If you, like us, tend to click ‘hot tub’ whenever you’re browsing for a UK staycation, then this list of options near Greater Manchester should tick a few boxes for you.
While we can never guarantee good weather here in Britain, none of that matters once you submerge yourself in hot, bubbly water with a glass of cold bubbly in your hand.
Luckily for us Mancs, we have the Peak District, Lake District and Yorkshire Dales all right on our doorstep (not to mention all the beautiful countryside in Lancashire, Cheshire, North Wales and beyond), and there are plenty of places you can stay with hot tubs.
Did you know that Hoseasons, which has holiday parks, lodges, cottages, and caravan holidays right across the UK, has the largest collection of hot tub holidays in the entire country?
So you can quit searching high and low for your perfect staycation and sink your teeth into the list below, right in time for the August bank holiday.
10 of the best hot tub holidays near Greater Manchester
Charlesworth Lodges
Hoseaons has a wealth of hot tub holidays near Greater Manchester. Pictured here is Charlesworth Lodges.
On the edge of the magnificent Peak District National Park you’ll find Charlesworth Lodges, a collection of eight beautiful lodges decorated with modern but cosy interiors.
When you stay at these perfect rural retreats, you’ll have moorland walks and postcard-perfect villages right on your doorstep.
Then you can, of course, unwind in your own private hot tub outside your lodge at the end of a day exploring.
Book your hot tub stay at Charlesworth Lodge with Hoseasons here.
Darwin Forest
Darwin Forest has beautiful lodges with hot tubs near Greater Manchester
Fancy a staycation with some of the north west’s most famous walks on your doorstep, as well as plenty of family-friendly activities to keep you entertained?
Darwin Forest might be the one for you. It’s located in woodland near Matlock and Bakewell, and is home to activities like tennis, mini golf, bodyzorbing, archery and SeaScooters, plus loads of footpaths and cycling trails to explore.
There’s an indoor play centre for kids, an activity den, a heated indoor swimming pool, a gym, and dozens of different lodges with private hot tubs (some of which are pet-friendly, too).
Ribblesdale Lodges is nestled in Gisburn Park Estate.
Nestled in the grounds of the Grade I-listed Gisburn Park Estate is Ribblesdale Lodges, where you can wave hello to the resident peacocks and Sika deer while relaxing in your own sumptuous hot tub.
With a range of Hoseasons lodges and cottages with hot tubs to stay in, plus a lovely on-side restaurant and a great pub down the road, it’s easy to see why these are some of the best staycation options near Greater Manchester.
You’ll be near the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which inspired ‘The Lord of the Rings’, too.
Landal Twin Lakes has two-storey lodges with hot tubs
You’d be forgiven for looking at Landal Twin Lakes and thinking we’d picked a staycation in Austria – but nope, this beautiful spot is indeed just up the road from Greater Manchester.
Tucked between the Lake District and the Forest of Bowland, you’ll find bespoke two-storey lodges with unbelievable waterside views and lakefront decking (with, of course, giant hot tubs).
Each boutique lodge can sleep up to six people.
Book your hot tub staycation at Landal Twin Lakes here.
Coole Acres Fishery
Coole Acres Fishery has hot tubs with waterfront views – and it’s not far from Greater Manchester
This new family-friendly destination is nestled in the heart of the Cheshire countryside, offering the most picturesque British staycation experience.
There are cosy shepherd’s huts, glamping pods, and spacious luxury lodges available, and if you’re a keen angler, you’re right on the shores of well-stocked lakes for fishing (including 49 lb catfish).
You’ll just be a five-minute drive from the village of Audlem, and not much further from bustling Nantwich, plus driving distance from Alton Towers, Delamere Forest and Wild Shore Delamere.
Kitty’s View Country Lodges are perfect hot tub holidays for animal lovers
Animal lovers will adore a holiday at Kitty’s View Country Lodges, which is set on a working farm filled with cows, sheep, hens, ponies and donkeys.
From your one- or two-bedroom lodge in the heart of the Cheshire countryside, you’ll be able to soak in views of Bickerton Hill and the lush surroundings.
You know we mentioned they’re perfect for animal-lovers? Some of the lodges even come with a dog room so your four-legged friend can have a luxury staycation too.
The White Willow Premium Cabin at Delamere Forest. Credit: paulbox
Even if you’re a seasoned pro at British staycations, you might not have discovered these new lodges in the heart of the Cheshire Plain yet.
You’ll be able to escape into a leafy haven and discover lost meres and mosses, along footpaths, cycle and riding trails, and while drinking in views across seven counties.
These beautiful, modern lodges have huge windows and private hot tubs too.
Click here to book your stay at Delamere Forest Lodges.
Rivendale Lodge Retreat
The Rivendale Lodge Retreat is in the Peak District
Part of Hoseasons’ Evermore Lodge Holidays Collections, this Peak District beauty has loads to offer both on site and just on its doorstep.
