Yorkshire's newest spa offers a tranquil break away from the busy festive season

The Harrogate Spa aims to be a new luxury destination spa and has been unveiled after the £15 million renovation of the new DoubleTree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel & Spa.

Harrogate has a proud past of spa and restorative treatments going back over 200 years.

Drinking or bathing in the mineral waters there was by the 19th century part of a daily routine prescribed by doctors. This attracted visitors from far and wide to ‘take the waters’.

Arriving at the spa - a historic building set in the heart of the town - sets the tone for the day.

It’s hard not to be impressed by the grandness of the building, and the warm welcome once you meander through to the new spa side.

Everyone looks and feels brand new, and we enjoyed a sneak peek of the glistening pool area while filling in our forms in the tranquil relaxation area.

Hi-tech changing rooms are home to everything you could need for the day, from soft robes to toiletries. Once changed, we headed off for our treatments in the beautiful treatment rooms, two of which are double for couples or friends to relax together if they wish.

Prepare to spend some time planning your treatment, as there is a vast range of them from world leading spa brands: ESPA, Thalgo, Carita and Jessica available.

These include unique and indulgent spa rituals, stress-relieving and age-defying treatments to holistic and mindful massages as well as the usual manicures and pedicures.

Unusually, there are also treatments designed specifically for pregnancy. The ESPA pre-natal massage was an absolutely blissful way to unwind,

The fantastic therapist Jenny started my treatment with a back exfoliation and massage, cunningly performed from both sides.

Long soothing strokes mixed with firmer deep muscle techniques worked out knots and aided a sense of relaxation, before the massage moved on to cover tense legs, the scalp using a special scalp mud and even the bump itself.

She finished with a soft feet treatment using a decadent ESPA moisturiser, that left feet as silky smooth as though they had been walking on an exotic beach rather than dealing with a British winter.

It was an ESPA back, face and scalp treatment that hit the spot for my guest, and left us both in an unwinded state ready for lunch.

Unlike some spas, this one has access to a superb kitchen, so rather than sandwiches there are a broad range of dishes available.

The salads – a chicken Caeser and oriental duck – were both satisfying, and just healthy enough to justify desserts of textbook perfect creme brulee and a chocolate tart too.

Again these were eaten in the smart relaxation area overlooking the pool and leading out to the zen and courtyard spa garden.

Our trip into the waters was timed just right, as everybody else had left. We felt like millionaires swimming in the 12.5 metre indoor pool alone!

For those who want the full therapeutic thermal experience there is also a spa pool, Himalayan salt sauna, steam room, Rasul, experience shower and ice fountain to make the most of.

It’s a spotless place to soak up the wellbeing benefits of the town’s spa heritage in a very modern and new way.

Now if only doctors would prescribe a spa day every now and then...