To cleanse the mind and soul, try a weekend of peaceful meditation in the hands of the experts.
The Manjushri Mahayana Buddhist Centre (www.manjushri.org) at Ulverston in Cumbria is one of the largest communities of Western Buddhist monks and nuns. Their weekend retreats provide an opportunity to learn meditation and the basics of Buddhism.
If you need some concentrated help in learning to relax, try the Madhyamaka Buddhist Centre (www.madhyamaka.org), Pocklington in Yorkshire. Founded in 1983 by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, it is one of the largest and most well established Buddhist Centres in the UK
Padmaloka Men's Retreat Centre (www.padmaloka.org.uk) is a Buddhist retreat centre for men set in the quiet village of Surlingham, on the edge of the Norfolk Broads. A wide variety of retreats exploring Buddhism, meditation and yoga are offered in a friendly and relaxed setting.
Buddhafield (buddhafield.com/) coordinates a programme of camping retreats throughout Devon incorporating meditation and yoga as well as bushcraft skills, tree planting, dance and Tai Chi.
Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple (www.ibps.org.uk) is a tranquil spot just off the bustling Tottenham Court Road. Here you'll be shown to your patch of carpet by shaven-headed Buddhist nuns. Open daily 9am-5pm, closed Friday, entrance is free, via 84 Margaret Street, London W1.
It's Shangri-La in SW19, as golden roofs peep serenely through the suburban trees of Wimbledon Common. Four beautifully landscaped acres surround the Buddhapadipa Thai Temple (www.buddhapadipa.org/), with a lakeside walk, prayer garden and meditation hall. Open daily.
The Orange Tree (www.theorangetree.com) in North Yorkshire offers relaxation workshops, with aromatherapy on the side. This out-of-the-way guest house in the North Yorkshire Moors National Park offers its two-day courses every weekend of the year, and is the ideal place to escape the stresses of the week.
Yoga Retreats, held at Keythorpe Hall (www.keythorpeyoga.co.uk) in south Leicestershire, offers a fabulous escape from the pressures of modern life and combines a range of yoga practices in a tranquilly rural surrounding.
Combermere Cottages (www.combermereabbey.co.uk), Whitchurch is a self-catering establishment incorporating holistic treatments. The focus is on getting in touch with your inner self... meditation retreats that give you the chance to unwind and relax during a peaceful break in the country.