National Spa Week begins today (October 31), designed to highlight the physical and psychological benefits of visiting spas and salons.

The initiative will run until November 4 and this year is free for businesses for the first time. It is organised by the UK Spa Association and will see businesses across the UK running special offers and other initiatives.

Businesses that have signed up include Rockliffe Hall in County Durham (pictured) where there will be a raffle to raise funds for Macmillan at the spa's Festive Beauty Bazaar event on November 1, followed by poolside mini-treatments for a donation to Macmillan on November 2–4 .

Ragdale Hall in Melton Mowbray has also got involved, offering 10% off its Late Escape, Twilight Taster or Evening Spa Experience packages this week, while Vale Resort in Hensol, Wales is running a different promotion every day this week, including 20% off any retail product bought in the spa boutique on Wednesday.

Macdonald Hotels & Resorts will host a spa open day with a spa tour and refreshments at its resorts on November 1. Macdonald has also created a National Spa Week spa day offer at 23 of its hotels, including tea and coffee, a 55-minute Face & Body Sensation Treatment, 10% off any Elemis products purchased on the day, and complimentary use of the spa facilities. The day is priced from £89.

Q Hotels has also signed up to National Spa Week with a special spa package, which will be available Mondays to Fridays from today until December. The spa day will be offered at all the group’s spas and includes coffee and a pastry, a 60-minute treatment of the client’s choice, lunch, and full use of the spa and leisure facilities, costing from £109 for two.

Skincare brand Elemis has also signed up for the week with its flagship London day spa  House of Elemis. During National Spa Week its one-hour Superfood Pro Radiance Facial, normally priced at £95, will be available for £75 at The House of Elemis.

London's Bhuti Wellness Retreat will host a community hatha yoga class on November 4 with proceeds going towards the Bhuti foundation, which helps to fund wellbeing charity’s around the country. Bhuti will also be hosting a three-course supper club on the same evening, serving kohrobi and smmer squash, smorgasbord and a raw cheesecake. 

Spas and salons that have not yet signed up but are interested in taking part in National Spa Week can register at www.spaweek.co.uk