Quiet luxury at Gilpin Hotel
Luxurious spa getaway in the Lake DistrictImportant Information: This article is for general informational purposes only. All hotels & products featured on our website are independently selected by our editors & contributors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Please refer to our full terms and conditions.
Destination: Bowness-on-Windermere, Lake District
Vacation: quiet luxury nature retreat
Seeking: wellness, VIP treatment, Michelin Star food
Highlight: full body massages in your spa lodge and champagne in the hot tub
Set against the serene beauty of the Lake District, Gilpin Hotel offers a rare combination of refinement, warmth and switch-off and enjoy the moment quiet luxury.
All stays are a VIP experience from start to finish and luxury comes effortlessly here. Exquisite dining, ultra luxurious rooms or suites and 5 star spa facilities ensure that you are fully immersed for the ultimate spa getaway in some of the UK’s finest countryside.
It’s the perfect place to unwind, reset and totally indulge yourself and that is exactly what I did during my two night stay in one of the hotel’s exclusive spa lodges. The team was attentive and on hand to help make my stay the most memorable with walkie talkies provided for spa lodge guests which go straight through to the concierge.
Scroll down to find out more details about the accommodations, dining, spa and all my favourite highlights, including a few recommendations for things to do outside the resort, as well as Expedia links so you can check prices, dates and book. You might also like to read our foodie guide to the Cotswolds or our guide to the best luxury hotels in Devon with pools. And for another magical UK hotel bordering beautiful countryside consider Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa in the New Forest.
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Book your stay
Click on the buttons below if you’re ready to check dates, details, and pricing and book your stay at Gilpin Hotel on Expedia. Scroll down to find out more about this luxury resort.
- Quiet luxury 100%
- Wellness 100%
- Nature 100%
- Michelin Star food 100%
Best food & drink
1. SOURCE at Gilpin Hotel
At the hotel’s Michelin star restaurant, SOURCE at Gilpin Hotel, the atmosphere is refined but relaxed with a strong emphasis on seasonal ingredients and elegant cooking.
The tasting menu unfolds at an unhurried pace, each dish carefully composed and beautifully balanced. I highly recommend adding on the wine pairing which seriously elevates your evening to another level. The chefs and kitchen can be viewed from the outside of the building which is extremely cool and sets the tone of the night as you slowly walk past and spy on what’s coming your way in just a few moments. Overall, the experience is quietly luxurious, not showy or pretentious in any way which is the mark of a true Michelin star restaurant if you ask me. Dining here invites you to linger and really be present with each course. I left feeling wholesome and satisfied and not to mention grateful to have experienced such an exquisite meal.
2. Gilpin Spice
In contrast but just as delectable, Gilpin Hotel’s other restaurant Gilpin Spice, brings a vibrant energy to the estate.
Having gained its own achievements being awarded 2 AA rosettes, inspiration is taken from the flavours of the subcontinent with a bold, expressive and deeply comforting menu. With an open kitchen, you can choose to sit at the bar if you want to view all the culinary action or settle at a cosy table. Dishes are layered with spice and warmth yet executed with Gilpin Hotel’s finesse. At both eateries, the staff could not be keener to recommend dishes or wines and they talk about the food with as much passion as the chefs cooking it. Eating here felt joyful and even more relaxed than SOURCE. Together, the two restaurants perfectly reflect Gilpin Hotel’s staple vibes. It’s fine dining excellence across the board balanced with flavour-led generosity in every aspect.
Stay
Gilpin Hotel is proudly a member of Relais & Châteaux and it’s clear to see why especially when staying in one of the five spa lodges. This is where the hotel’s philosophy of understated luxury truly shines.
Set discreetly within the grounds, the lodges feel wonderfully private and have been designed for guests who value seclusion as much as indulgence. Stepping inside, the space immediately cocooned me with soft neutral tones, a warm fireplace and expansive windows that frame the surroundings like living artwork. The defining feature is the private spa experience. With my own outdoor sauna, steam room, hot tub and a deep soaking tub overlooking the private outdoor terrace, the lodges blur the line between accommodation and wellness retreat.
Barely believably it gets even better, you can also opt for one of the Spa Suites which offer even more space with separate livings areas, built in hot tubs and bedrooms ‘floating’ over the pond.
Explore
One of the great pleasures of staying at Gilpin Hotel is its setting. Surrounded by acres of rolling Lake District countryside, the hotel feels blissfully removed yet perfectly placed for exploration.
On site, you can spend time simply wandering the grounds, following winding paths through manicured gardens and open meadows. And for all the animal lovers, the resident llamas and alpacas add a unique charm to the grounds. Beyond the estate, the Lake District unfolds in all its cinematic beauty. Scenic walks, serene lakes and charming villages are all within easy reach, making it simple to balance relaxation with discovery.
Top tip for when visiting the Lake District is hop on the Ferries for an afternoon of sightseeing. With the Ferries crossing the major lakes like Windermere and Ullswater, it’s the most scenic way to get around. Wrap up warm in the winter months as you can then still sit on the upper deck and have unrestricted views of the Lakes as you make your journey across. It’s the most magnificent view and depending on the ferry you are on, the tour guide will talk you through the history (both the important parts and the scandalous). The nearest ferry stop if staying at Gilpin Hotel is Bowness Peir. If you are more ambitious than that, hiking culture is huge with ample routes taking you to the most gorgeous wanders The Lakes have to offer. Whatever your mood fancies, the landscape invites you to explore and connect with nature all at your own rhythm. Returning to Gilpin Hotel after a day out knowing warmth, comfort and exceptional food await feels like the perfect full stop to each day.
Relax
Wellness is woven seamlessly into the fabric of Gilpin Hotel and staying in a Spa Lodge elevated that sense of escape even further. Having a private spa at my disposal meant I could fully embrace a slower, more intuitive routine. Dipping in and out of heat and steam whenever the mood struck is a luxury I haven’t experienced before. It felt deeply personal not to mention decadent.
Visiting in the colder month of December, made this stay especially cosy and I found a new love for hot tubs. Elsewhere on the estate, the atmosphere encouraged me to remember how to be calm and enjoy slow mornings which included breakfast delivered to my room and enjoyed by the fireplace.
There are many quiet corners across the lodges and main hotel which are perfect for reading or reflective moments with a morning coffee (or mimosa) leaving an overall sense that nothing here is rushed. Being a busy Londoner, I could appreciate the luxury of ‘doing nothing’ in stunning surrounds both indoors and outdoors.
What made my stay truly special was the encouragement to switch off and simply enjoy the moment. Gilpin Hotel are pioneers of the spa break creating the conditions for genuine rest and relaxation with every single element thoughtful and somehow uniquely adapted for every guest. By the time I left, I felt not just relaxed but renewed.
Hotel info
GILPIN HOTEL & LAKE HOUSE
Crook Road, Windermere,
The English Lake District
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