Steam, scrub and bubbles. A Thermal Spa Experience in Bath

Thermal experience? Is that just a fancy name for a steam room?

Spoiler alert. The thermal experience at the Francis Hotel Spa is so much more than just a steam room. It’s a product from Espuro and the Francis Hotel Spa is the only place in England to have it. They call it “self-guided” which means you choose. Which water jets to experiment with, a mud/Rasul experience or exfoliation? How long you stay in the steam room? It’s totally your choice. And, here’s a first-hand review of what to expect.

Invite friends or a partner, it’s an experience that you can mould to every occasion

I was lucky enough to try the experience with a friend. There were just the two of us, but we could have easily invited another four people. It’s ideal for a small group of six celebrating in Bath and kicking off their celebration with these bubbles first.

The experience is yours. The team are on hand to help you make the most of the journey (and also to guide you through the different fancy buttons) but they aren’t in the experience with you. So, you may want to kick-off your mini break in Bath with your partner in the thermal suite. It’s the best way to relax and totally forget about the week just gone. 

The full spa journey

I arrived at the spa and was welcomed like an old friend by Alice. She settled both me and my friend in and brought us apple cider vinegar shots infused with berries, rose and sparkling water. We thoroughly enjoyed them. We stepped into the changing rooms, ‘cosies’ on and then took our first step into the suite. 

You’re immediately struck by the illuminous strobe lighting. We happened to try the experience on one of the hottest days of the year, but you wouldn’t have known that. Once inside, we shut the outside away. We took a very comfortable seat on the heated bench whilst Alice explained all the different jets in the shower, how to use the steam room and what would happen when the purifying bubbles would fall from the ceiling. Yes, a steam room with foam party all rolled into one but more on that later.

Another choice. Salt scrub polish or deep nourishing Rasul?

There are two types of thermal experiences. After you’ve swayed to the different lighted water jets in the shower, blissfully trying to avoid the cold water jet, then lather yourself up in a GAIA salt scrub. Leave it on for a few minutes and wash away in the shower. If you choose the Rasul, next cover yourself in a deep nourishing mud. Whichever experience you choose (and you have to choose before you start the experience), both leave your skin feeling silky smooth and incredible. I don’t think my skin has ever felt this soft.  Then head to the steam room.

All that’s missing is a bit of Pete Tong or Carl Cox

This is a relaxing experience but, as the foam bubbles fall into the steam chamber, no-one would blame you for nostalgically looking back to a youth possibly filled with foam party disco fun. The velvety soft bubbles feel delicious against your silky-smooth skin and will fill the chamber right up to your chest. We stretched out on the bench, surrounded by steam yet cocooned in the cool bubbles and just chatted nonsense for a good 30 minutes. The bubbles slowly start to dissolve and the steam rises, so if you feel you’re getting a bit too hot, there’s a cool shower jet to sprinkle on your wrists or upper body to cool you down. When you’re ready and only when you’re ready, hit the main shower to wash away all the bubbles from you and from the chamber.  Sit in your own rainfall shower and chill.

But it doesn’t end there…

After the steam room, you can choose to take another jet shower and rinse off any lingering foam or mud. Dry off before smothering yourself in a rich and nourishing GAIA body cream from. It smells delicious and feels even better. Let the cream sink in whilst you unfurl on the heated bench again. Then, wrap yourself up in a bathrobe and wander to the relaxation room.  Alice was already waiting to show us to an outdoor cabana – we did say it was the hottest day of the year. The relaxation room is just as enticing during the colder months.  We stretched out, chamomile tea was brought to us, and we stayed there for another hour. No rush to leave, no pressure to hurry away, this was our time. The combination of the whole journey, the products, the steam room and the tea in the sunshine was so relaxing. So relaxing, my watch registered a 30-minute nap when I was in the cabana, but I can honestly say I was still chatting away. 

My one regret? Not taking advantage of a treatment straight after the thermal experience. To take yourself on this 45-minute journey of nourishment and relaxation, simply click here to book.