Gilpin Hotel and Lake House
If a secluded rural spa suite with its own hot tub, en suite spa and flavourful top-class food sounds like your thing, look no further than the Lake District’s gorgeous Gilpin Hotel and Lake House,
The Gilpin’s one of those rare and special places that has it all. A family-run hotel with a heart, it offers feel-great escapism, personalised private spa excellence and Michelin-starred dining. It’s somewhere honeymooners come to celebrate, couples come to reconnect – and everyone leaves vowing they’ll return.
The lowdown
Set across two properties on two neighbouring estates, the main Gilpin Hotel with its luxurious Spa Suites and Spa Space, and the home-from-home Gilpin Lake House, with its intimate charm and lakeside Jetty Spa. Both properties offer relaxing escapism but, if it’s private spa decadence you’re after, the main Gilpin Hotel is the one. Widely regarded as the best spa hotel in the Lake District, it’s perfect for a romantic couples’ escape. And the hotel’s fine dining restaurant, SOURCE at Gilpin Hotel, is one of the best restaurants in Cumbria, having held its Michelin star for an impressive nine years.
The two properties are about a mile apart. The route’s not particularly pedestrian friendly, but that’s not a problem as the hotel’s friendly chauffeur ferries Lake House guests to and from the Gilpin as a complimentary service.
The Gilpin Hotel
With a variety of comfortable accommodation options, ranging from cosy country house style rooms to the large and luxurious Spa Suites with their ensuite spa facilities, the Gilpin Hotel invites guests to escape the demands of the real world and enjoy some magical escapism, relaxing, connecting and kicking back in its restorative rural sanctuary.
And the laid-back luxury doesn’t end there – there are two delicious dining options to add to the indulgent mix, with Michelin-starred SOURCE and pan-Asian inspired Gilpin Spice both housed in the main hotel. Plus, the Gilpin also has its own has its own new nature-led spa, Spa Space, which specialises in bespoke spa journeys for both resident and non-resident guests.
Gilpin Lake House
A short drive down a single-track lane, Gilpin’s sister property, the Lake House, enjoys an idyllic lakeside location, offering tranquillity and privacy. With just eight bedrooms, two with their own hot tubs, Gilpin Lake House is a special place in its own right, with a homely feel and relaxed, intimate atmosphere.
The Lake House also has its own wellness offering – a beautiful lakeside treatment space, the Jetty Spa. It also has two hot tubs with beautiful views of the lake and hills beyond. There’s no evening dining at the Lake House, but it’s a great place to enjoy a hearty breakfast and afternoon tea and there’s a chauffeur at your disposal to whisk you up to the main hotel to enjoy fine dining at SOURCE or a lively pan-Asian meal at Gilpin Spice come dinner time.
Getting there
We travelled to the Lake District by train, a smooth three-hour journey from Euston, and were collected from Oxenholme station, the ‘gateway to the Lake District’ and the start of many a traveller’s Lake District adventure. The Gilpin’s a pretty 15-minute cab ride from Oxenholme, located in a peaceful rural setting between Kendal and Windermere.
As we turned into the hotel driveway, past a copper tree fountain, I could hardly contain my excitement. As someone who loves a big helping of nature in their wellness mix, I’d been keen to review The Gilpin from a personal as well as professional perspective for some time. Early signs were good.
We made our way to the reception cabin at the front of the hotel where we were eagerly intercepted and whisked away, along with our luggage, to Duddon, our luxurious Spa Suite home for the night.
Now, it’s fair to say I’ve visited a fair few luxury spas over the years but even so, I think I let out an involuntary gasp when Duddon’s door swung open to reveal the beautifully designed en suite spa at the far end of the open plan living area. Yes, the Spa Suites come with their very own private spa! This was next-level luxury – and in the very best way; not blingy and ostentatious but natural, contemporary, comfortable and secluded.
