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.
Andy Burnham reveals plans to build underground tram and train line in Manchester by 2050
Emily Sergeant
Andy Burnham has announced some ambitious long-term plans to build an underground tram and train line in Manchester.
As Greater Manchester sets its sights on a new era of economic growth, on the way to becoming a ‘second city’ to rival any other on the planet by 2050, Mayor Andy Burnham shared the city region’s blueprint for a ‘greener, fairer future’ this week – with underground transport plans being right the heart of it.
Mr Burnham says his vision for the next decade is to create a ‘thriving’ city region where everyone can ‘live a good life’.
Andy Burnham reveals plans to build an underground tram and train line in Manchester / Credit: TfGM
But it’s public transport where it seems some of the most significant changes are set to be made before 2050 arrives.
The Mayor revealed plans for new bus routes, tramlines, and train stations to connect ‘thriving communities’ across the city region with an integrated lower-cost transport system that’ll help more people get out and access new opportunities.
Construction of a tram stop to service new homes at Victoria North will also start by 2028, it has been confirmed, while work to bring Metrolink to Stockport – which has already been announced to huge support – will begin by 2030.
Two commuter rail lines will join the Bee Network next December as well, with another six joining by 2028.
GM is growing fast.
We will expand @BeeNetwork over the next decade to meet the needs of our bigger economy.
BUT
There’s a limit to what we can do on a congested surface.
It’s why I am asking TfGM to start planning for an underground for GM around a remodelled Piccadilly. pic.twitter.com/k2ozNWw6Wj
The headline-grabbing announcement, though, has to be that Mr Burnham has also announced plans to unlock ‘transformative’ investment in transport infrastructure, so that by 2050, Manchester Piccadilly has an underground tram and train station with a high-speed rail link to Liverpool.
He’s also looking to boost regeneration of the surrounding area, effectively making it ‘the Kings Cross of the North’.
“We’re the UK’s fastest growing economy and stand on the cusp of what I believe could be our best decade since the Victorian era,” commented Mayor Andy Burnham, “and our task for the next decade is to build a platform for success for all our residents.
“Our vision is ambitious, but in my eight years as Mayor, I’ve learned that, when we pull together, there’s nothing we can’t achieve.
“There’s a long and proud tradition of collaboration in Greater Manchester. Devolution has turbocharged that and now we’re ready to deliver a new model of growth where no one is left behind.”
Featured Image – Maria Lupan (via Unsplash)
Travel & Tourism
Mélange by Red Hall is a jewel in the crown of Bury’s burgeoning hospitality scene
Danny Jones
We recently had the pleasure of staying at the understated and most definitely underrated Red Hall Hotel over in Bury, and got to try their stunning new Mélange restaurant while we were at it.
Now, we say underrated not because it hasn’t received glowing reviews in the past; the AA-star hotel has enjoyed plenty of plaudits over the years and currently averages 4.5/5 from over 900 reviews.
However, what we will say is that the food now being served from this quaint little outpost located in the tiny hamlet of Walmersley, just on the border of Ramsbottom (regularly voted one of the best places to live in the UK), is well worth more than the hotel’s three-star rating on it’s own.
Not only did we have the pleasure of staying in this charming little village getaway, but we were treated to a whopping 11 courses, followed by a morning meal, for a truly wonderful bed and breakfast vibe with all the added luxury of a Kayak Awards and 2021 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice-winning destination.
The Mélange restaurant at Red Hall HotelSuch a striking room when you first walk in.Credit: The Manc Group
The first thing that struck us about the local favourite venue is that, despite being located beside Manchester Road, once you’re inside, it’s a quiet, tranquil and calming little escape from what is already a nice out-of-the-way escape from the bustle of the city and even Bury town centre.
Even if not, how inviting the actual Mélange restaurant itself is definitely will; the golden sign glistening from the soft white dangling bulbs immediately catches your eye, and then you walk in to see the big conservatory and almost orangery-esque windows, with sloped ceilings and lots of light.
You get just as warm a welcome from the staff as well, which is a feeling maintained throughout your entire dining experience, as they really do communicate that sense of comfort whilst “drawing from mamma’s childhood memories and unforgettable holidays” through the food.
Speaking of which…
Mélange – which quite literally translates to ‘a mixture’, often even hinting at things that don’t usually fit together – promises a fusion of British and Mediterranean cuisine, and delivers both familiar flavours but with plenty of contemporary punch and visual appeal.
We may have begun our meal with something as simple but satisfying as a mini round loaf of bread freshly baked in a cast iron pot with some acidic, tapenade-esque chutney, along with a couple of very refreshing and lemon-forward spritzes, but it didn’t take long before we dove headlong into indulgence.
See, the trouble was the mezze: we wanted to try a little bit of something from each section of the menu, but we couldn’t help but be drawn in by starting with three selections from what was advertised as ‘small plates, big flavours’.
In actuality, what happened was a board featuring our trio of choice appeared, and the bowls that sat upon it were pretty filling on their own. It’s a good job we didn’t spring for the eye-catching charcuterie board as well, otherwise we really would have struggled to finish this feast.
We went for these naughty ‘nduja arancini, some ever-so-smoky chicken wings in a slightly spiced aioli, and quite literally the best halloumi fries you’ll ever try; we don’t know if it was the light fried batter, the perfectly tearable texture of the cheese, or the subtle hot honey dip, but they were incredible.
We also opted to try two more delicate, lighter bites to somewhat cleanse the palate – the corn and duck salad, both of which were fantastically balanced and still not skimpy on the portions either.
The point being is that, at this stage, we started to worry this, plus our main courses of maple-baked salmon (paired with the most impressively smooth and sweet potato purée imaginable), gambas al ajillo (giant black tiger prawns in garlic) and a stuffed, herbaceaous, rolled pork number might be overkill…
Perfectly soft, gooey arancini with a slight heat to them.You could see the quality of the prawns before tasting it.That tweal on top alone was packed with flavour.Light, seasonal and yet more than a few mouthfuls.
Having said that, we still found time/room for another round of cocktails – again, sticking with the spritz theme (’tis the season, after all) – and just about managed to squeeze in two desserts.
The lemon posset was just tangy enough without being too tart and was devoured within seconds, while the cheesecake with an extra dusting of pistachio on top was superb. Topping each with a thin, honeycomb-design biscuit felt like a nice little Manc finishing touch as well.
We’ll confess, a fair few belt notches were loosened throughout the duration of this meal, but we kept persevering for a number of reasons: we wanted to get a comprehensive sweep of what’s on offer, we didn’t want to waste a morsel of food if possible, and most importantly, it was stunning.
Honestly, there wasn’t so much as an average mouthful of food all night. We can’t believe it’s taken us this long to try what’s being served out of the Mélange kitchen; pair that with a brilliant breakfast and relaxing stay at Red Hall itself, and it’s up there with one of the best hotel packages in the area.
Plenty of food and drink spots help, but the great in Greater Manchester, and we can’t say where exactly we’d rank this amongst all 10 boroughs, but we firmly believe you won’t find many better all-round hospitality offerings in Bury – if, indeed, at all.
There are plenty of lovely day and evening walks nearby.Or you can just curl up content on the sun-soaked terrace.
Daisy Jackson -
13th August 2024 
