The month of wellness

Relax and refresh with our rundown of the world’s most exclusive retreats and wellness festivals.

Balance Festival:London’s largest celebration of fitness and wellness, with masterclasses, cooking demonstrations and a range of boutique studios offering exceptional workouts, all at the Old Truman Brewery 10-12 May. Mix and mingle with 4,000 industry professionals, from operators, to retailers and brand owners and 12,000 consumers, ranging from full-on fitness fanatics to those just beginning their journey to achieve a more balanced life. This three-day wellness event includes a programme of over 150 cutting-edge workouts direct from London’s cutting-edgeboutique studios.Following the festival’s four pillars – food, fitness, wellness and travel – there’s something for every visitor to experience here. 

Queen of Retreats: Learn to live an unhurried life courtesy of the Queen of Retreats. A retreat offers the opportunity to take a break from the thrum and stresses of everyday life in luxurious and cosseting environs. And the trusted writers and wellbeing experts at Queen of Retreats have removed all the guess work, curating a collection of retreats reviewed in-person, in-depth and with consideration. Offering retreats for every life cycle, be that for overall wellbeing, general relaxation, or personal growth, there’s a world-class retreat for everyone in this curated global collection. From a healing yoga retreat in a remote enclave of Ibiza to an ayurvedic retreat in India to a restorative week on a Greek Island. Delight in this collection of healing experiences.

Another Space Retreat:Set in The Captain’s House amidst 550 acres of rustic gardens, orchards and meadows, this Osea outpost proves the perfect setting for a weekend of detoxing and fitness. This 3-6 May, join Another Space for a weekend of wellness and discovery. Overlooking the crashing sea waves, guests will begin each morning with a gentle vinyasa flow, before moving into a slightly more rigorous mid-morning HIIT class in the verdant garden, followed by a delightful plant-based lunch created by a world-class chef. A weekend of fitness, fun and the soothing sounds of deep gentle breathing, all only a little more than an hour’s drive from central London.