Bicester Hotel Golf & Spa

If your pampering break isn't complete without some form of work out, Bicester Hotel Golf & Spa has plenty of ways to help you sweat in style. Inside or outside, on the studio floor, on the assault course or even on a paddleboard - the fitness facilities here will (literally) take your breath away.

Whether you’re a serious athlete who runs triathlons for kicks, or a yoga bunny who prefers to feel zen rather than the burn, you’ll find everything you need to reach your full fitness potential.

The hotel’s health club has a gym packed with Matrix resistance and cardiovascular equipment to keep you entertained as you workout. Watch TV as you pedal, plod or pump, or connect your workouts to MyFitnessPal to see all the calories you’re burning.

Divided into two goal-oriented studios, the hotel offers 75 fun fitness classes 

each week. Bounce, groove and pump in the high-impact, high-octane Studio One, with a sound system pumping out the tunes for some dance-inspired classes. Like something a bit more mindful? Studio Two will be your home from home. Head here for ​​Ashtanga, Tai Chi or even a soul-soothing sound bath.

Serious fitness-istas should pay a visit to the Performance Centre. Open to everyone, its range of equipment will appeal to training enthusiasts, amateur weight-lifters and elite professional athletes, as well as those looking to improve their fitness. 

Get training for your next Tough Mudder at the Performance Centre’s assault course, try your hand at some paddleboarding or open-water swimming at the 200m long purpose built lake, or sweat, strut or stroll the outdoor running track.

But there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to fitness here. Even competitive types are well-catered for thanks to the on-site parkland golf course, padel courts and tennis courts. 

If all the fitness and pampering on offer wasn’t enough to make you feel spoiled, Bicester Hotel Golf & Spa is also home to some spectacular spaces in which to eat, drink and be merry. So where should you head for your post-massage cocktail?

Grays Restaurant

Grays Restaurant offers more than just à la carte dining - it's an experience to savour. With breathtaking views over the lake and golfing greens, enjoy afternoon teas and exquisite dinners, served alongside an expertly crafted cocktail (or two). Steaks and seafood are cooked to perfection, but rest assured that everything is local and sustainable. Veg and herbs are grown on the premises wherever possible, the fish they purchase is traceable to the source, while meat is bought from local butchers using only local farms.

Bar Nineteen

Fact. The 19th hole is always the best part of any golf course.. And with stunning views across the putting green and the fairways beyond, you’ll feel like you’re actually on the course! Drink in all the action outside with a coffee or something bubbly in hand. And, from the Grand Prix to Wimbledon, if there’s any big sporting occasion to be had, chances are they’ll be showing it on one of their huge TV screens. With a modern, fun vibe, enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner along with a cocktail.

It does. The attractive indoor swimming pool at Bicester Hotel Golf & Spa has 20 glorious metres to swim in, so it’s ideal for lengths, laps or just for lounging beside, book in hand. There’s a dedicated lane for serious swimmers, as well as a separate hydrotherapy pool with heated water jets to relax in. 

But if you’ve always fancied reaping the mental and physical benefits of a spot of cold-water swimming, now’s your chance. The hotel is home to its own outdoor performance lake, a 200m body of water that’s part of the on-site Performance Centre. The purpose-built lake is naturally fed and filtered and every session is lifeguarded - you can even have a go at paddleboarding. Although it’s open all year round, swimming hours vary as they’re based on the season

Check-in is from 3pm and check-out is at 11am.

Yes there is. Alongside accessible parking the hotel has four fully accessible rooms with wider doors. Each one is spacious and boasts wet-rooms with seats, handrails and lowered sinks. 

Grays Restaurant, Bar Nineteen, the spa and swimming pool are all located on the ground floor of the hotel and feature wide doorways. The spa and gym are wheelchair accessible with a lift to the first floor, but please note there is no pool hoist and the only way into the water is via steps.

Thinking of booking an overnight spa package to Bicester Hotel Golf & Spa? You’re in for a treat. There are 52 luxury bedrooms, offering five different styles of accommodation, from Classic Rooms to Junior Suites. All rooms have contemporary décor and many boast views, either of the undulating fairways or the inner courtyard garden. Several rooms on the first floor have gorgeous Juliet balconies.

If you’re here on a spa day, Bicester Hotel Golf & Spa will provide the towel, robe and slippers, so just pack a swimming costume - or two so that you’ve got a dry one to change into for your treatment. 

Other than that, bring your gym kit, trainers and a water bottle so you can keep fit and have fun with a group class or work up a sweat in the state-of-the-art fitness suite. Don’t forget a good book for all that lounging you’ll be doing, and if your package includes dinner or afternoon tea at Gray’s Restaurant you might feel more comfortable if you’ve brought some smart-casual clothing to wear.

The hotel can be found on the outskirts of Bicester in Oxfordshire, approximately four miles from Bicester Village train station. The famous designer outlet retail centre is just two miles away. 

You can make your stay at Bicester Hotel Golf & Spa every bit as laid-back or as action-packed as you like. For the adventurous there’s open-water swimming, paddleboarding or an assault course to scramble over. Sporty type? Swing by the golf course or driving range, have a game of doubles at the tennis courts, or try your hand at padel tennis (a fun mix of squash and tennis). 

Fitness lovers will enjoy the extensive gym with its Matrix resistance and cardiovascular equipment, or there’s a full timetable of classes to sweat your way through,from three studios dedicated to your body, mind and soul.

But if that’s all sounding a bit too energetic, you could just spend all day in the spa with its indoor pool, hydro pool and thermal suite! It even has a spa garden complete with outdoor sauna, hot tub and sun loungers. Just make sure you leave time for a Thalgo ritual from one of the seven sumptuous treatment rooms.

The big draw has to be the luxurious designer outlet centre in Bicester Village. In fact if you’re a fan of all things retail, the hotel offers special spa and shopping packages which come with additional discounts and a VIP pass!  

But if you don’t mind heading slightly further afield, a 20-minute drive takes you to Oxford where sightseeing and shopping opportunities abound. Or head to nearby Blenheim Palace - it’s the birthplace of Winston Churchill and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

It is. Many rooms can accommodate z-beds for younger family members, or opt for interconnecting rooms that allow you all to spread out. 

While treatments and thermal experiences in the spa are for those aged 16 and over, kids can splash in the indoor pool between 8am and 10pm and 4pm to 6pm every day. Over at the outdoor swimming lake, the minimum age is 10 and your little water babies need to be able to swim 200m comfortably. 

Sorry. Bicester Hotel Golf & Spa resort is a doggy-free zone. Pets can’t set a paw in the hotel unless they’re specifically trained as service dogs - for example guide dogs for the blind or hard of hearing.

Love to spa and par? You’re in luck. A little birdie told us that the Bicester Hotel Golf & Spa resort does indeed have its own golf course, and a fabulous one at that. Recently renovated to add new bunkers, water hazards and some wonderfully large, tricky greens, this par 71 course boasts 36 tee structures and seven lake systems. 

There’s an interactive driving range for those looking to improve their swing, and a clubhouse called Bar Nineteen which overlooks the stunning parkland course. You don’t need to be a member to play golf here, just book your tee-time with the Pro Shop to pay and play. Or why not try a spa package which includes a round?