Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre

Lovely hotel, quaint & quirky, with low ceilings in places but not an issue. Pets were welcome. We had breakfast included and it was delicious, everything you needed. The beds were very comfortable. The bathroom looked to be newly renovated.

Great location close to all amenities. Large spacious rooms and clean.

Stayed at Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa for 3 nights and honestly… the thermal journey is the only reason I’d come back. Rooms are pretty meh—dated and not the cleanest. We were in room 166 and there were visible spill stains on the wall (not great), but it did have incredible lake views. It was also super convenient being so close to the elevator to take you to the spa. Read the fine print: access to the main pool (with infrared sauna + eucalyptus steam) is limited to 2.5 hours. Family time is early morning, and adults-only is 5:30–8pm, which felt oddly restrictive and honestly a bit like a bait-and-switch. We ended up booking the thermal journey + massage for $400, which is a lot. That said, the spa itself is next level—one of the best I’ve been to. Outdoor hot tubs, multiple saunas… highlights were the wood-fired sauna, salt sauna, indoor whirlpool, and the “Lost in the Clouds” massage (incredible—should’ve gone longer). Food at the hotel is subpar. We couldn’t get into Blue Smoke because I didn’t book in advance but overall options were limited. Breakfast is included (7:30–10am), but it’s the same spread daily and just okay. £12/day for parking. Location is great—about 10 minutes to Ambleside and Grasmere—but you’ll definitely need a car since there aren’t good dining options on-site. If you enjoy walking, there are beautiful hikes and trails right outside the hotel, which was a big plus. Staff was friendly.