While many travelers visit The Lake District for its mountains and lakes, there are also those that seek rest in another form – spas.
For those in search of the perfect pamper session, we’ve rounded up the best spas in the Lake District to help you let your troubles melt away.
1. Book a Spa Suite
When you’re planning a spa break in the Lake District, a suite with its own hot tub is the way to go at the Whitewater Hotel. This is the ideal way to relax with friends or loved ones, while soaking up stunning views of the surrounding landscape. A few moments in the bubbling water will wash away all of your worries and leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed.
From the glacial ribbon lakes to rugged fell mountains, there is much to see and do in the beautiful Lake District. It’s no wonder that this part of the UK is known as a natural paradise and inspires visitors from all around the world to come and visit.
Whether you’re visiting for a romantic spa break with your loved one, a girls trip or even a solo adventure, there’s something here to suit everyone. There’s also a choice of hotels to choose from, with many offering a range of luxury spa facilities. So, what are you waiting for? Start planning your next adventure to the Lake District.
For the ultimate magical escape, look no further than this enchanting spa hotel in the heart of the Lake District. It’s a short walk from the village of Grasmere, yet this retreat feels miles away from the hustle and bustle of modern life. The spa itself is small but offers a wide selection of treatments, including luxury Experience Elements massages from Germaine de Capuccini. You’ll also have full access to the hotel’s thermal suite, which includes a 4 person rasul chamber, aroma steam room, herbal sauna, salt steam room and an ice fountain plus heated relaxation loungers.
Outside, the piece de resistance is the hotel’s outdoor hydro pool with its stunning views over the brooding Lake District fells. This impressive feature is surrounded by a lush display of plants and is set in an atrium. The hotel itself is a classic slate Victorian building, with traditional rooms, lounges and a restaurant that has been carefully updated to include a swanky spa.
Guests can enjoy light lunches and evening drinks at the hotel’s stylish champagne bar and relax in the spa suites, which have their own private hot tubs, before enjoying a treatment or two. The spa also offers a 2 rosette restaurant, as well as a more casual cafe.
2. Book a Treatment
Whether you’re a long-time spa fan or looking to try out the experience for the first time, it’s essential to book a treatment. Not only does it add to the relaxation factor, but a quality massage can actually improve your overall wellbeing.
With its pristine waterfalls and tranquil lakes, the natural world is a key theme at many of the Lake District’s top spa hotels. The spa at the Lodore Falls Hotel, for example, features a water-inspired wellbeing journey complete with a therapeutic waterfall and views of Derwentwater lake. Incorporating a tailored facial, body wrap, and foot pampering, the package is designed to relax the mind and rejuvenate the body.
There are also plenty of spa treatments to try, including a back, neck, and shoulder massage – perfect for those with lots of built-up tension in those areas. A file and polish is another quick and easy way to make your hands and feet look a little better, while a full body scrub is a great way to exfoliate and feel refreshed.
In addition to offering a wide selection of spa treatments, these luxury facilities also come with a range of thermal experiences and individual relaxation rooms. The Brimstone Spa at Armathwaite Hall, for example, offers lake views and treatments from beloved British brands such as Elemis and Pure Alchemy, while you can also swim outside or relax by the fire in the traditional Finnish sauna.
Another Lake District spa that’s worth making space in your schedule is the Spa at Ambleside Salutation Hotel. Set within the bustling but picturesque village of Ambleside, this spa combines modern decor with restful colour schemes, comfortable furnishings, and relaxing music. Incorporating a hydrotherapy pool, whirlpool tubs, sauna, steam room, and relaxation lounge, the experience is sure to leave you feeling completely pampered.
A few of the other top-rated spas in the area include The North Lakes Hotel & Spa, which has a central location but feels like a rural retreat thanks to its complimentary robes and slippers, plus a calming lounge with pool, whirlpool tub, sauna, and more. And, just across the water in Bowness-on-Windermere, you’ll find the Macdonald Old England Hotel & Spa, which offers an array of soothing treatments along with a fantastic menu of group and individual spa packages.
3. Book a Massage
With a landscape made up of big hills and deep lakes, it’s no wonder that the Lake District is synonymous with rest and relaxation. However, while many visitors seek their rest outdoors, others choose to indulge in the region’s spa culture. From muscle easing thermal suites to luxurious treatments and day packages, these Lake District spa hotels and centres have everything you need to relax and restore your mind, body and soul.
Set amongst the tranquil beauty of the Bassenthwaite Estate, this luxury hotel takes spa-time very seriously. The Spa Suites here offer floor-to-ceiling windows and a private patio with circular stone hot tub, making it easy to soak in the view as you unwind. The treatment options are equally impressive, from an exfoliating foot ritual to a calming facial and the ultimate stress-busting massage – a full-body experience that uses warm shells to relieve tension in your palms, arms, hands, feet, neck, back and shoulders.
The Aveda-powered spa at Macdonald Old England is a real gem. Surrounded by gardens and the shores of England’s largest lake, Windermere, this relaxing retreat boasts a range of indoor and outdoor pool areas along with a sauna, steam room, hydrotherapy bath, ice fountain and cold drench shower to help ease your muscles and cleanse your pores. The Aveda Aroma Combination is a must for first-timers, a 60-minute ritual that includes a back, neck and shoulder massage as well as a restorative face routine.
A hidden oasis within the grounds of a country house, the Daffodil is a luxury escape amongst some of the most beautiful scenery in the Lake District. Their Spa Suites are nestled between silent fells and woodland, all with their own garden, terrace and outdoor hot tub, giving you the perfect excuse to enjoy a classic afternoon tea before taking the plunge in the pristine waters of Grasmere lake. Indulge in a luxury Experience Elements massage before heading outside to take a swim under the waterfall and in the 16-metre pool, where jets and fountains are on hand to stimulate your muscles as you gaze out over Derwentwater and Catbells mountain range.
4. Book a Hot Tub
In a region where the landscape inspires Wordsworth’s poems and Beatrix Potter’s tales, it can be easy to forget that you can also relax in style with luxury Lake District spa hotels. These stunning retreats offer world-class facilities and treatments to ease the mind, relax the muscles, and leave you feeling revived. So if you’re looking for a treat for yourself, a loved one, or a mini-break that will leave your whole body feeling blissful, check out these incredible Lake District retreats with private hot tubs.
The Spa at Armathwaite Hall
This beautiful retreat in the heart of Cumbria is situated on a 400-acre deer park and overlooks Bassenthwaite Lake, offering an experience that will relax both body and mind. The spa offers a variety of treatments, including massages, facials, and body wraps, all designed to soothe the muscles and calm the mind. The highlight of the spa is the outdoor hot tub, which allows you to relax in the lap of nature and admire the breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside.
The Gilpin Hotel
Located in the centre of the Lake District, the Gilpin is a beautiful luxury retreat that is one of the best hotels with a hot tub in the Lake District. The hotel has 30 bedrooms, all of which have lovely Lakeland vistas. All of the Junior Suite and Garden Suite have a decked or slate patio with an outdoor hot tub. There are also five Spa Suites that are bedrooms ‘floating’ on a pond with a huge hot tub outside.
The Low Wood Bay Hotel
If you’re in search of a truly unique experience, look no further than the Low Wood Bay Hotel in Windermere. This stunning hotel boasts a spa that is completely exclusive to the property, meaning you’ll get a fully curated experience. In addition to a luxurious indoor pool, there is an outdoor pool with gorgeous lake views, a mud room, and a fellside sauna. You can even book a treatment that uses Elemis products, like the Renew and Define facial or the Salt Scrub and Frangipani Wrap.