Spavellous for
Anniversary celebrations, minimooners, or couples just looking to spend quality, relaxed time together. Anyone looking for a restorative break or somewhere for quiet recuperation and recovery, solo spa lovers seeking secluded ‘me time’ and wellness seekers looking for a discreet and private spa experience, romantic escapes, somewhere memorable to propose, quiet celebrations, or refined wellness breaks.
Spa info
The spa facilities you’ll have during your stay at The Gilpin will depend on what accommodation you’ve booked. Chances are you’ll have at least a hot tub, as twenty-two of the thirty rooms and suites at the Gilpin Hotel have one. This goes all the way up to full en suite spas in the five Spa Suites, which take luxury spa decadence to the next level.
For full room details, see below.
Gilpin Spa Suites
My husband and I were booked in for a night at each of the Gilpin’s properties and couldn’t wait to get acquainted with our pinch-me-perfect en suite spa in our Spa Suite at the main property. The Spa Suite had the best of everything: stunning, rural location, contemporary décor – and, of course, its own stylish spa! Plus, friendly, helpful staff who seemed to actively enjoy working at the hotel, and a handy app to respond to our every ‘need’.
We quickly donned our fluffy robes and felt like a couple of excited kids as we hopped from our own personal steam room to sauna, kicking back in the hot tub with a glass of fizz and trying out the state-of-the-art massage chair. En suite spas have their own massage table too, complete with warming infrared light, so you can arrange to have treatments in the privacy of your own suite. In all my spa reviewing years I’d never experienced anywhere quite like it and I felt like I was in my personal spa paradise.
Spa Space at The Gilpin
The Gilpin Hotel has its own central Spa Space too, a boutique spa offering an intimate and exclusive spa experience that reflects its Lake District location.
This new Space has two generous twin treatment rooms, a rasul/steam room and two cedarwood hot tubs – so everyone staying at the hotel can enjoy some spa fun, even if they don’t have the all-singing-all-dancing en suite spa facilities in their room. Non-residents can book treatments here too.
Designed with couple-centred escapism in mind, Gilpin’s Spa Space is perfect for wellness seekers looking to spend quality time together, and the boutique spa offers a range of stand-alone treatments and half-day journeys.
While individual treatment choice is flexible – you and your spa partner should choose treatments of the same duration, as you’ll be sharing one of the spa’s couples’ treatment rooms. The accommodating therapists will offer you a choice of treatment, from facials to massages and other full-body treatments. If you’re spa-ing solo, or require a separate room for any reason, it’s best to book a treatment at the Lake House’s Jetty Spa.
Guests can choose from treatments by local brand Pure Lakes, which include the soothing Aromatherapy Massage, and the Pure Lakes Walkers Ritual to revive fell-fatigued legs and feet. Or opt for one of the luxurious ESPA treatments like the popular Gilpin Signature experience which combines the best of everything: back massage and exfoliation, Inner Beauty Facial and a relaxing scalp massage.
The Spa Space is a beautifully relaxing space that’s been designed to invite the outside in, with natural décor and view-maximising windows. The relaxation room has loungers looking out to the hills, and a well-stocked fridge for guests to help themselves to refreshments throughout their visit. The Serene Spa Experience also includes a bento box lunch, freshly prepared by the chefs at Gilpin Spice, and an hour in one of the hot tubs.
Spa Experiences in this intimate space are carefully managed by the spa team to maximise privacy, and they’re carefully choreographed to manage the flow around the boutique Spa Space. The spa journey feels calm and exclusive, and guests are made to feel special as they’re guided along the journey.
The fact that we were booked in for a full four-hour spa session (!) meant that my husband and I got to spend proper time together – beyond the first hour where we just caught up on life admin and ‘doing diaries’. We actually got to spend precious time just relaxing, for the first time in months. In fact, one of us was so relaxed that he started snoring in the couples’ massage…
For most of the time it felt like we were the only people in the spa, only crossing paths with another couple on our way out to use the hot tub after lunch. And, it really felt that the whole experience revolved around us and our needs, with flexibility to take a phone call, take time out to cool down with a chilled drink, and enjoy a long bento lunch. This guest-centred approach was key to the whole experience feeling so exclusive and pampering.
