SPA DOCTOR: Can a special sleep massage end a decade of insomnia?

READ MORE: Neuroscientists reveal tricks to 'turn your brain off' Published: 07:19 EDT, 1 November 2026 | Updated: 07:45 EDT, 1 November 2026 Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn moreI haven't had a good night's sleep in roughly a decade. Most nights I'm awoken by a familiar sense of panic at least once. It's a hangover from the years I spent working early shifts at a radio station, and worried I'd miss my alarm.I've tried everything to put my mind at rest. Herbal sleep aids, masks, white noise playlists. But, no luck. I remain constantly exhausted.Where's the solution?Nestled in the Buckinghamshire countryside is Burnham Beeches Hotel - a Georgian manor house that's easily reachable via the London undergound's Elizabeth Line, and has recently undergone a multi-million-pound refurbishment.I was attracted to both the tranquil setting and the inviting-looking spa, where guests can enjoy a host of relaxing treatments, as well as a full day with the indoor pool, jacuzzi and sauna. Unlike many spa hotels, Burnham Beeches offers a very reasonable overnight spa break that's centred around relaxation. Guests have full access to the facilities, a 30 minute treatment and an afternoon tea - all for the room price.What's the treatment? I booked the TempleSpa Drift Away Massage, which promises to ease tension and calm an overactive mind. After weeks of feeling permanently switched on, I was exactly the right candidate.The treatment focused on my back, neck and shoulders, using a combination of mediterranean essential oils.Within minutes I could feel how much tension I’d been carrying without really noticing it. The Burnham Beeches Hotel is just 30 miles from Central London The spa is small but could have potential to be a destination in its own rightThe therapist struck the right balance between firm enough to actually make a difference and gentle enough for the experience to remain relaxing.By the end, I felt noticeably looser, calmer and slightly dazed in the way you only do after a genuinely good massage. It was easily one of the best treatments I’ve had outside a top London hotel – and considerably cheaper than most of them.It's unsurprising that I slept unusually soundly that night. But what about when I got home?The restful magic lasted for about a week - which is a better result than any other sleep-inducing treatment I've had in years. I guess I'll just have to book in regularly for the good of my health. The Whispering Woods Spa Break starts from £229 for one person or £314 for two.