The Matfen Hall hotel announces its Aurelius spa in Northumberland: -110 °C cryotherapy, hyperbaric chamber

Extreme cold, pressurised oxygen and an 18-metre pool: the Matfen Hall hotel, in Northumberland in the north of England, is betting on a spa built around technology as much as water. Its name is Aurelius, and the hotel’s website announces its opening for 2 November 2026.

Down to -110 °C: cold, oxygen and red light

The official website highlights three advanced therapies. Whole-body cryotherapy exposes the body to cold that drops as low as -110 °C. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy takes place in a chamber, where guests breathe oxygen under pressure. Red-light therapy completes the trio.

In New York, The Mark hotel has also chosen a hyperbaric chamber for its Augustinus Bader spa. For those who want to move, Aurelius adds a Pilates and yoga studio and an AI-focused Technogym gym.

An 18-metre pool beneath a timber roof

Water remains at the heart of the project. In the hotel’s images, the 18-metre pool stretches beneath a pale timber roof structure, facing a large picture window that opens onto the park. The website also lists a jacuzzi pool and a vitality pool for relaxation.

Arches and cloisters: echoes of the Roman baths

For its decor, Aurelius looks to Roman baths and Northumberland’s past. The website mentions arches and poolside lounges arranged as a cloister, the covered walkway found in monasteries.

From Himalayan salt sauna to ice bath

On the heat side, the circuit includes a Himalayan salt sauna, a traditional sauna, an aromatic steam bath and steam showers. On the cold side, there is the Brass Monkey ice bath, whose temperature the website does not give. So-called experience showers round off the circuit.

For downtime, the spa plans two relaxation rooms, Lux and Aqua, a private lounge and a sensory garden. There is also a hair and beauty salon, as well as a restaurant, The Garden Kitchen. Further west, in the Lake District, the Elysium Windermere hotel is also preparing a spa, on its roof.

Five packages, from one to three nights

Aurelius can also be booked as a stay. Three packages fit into one night: Activation, Recovery and Sleep. Wellness lasts two nights, Longevity three. The Wellness at Aurelius package is listed from £1,080 for its two nights.

63 rooms and 120 hectares around the spa

The hotel presents itself as the first and only 5-star in Northumberland. It has 63 rooms in five categories, in a Grade II listed building, set in more than 300 acres of parkland, or around 120 hectares.

Matfen Hall opened as a hotel in 1999, with 31 rooms, in the days of Hugh and Lady Blackett. It has since been bought by Walwick Estate Group, chaired by David Harrison. Further south, in Yorkshire, the Aldwark Manor Estate hotel, for its part, announced a 17-room wing.

Beyond the spa, the hotel has five places to eat or drink: The Emerald Restaurant, Cloisters Restaurant and Bar, The Keepers, the Drawing Room and the 1832 bar.

What does Matfen Hall cost? From £280 listed

The official website lists rates from £280 on Advance Purchase, the early-booking rate, and from £350 on Bed and Breakfast, with breakfast included. These amounts, checked on 6 November 2026, are not tied to any stay date or room type, so they do not stand as the price of a specific night.