The Spa Space can accommodate wheelchair users and guests with restricted mobility and the team is happy to recommend the most suitable treatments for all guests.
Jetty Spa at The Lake House
The Lake House doesn’t have a spa per se, but it does have a particularly lovely treatment cabin. The Jetty Spa overlooks the property’s own private lake, with floor to ceiling windows making the most of the soothing vista. A single, spacious couples’ treatment room exudes romance, with fresh flowers and a wood burner. Bright with spring flowers when we visited in April, I can only imagine how magical it would feel to be here in winter overlooking the frozen lake.
The treatment room at Jetty Spa can be divided into two, making it ideal for guests who are spa-ing solo too. Available treatments include stand-alone Pure Lakes and ESPA treatments, or guests can book the Jetty Spa Experience which includes a treatment and use of the Lake House’s hydrotherapy tub and cedar hot tub. And, just along from the spa, at the water’s edge, there’s a pretty Boat House, a cosy romantic hideaway where you can relax after your treatment or enjoy a sunset drink. There’s a small indoor swimming pool and sauna too, but these have more part-of-the-original-house rather than modern spa pool vibes.
Treatment highlights
Spa Space at The Gilpin
The Gilpin’s treatment menu includes a variety of stand-alone treatments and the popular Gilpin Serene Spa Experience for two.
Bestsellers include:
The aromatherapeutic Hot Stone Reviver, a tailored massage that uses hot stones and essential oils to target muscle tension and stress
ESPA’s restorative Inner Calm massage – to quieten the mind as well as ease muscle tension and nourish the skin
Pure Lakes Walkers Ritual – a treatment designed to relax and soothe the legs and feet, perfect after a day or two on the fells.
Pregnancy treatments are also available, along with specialist Nurture and Support treatments, created for people living with and beyond cancer. In fact, the Gilpin’s a great choice for anyone looking for a place to be nurtured or recuperate, and they have recently introduced a Magical Wellness Hideaway package specifically for those recovering from illness or simply seeking a quiet, private break.
Our Gilpin Spa Space experience
The Spa Space is one of those places where you feel relaxed and grounded as soon as you step inside and into its apothecary-style reception, with its textured walls, aromatic oils and soothing sounds.
Moving through to the plant-filled Relaxation Room, I loved the natural feel, with Lake District fells invited in through its large picture window.
The cocooning treatment rooms have a darker, woodland feel but windows remind you that you’re a million miles from a subterranean city spa.
Outside ‘Garden Arwen’ offers an al fresco sanctuary, again with soothing Lake District views. Named after a recent storm that brought down several of the Estate’s trees, this elevated spa garden uses tree roots and wild grasses to provide privacy for guests using its two cedarwood hot tubs.
My husband and I were booked in for the Gilpin Serene Spa Experience for two, an indulgent 4-hour spa experience including:
- Salt and oil scrub and mud rasul experience
- 50-Minute ESPA or Pure Lakes couple’s spa treatment
- Glass of Champagne and exclusive use of the hot tub
- Bento box lunch in the Relaxation Room
- Complimentary spa refreshments
Gilpin Serene Spa Experience
Once we’d checked in to the spa and changed into the fluffiest of robes, we were shown to the relaxation room to complete a consultation form and highlight any treatment preferences.
Our Serene Spa Experience journey started with our first treatment, a full body massage, though we were told that we could have any one-hour treatment we liked – the two therapists were entirely at our disposal and treatments would be tailored to our individual needs.
Mr Spavellous and I were shown to one of Spa Space’s generously sized treatment rooms where we were given a scent test, of two of ESPA’s oils, and asked by the therapist to pick the oil we felt most drawn to. Mr S and I each picked a different oil, Restful and Energising, but that wasn’t a problem – the whole deal is that the spa offers individual treatments for couples to enjoy together. We made ourselves comfortable on our twin heated massage beds, nestled in face-down, and let the relaxation commence.
