Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa

I had an amazing stay at Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa. The location is stunning, with beautiful views of the falls and Derwentwater right on the doorstep. The room was spacious, comfortable, and tastefully decorated. The spa facilities were a real highlight—relaxing and luxurious. The staff were attentive and friendly, and the food at the restaurant was excellent, especially the afternoon tea. It's the perfect spot for a peaceful getaway, combining relaxation with beautiful surroundings. Highly recommend!

When Mr Guru decided that last year’s anniversary Spa Break should be an annual tradition, there was only one place that we wanted to try: The Falls Spa at the Lodore Falls Hotel, Borrowdale. We have admired the appearance of the spa on many of our Borrowdale walks, and the outdoor infinity pool has looked incredibly inviting, even on the gloomiest of Lake District days, and even from high above at Surprise View. The online booking was typically straight-forward, and the best deals seemed to be directly through the hotel’s website. We opted to stay in a Deluxe Spa Suite as it gave us access to the Spa facilities from 1pm (two hours before check-in) until check-out. The first disclaimer is that the room rate wasn’t exactly cheap (hello, we’re not some Love Island stars getting #gifted stays), so we opted for Bed and Breakfast and decided not to get an additional treatment, as these were a minimum of £50pp extra. I would like to see more “Spa Break” offers available, such as B&B, a 50 minute treatment and a light lunch for a reasonably discounted price (or something similar). This is something many other high-end Lake District Spas offer, and it just adds a little more flexibility when you’re spending a considerable amount on an over-night stay. The design of the Spa and the gardens is phenomenal. The view of Derwentwater, Catbells and Skiddaw is already impressive, but the design of the new build is incredibly modern yet completely at home with the ancient surrounding scenery. The staff welcomed us at 1pm -we were there the second we could check in to the Spa- and showed us around. You get the free use of a locker, robes, towels and a pair of complimentary flip-flops. Ladies, a word of warning: if you’re like me and have feet bigger than a size 6, you’ll either need to ask for a larger pair, or take your own. As with many local Spas, the experience includes a wide range of thermal rooms, ranging from 35 degrees (perfect for me, I’m not accustomed to much hotter) to the Finnish Sauna which was 95 degrees. We lasted about 15 seconds in the one, but the panoramic views are spectacular! The tropical showers are fabulous, and the perfect way to regulate temperatures after 10 minutes in the Salt Steam Room or the Aroma Steam Room. The champagne bar is a real Insta-ready touch! Who doesn’t like to post the odd photograph sipping something decadent by the pool? Being from West Cumbria, this doesn’t happen often, so we made the most of it! You could get a wide range of wines, hot drinks and soft drinks, as well as snack and light meals. We could’ve stayed in the pool all day, and we almost did. Mr Guru really enjoyed the whole thermal experience, but my favourite part of the Spa was hands down the pool. It was so warm, it felt like you were getting a hug when you entered it. Bliss to the extreme. The Spa is open until 9pm, from 7.30am, for residents. I feel that it was worth paying a little more for a Deluxe Spa Suite in order to gain so much access to the first-class facilities. Andrew and I are by no means “posh folk”, and we sometimes feel a little out of place in very up-market hotels and restaurants. The Falls Spa was not one of these establishments; yes, it is luxurious, and yes, it is all kinds of fancy, but it’s warm and comfortable and as unpretentious as can be. Our room cannot be described without the use of extreme hyperbole. I’m not going to spend too much time describing it, let our photographs do that for you. It was HUGE! It had everything you needed- an insane bathroom, robes and slippers, tea and coffee facilities, complimentary Prosecco, room service options (which we completely utilised). Now, we have a bloody good bed at home, but this was something altogether different. We both had the best sleep we’ve had in ages, thanks to the comfort of the room and how relaxed we were after a day in the Spa. The showstopper was the balcony. I dare you to find me such a room with a better view in the whole of the UK. Derwentwater, Catbells, Skiddaw… the Champagne Bar! It was the perfect way to end an amazing anniversary: drinking champagne watching the sunset behind Catbells! Naturally, we woke up super early to enjoy a delicious Cumbrian breakfast in the room (breaky with a view, anyone?) and to get an extra two hours in the Spa before checking out. We left feeling completely relaxed and at ease, something rare for two teachers! If you’re after the ultimate in Lake District Luxury, attention to detail from staff and an experience that people would only expect from high-end city venues, then The Falls Spa is for you. Next on our wish-list is to try a Twilight Spa in Winter… we bet that would be unforgettable.