Best for brides and beaus

When it's weeks, not months, that you're counting down to the big day, it's hard to get your head above the parapet of napkin colour choices and bridesmaid's shoe dilemmas. And given the sort of pressure that a wedding puts on your finances, a weekend away seems a little frivolous, but some quiet time with your partner is just what you need.

A spa weekend away will not only provide the sort of pre-wedding pampering that you want in the lead up to your wedding, but will also relax you and offer quality time with your other half - hopefully reminding you while you made the commitment in the first place.

Northern Ireland may seem an unlikely place to head, but as long as you haven't got your heart set on a tan, Lough Erne is a perfect pre-wedding jaunt.

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The reasons why Lough Erne Golf Resort are good for couples is given away by the name - but even if neither of you are golfers, there's walking, horse riding, cylcing, watersports, fishing and of course the Thai Spa.

The food is good - much of it caught or grown locally and even when Enniskillen's infamous weather is blowing itself inside out, the spot in the armchair by the open fireplace, with tea and scone in hand, is unbeatable.

Read the review of Lough Erne's Thai Spa

From slathering warm mud on each other in a Rasul chamber to sharing a steamy room naked, more spas are offering couples treatments. This pampering in private spaces enables partners to spend some quality, intimate time together outside the home.

HANDS ON

The Spa at Chancery Court, London

USP Calm city spa with creative couples menu.

Ambience An oriental vibe, with orchids and pebbles aplenty and a VIP Harmony couple room, several saunas and two amethyst crystal steam rooms.

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