I’d requested a medium pressure massage, focusing on my shoulders, and that’s exactly what I got, with welcome introductory touches like an inhalation bowl and soothing foot cleanse.
The treatment felt very slick and personalised, with flowing soothing strokes and the therapist checking in a couple of times to make sure I was happy with the pressure and temperature.
Mr Spavellous had strained his back, so was keen for a firm massage to target his lower back muscles so he could recover in time to get a round of golf in at the weekend. His therapist responded to the brief perfectly, expertly addressing the source of the tension, introducing hot stones for extra clout.
We both emerged from the massage feeling looser and lighter – and ready for the next instalment of our spa adventure, a Bento lunch.
Spa lunch
Served in the Relaxation Room, our freshly prepared boxes, courtesy of Gilpin Spice, hit the spot perfectly with fried chicken, salmon rolls, salad, a fruit dessert and a couple of chocolates. The perfect balance of healthy and indulgent and we helped ourselves to chilled drinks from the retro SMEG fridge in the corner.
Following some post-lunch relaxation, it was time for…more relaxation. This time the Mud Rasul, a three-stage experience consisting of a skin-softening salt and oil scrub, the application of mineral mud and twenty minutes getting a sweat on in the steam room. An intimate and entertaining self/partner-administered treatment, it was very much designed for couples, with Mr S describing the experience as having ‘Ghost meets the Great Pottery Throw Down’ vibes.
Half an hour later we emerged glowing and with super smooth skin.
We were thoroughly enjoying our day so far and it was cool to spend time focusing on ourselves and each other, rather than on the kids, or whose turn it was to put the bins out.
After another short hydration break in the relaxation area, it was time to head to one of the two outdoor hot tubs to enjoy double bubbles with a soak and a glass of champagne. More time to catch up and enjoy the soothing Lakeland view.
A welcome surprise!
Had the spa day finished there, we would have felt perfectly happy, but we were delighted to realise that there was another final treatment to enjoy. Even Mr Spavellous, who’s an active type who doesn’t make much time for relaxation in an average week/month/year, was fully in the spa zone by this point, and absolutely loving it, asking why I hadn’t told him about ‘this heavenly place’ before.
Our second treatment, and the Gilpin spa journey finale, was another hour of booked ‘time’ – ours to select any treatments we wished. Often guests choose an Indian Head Massage or facial to finish, as I did. But Mr S had been so impressed by the remedial benefits of his back massage that he opted for the same again. I loved how genuinely tailored the treatments were to what we each wanted while creating a cohesive couples experience too.
My treatment, the ESPA Inner Beauty Facial was a particularly relaxing one, with a triple cleanse, gentle exfoliation and a soothing facial and scalp massage while a ‘personalised’ mask was working its rejuvenating magic.
I loved the different scents and textures of the products and how soothing the treatment was, as I felt myself drifting off to that happy not-quite-but-almost asleep state. I now enjoy a facial as much as a massage, having realised how great they are for relaxation as well as complexion, and the Gilpin’s Inner Beauty facial was a case in point.
My husband’s massage was clearly working its relaxation magic too as the soft piano soundtrack was interrupted with a couple of quickly curtailed, but undeniably recognisable snores.
Four hours of blissful couples’ spa fun later it was time to return to reality, or at least our happy next new reality of our Lake House room. Mr S and I felt amazing – both physically and mentally — and it had been great to enjoy this experience together.
Highlights for me were the sense of exclusivity and the way that the day was so guest centred, with every spa ‘need’ anticipated and thought put into every element. And, as we were leaving, one of the therapists handed us our swimwear, which she’d arranged to have dried while we were having our last treatment. Amazing!
