Ockenden Manor Hotel & Spa

Nailing your fitness goals is easy when you’re soaking up the stunning surroundings of the spa at Ockenden Manor. Everything here is geared towards enhancing your wellness, from the sleek, modern exercise equipment to the many movement experiences on offer.

A fully equipped gym offers cardio, free weights and resistance machines, and there are personal trainers on-hand to maximise your results. The spa also has a fitness studio for pilates and yoga classes if you like to workout with friends.

Prefer your exercise with lashings of fresh air? You’re in for a treat. The hotel has nine acres of grounds to stroll around, but if that’s not enough you’re just a stone’s throw from Cuckfield Recreation Ground which has three tennis courts and plenty of space for a jog. You can even go Nordic walking through local vineyards, gorgeous gardens and shaded woodland. 

You’ve nurtured your body with heat and water. You’ve nourished it with a luxurious spa treatment. Now it’s time to nibble on something delectable, and Ockenden Manor has just the thing. Some truly indulgent eating and drinking options await, and they all use produce sourced from the bountiful Sussex area that surrounds you.

The restaurant

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in Ockenden Manor’s sublime dining room so there’s always something delicious to tuck into throughout the day. Forget calorie-controlled, rabbit-food sized portions - the food here is just as indulgent as your trip to the spa. Take your pick from the set Sussex menu, but make sure you leave room for dessert - you wouldn’t want to miss the apple and rhubarb mess.

The drawing room and bar

Not in the mood for something fancy? The bar has a fabulously relaxed atmosphere and makes a great spot for lighter bites, a coffee or a pre-dinner cocktail. Enjoy the cosy fire in the drawing room but when the sun shines you can head out to the terrace and gardens for a perfectly poured gin and tonic.

It has two! Ockenden Manor has a 15m indoor pool with a fabulous ‘swim-through’ feature that lets you float out to the 11m outdoor pool without having to get out (or get cold!). 

It does, and they’ll ensure your spa break really has the wow-factor. All 28 bespoke bedrooms and distinctive suites are all individually styled and each is named after a member of one of the two families that owned the building since 1520. 

In the historic manor, some feature rooms boast Tudor oak panelling and four-poster beds, while in the contemporary spa building, modern suites above the pool come beautifully decorated and have patio doors to a sun terrace.

Although all rooms are unique, each one includes a bathroom crammed with Temple Spa goodies, handmade Vispring mattresses, fluffy dressing gowns, homemade biscuits to eat with your Nespresso machine coffee and free WiFi.

It is, but Ockenden Manor itself is an old building full of period features. There are accessible toilets on the ground floor, and lifts to treatment rooms in the purpose-buildt spa.. 

Ockenden Manor Hotel & Spa is in Cuckfield, the West Sussex enclave widely thought of as one of the prettiest Tudor villages in England. Cuckfield’s bustling high street is well-worth a visit, with boutique shops selling everything from vintage furniture to jewellery and pre-loved designer clothing. Looking to explore further afield? The buzzing seaside town of Brighton is just 20 minutes away.

Despite its grand good looks, staying at the Ockenden Manor is relaxed and informal. In the spa you’ll drift around in your robe. But while there’s no formal dress code, dinner in the restaurant is an elegant affair and you’ll find most of your fellow diners have got spruced up. So go smart-casual and you’ll fit right in.

Ockenden Manor has everything you need to help you rest and rejuvenate in style. Wander through nine acres of private gardens, sip a G and T at the oak panelled bar or al fresco on a sunny terrace, then dine at a sumptuous restaurant on the best ingredients Sussex can offer. After dinner, pull up a squishy chair in front of the open fire in the cosy drawing room for a nightcap.

The award-winning spa lets you take a dip at the stunning indoor-outdoor pool, have a relaxing rainforest experience in a unique shower, and float away to bliss in the Isopod floatation tank. Feeling more energetic? There’s a well-equipped gym and fitness studio with a weekly calendar of classes to try.

Robes, towels and slippers are provided, but you’ll need your swimwear, and dry underwear to wear to your treatment. Otherwise, you might want to bring wellies and walking boots for woodland walks, your sportswear for a workout or fitness class and something fabulous to wear for evening drinks and dinner.

Here on a staycation? Lucky you! Check in at Ockenden Manor from 3pm and check out anytime before 11am. All overnight guests can enjoy access to the spa facilities from 2pm on the day of arrival until 2pm on the day of departure. 

In terms of spa day packages, arrival times vary so it’s best to check your booking confirmation - you don’t miss a single minute of your pampering treat! Morning and all-day packages generally start at either 9am or 10am, while afternoon packages begin at 12pm. Evening spa experiences start at 4.30pm. 

Planning an early morning dip? Or maybe you fancy a steamy evening hot tub as the sun goes down. We don’t blame you. Luckily, the spa at Ockenden Manor is open from 7am to 9pm midweek and from 8am to 9pm at the weekend. 

It is! While treatments and poolside spa facilities such as hot tub, sauna and steam room are adults only, children aged under 16 can splash about in the pool between 10am and 11am and 3.30pm to 5pm each day.

There are several comfortable room options available if you’re bringing little ones, from sofa beds and interconnecting rooms to entire cottages. And there’s plenty to keep them entertained nearby. Just nine miles away you can hop on a real steam train! The authentic and well-preserved Bluebell Railway takes you back in time as you chug through the West Sussex countryside at a gentle pace. 

Looking for the paw-fect Sussex getaway for you and your four-legged friend? You couldn’t have picked a better dog-friendly spa escape! Well-behaved dogs are welcome at Ockenden Manor for £30 per night, as long as you keep them on their leads in public areas and don’t let them set a paw in either the restaurant or spa building. And, with the South Downs on your doorstep, there are an abundance of walks to be enjoyed.

Prefer afternoon tee to afternoon tea? We hear you. While there isn’t a golf course at Ockenden Manor, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pack your clubs. The nine-hole Cuckfield Golf Centre is just a four-minute drive away and offers views of the gorgeous Sussex countryside. Perfect for both beginners and experienced golfers, visitors can book online.