Life in London can be pretty crazy, and after living here for two years we can confirm it is truly the city that never sleeps. Unfortunately, as humans we do indeed need sleep (that’s science right there), and sometimes we need to take a little break to detox from our lives to get it.
Glass House Retreat is a brand new detox and wellness retreat out in the fields of Essex, far away from the craziness of the city skyline. We were invited to spend a weekend here to take a break from our busy lives and focus on our mental and physical health, and we were honestly so excited.
The retreat is all about focusing on your personal well-being. Whether you’re looking to lose weight, detox or simply recharge, Glass House Retreat offers it all. While you’re there you can take part in morning walks in the country, fitness classes, vegan cooking demonstrations or simply relax by the pool or in the sauna.
We checked in Friday afternoon, and from the moment you walk into the sparkling new, contemporary building, you simply feel calmer. The staff speak softly and are wonderfully friendly, and after you check-in you’re invited to change into your dressing gown and slippers, which most guests stay in all weekend (except for when working out).
The rooms are designed to accommodate singles, couples and friends, with the option of having two double or king-sized beds in a room (which we opted for). It was like a big, fancy, luxurious sleepover for adult besties, complete with a 49″ TV, stunning views and a large bathroom.
The rest of the retreat is packed full of state-of-the-art facilities, like the pink salt crystal sauna, the stunning pool, the cryotherapy chamber and the top-notch gym. A large lounge room is the perfect spot to play board games or watch movies with other guests, and this is also where group activities take place, like lessons about essential oils.
At Glass House Retreat a lot of emphases is placed on diet. There are three diet plans you can choose from equilibrium, weight loss or pure juicing, which depending on your goals will depend on which one you should pick. All the food served is raw vegan, which is designed to cleanse and balance your digestive system We went for the equilibrium, which is all about detox while maintaining weight, and gives you three solid meals a day, as well as an additional smoothie at lunch and soup entree for dinner. The food wasn’t at all what we thought raw vegan would be, as each dish was super creative, colourful and incredibly tasty.
Each morning you’re given a personalised schedule, on which are the times of your spa treatments. Glass House Retreat has an incredible day spa area, where you can get everything from massages to facials to waxing done. We tried the Lava Shell massage, which uses hot ‘shells’ to massage your back, and also indulged in some facials which had our skin glowing afterwards. In-between your spa treatments you’ll have time to attend some fitness classes at the gym too; think HIIT, yoga and stretch style.
We had an incredible weekend at Glass House Retreat and met some lovely, likeminded people while we were there. We left feeling totally relaxed and detoxed, albeit a little bit hungry (which we suppose is to be expected after a cleansing weekend like we just had!). Whether you’re looking to lose weight or just clear your mind, we’d highly recommend booking in at Glass House Retreat and letting it work its magic on you.
