Review of Langdale Hotel & Spa, Ambleside

Langdale Hotel & Spa, Ambleside - 4 bubbles

The Langdale Estate in the Lake District is a resort comprising luxury hotel accommodation, self-catering lodges and cottages, and timeshare holiday-homes. Set amongst protected woodland and waterways, it is a beautiful, tranquil destination. Langdale Spa offers contemporary health-club facilities, excellent customer service and a great range of effective Anne Semonin treatments.

First impressions?

How did they welcome you?

What happens next?

Which treatments did you have?

What were the treatments like?

What happens afterwards?

Was it worth it?

What else could you have?

What do you wish you'd known before you went?

Any special features?

Who do you think would like it?

Why did you give the spa this rating?

Would you go again?

First impressions?

There are good directions and a printable map on Langdale's website, which we foolishly chose to ignore. Instead we let our sat-nav take us on a pretty detour. Hey-ho, it was a nice sunny day, anyway!

The buildings on the Langdale Estate have been built using local Lakeland stone, slate, and wood, so the new buildings blend into their Lake District setting well. There are Scandinavian-style lodges, stone cottages, traditional barns and apartments, with some being offered as timeshare holiday homes as well as self-catering accommodation. The hotel comprises 56 luxury bedrooms set amongst the woodland and by the waterside.

Once in the grounds, don't look for the word "spa" as it's the Country Club you are aiming for.

How did they welcome you?

Staff members welcomed us warmly when we arrived at reception. The reception has a sporty, unisex gym-feel to it. Immediately a member of staff offered to show us around to get our bearings. This young man took real pride in the facilities that he showed us.

What happens next?

The reception staff checked our treatment times and gave us locker keys. Our robes, towels and slippers were waiting for us in the lockers. There was a token in place so we didn't have to fumble around for £1 coins. Our robes were fluffy and new.

The changing rooms were spacious and clean, with private cubicles and excellent showers. The built-in playpen would be useful if you're visiting with small children, but this does also mean that the spa's serenity could be disturbed by noisy kids.

Inside the pool area the décor is quite contemporary, with high, white walls and a sloping wooden-beamed roof. It's gender-neutral and very stylish.

The 20-metre pool is the same depth throughout. It's UV treated, so if you don't like swimming in chlorinated pools, you'll find this much more pleasant. The Jacuzzi was quite large so we didn't have to play footsie with strangers.

The sanarium was a delight. The lower heat and higher humidity made it more pleasant to relax in than the searing dry heat of a sauna. Small towels were provided to sit on. The steam room was pleasant, too. There were also experience showers in a range of temperatures, plus the dreaded cold bucket!

Instructions and warnings were well displayed. There was water available, but only from one point in the corridor by the gym.

After trying the pool and thermal facilities, we showered down and dried off, ready for our treatments. The spin drier for our cossies got them touch dry in seconds! The changing rooms were fuller at 4pm, as people from the timeshares came in for a relaxing swim after their day out.

Which treatments did you have?

I had the Anne Sémonin Haute Couture facial (1 hour 25 minutes, £100). My daughter had the Anne Sémonin Parisian Top-to-Toe Treatment with a made-to-measure facial (1 hour 25 minutes, £95). We both finished off with a Leighton Denny custom pedicure.

What were the treatments like?

My therapist Alison was excellent. She made me feel deeply relaxed. Everything was gentle and smooth and she explained what was going on throughout. She was knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the products. She began the facial with a deep cleanse using cooling botanical milk and followed this with an exfoliation. She held warm flannels above my forehead so I could feel the warmth before she applied them to my face. Alison then dried my skin gently with gauze.

Alison's description of the "plasticizing" mask that followed called Jim Carrey to mind, but luckily it was very cool, soothing and lifting. Alison's application of ice towards the end tickled my forehead, but made my skin feel cool and fresh. Alison applied a lick of a hydrating moisturiser, and my facial was finished.

My daughter said:

"My top-to-toe treatment was exactly that. My therapist Louise explained everything well, chatting enthusiastically and knowledgably about the Anne Sémonin products. She frequently checked to make sure I was comfortable and warm, and that she was applying the right level of pressure. This treatment consisted of a back exfoliation and a back, neck and shoulder massage, followed by a deep facial-cleanse, exfoliation and cream mask (with shea butter and rose).

While the mask was on, my therapist massaged my head and scalp. It was lovely and over far too quickly! The addition of a bed throw over my towel was very cosy and welcome. I didn't really want to get up. I’d just been on a beach holiday and this was the perfect treatment to rehydrate my skin after sun and sea water.

The only odd thing was that music came on in the middle of our treatments, as though someone had forgotten to switch it on. "

Our pedicures left our feet smooth and soft and the varnish lasted for ages.

What happens afterwards?

Langdale Spa doesn't have a relaxation room where you can put your feet up and sip herbal tea. There are wooden loungers around the pool but we decided to sink into the sofas in the Terrace Bar. It was quite quiet while we were there, so we relaxed and had a flick through some of the many up-to-date magazines and newspapers on offer.

The overnight stay:

We stayed in the four-star hotel. Our midnight-blue bedroom and bathroom were luxurious. All of the hotel rooms include Sealy beds manufactured locally in Wigton, Cumbria, with big, fat, down-filled duvets and Egyptian cotton covers. The beds were so comfortable we didn't want to get up!

We took our evening meal in the hotel's Purdey's Restaurant where we tried the seven-course tasting menu (£40 each). Each small dish was delightful. All of the staff were attentive and jolly.

Was it worth it?

The Anne Sémonin treatments were excellent value for money.

What else could you have?

There are many gorgeous Anne Sémonin and Elemis treatments on offer, including facials, body scrubs, wraps and massages. Leighton Denny manicures and pedicures are available, and there are treatments for men, and bridal packages, too.

Finishing touches include waxing, tanning, Bare Escentuals make-up and hair-styling.

The fitness facilities are very good, too. There is an air-conditioned gym full of state-of-the-art equipment, an exercise studio with a range of classes and a tennis court. If you fancy exploring the countryside, you can hire a mountain bike.

What do you wish you'd known before you went?

If you're visiting on a cold day, you'll need warm clothes for the stroll from your room to the spa. You'll probably not want to wander through woodland in your robe and slippers.

Any special features?

The staff. The customer service at Langdale is excellent.

The environmental credentials. The Langdale Estate has won a number of awards for its preservation of the woods, water and wildlife in the valley, including a Civic Trust Award for its "sympathetic regard for its environment".

Who do you think would like it?

If your dress code is more Cotswold Outdoor than Harvey Nichols, you'll feel at ease here, as we did. When we visited, the other guests were mainly retired couples and families.

Men can feel at home here. There is nothing girly about this spa and many of the treatments are unisex.

Langdale is a hotel, country club and timeshare complex, but the spa and restaurant are open to non-residents.

Why did you give the spa this rating?

We gave Langdale Spa 4 bubbles. The facilities were clean, light and airy and the staff were all lovely. Langdale Spa is modern, but doesn't attempt to be too cutting-edge, and we felt that they had concentrated on getting the basics perfect. We loved the pool, and our Anne Sémonin treatments were fabulous.

A relaxation room would have made it feel more spa than health club, and would have extended the spa experience. You can return to your luxurious bedroom to relax, but you'll probably have to get dressed for the outdoors rather than stay in your fluffy robe.

See more on how we rate the spas