Rooms
The hotel has 30 bedrooms, with two restaurants and a champagne bar. If it’s spa action you’re after, then the detached Spa Suites and Lodges are for you:
5 Spa Lodges – detached luxury lodges with a convertible treatment area, steam room, rain shower, free-standing bath, and walled garden with outdoor sauna and hydrotherapy hot tub. The gardens are private and have stunning views out over the grounds to the moors beyond.
5 Spa Suites – with their own private in-house spa – with steam room, sauna, infra-red lounge bed, and a fun massage chair. The ultimate in private pampering and popular with honeymooners and returning chill-seekers alike.
The Spa Lodges and Suites are delightfully spacious and make you feel like you’ve just stepped into something off Grand Designs. Open-plan, and with floor to ceiling windows, they bring the outside-in, and the interiors’ contemporary aesthetic immediately adds to the feeling of luxurious calm with natural materials and botanicals.
Bathrooms are spacious too, with room-for-two stone baths and double walk-in showers. There’s a well-stocked wine fridge in each suite and the spaces are equally suited to cosying up with the log burner in winter or throwing open the doors for some star gazing on a hot summer’s night.
Wining and Dining
The Gilpin has two restaurants—the Michelin starred SOURCE at Gilpin Hotel (formerly HRiSHi) and the more casual pan-Asian Gilpin Spice. There’s also a bar, large lounge and two relaxing terraces to enjoy when the sun’s out.
SOURCE at Gilpin Hotel offers modern fine dining with a relaxed atmosphere and superlative food. It’s very much a dining ’experience’, and an excellent one at that, combining carefully sourced Lake District produce with technical flair and an Asian influence. Plus, well-chosen wines.
Set across two intimate dining spaces, SOURCE has an informal, special occasion feel. In what I now know to be typical Gilpin style, they do things a little differently on the fine dining front too, questioning norms and personalising the experience by offering guests flexibility.
Before we’d even entered the hotel, we got a quick behind-the-scenes glimpse of Exec. Chef Ollie Bridgwater – formerly of The Fat Duck – and his team in action through the kitchen’s large picture window. Gilpin’s all about the people and it was good to see the faces behind the plates.
Diners, like spa-goers, are given flexibility to go with how they feel, and can enjoy a more personalised dining experience, beyond the usual set-ness of the tasting menu. Each diner can choose from either the full nine course SOURCE menu, or the pared back six course Origin one, with no requirement for diners on a table to pick the same. And both can be tailored to individual preferences with a choice of starter, main course, and dessert,
Both menus share core courses which arrive in tandem, satisfying all appetites. Vegetarian and vegan options are available.
Not wanting to miss out on any of the dining fun, my husband and I plumped for the full SOURCE experience, with Mr. Spavellous adding on the sommelier-selected wine pairing, while I focused on retaining enough sobriety to make legible notes.
No research was required to know that The Gilpin is widely regarded as having one of the Lake District’s best restaurants, backed up by it having held a Michelin Star for an impressive nine consecutive years.
When the menu landed in my eager hand, I was delighted to see an exciting list of local produce, seasonal ingredients and imaginative flavour combinations, several with a distinct Japanese flavour. Here, again, the Gilpin twist was evident, enjoying, and excelling, at doing things a little differently.
What followed next was an exciting and creative gastronomic journey, with a succession of beautifully executed culinary creations, that showcased innovative flavour combinations and technical flair. Shiny pearls of melt-in-the-mouth chicken parfait with sharp blackberry, complemented the crunchy moreish miso-creamed beef croustade. A scallop lasagne sung with its rich jus and shaved truffle hat. And the tender Cumbrian Chicken was perfectly paired with a wild garlic stuffed morel. But, for me the stand-out course had to be the Cornish brill which lived up to its name, with curly cauliflower mushrooms and a roast bone sauce. A complex taste sensation that maximised flavour while minimising waste.
