Buxton Crescent Thermal Spa to open in October following 15-year saga
by Megan Whitby | 04 Sep 2020
Credit: Buxton Crescent Hotel
– Mark Hennebry
The long-awaited Buxton Crescent Hotel and Thermal Spa in the historic spa town of Buxton in the UK will open its doors on 1 October 2020 following an extensive multi-million-pound restoration, after plans were first submitted nearly 15 years ago.
Archer Humphryes Architects and Nicholas Jacob Architects have both worked on the project, which has revived one of the UK's first genuine spa hotels, the 81-key destination will re-establish Buxton’s wellness and hydrotherapy traditions by making use of the town’s natural mineral waters.
Buxton has been a thermal spa destination since Roman times and thanks to The Fifth Duke of Devonshire, who developed the town with grand architecture, the 19th century was a golden age, when ‘taking the waters’ was a fashionable pastime for notable high-society visitors.
The reopening will mark Ensana Hotels' first UK property – Ensana Hotels is a health spa brand owned by one of Europe’s largest health spa operators, Danubius Hotels Group.
Guests at Buxton Crescent will be able to experience the therapeutic qualities of the water for themselves, as hydrotherapy is at the forefront of Ensana Buxton Crescent’s spa offering.
The spa is home to three pools – the Thermal Pool, a refurbished Victorian pool using Buxton’s mineral-rich water, which is heated and left chemically untreated; a relaxation pool with an atmospheric dark ceiling pierced with shafts of light; and an indoor-outdoor rooftop pool.
Signature spa treatments will include the Thermal Mud Pack using mineral-rich mud sourced from Heviz in Hungary and a CO2 Infusion Mineral Bath.
The spa is home to a salt cave, bio-sauna, steamroom, infra-red sauna, ice fountain, Finnish sauna and gym, as well as eight treatment rooms, including a couples’ suite – some of which are completed with original stained-glass windows.
The projects’ completion follows significant support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund Derbyshire County Council, High Peak Borough Council and other stakeholders.
Launched in 2019, Ensana manages 25 other hotels across the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and the UK,has a wide collection of spa hotels located in some of Europe’s most historic spa towns.
The brand has developed an innovative integrative health concept, which combines healing natural resources with medical expertise and modern diagnostic methods, to help guests achieve their personal health goals.
Ensana Mark Hennebry Buxton Crescent
The spa is home to three pools Credit: Buxton Crescent Hotel
The spa is home to a salt cave and three saunas, among other wet and thermal experiences Credit: Buxton Crescent Hotel
The thermal spa will be home to a sauna world Credit: Buxton Crescent Hotel
Signature spa treatments will include the Thermal Mud Pack using mineral-rich mud sourced from Heviz in Hungary Credit: Buxton Crescent Hotel
The projects’ completion follows significant support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund Credit: Buxton Crescent Hotel
Buxton is renowned for its natural mineral waters which have historically been used for hydrotherapy Credit: Buxton Crescent Hotel
The restoration has seen the building retain some of its original stain glass windows Credit: Buxton Crescent Hotel
02 Feb 2020
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European health hotel spa brand Ensana launches with 26 properties
27 Nov 2014
Heritage Lottery Fund dishes out £11.3m to Buxton Crescent Hotel and Thermal Spa
17 Jun 2014
UK's Buxton Crescent and Thermal Spa turns up the heat
27 Mar 2014
Local authority extends multi-million pound loan to Buxton Crescent Thermal Spa development
04 Apr 2012
UK's Buxton Crescent project moves forward
08 Jul 2011
English Heritage grant for Buxton spa hotel
08 Sep 2010
Agreement signed for £32m Buxton project
26 Jun 2009
Buxton Crescent scheme put on hold
03 Nov 2008
Work starts on £32m Buxton spa
27 Jul 2006
Buxton Crescent and Thermal Spa awarded £12.5m
27 Jul 2006
HLF announces benefactors of £76.5m heritage funding
16 Dec 2003
Developer chosen for £23m Derbyshire Spa project
The long-awaited Buxton Crescent Hotel and Thermal Spa in the historic spa town of Buxton in the UK will open its doors on 1 October 2020 following an extensive multi-million-pound restoration, after plans were first submitted nearly 15 years ago. Archer Humphryes Architects and Nicholas Jacob Architects have both worked on the project, which has revived one of the UK's first genuine spa hotels, the 81-key destination will re-establish Buxton’s
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