Crisp fresh air, genuine relaxation and excellent food; three ingredients for a perfect mini break.

My The Langdale Hotel & Spa review was written after a wonderful (and too-short!) one night stay. This Lake District spa hotel was the perfect place to kickstart the new year with good intentions and even better views.

I’d go back in a heartbeat: here’s why you should consider it too.

The Langdale Hotel & Spa, Lake District | A traveller’s honest review

Here’s an honest look into what staying at The Langdale Hotel & Spa is really like.

Location

It goes without saying that the Lake District is one of England’s most stunning natural areas.

Located in Great Langdale, the hotel feels properly tucked into the fells rather than perched on their edge – ideal if you want walking routes on your doorstep, not just nearby.

We were lucky enough to stay when the weather was cold, but dry and crisp – the best type of winter weather! Just 15 minutes drive to Ambleside, and 25 to Grasmere (north) and Windermere (south), it’s ideal if you’d like to feel immersed in nature while being close to other attractions. There’s so much to do in the area, especially in the summer months, that you could easily spend an idyllic week there.

You’re also within 15 minutes of a popular Scafell Pike starting route at The Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. I couldn’t think of anything better than The Langdale’s cosy rooms and indulgent spa after a day on the mountain. However, it turns out they’re just as enjoyable without the hiking!

Design & atmosphere

The great thing about The Langdale Hotel is how you could be equally comfortable in walking boots or slightly smarter gear.

While it has an upmarket look to it – particularly some of the Waterside Rooms with their balconies overlooking The Great Langdale Beck – it’s not pretentious in any way. We were really impressed by the fantastic service: teams from the hotel, restaurant, spa and leisure facilities were consistently friendly, warm and super helpful.

Similarly, the spa, leisure facilities and restaurant are all designed in a way to invite comfort rather than formality: just what you need in the rugged surroundings. While slightly less polished than the well known Low Wood Bay, it’s also a more affordable option without compromising on facilities.

The rooms

We stayed in one of the Lakeland Signature Rooms; a simple, cosy option with plenty of space for a shorter stay. In the freezing temperatures, little touches like the heated towel rail sound simple, but make all the difference!

The seating area was great for getting ready in your honeycomb bath robe and to the right, hidden behind stylish built in cupboards, you’ll find a large freeview TV and tea, coffee and biscuit station. The hot chocolates included here were delicious, even just with water – a far cry from some of the tasteless offerings you often find in hotels.

With mountain views across the estate – although not from our room sadly – it only takes a few steps outside to truly feel like you’re immersed in nature.

For a more independent, self-catering trip, the on-site 1, 2 and 3 bed lodges look ideal for longer stays or multi-generational trips. Spread across the sprawling 35-acre woodland, The Langdale Hotel & Spa have thought of everyone when designing the estate to suit short breaks and longer stays.

If you’re looking for an extra slice of luxury, you’ll find the best rooms in the sister property, Brimstone Hotel. Also located on The Langdale Estate, its stunning suite-style rooms include unlimited Brimstone Spa access. If indulgence is one of your main reasons for staying, this would be a great upgrade.

The food

For me, food is one of the make or break elements of any trip – no matter how short.

We headed over to Stove restaurant for a delicious dinner; creamy burrata to start that we loaded onto pesto-topped focaccia followed by a tender buttermilk chicken burger that felt like just the right amount.

While the dessert options looked tempting, we opted for a hot drink at the bar instead and I was thrilled when the hot chocolate came loaded with cream and marshmallows – the ultimate winter indulgence after a crisp New Year’s Day.

Booking ahead is recommended, especially at weekends or during school holidays, but the team are really accommodating wherever they can be.

For the morning, a full Cumbria breakfast buffet at Stove is included in each stay at The Langdale Hotel and every element we tried was delicious. From loading up your toast with smashed avocado, eggs and locally-sourced meats to sweet treats, you’ll be really well taken care of – dietary requirements too.

Brimstone Spa

Now for the most exciting part of our trip. While the rest of our group tackled an icy scramble up Scafell Pike, we opted for a safer form of self care at Brimstone Spa.

Couples or small groups of friends staying at The Langdale Estate can enjoy three hours thermal facilities access and a delicious deli platter (vegan & GF options available) for £85pp – although when our booker heard that we had just eaten lunch, she kindly swapped the platter out for a drink each instead.

The highlight was definitely the heated hydrotherapy pool with indoor and outdoor areas, making it perfect for all weather. Despite the roaring fire outside, it was too chilly for the outdoor seating area so when we weren’t in the pool, we spent a lot of time on the relaxation beds or exploring the rest of the thermal experience.

With seven thermal experiences and different relaxation areas, there’s plenty to do for the three hours. The hottest rooms weren’t suitable for me in pregnancy, but I was still able to dip in and out of the cooler laconicum and saunas for a few minutes at a time. The foot spa is a nice touch too!

A lovely touch is the scented salt therapy bags which you can carry with you throughout the thermal experience or take to continue the spa-like experience in your room’s Jacuzzi bath.

If you don’t upgrade to the Brimstone Spa, don’t worry. You’ll still have complimentary use of the leisure facilities which, while not as luxurious, were fantastic for a free option! As well as the large swimming pool, there’s also decent size hot tub, sauna, steam room, infrared light therapy pod, ice bucket and gym.

Who The Langdale Hotel & Spa is best for

The Langdale Hotel is ideal for a range of different travellers, including:

It probably goes without saying that I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re looking for a buzzy nightlife atmosphere – although saying that, they do own a cosy pub just five minutes walk away. While it’s not a high-cost stay, it’s also not necessarily one for super budget travellers either.

Is The Langdale Hotel & Spa worth it?

Honestly, it wasn’t in my plan to write this The Langdale Hotel & Spa review. But, after a few short hours, I knew I couldn’t keep this gem under wraps.

When it comes to value for money, particularly for outdoorsy couples or friends who’d like a balance of relaxation and comfort, The Langdale Hotel totally fits the bill.

This is one of the easiest places to feel looked after without overplanning if you’re heading on a Lake District break at any time of year.

Looking for more travel tips in England, Wales and beyond? Check out my other UK travel guides!

Laura x