Knowing where to go when we need to achieve peace of mind, whether that’s for five minutes or an escape that lasts a few days, is an important part of preserving our wellbeing. 

We need to have places to go where we can throw on a podcast, read a book, run through our mantras and meditations, and even practise yoga. Having actual buildings or locations that we can retreat to is a physical signal to ourselves that we’re in a special place where we can find mental stillness, healing and slow down. Here are a few of our favourites - and we continue to find more. 

North 

Not an obvious place to start - but we love to go to the gardens at Castle Howard. 15 miles from York by car, Castle Howard is an English stately home located in gorgeous North Yorkshire and has been home to many a film and TV show. However, we don’t go for the grandeur and opulence - we like to go for the glorious, peaceful gardens and surrounding countryside. We can get totally lost in our thoughts with a walk around the grounds. 

For those who want to venture further North, Bambrugh beach is a magical place for clearing the mind, reminding ourselves of the power of nature, and taking in some stunning scenery. We recommend a run and sitting on the sand dunes with an audiobook or meditation app while enjoying views of the Bambrugh Castle and the sea.

East Anglia

Now to a more urban setting, the Cambridge Botanical Gardens is a literal oasis of calm in this historic university city. Not only are the gardens beyond beautiful, the collection of plants and foliage are mind blowing and great for helping us gain perspective - humans are only one species and the world is made up of so many fascinating and wonderful things and organisms. We recommend trying the Japanese technique of forest bathing here - now we know this isn’t a forest, but do take in the atmosphere and ‘bathe’ in the energy of the plants, trees and shrubs. Often referred to as ecotherapy, this act of recognising and immersing ourselves in nature is said to have a positive impact on our mental and physical health, and helps us to reconnect to the natural world.

Nestled in the Norfolk countryside is Breathing Space, a wonderful wellness and mindfulness retreat centre that offers everything from women-only retreats and wellness weekenders, to vibrational sound baths and allergy testing. Totally tranquil and perfectly peaceful, the various therapies that are on offer, fabulous accommodation and idyllic landscape create the ultimate conditions for wellness.

London and the South East 

Fly LDN is our favourite place in London for immersive yoga and fitness (we’ve written about Fly a few times before on the Journal). Fly LDN’s main yoga studio has a huge screen onto which clips and videos of magical places from around the world are projected. We love their 75 minute yoga classes for stretching out and slowing down. Their playlists are pretty great too.

Haeckles Margate is the only spa recommendation in this article (peace of mind isn’t just about Swedish massage and essential oils, although these don’t hurt...). The groundbreaking spa at Haeckles, which is not far from the very trendy Margate pier and seafront, uses entirely natural, sea-derived therapies foraged by the Haeckles team. Both the treatments and the ingredients are crafted and designed using up-to-the-minute techniques, and Haeckles is doing incredible work to raise awareness of the importance of the sea, the climate emergency and being mindful and purposeful in how we interact with the world. They pioneer sustainable skincare (including recycling and reuse of their packaging) too and even offer their products for free in exchange for rubbish gathered from the beach. 

The South Downs is a stone’s throw from London and can be easily reached by train. Offering numerous walking routes and nature-based activities, it’s a hop, skip and a jump to feeling calmer and less tense. Whether our preferred way of chilling out is stargazing, vineyard tours, or hiking, the South Downs have something for everyone. We recommend the cliffs of the Seven Sisters for a truly superb setting for meditation and mindfulness - they don’t call it an Area of Natural Beauty for nothing. 

South West 

Dartmoor National Park has some of the most dramatic and incredible vistas in the South West and is also home to some of Britain’s very few wild swimming spots. Wild swimming, often known as cold water swimming, has proven health (physical and mental) benefits. We recommend warming up and getting the muscles moving with outdoor yoga and following this with a dip in one of Dartmoor’s beautiful lakes, rivers or natural ponds. 

Wells Cathedral is something to behold. The silence and beauty of Wells Cathedral can be marvelled at by anyone, whether we follow a religion or not. We recommend trying one of the classical musical concerts that take place at Wells - the awe inspiring settings and relaxing music are made for meditation - or visiting one of Wells Cathedral’s art exhibitions, another way to stimulate our creative side and align mind, body and soul.