Stanley House Hotel and Spa

Like a side order of wellness with your weekend away? Spa breaks at Stanley House are healthy too, thanks to all the fitness-fostering facilities on offer. 

Found within the spa, the gym’s interior design mirrors its ‘country-house escape theme’ to perfection, with stunning floor-to-ceiling windows flooding the area with natural light. 

There’s a range of cutting-edge cardiovascular and contemporary strength equipment to try, while panoramic views across the Ribble Valley countryside make any workout feel instantly more scenic and serene.

Ramble outdoors at your own pace on the hotel’s woodland walk. Or bring your bike and follow in the tyre tracks of Sir Bradley Wiggins on one of the many cycle routes on Stanley House’s doorstep. 

You’ve soaked in a sensational, award-winning spa. Now feast upon your favourite dishes in Fred’s Brasserie, a place where meals and memories are made.

Set in a bright, airy conservatory with views of the beautifully manicured courtyard and countryside beyond, this relaxed, all-glass restaurant also has a sun terrace - the perfect spot for sundowners on hazy summer days.

The emphasis here is on local, seasonal food cooked to perfection, thanks to the abundance of artisan cheesemakers, fishmongers and farms on the hotel’s doorstep.

A buffet breakfast is complemented by full English and cooked options. For lunch and dinner there’s generous portions of British classics, such as fish pie and fish and chips. Sunday lunches are also a treat, but the burgers here may just be the most flavoursome and scrumptious burger you've ever tasted.

You’ll have to live without your laps this time,  because there isn’t a swimming pool at Stanley House Hotel & Spa. But who needs one with all the thermal bathing experiences they offer? The stunning hydro-pool has lakeside views, two powerful swan pipes, a long airbed and a stand-up whirlpool to massage tired legs.

If you’re at Stanley House Hotel on a spa break, you can eat a light lunch in the relaxation lounge in your robe, enjoying stunning views across the valley. Prefer something hot? Get dressed and head across to Fred’s Brasserie in the main hotel. 

Here on an overnight spa break? You’re in for a treat. The beautifully boutique Stanley House has 30 bedrooms, with accommodation split across the 17th Century Manor House and the contemporary Woodlands building just across the courtyard. 

Check-in time at Stanley House is 3pm and check-out time is 11am.

The spa at Stanley House is a blissfully adults-only space and thermal bathing, the hydro pool and treatments are only available to guests aged 16 years and over. They’re pretty strict about it, too. ID may be requested as proof of age and booking in an underage guest may result in a cancellation fee being charged.

Children are welcome in the Stanley House Hotel, though. All rooms in Woodlands have sofa beds and children’s menus are available in both restaurants. Special treats are put on during the school holidays, like kids’ activity rooms, Easter egg hunts and even a visit from Santa.

Popular family activities nearby include Bowland Wild Boar Park for playgrounds and animal petting or Clitheroe Castle for some knights and dragons-style adventure. And the bright lights of Blackpool with its theme park and seaside attractions are just a 35-minute drive away.

Access to all areas of the venue are wheelchair accessible, apart from floors one to four of the Manor House. There are no steps to the spa and the ground is paved. The car park has 10 designated disabled spaces.

No. Dogs aren’t welcome at Stanley House, either in the hotel or the spa.

No, there’s no golf club at the hotel, but there are lots just a stone’s throw away. Ribble Valley has a wealth of moorland and parkland golf courses, so take your pick from Pleasington, Clitheroe, Longridge, Whalley and Wilpshire. 

Fancy something a bit more world-class? In just a 60-minute drive you can be teeing off at the historical Royal Birkdale, Royal Liverpool and Royal Lytham & St, Anne’s championship courses.