Busy lifestyles see more women visiting spas

A new survey by Waterfall Spa has found that British women are investing more time and money on pampering themselves in an attempt to redress the balance of their hectic lives. The number of women visiting spas has more than doubled in the past three years, with one in three escaping the pressures of work and family life at a spa.

The study by Waterfall Spa in Leeds to mark National Spa Week (23rd to 30th September) found that 34 per cent of women have visited a spa, compared to just 13 per cent in 2004.

The chance to relax and unwind was the most common reason for women visiting a spa, with busy lifestyles making them determined to make the most of any available “me time”.

More than 1,500 women across the UK were interviewed as part of the study by Waterfall, the first luxury ladies-only spa outside London.

Sixty per cent of those interviewed claimed they do not get enough time to themselves, with only one in five spending more than three hours a week relaxing or pampering themselves.

Pamela Petty, managing director of Waterfall Spa, said: “The tradition of spending time relaxing at a spa dates back to Roman times, but there has been a major revival in recent years.

“With increasingly busy lifestyles, often juggling work and family lives, women are looking for new ways to relax and pamper themselves and visiting a spa provides the perfect stress relief.

“Spending a day indulging yourself in luxurious surroundings is a well earned treat for busy women and leaves them feeling refreshed and ready to face the world again.”

The study found that women in Northern Ireland were more than twice as likely to visit a spa than the rest of the UK, with 66 per cent having been at least once.

In contrast, just 15 per cent of women in Wales have visited a spa.

For more information visit Waterfallspa.co.uk.