Shall we name just a few of the places you can easily visit from Rivendale Lodge Retreat? Okay then – the Heights of Abraham, Poole’s Cavern, Gulliver’s Kingdom, Dovedale nature reserve, the Tissington Trail, and all the picturesque countryside in between.
There are several lodges and even treehouses with hot tubs you can book here.
Water babies will love a holiday at Delamere Lake Sailing and Holiday Park, which has activities like paddle boarding, sailing, and open water swimming around its 120-acre lake, plus more adrenaline pumping options at the neighbouring Wildshore Watersports Centre.
But even if you prefer to keep your feet on dry land, this Cheshire holiday park is one to add to the bucket list.
It’s moments from Delamere Forest (so an easy trip from Greater Manchester) and is filled with beautiful lodges with outdoor hot tubs. Book your trip here.
Popular airline to give long-distance friends ‘well deserved’ reunions with FREE flights
Emily Sergeant
A popular airline is set to give long-distance friends the chance to reunite by offering free flights.
That’s right – Loganair has launched an exciting new competition and is calling on the public to help track down some of the country’s longest distance friendships across its network, as the award-winning regional airline looks to bring one deserving duo back together with complimentary flights.
Whether it’s childhood best friends who now live hundreds of miles apart, or university flatmates who haven’t seen each other since graduation, Loganair says its latest ‘Season of Connections’ campaign is a celebration of friendship that endures, no matter the postcode.
As the UK’s leading regional airline, Loganair prides itself on connecting communities across the UK, whether that be from remote islands or bustling business hubs like Manchester, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, and its extensive network of flights allows passengers nationwide to explore a wide range of destinations.
This competition – which is launching this week on the airline’s Instagram and Facebook channels – aims to do just that, and all without the lucky winners having to spend a penny.
The ‘Season of Connections’ competition invites people to share their story and explain why their long-distance friendship deserves a long-overdue reunion.
The winning pair will receive return flights to each other’s city, helping bridge the gap.
Loganair is giving long-distance friends ‘well deserved’ reunions with free flights / Credit: Loganair
It follows the huge response to Loganair’s Christmas giveaway last year that offered one lucky winner a year of free flights across Loganair’s extensive network, and now the airline is hoping to bring another memorable reunion to life – this time between two friends kept apart by distance.
“This campaign is all about celebrating the real, meaningful connections that define our lives, and demonstrating the role regional travel can play in bringing people together,” commented Lyn MacDonald, who is the Head of Marketing and Brand at Loganair.
“Whether it’s been months or years since friends last met in person, we want to help make that reunion possible.”
The competition runs until Sunday 17 August, and to take part, all you’ll need to do is visit Loganair’s Instagram or Facebook pages and follow the link in bio to submit your story.
The winning friends will be announced later this summer, with their reunion taking place in the autumn.
Featured Image – Priscilla Du Preez (via Unsplash)
Travel & Tourism
Kendal Calling 2025 festival guide – everything you need to know ahead of a milestone year
Danny Jones
The fields are beckoning us back once more as Kendal Calling returns for its 20th anniversary, and we’re to deliver all the important information to you yet again, from the stellar lineup, stage splits, site map and more.
It’s hard to believe the Lake District‘s leading live music event has been going for two whole decades now and, as cliché as it may sound, it really has gotten bigger and better each and every time.
Having been three years in a row ourselves, we can certainly vouch for the recent form.
In fact, their big birthday edition saw the beloved Northern favourite festival sell out – as it has done every 12 months since it began – in record time and now we can’t think of anything else other than singing our hearts out in Lowther Deer Park. Hence why we wrote this guide.
Kendal Calling guide 2025 – all the key info
Without further ado, here are all the important details you need to know ahead of Kendal Calling’s milestone anniversary festival. Let’s start with the bread and butter, shall we?
Kendal Calling 2025 lineup and stage splits
We announced the Kendal Calling’s 2025 lineup late last year, which is set to be headlined by Greater Manchester’s very own Courteeners and The Prodigy, with other big names packing out the main festival stage and beyond.
Other regional acts were looking forward to seeing include Leigh’s The Lottery Winners, Sheffield’s famous sons and daughters, Reverend and the Makers; Leeds legends, Kaiser Chiefs, as well as The Wombats and The K’s, just to name a few.
You can see the full stage splits via Clashfinder HERE.
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Main Stage – Where all the action and big headliners are playing at the northernmost spot.
Parklands – The second largest stage, pretty much smack bang in the middle of the site; there’s also a brilliant Glow takeover by night.
Calling Out – Rounding out the trio of Kendal stages with even more big acts to the west.
Woodlands – Exactly what it sounds like: a cosy stage set within the Lost Eden forest.
Chai Wallahs – Another large tent towards the North East of the site, boasting a variety of genres.
The Soapbox – Just northwest of Parklands, it’s where most of the live comedy is taking place.
Tim Peaks Diner – Named after Salford icon Tim Burgess himself, this little hut is built for more pared-down sets.
Desert Island Disco – Where the electronic scene goes to shine and usher in the late-night fun.
Roots – Built to spotlight emerging talent from across the region, there are gems to be found here.
