The Connaught Hotel and Spa

Robe off, activewear on! There’s no need to leave your fitness goals behind when you’re on a spa break to The Connaught. It has everything you need to help you work out, chill out and refresh your body and mind.

Work up an appetite for your afternoon tea at the state-of-the-art gym, where Life Fitness treadmills, spin bikes and a recumbent bike await. Tone up and build muscle with the resistance machines, barbells and dumbells, before hitting the exercise mats for a good stretch. 

Prefer your exercise with lashings of fresh air? Step outside The Connaught and you’ve got Bournemouth’s best natural gym right on your doorstep. Take the path to the beach for a sunrise jog along the promenade, or power‑walk all the way to Sandbanks if you’re feeling ambitious. Head in the opposite direction and you can follow the clifftop trail towards Durley Chine, with sea views that make every step feel just that little bit easier. 

Calling all foodies! The Connaught Hotel isn’t just an oasis for lovers of luxury spas. It’s also highly regarded for its destination wine-ing, dining and cocktail-ing, so you know you’ll be well-fed and watered.

Gin Bar

A Bournemouth hotel with its own ’London-style’ art deco gin bar? Now you’re talking. Pull up a velvet bar stool and flip through a menu that’s more like an encyclopaedia, filled to the brim with 200 craft gins and bespoke garnishes. In summertime you can take your G&T out onto the terrace gardens, while in colder months you can swap the patio for a cosy armchair right next to the open fire.

Connaught Brasserie

You’ll want to get glammed up for brunch, lunch or dinner in the hotel’s art-deco style, modern Brasserie. Styled with vibrant velvet seating, this lively space strikes the perfect balance between smart and relaxed. The menu skips the pretentious fine-dining small portions in favour of hearty British and French brasserie staples. Tuck into a perfectly seared ribeye steak, try the legendary Connaught club sandwich or indulge in their signature local catch of the day.

Love to swim? Bournemouth’s the place! But if a bracing dip isn’t quite what you had in mind, don’t worry. The Connaught’s stunning Bluewater Spa has an 18m indoor pool, so kick-back, do some leisurely lengths or just bubble in the poolside Jacuzzi. After you swim, you can hit the sauna or breathe deeply in the eucalyptus infused steam room.

The hotel has 81 stunning rooms and suites bursting with seaside charm, so a Bournemouth spa stay will always be a temptation. All come with soundproof double-glazed windows and air-conditioning so you can be certain of a good night’s sleep. 

The accommodation is split between the main house and the adjacent Connaught Lodge. Situated just two doors down and accessed via its own private entrance or a stroll through the gardens, the Lodge holds 28 bedrooms and two exclusive suites. It’s the ultimate choice if you prefer to be away from the main hotel’s comings and goings, while still enjoying access to the Bluewater Spa, Brasserie and gin bar next door.

All room categories feature an en-suite bathroom, Wi-Fi, tea and coffee making facilities and a TV with lots of channels. Executive rooms and Suites offer extra luxuries like a selection of Templespa toiletries and Nespresso coffee machines, to keep you feeling spoiled in every way.

Here on an overnight stay? Lucky you. You can check in any time after 3pm, while check‑out is up to 11am. Spa days at Bluewater Spa generally begin at 10am, but early birds can book a morning package that starts at 8am – with breakfast included. Evening packages usually kick off around 5pm. Times can vary depending on your booking, so it’s always worth double‑checking your confirmation before you arrive.

It’s perched on Bournemouth’s West Cliff, a quieter part of town that’s still in the heart of the action. A three-minute stroll brings you to the edge of the clifftop, where you can wander down the zigzag path to the beach. From there, a walk along the promenade takes you to the iconic Victorian pier, home to the famous PierZip – the first pier-to-shore zip wire on the planet, where thrill-seekers can race 250 metres over the open waves straight onto the beach. It’s beautiful – if you can open your eyes!

If you fancy a change of scenery, a five-minute walk inland takes you to Lower Gardens and the bustling high-street shops. Or head just ten minutes in the opposite direction to explore upscale Westbourne, a charming coastal village packed with independent fashion boutiques, artisan cafes, and vintage treasure troves. 

The vibe at the hotel is wonderfully relaxed, so there is no need to pack your formal wear. But while you can fully unwind in fluffy robes and swimwear at the Bluewater Spa, you’ll need to change into actual clothes if you’re heading into the Brasserie for lunch, afternoon tea or dinner.

Yes it is, with two family rooms in The Connaught Lodge and children’s swim times from 7am to 12pm and 6pm to 9pm each day. Families can enjoy relaxed brasserie staples inside the main restaurant (which also has high chairs if you need them) while the beach is just a short stroll down the West Cliff path whenever the kids want to splash in the sea.

The hotel offers two accessible bedrooms, a lift and two accessible parking spaces. Accessible bedrooms come with an emergency cord, a low sink, a higher level toilet and grab rails. 

The main hotel is wheelchair friendly, with an accessible toilet on the ground floor. Please note, however, that the Connaught Lodge is not wheelchair friendly, and the Bluewater Spa has narrow corridors which could be trickier to navigate.

Sad times for spaniels – dogs can’t set a paw inside The Connaught Hotel. 

Sorry – it’s a fairway-free zone, but there is a pay and play option nearby. The Club at Meyrick Park is practically on the hotel’s doorstep at just a three‑minute drive or ten‑minute stroll away. Established all the way back in 1894, this historic 18‑hole championship parkland course is laid out across 120 acres right in the heart of Bournemouth. Just book a tee time and enjoy a tree‑lined challenge on its demanding par‑71 layout.