Bainland Lodge Retreats, Woodhall Spa: An Honest Review of the Best Kept Secret in Lincolnshire
- Samantha
- Jun 27
- 10 min read
"We checked in at four. By five, we'd forgotten what day it was. That's exactly what Bainland does."
We arrived at Bainland Lodge Retreats in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, expecting a nice long weekend away. What we didn't expect was to spend the whole drive home already trying to figure out when we could come back. That says it all really.
This is my full, honest review of our stay at Bainland Lodge Retreats, covering the lodge itself, The Nest restaurant, the spa, the on-site activities, what's nearby in Woodhall Spa and everything you need to know before you book. If you're searching for a luxury lodge break in Lincolnshire that genuinely delivers on its promises, read this first.
Note: Our stay was gifted as part of a PR invite from Bainland Lodge Retreats. As always, all opinions are my own. This post is marked as Ad/PR Invite.
Use code LOULUXE10 for 10% off your own booking at Bainland Lodge Retreats.
For a visual journey through our stay here, feel free to explore my dedicated Bainland Instagram Highlight under the handle @SammyLouLuxe
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What is Bainland Lodge Retreats?
Bainland Lodge Retreats is a luxury lodge retreat set within a 45-acre estate on the edge of Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire. It's been welcoming guests for two generations and has quietly built a reputation as one of the best kept secrets in UK staycations, the kind of place that people discover once and return to year after year.
With over 60 lodges to choose from, ranging from romantic lakeside retreats for two to large family lodges sleeping groups of ten or more, Bainland caters for a surprisingly wide range of trips. Think private hot tubs, fire pits, on-site dining, a heated indoor pool, spa, gym and a packed programme of instructor-led activities. On paper, it's impressive. In reality, it genuinely lives up to it.
The setting is what immediately strikes you. As soon as you drive through the gates and into the estate, the noise and rush of everyday life just dissolves. Trees, open countryside, the sound of birdsong. It's immediately, noticeably calm.
Our Lodge: Curlew, The Cove
We stayed in Curlew, The Cove, one of Bainland's more recently refurbished lodges, and honestly, it set the tone for the entire stay from the moment we opened the door.
The interior is beautifully styled, warm tones, quality furnishings, proper kitchen equipment including Le Creuset cookware.
Everything has been thought through carefully, down to the welcome pack, the robes and sandals left out for you and the little touches that make it feel more like a boutique hotel than a self-catering lodge. The kitchen is fully equipped for a genuine self-catering stay: dishwasher, induction hob, oven, microwave, coffee, large double fridge-freezer with filtered water and ice/ crushed ice, and everything you'd need to cook properly. The bathrooms are well appointed with rainfall showers and complimentary Elemis toiletries.
The bedrooms are comfortable with proper storage, remote control window and blackout blinds, and the WiFi is excellent throughout.
Practical tip: Check in is at 4pm and check out at 10am. The lodge will be immaculate when you arrive (housekeeping at Bainland takes pride in maintaining high standards) but it's worth arriving with time to settle in before dinner rather than rushing.
The Hot Tub, Decking and Outdoor Space
If you're looking at Bainland lodges, the private hot tub is probably already near the top of your list and it absolutely should be.
Every lodge at Bainland comes with its own private hot tub, positioned on the decking or within an enclosed outdoor space that means you genuinely can't be overlooked by neighbours. This is one of those places where the privacy really has been thought through, the fencing between lodges is substantial and the layout of the site means you get your own proper outdoor space without feeling like you're on top of anyone else. Our hot tub was clean, well-maintained and ready to use on arrival. It became an evening ritual after dinner, with a drink in hand, watching the sky change colour. There's something quietly wonderful about that.
At The Cove, each lodge also has a small beach to the side of the lake, which was perfect for our children to play in while we enjoyed the hot tub right next to it. There's even an outdoor rain shower to rinse off after being to your little private beach.
As well as sun loungers, there is also an outdoor table and chairs and a fire pit with fire wood and fire lighters provided - this was such a lovely addition to an already wonderful evening watching the sunset glow up the sky over the lake while spotting the dragonflies, variety of fish and wildlife gliding across the lake.