The Town Hall – The latest addition to the festival alongside the official Kendal Calling pub, which debuted last year.
Tim Peaks DinerThe Stagger Inn pubShit Indie Disco at Calling Out stageOnce you’ve made it into Kendal Calling 2025, feel free to consult this mini-guide/overview of the stages. (Credit: George Harrison/Jess Huxham/Supplied)
Kendal Calling 2025 map
Now, while Kendal Calling is just generally considered a Lake District festival, it’s technically located in the sloping valley that dips down into Lowther Deer Park.
The large, woodland-lined expanse is situated within the Cumbria town of Penrith; the park itself is roughly 3,000 acres but forms part of the much larger 75,000-acre Lowther Estate.
For context, the increasingly popular event now welcomes around 40,000 festival goers every year, with Kendal Calling having grown from a 900-capacity seed to a giant, forest-spanning attraction.
Not much has moved around since last time, so you can always check out our video tour from 2024, but you can find an up-to-date site map down below.
Here’s a quick guide on how to get into the Kendal Calling festival site and a map of stages, facilities, etc. (Credit: Supplied)
Travel info – how to get there, parking and more
If you’re wondering how to get to Kendal Calling, once again: the festival takes place at Lowther Deer Park in Hackthorpe near Penrith, Cumbria (no, it’s not quite Kendal)
For the sake of ease when it comes to popping the location into the SatNav, the postcode is CA10 2HT.
By car
Located roughly 25 minutes north of its namesake Kendal, you can drive up there via the M6 and south down the A6 from Penrith. You can easily download full directions on Google Maps.
Parking
The general car park is adjacent to the general campsites, but BE AWARE, the further away you park, the longer the walk up that hill – and it is a big one, we’re afraid.
Also, pre-warning, you must bring any alcohol purchased from outside the festival site up on the first trip up to your pitch. We found out the hard way…
Hoping to encourage people to carpool and ride share where possible, with Kendal remaining a dedicated and environmentally-conscious event (see their ‘Leave Nothing But Memories’ mission statement, for example), there is a charge for parking separate from festival admission.
Passes can be purchased online in advance for £24.50, or you can pay on the day for £40, but just like downloading/printing out your tickets prior to entry, we’d obviously advise you plan ahead and get them ready beforehand.
Emperors Field, Great Plains, Deer Lodge and Tangerine Fields all have their own respective car parks, which require specific parking passes as part of campsite upgrade packages. You can see all the options and secure your parking HERE.
The nearest train station to the festival site is Penrith (also known as Penrith North Lakes), which is just a 15-minute taxi journey from the site.
Alternatively, you can hop on the special shuttle bus service that runs from the station to the festival at various points over the weekend. Various services are available from Scotland, Birmingham, London, here in Manchester and across the North West – for example:
From Birmingham New Street to Penrith (2h31m) — trains every hour
From London Euston to Penrith (3 hours) — trains every 30 minutes
From Glasgow to Penrith (1h21m) — trains every hour
From Edinburgh to Penrith (1h30m) — trains every hour
From Lancaster to Penrith (34 mins) — regular service
From Manchester Piccadilly to Penrith (1h41m) – trains every 30 minutes, change at Preston
Shuttles will run to and from Penrith (North Lakes) Station to Kendal Calling from 10am-18:45pm on Thursday and 8:30am-19:15pm on Friday. They won’t resume again until early Monday, with the final service lasting from 8:30am-13:15pm.
The festival has a dedicated pick-up and drop-off point (PUDO) outside at Green Gate. Follow the road signage as you get closer to the site for directions to the PUDO, which is also where you’ll find the taxi rank alongside our coach drop-off spot – just a short 5-10 minute walk to the wristband exchange too.
By coach/mini-bus
Speaking of coaches, you can find ticket prices for official services from destinations like Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, and many more places across the UK HERE.
Now, it’s not all airborne pints and tunage, though there is plenty of that; one of the things that makes Kendal one of our favourite festivals not only in the North but the entire country is the wide range of entertainment, activities and spaces it offers beyond just bands and artists.
As well as child-friendly facilities like laid-back Picturehouse social cinema, the annual parade, a dedicated ‘Kids Calling’ zone for said little ones, and the chilled-out Green Room outdoor area, there’s live alternative theatre, silent disco and tonnes more.
For instance, Mancunian comedy veterans Jason Manford and Justin Moorhouse will both be performing their own stand-up sets, which should provide a nice sense of home even while you’re away in the fields. And that really is just the tip of the iceberg.
We here at The Manc will be there in person as part of our Audio North team as somewhat of a boots-on-the-ground representation of our Kendal Calling 2025 guide, so feel free to say hello if you happen to spot the logo bouncing around.
Not if we’re in the middle of the pit or dancing though – that’s private time and you daren’t interrupt one of us mid-groove.
And if any of you are first-timers facing some newbie jitters or simply wondering how good a time you’re about to have this weekend, we think our most recent review sums it up pretty well.
Daisy Jackson -
13th August 2024 