The excellence filtered through to the waiting team too, who introduced each plate with personality, capably fielding questions relating to ingredients and provenance. The animated Sommelier presented each of the five original wine pairings like close friends, with heart-felt storied descriptions. According to one of the diners on the next table the Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Chardonnay was the best she’d ever tasted, assuring us that she’d thoroughly researched the subject. And the smooth South African Brookdale Estate Bradbourne White Blend slipped down as easily ‘as a fell runner on a wet scree slope’.
At the end of the meal, fuelled by feel-good vibes and flowing wine, diners from nearby tables started comparing notes on favourite courses – and enthusiasm for The Gilpin in general – along with stories from visits over the years.
Perfectly satiated and entertained, we headed to the lounge to enjoy our coffee and petits fours before returning to the luxurious lap of our Spa Suite.
why so spavellous?
The Gilpin Hotel had been on my spa wish for some time, yet it still managed to exceed expectations!
It really is in is a league of its own when it comes to luxury private spa facilities. It has a friendly, grown-up feel and the two dining options are excellent. The personalised, guest-centred approach filters down to pretty much everything they do – from the dining to the spa. And the location’s tranquil and rural yet well placed for exploring Windermere and beyond.
The Gilpin Hotel and Lake House offer a proper escape so you can really switch off. The only things you need to concern your brain with are considerations like whether to order room service or dine in the in the hotel and whether to relax in the hot tub or sauna first – our kind of dilemmas! We loved the extra touches too like the in-room spa hampers and having our swimwear dried for us while we were having our spa treatments.
The hotel has year-round appeal, offering proper British spa escapism throughout the seasons – and without any pretentiousness or stuffiness.
The staff strike the perfect balance between efficiency and personality to provide just-right service and the natural décor and setting give the whole place a restful, restorative vibe.
The family-owned personality is infused throughout, from the playful plush cat ‘do not disturb’ sign – a nod to the feline-fanatic former owner – to the copies of The Gilpin’s book about the hotel and the owner’s hospitality journey. We also liked the sustainability-promoting Hotel for Trees initiative and that they’ve chosen a local skincare brand for the bathroom products.
The Lake House is a special place too with a sense of peaceful seclusion and tranquillity, yet convenience and excellence of the Gilpin Hotel dining. A hotel for all seasons, I can only imagine staying there in winter with the lake frozen over.
Finally, the staff. In my experience it’s pretty much always the people that make the best hotel experiences – and this is certainly the case at The Gilpin Hotel.
As a guest, you’re made to feel important from the second you arrive, and the hotel has a properly guest-centred approach. Each staff member seems to genuinely want to make your stay the best possible in every way. And that’s why guests return time and time again.
spavellous tips
Make sure you book ahead for the restaurants and spa treatments – both can get booked up weeks ahead
The suites are eminently instagrammable so bring your coolest cozzy – in fact bring a couple as you’ll want to be in and out of the hot tub all day long and no-one likes donning soggy swimmers.
Don’t worry about bringing spa products if you’re staying in a Spa Suite – the lovely spa hampers provided have everything you’ll need – and more
If you’re coming by train, Windermere is the nearest station, but Oxenholme isn’t much further and chances are that you’ll have to change there anyway so it’s usually a better option.
We strongly recommend booking two nights (or more?!) if you can to make the most of the place and adjust to the relaxed pace.
Spa Goers say...
‘We feel like it’s our second home – it delivers on every level.’
‘I seriously think this was the best massage I’ve ever had! I love how the therapist got right into the weeds of my back knots.’
‘We’ve been coming here every year for eleven years for our anniversary – it feels like a second home! – Barney, Zoe and the team are like family now.’
‘I came here to recover from a hip operation and the staff have gone out of their way to make sure I’m comfortable and looked after in every way.’
‘The Lake House is just lovely. I’ll definitely be back.’
‘There’s such a warm and friendly atmosphere. After three nights it felt like we had made friends with so many of the people who worked there.’
‘Just Wow! The best all round hotel experience I’ve ever had’
‘We stayed in one of the Garden suites with our baby and had our own hot tub, which was amazing’
‘beds are super-comfy and the staff are genuinely lovely’