There is a family of ducks and ducklings that visited us every day, we all loved feeding them with leftover bread each day.
Tip: The hot tub is maintained by park staff throughout your stay, so you don't need to worry about water quality or faffing with chemicals. It's sorted for you.
The Nest Restaurant: Everything You Need to Know
The Nest is Bainland's on-site restaurant and bar, and it's a genuine destination in its own right rather than just a convenient option when you can't be bothered to drive out. We ate here the entire time apart from when we cooked breakfast at the lodge or ordered takeaway through the app from The Nest (you can even order bottles of wine straight to your lodge door making it so convenient, especially for parents with little ones!).
We dined at The Nest and were immediately struck by how well-considered the whole space is, it has an all-weather terrace, warm interiors, a proper cocktail menu and the it overlooks the most incredible play park all built from natural wood making it so aesthetically pleasing for a countryside retreat.
I spent many times sitting in the beautiful sunshine on the terrace enjoying an iced matcha (am) or cool glass of vino (pm) watching my little ones live their best life on the zip-line, slides and climbing frames.
Once they needed a refuel, our daughter, Olivia, was obsessed with the 'Cotton Cloud Fizz' kids drink - a mix of apple juice, strawberry syrup, lemon, soda, edible glitter and topped with pink candy floss! Our little boy, Roman, loved the chocolate ice cream milkshakes topped with whipped cream and chocolate sauce. Just the refreshments needed for long sessions playing in the incredible nature adventure park.
As for the food, it's a well-executed British fare with real care taken over the dishes. We particularly enjoyed the chicken and beef burgers, as well as the chicken bao buns. The service was warm and attentive, and the whole experience felt relaxing, happy and enjoyable, exactly what you strive for on a relaxing summer family holiday.
The single most important tip I can give you about The Nest: Book your table before you arrive. The restaurant gets extremely busy, especially at weekends (they offer a delicious roast on a Sunday) and during peak season.
You will be disappointed if you leave it to chance. Use the booking link on your reservation form or contact Bainland directly to reserve a table. Don't skip this step!
The Spa Experience
Bainland opened a brand-new dedicated spa in June 2025, making this one of the most complete wellness-focused lodge retreats in the UK right now.
I booked a 30-minute hot stone massage during our stay and it was, without question, the kind of treatment that completely melts the tension out of your shoulders after a busy week of family, work and general life.
The therapist was skilled and removed so many knots from my back and shoulders - I felt like a new woman after! So much so that I booked Laz a relaxing Swedish Massage the following day. The treatment room is calm and beautifully appointed. For 30 minutes I was completely elsewhere.
The spa also offers facials and a growing treatment menu, given how new the space is, I'm excited to see what it looks like in a year when they've had time to build it out further. If wellness is important to you, this alone makes Bainland stand apart from many lodge retreats.
Book your spa treatment in advance too. Slots fill up quickly, particularly at weekends. Bainland will send a link with your booking confirmation, use it.
On-Site Activities at Bainland
This is where Bainland genuinely surprises people who are visiting for the first time. It's far more than a lodges-and-hot-tub destination. The on-site activity programme is substantial:
Indoor heated swimming pool with vitality jets, bookable in advance, sessions are managed to keep numbers low
Himalayan salt sauna and steam room
Fitness suite with Technogym equipment
Archery instructor-led, great for families with older children
Climbing wall
Mini Landrovers - intructor-led, drive round a hilly track thorugh puddles and mud
Segways always a crowd-pleaser (minimum age 14)
Bike hire - we hired bikes (and a trailor for Roman to sit in behind Laz) and explored the trails, which was a perfect late-morning activity
Adventure playground designed sympathetically within the natural setting, and in our little ones opinion "the best park they've ever been to!"
Tennis and badminton courts
Walking and cycling trails from the lodge itself
The bike hire in particular was a highlight of ours. We spent a several occasions cycling around the resort, as well as through the beautiful surrounding woodlands and it was the kind of simple, unhurried family time that's hard to manufacture at home. Nothing can beat those fresh forest smells and spotting rabbits hopping across the paths into hedgerows.
