Where To Go For Spa Days In The Lake District
The Lake District has some of the most beautiful luxury hotels, in beautiful locations with mountain views and surrounded by spectacular scenery. Many of them have spas that you can visit as part of your Lakeland break, or that you can book into for a spa day. Here’s some suggestions for where to go for spa days in the Lake District.
Most of these spas naturally give priority to hotel guests, so if you’re prepared to make your spa day in the Lake District an extended break then not only will it give you more flexibility, but you can make the most of these lovely hotels for longer. Even as hotel guests many of them require an additional fee to get in depending on your hotel package, and you’re likely to be given a specific time slot.
Be sure to read up on any of the Lake District spa day packages as you book to know exactly what is included, and it’s always worth pricing up a few depending on what you’re looking for.
Brimstone Spa
The Brimstone Spa is the luxury spa that is for exclusive use of the Brimstone Hotel guests. Brimstone is in the Langdale estate, and providing there is availability, guests of the Langdale Hotel and the Langdale Lodges can also access Brimstone Spa for a fee and within a specific time frame. It’s a stunning spa, with decor and features that reflect the natural surroundings of the Lake District.
There is an indoor to outdoor pool, so many relaxation rooms, thermal rooms, a Finnish sauna, steam rooms and salt rooms. There are also foot baths, an ice bath and an experience shower to make your way around and enjoy.
The outside area has some seating next to the fire, and the sauna overlooks the grounds. They limit access to a small number of people, residents and hotel guests only so it can feel like you’re there alone, and you can add on treatments, or order a bottle of wine or fizz to enjoy too.
It’s not cheap, at approx £90 per person for a couple of hours, but very much worth it. See more on the Brimstone Hotel and Spa here, or read my review here.
Armathwaite Hall
A stately home on Bassenthwaite Lake, with views of Skiddaw and other Lakeland mountains, Armathwaite Hall offers a huge range of activities in addition to just the spa. But if it’s the spa you’re after it has a lot to offer, and you can visit as part of your stay in the hotel, or they do offer packages for half or full day spas for visitors.
They have a huge infinity edged pool, an outdoor hot tub with views over the grounds and woodland, thermal suites and many treatment rooms from which you can enjoy a massage, facial or your chosen treatment. They also have a relaxation lounge and tranquil terrace to sit and relax between treatment and pool times.
Armathwaite also has a gym and fitness facilities, including a yoga studio and personal training sessions.
They have a range of spa packages to choose from including half day escapes, indulgent full day experiences that include lunch, mum to be packages and a sunset experience too. You do have to pay up front when you book. They often have seasonal offers on, so it’s worth doing your research if you’re visiting to see if a stay at the hotel is just as good value as a spa day on its own.
See more on Armathwaite Hall spa here, or read my review here.
Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa
In the beautiful lakeside setting of Borrowdale, the Lodore Hall & Spa is a favourite of everyone who visits, my parents even say the environment of the spa rivals Brimstone due to the incredible landscape of Derwentwater lake that stretches out in front of you from the pool area.
The Falls spa is open for hotel guests or visitors for spa experiences, so you don’t need to be staying over at the hotel to enjoy these facilities. They have a thermal suite and hydro pool, steam rooms, a herbal sauna, a Finnish sauna, drench showers and heated relaxation loungers which are enough to relax you within minutes.
There are five treatment rooms if you are booking in for a treatment or if your package includes one, and it also boasts a champagne bar, and a pan Asian restaurant ‘Mizu’ from which you can enjoy food and refreshments during your spa visit.
You can book into the spa if you are a hotel guest, or you can visit for a package, including some morning spa options, a Twilight spa experience, spa days for two and more.
For further details on the Lodore Falls spa including treatments and specific spa day packages visit their website here.
The North Lakes Hotel & Spa
The North Lakes Hotel & Spa is on the edge of the Lake District, a 4 star beautiful hotel in Penrith, and it is one of the more affordable options when it comes to spa deals. It has everything you need for a spa break or spa day – a big pool, sauna, steam room, gym and spa pool. They also have a treatment list available for extra pampering.
A number of spa days are available from half day packages starting at £45, to more indulgent full day luxury packages at £200. Their spa breaks are also good value with a Sunday night option available too.
For full details on the North Lakes spa including information on the packages and current offers visit their website here.
The Gilpin Hotel & Gilpin Lake House
One of the most incredible hotels I’ve come across in the Lake District, and one often used for Honeymoons or special occasions, this one brings the spa to your room. There are two accommodation options, the Gilpin Hotel and the Gilpin Lake House.
The Gilpin Hotel is made up of 28 luxury bedrooms, and some of the Garden Suites have their own hot tubs, and the Spa Lodges have their own private en suite spa. The ultimate luxurious experience these en suite spas include steam rooms, rainfall showers, hydrotherapy hot tubs and saunas – all to yourself. Three of them even have an infrared lounge bed and an automated massage chair. If you are staying here and wanted to enjoy a treatment you can book these at the Gilpin Lake House which has it’s own spa.
The Gilpin Lake House has a jetty spa, with a pool, hot tubs, saunas and treatment facilities. It is just up the road from the Gilpin Hotel, and allows no more than 12 guests in the spa at one time.
For more information or to book one of these incredible experiences, visit the Gilpin Hotel here.
Low Wood Bay
Right on the shores of Windermere Lake, and just outside of Ambleside is Low Wood Bay Hotel and Spa. There are both indoor and outdoor spa facilities here, including a lake view infinity pool, hot tubs, saunas, a fire pit, a coconut steam room and relaxation lounge.
You don’t have to be a hotel guest to enjoy these facilities, Low Wood Bay has an extensive range of half and full day spa experiences made up of different treatments and spa experiences, as well as spa breaks.
Browse the full range of spa days on site, as well as more information on the spa and food options that are available too.
The Daffodil hotel and Spa
Located in Grasmere the Daffodil Hotel and Spa sells itself as a home away from home. It is family run, has 78 rooms, a lake view restaurant and a spa with thermal pool, saunas and steam rooms. Being in Grasmere it is a popular spot if you’re visiting for the literary history of Wordsworth in Grasmere.
The spa has a thermal pool, mud rasul baths, sauna and steam rooms, and there are a number of spa packages available to book.
See more on the Daffodil Hotel & Spa here.
With such a surge in popularity of visitors to the Lakes, it goes without saying that spa days in the Lake District needs to be planned and booked ahead. Most of them will require payment up front, or at least a deposit. The Lakes is a beautiful place to switch off and unwind in the tranquillity of nature anyway, and a spa day here will just elevate that further for you. Ideal for at the end of a holiday if your legs are tired from so much walking!
Other posts you might like:
22 Things to do in the Lake District that aren’t walking!
A luxury stay at the Langdale Estate and Brimstone Spa
A winter spa experience at Armathwaite Hotel
The Ambleside Restaurants worth visiting