastle city centre, the five-star country-house hotel now offers an extensive thermal circuit, six treatment rooms and residential experiences built around wellness, recovery and sleep. Non-residents can visit for spa days, too.
Arched windows, stone and open-air bathing
Aurelius occupies a new wing that doubles the footprint of Matfen Hall’s former spa. Seam Architecture designed the 2,800-square-metre space, with Barr + Wray responsible for the pool design, according to European Spa. Locally sourced stone, Welsh slate and oak panelling create a neutral palette, with the Grand Hall-inspired windows connecting the new architecture to the older house.
The 18-metre indoor pool is the central space, with sheltered poolside lounging areas and arches drawing on Roman bathing culture. The thermal facilities include a traditional sauna, Himalayan salt sauna, aromatherapy steam room and experience showers. Ice baths and a cryotherapy chamber add cold experiences, while sunlight and red-light therapy rooms extend the range beyond bathing.
The sensory garden takes the spa outdoors, with its vitality pool surrounded by botanicals and arches in an open-air courtyard. Inside, guests have a sun room, private lounge areas and a relaxation room offering a personalised VR experience. A Technogym-equipped gym and a Pilates and yoga studio provide space for movement alongside the pools and treatment rooms.
Long rituals and technology-led treatments
Natural Spa Factory supplies the botanically sourced products used in Aurelius’s treatment menu. Three signature rituals last 90 minutes: the gold-infused Ultra Gold Experience, the mineral-rich Head to Toe Serenity Ritual and the Invigorating Scrub. Their length makes them substantial appointments to plan a spa day around, with time either side for bathing, eating and resting.
The menu also includes deep-pressure and restorative massages, a traditional Japanese Head Massage and the Matfen Hydrafacial. Cryotherapy and hyperbaric oxygen sessions sit alongside these hands-on treatments, giving guests a choice between massage, facial care and technology-led wellness experiences.
Matfen Hall has also collaborated with Natural Spa Factory on an exclusive bathroom amenities range. The scents include yuzu and watermelon, lime and lemongrass, and fig and vanilla, extending the partnership into the hotel’s bedrooms and suites.
Pregnancy-adapted treatments include the Matfen Mama ritual for expectant mothers. A Parent & Child shared spa treatment is also available, adding a family option to a menu otherwise suited to solo visits, couples and longer wellness stays.
Spa dining throughout the day
The Garden Kitchen serves food throughout the spa day, allowing guests to eat when they want. Matfen Hall has moved away from the conventional set two-course spa lunch towards a more flexible offering, with different choices available from morning onwards.
Smoothies, fresh fruit and freshly baked pastries begin the day. A chilled mezze display then lets guests assemble their own plate from a selection of proteins and garnishes, followed later by sweet treats with herbal infusions or hot drinks. This gives lunch a less formal place in the day, rather than making it the appointment around which everything else is arranged.
Poolside and spa-deck service will also be available. The new dining lounge includes a champagne and juice bar, so the food and drink offering accommodates both a wellness-focused visit and a more indulgent afternoon.
Stay overnight for a sleep-focused escape
Matfen Hall’s 63 individually designed bedrooms and suites make Aurelius an option for a country-house break as well as a day visit. The Grade II-listed, neo-Gothic hall dates to 1836, and the estate has five dining venues, an 18-hole championship golf course and a nine-hole parkland course. An overnight stay gives guests time to explore those facilities alongside the spa.
The hotel’s Sleep Aurelius Spa Experience is available midweek only, with two-day, one-night or three-day, two-night stays advertised from £1,080. It includes one treatment per guest per day, with suggested choices including The Matfen Calm and Japanese Head Massage. In-room additions include a weighted blanket and eye mask, alongside pyjamas, Barbour slippers and a pillow menu.
The Wellness experience and Recovery experience also start at £1,080 and offer the same stay lengths, with one treatment per guest per day. Matfen Hall positions Recovery for guests after sport, travel or prolonged physical exertion; its inclusions specify a light breakfast and spa lunch each day, with The Matfen Restore and Invigorating Scrub among the suggested treatments.
The Longevity experience starts at £1,770, with three-day, two-night or four-day, three-night stays. It includes one treatment per guest per day, with the Signature Illuminating Facial and Ultra Gold Experience among the suggestions. Cryotherapy is available as an optional add-on.
Matfen Hall offers a complimentary chauffeur with the Wellness, Sleep and Longevity experiences, subject to terms and availability. Transfers must be pre-booked, with the hotel’s Guest Relations Team contacting guests to arrange them. All residential offers are subject to availability.
Spa days, membership and room rates
Aurelius is open from 9am to 6pm, with spa days, treatments and overnight spa stays available to book directly. Its location in Matfen Village makes a non-residential visit possible from Newcastle, while the estate setting gives an overnight break a quieter country-house context.
The membership programme starts at £350 per month, with a £350 joining fee for new members. Benefits include access to the thermal and hydrotherapy facilities and gym, where onsite trainers are available. Members also receive robes, towels and slippers during visits, and can use the spa dining area, where spa butlers serve complimentary appetisers each day.
Monthly membership inclusions extend to one wash and blow dry, or cut and shave, plus one 30-minute Hydra Facial and a selection of advanced wellness treatments. These benefits give regular visitors access to salon and treatment services as well as the pools and thermal rooms.
Matfen Hall’s room rates start at £425 per night on weekdays and £500 at weekends, including breakfast. The hotel is at Matfen Village, Northumberland, NE20 0RH, and can be contacted on +44 1661 886 500 for reservations.
