Anyone who knows me well will tell you I lead a very hectic lifestyle.

I have a demanding job (which I love, of course!), I rarely have an evening off, and friends usually have to plan to see me at least three weeks in advance.

When I do spend an evening or weekend at home, I’m usually cleaning, exercising or catching up on life admin rather than sat in front of the TV. And I genuinely like it that way.

But sometimes, just sometimes, it would be nice to be able to sit down and do… absolutely nothing.

So when the opportunity came up to go on a spa trip to Cornwall, I jumped at it, mostly because I saw it as a challenge.

Can a busy Londoner ever finally, truly relax?

After a five-hour train journey in which I mostly complained to my boyfriend Chris about being hungry and looked at work emails, I stepped onto the platform in Falmouth and took in a deep, crisp breath of fresh sea air.

It’s far enough away from the capital that I felt almost as if I was abroad – perhaps this factor would help me unwind?

We made the short walk to our hotel with our suitcases down quiet roads in sunshine peeking through clouds. Maybe I can do this, I thought, I’m ready to relax.

Truthfully, I did not start my mini-break how I intended to continue it. We walked into four-star St Michaels Resort and were given a quick tour of the spa hotel, and I immediately wanted to do everything.

With a tasteful (rather than tacky) nautical theme and a focus on Cornish wellness, I was keen to sample the dinner menu, float in the hydrotherapy pool and have a massage – ideally all at once. But first we had to check into our room, and we certainly weren’t disappointed.

We were staying in the resort’s brand new spa lodges, and I believe we were the first ever guests.

The space was, of course, completely immaculate and the size of the lodge was generous, with a huge bed and comfortable seating area. Having never stayed in a spa before, it felt even more luxurious than I expected.

We liked how the toilet had a separate room to the shower – unusual for a hotel – with a night light so you don’t have to wake up whoever you’re sharing with if you have to get up to use it in the early hours.

We had our own entrance leading on to some decking which featured a deep two-person copper bathtub and an outdoor shower, surrounded by enough palm trees and colourful foliage that it felt quite private.

In true London-style we dumped our suitcases and rushed over to the spa, ready to get stuck in to the largest hydrothermal pool in the South West.

As suggested by the helpful receptionist at the spa, we tried the pool jets before hitting the saunas, so our bodies could adjust to the warmer temperatures. I struggled to sit calmly under the jets, feeling anxious about getting my hair wet, and I kept fidgeting and comically splashing water in my boyfriend’s face.

He suggested we try the steam room – said to be the only Cornish sea salt steam room in the world. I breathed in the salty mist gently, trying to imagine the sea breeze, but decided it was too hot for me.

I fared much better on the gently warm thermal heat loungers, and was laughing at Chris as he jumped into the freezing cold plunge pool (which I was too scared to try). ‘Relaxed yet?’ he asked, as we headed back to our room. ‘Maybe…’ I responded uncertainly.

That evening we visited the resort’s Brassiere on the Bay restaurant, and wanted to try some locally-sourced food. After a beautifully soft blue cheese soufflé and tasty scallops to start, it became clear we were not staying in a traditional ‘health’ spa – it was all about pampering and enjoyment. For our main course Chris had the catch of the day and I dived into a delicious pile of West Country mussels, which were served with cider cream sauce, leeks and sourdough bread. There were so many I couldn’t even finish them.

Washed down with a couple of glasses of wine and chocolatey, creamy panna cotta to finish, I was very full and satisfied. ‘Relaxed now?’ my boyfriend asked as we settled into our room for the evening. ‘Getting there,’ I admitted, avoiding the urge to check my work messages before going to bed.

We woke up before 9am so I could head to a beach yoga class after enjoying an English breakfast with Cornish eggs, while Chris went to an energetic circuits class. The instructor led us through a moderately-challenging vinyasa flow with a soft voice, while people walking on the beach warned their dogs not to get too close to us and refreshing drizzle rained down on our yoga mats.

After a short walk to the nearby Pendennis Castle with a coffee, we headed back to the spa for a 55-minute Elemis custom massage.

After choosing my preferred oil scent and telling my masseuse I’d love extra focus to be paid to my knotted back, I lay on top of a warm heat pad and tried to focus on the sensation of the relaxing massage and banish all thoughts in my final bid to reach a peaceful place. It was the perfect pressure level and felt like bliss.

After what felt like no time at all, I was led to the deep relaxation room where my boyfriend was already resting on a comfortable lounger. In the dimly lit space there was a water fountain, star-effect ceiling and gentle music playing.

Before I knew it I was waking up from a short nap.

Yawning, I rolled over onto my side and Chris was smiling at me. ‘Relaxed yet?’ he asked.

I finally grinned and said ‘yes’ with certainty.

It turns out you don’t need to go abroad to have a relaxing holiday… but it was a shame I had to head back to the hustle and bustle of London just a few hours later.

Getting there:

Sian stayed in a spa lodge at St Michaels Resort (stmichaelsresort.com) where rooms start from £167 a night. Trains from London to Falmouth Town start at £79 with Great Western Railway (gwr.com).

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