Waterton Park Hotel

You’ve soothed your soul with a relaxing treatment at Bazaar spa. Now it’s time to nurture the health of your body, and Waterton Park Hotel has everything you need to help you do just that. 

Workout in serenity. The well-equipped gym isn’t just crammed with weights and cardio equipment. It also has floor-to-ceiling windows offering great views out onto the lake. You can watch the ducks as you pound the treadmill.

Sports lovers can burn some serious calories lugging their clubs around the 200-acre, 18-hole golf course. This extra-long course measures 6,843 yards from the tee on the first to the pin on the 18th hole! There’s also a driving range and putting green if you just wanted to practise.

Want to get your steps up in the sunshine? Grab a map from reception to try out ‘Waterton’s Trail’ taking in some historical features as you stroll. Once the home of pioneering traveller Charles Waterton, this beautiful five-mile loop takes you through Stubbs Wood, Haw Park, and passes Anglers Country Park. 

Stunning lakeside views may be a stand-out feature at this sumptuous Yorkshire hotel, but the delicious food and drink on offer at Waterton Park Hotel will distract you from your natural surroundings.

No matter what you're in the mood for, you'll find something to tempt you. So where should you head for your post-massage cocktail, a light bite or delicious dinner? 

Essence

Here on a package that includes a light meal? There’s no need to leave the tranquility of the spa - or even get dressed! Stay in your robe at Essence and enjoy freshly brewed coffee, tea, or a glass of something more sparkly. Socialise over a mezze board for two, tuck into salads or wrangle a wrap while you enjoy its lovely setting overlooking the pool.

The Grand Café

Discover comfort food with modern flair at the light-filled Grand Café over on the mainland. Whether it's a leisurely brunch, afternoon tea or a sumptuous dinner, you’ll want to linger to admire the decor. It features a timeline of the life of Charles Waterton and celebrates his travels around the world. And if you’re not looking at the artwork, you’ll be gazing out at the view of the lake and Walton Hall itself.

There is and it’s a beauty. The lake-level indoor pool in the hotel’s Bazaar spa overlooks the 26-acre lake and surrounding woodland. Plus you’ll find lakeside hot tubs, a steam room, jacuzzi and sauna. Water babies will be in heaven!

There sure is. Checking in for the night is always a temptation, because Waterton Park Hotel has 65 bedrooms. They’re split between 22 rooms on the Island in historic Walton Hall and 43 on the mainland in the contemporary Waterton Park Hotel. To get between the two it’s a romantic walk over a fairy-lit bridge. Choose from standard singles or doubles, or upgrade to an Executive room for four poster-beds and breath-taking views.

Here with a group? If you don’t mind sharing, try the Hideaway. Perfect for pyjama parties, it can sleep up to seven and has two shower rooms, one changing room, and a lounge with sofas and a dining table. Or book the Gamekeeper's Cottage with its comfortable sitting room, two double bedrooms and one single, well-equipped kitchen, dining room and cloakroom.

Waterton Park Hotel can be found near the village of Walton in Yorkshire. It nestles in a scenic valley of rolling parkland with its very own lake. It’s about four miles from Wakefield, a town that’s making waves in the art world for its sculpture. The birthplace of world-renowned sculptors Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore, the UK’s (unofficial) city of sculpture boasts the huge Yorkshire Sculpture Park and the Hepworth Wakefield.

Check-in time is at 3pm and check-out time is 11am for overnight guests. The time you book into the Bazaar spa at Waterton Park Hotel depends on your package, so please check your booking before arrival.

Originally built in the 18th century as Walton Hall, the Palladian-style house on the lake was the ancestral home of the renowned naturalist Charles Waterton. This extraordinary figure, known for his eccentric nature and pioneering taxidermy, left an indelible mark on the estate.

To safeguard his beloved estate from poachers, Charles built a formidable three-mile-long wall, a feat of engineering that took four years and a substantial £10,000 investment. Waterton’s Wall not only protected his property but also inadvertently created the world's first nature reserve.

Following the Waterton family, the property served various purposes, including a maternity hospital, before falling into disrepair. Thankfully, in the late 1970s, an entrepreneur embarked on a monumental restoration project, transforming the historic house into the thriving Waterton Park Hotel we know today.

Yes it is, thanks to six huge family rooms. They either have a double bed for two adults and a double sofa bed for two children, or a double bed for 2 adults and a single sofa bed for one child. Kids can splash in the pool every day of the week, between 7am and 9am and 4pm and 6pm. 

There’s plenty for them to do nearby. You can’t leave without paying a visit to Sandal Castle. Just two miles away, their imaginations will run wild as they explore the ruins - while you can soak up panoramic views of the Calder Valley.

Waterton Park Hotel has an unusual set-up in that it’s a hotel in two parts. The contemporary Waterton Park Hotel on the mainland is accessible. But the Georgian part, Walton Hall, can only be accessed by a 34m narrow footbridge from the car park. It’s then a 40m cobbled path to the Hall’s front door. 

Once you’re there, the period nature of the property means access is somewhat limited, although there are ramps, and ground floor accessible bedrooms. The Bazaar spa itself has limited accessibility because of the 11 steps that lead down to it.

Great news for dog lovers! Waterton Park Hotel is Fido-friendly and will roll out the red carpet for doggie VIPs of any size. Up to two dogs can stay in pet-friendly ground-floor rooms, for £20 per dog, per night (booked in advance). They can’t set a paw in the spa or restaurant, but can join you for dinner in the lounge.

Love to pamper and putt? There is a fabulous 18-hole championship golf course on site. It’s a separate entity to the hotel but well worth a visit if you’re a lover of the sport of kings because this 18 hole, par 72 course is one of the North’s leading golf venues. At 200 acres you’ll need stamina to cover every hole, but there’s also a driving range and putting green if you just fancied a quick practice.