Andy Devaney
If your group chat has ever tried to organise “a wholesome weekend” and ended up ordering kebabs at 1am, fear not — salvation may be booked by the night. With fitness getaways surging in popularity, 2026 is shaping up to be the year we swap hangovers for hot tubs, step-counts for scenic hikes, and “just one more episode” for one more rep.
Wellness is no longer the side dish on holiday; it’s the main course. The industry has recently hit a record value of $6.8 trillion and is projected to grow to $9.8 trillion by 2029*, underlining that health and wellbeing are now key travel drivers. And we’re not imagining the appetite for it: Google search data suggests we’re chasing fresh air and a calmer headspace more than ever, with searches for “wellness retreats” up 700% compared to this time last year.
So, rather than attempting resolutions solo (a brave but lonely sport), why not recruit your mates for a weekend where accountability comes with a heated pool? Think group swims, HIIT sessions, countryside hikes, breathwork, and the kind of post-workout dinner that tastes better because you earned it.
That’s the thinking behind Big House Experience’s latest round-up: five large UK homes built for groups who want to keep the body moving and the mind settled. From woodland manors to modern properties with Hyrox-style training spaces, these are fitness getaways designed to feel like a proper reset — without turning your holiday into a boot camp you didn’t consent to.
1) Olive House, Suffolk — 3 nights from £5,800
A back-to-nature base for gentle fitness and digital detoxing
Set on the edge of Thetford Forest, Olive House is for groups who want wellness without whistles and clipboards. There’s an outdoor swimming pool and tennis court, plus miles of forest trails right outside — perfect for morning strolls that accidentally become long hikes (the best kind).
This is soft-adventure territory: forest-bathing walks, screen-free swims, and post-hike stretching sessions that start sincere and end in laughter. If your ideal fitness getaway is more “move often” than “punish yourself,” Suffolk has just raised its hand.
2) River Valley House, Herefordshire — 3 nights from £6,842
A blueprint for the modern wellness retreat
If Olive House is the gentle nudge, River Valley House is the full wellness symphony. It reflects many of the big trends tipped for 2026: hot-and-cold therapy, natural swimming, and food-to-table experiences. Inside you’ll find an indoor pool, gym, sauna, steam room, and cold plunge pool — then outside, a wood-fired hot tub and a spring-fed natural swimming pond.
There are woodland trails and an organic pick-your-own vegetable farm on site, which makes it especially suited to structured retreats, training weekends, or a wellness leader hosting a multi-day programme that balances exertion and recovery. It’s also a sneaky-good option for a hen party where “health is wealth” isn’t just a slogan — it’s the itinerary. For groups chasing serious fitness getaways with recovery baked in, this one’s a standout.
3) Tall Trees, Oxfordshire — 3 nights from £6,900
Strength training meets downtime in the countryside
Strength training isn’t going anywhere — it’s the headliner across social feeds, and Tall Trees has leaned right into it. The property features a fully equipped gym inside a converted orangery (because why shouldn’t your deadlifts come with a view?). Expect free weights, cardio machines, a punch bag, and training kit that works for solo sessions or team-style circuits.
But it’s not all grind: the outdoor hot tub brings a recovery-first feel to your down days, and there are nearby gastropubs for the essential refuelling phase. It’s the kind of fitness getaway that understands balance: lift heavy, laugh harder, sleep like a champion.
4) Tregulland Cottage & Barn, Cornwall — 3 nights from £4,320
Wild swimming and mindful movement in a coastal setting
Wild swimming remains the wellness world’s favourite headline, and Tregulland offers a clever twist: an architect-designed, spring-fed indoor pool that delivers a wild-swim feel using pure Cornish freshwater. Add a private fishing lake and a flexible studio space for yoga or Pilates, and you’ve got a strong base for mind-body retreats.
The Old Workshop can be transformed into a calm, light-filled space for breathwork, mobility training, or yoga — the sort of place where your nervous system unclenches in real time. If your group wants fitness getaways with equal parts movement and stillness, Cornwall is calling.
5) Stowmeadow Farm, The Cotswolds — 3 nights from £11,000
A social fitness hub for all seasons
Stowmeadow Farm is built for high-energy groups and mixed abilities — the friend who does triathlons and the friend who considers walking to brunch “cardio.” The on-site gym includes a rowing machine, Peloton bike, free weights, boxing bags, and TRX bands, with a steam room ready for post-workout recovery.
Outside, there’s a 16-metre heated outdoor pool (hello, heart rate) and an astro tennis court — a nod to 2026’s shift toward playful, social fitness where enjoyment matters as much as results. For big groups who want their fitness getaways to feel like a shared experience, this one’s the full package.
Why big-group fitness breaks are booming
Gareth Allen, Founder of Big House Experience, says: “In 2026 people want holidays that help them reset, reconnect and also reach their fitness goals together. That’s why we’ve selected houses that combine nature, purposeful activity and spaces for recovery, from cold plunges and wild swimming to bespoke yoga sessions and group training. These homes elevate wellbeing, while also offering stunning surroundings and interiors for everyone to enjoy.”
In other words: this isn’t about perfection — it’s about momentum. You go away, you move, you breathe, you sleep, you laugh, you come back feeling like someone quietly upgraded your operating system.
To see the full collection of large houses, visit: https://bighouseexperience.com/large-houses-to-rent