Important: Book activities in advance. Almost everything at Bainland (pool sessions, archery, spa, restaurant etc) has limited availability and fills up fast in peak season.
Things to Do in Woodhall Spa
Bainland's location on the edge of Woodhall Spa is a real asset. The village itself is a genuinely charming, picturesque spa town. Here's what's worth knowing:
The Village Woodhall Spa has a lovely selection of independent shops, a beautiful bakery (the Belgian buns are reportedly life-changing), and a good choice of pubs and cafés. The walk from the lodge into the village takes around 15 minutes and is worth doing at least once.
Jubilee Park A short walk from the centre of Woodhall Spa, Jubilee Park has an outdoor swimming pool, one of the UK's last remaining lido-style outdoor pools and is a brilliant, affordable family day out in good weather.
The Kinema in the Woods One of the UK's most unique cinemas, housed in a converted cricket pavilion in the woods just outside Woodhall Spa. Still uses a rear projection system and still has an interval with ice cream. Totally charming and absolutely worth an evening.
Cycling and Walking The Spa Walk trail to Horncastle is a popular route and makes for a perfect full afternoon in good weather. Ostler's Plantation is also a lovely woodland walk, particularly dog-friendly.
Day Trips Further Afield The Lincolnshire coast, Skegness, Mablethorpe, are all under an hour away if you fancy a beach day. Lincoln itself is beautiful with a stunning cathedral and castle, and makes an excellent day trip.
Practical note: Woodhall Spa has a Sainsbury's Local. If you're arriving late or want to self-cater for most of your stay, it's worth doing a small shop there on arrival. We enjoyed slow mornings at our lodge cooking our own breakfast and enjoying the private space as a family.
Tips for First-Time Visitors to Bainland
After our stay, here are the things I wish someone had told us before we arrived:
Book everything in advance. Restaurant, spa, pool, activities. Bainland is popular and the best slots go quickly. You'll be sent links with your booking confirmation — use them straight away.
Pack a bag for the hot tub. Robes and slippers are provided, but having a waterproof bag for your phone, drinks and a book on the decking makes evening hot tub sessions even better.
Arrive at or just after 4pm. Check-in is 4pm and the lodge will be pristine and ready. Arriving earlier means waiting, use that time to explore the village or grab lunch at The Nest.
Explore on bikes. The bike hire is one of the best value activities on site. Book it for a day and combine it with a cycle into Woodhall Spa village for coffee.
Do the Bainland walking trail. It's free, it's beautiful and it's a lovely way to orient yourself on the estate on your first afternoon.
Check out promptly. Check out is 10am. This is strictly managed to allow housekeeping to prepare lodges properly, it's one of the reasons the lodges are always in such good condition on arrival.
Use your discount code. Use code LOULUXE10 for 10% off your booking at bainland.co.uk
Is Bainland Good for Families?
Yes! Genuinely, without hesitation. The combination of an adventure playground, on-site activities, bike hire, woodland walks and the pool means there's more than enough to keep children entertained throughout a long weekend without anyone resorting to screens.
The setting is also inherently child-friendly with open space, fresh air, wildlife, the freedom to roam the estate safely. For younger children especially, that unstructured outdoor time is worth more than any organised activity.
For older children and teenagers, the instructor-led activities such as the archery, climbing wall, Segways, gives them something to properly get stuck into. For parents, the private hot tub, The Nest for dinner, the fitness suite and the spa means you're not just facilitating everyone else's fun, there's genuine rest available for grown-ups too.
Is Bainland Dog-Friendly?
Very much so. A number of lodges at Bainland are dog-friendly, with securely enclosed gardens, and the estate trails are perfect for morning and evening walks. The Nest restaurant also welcomes dogs and even has a dog menu, some guests had their dogs being treated to puppacinos - So cute!
In 2026, Bainland also added a dog agility course to the estate, which is a lovely addition for anyone travelling with a more active dog.
If you're booking a dog-friendly lodge specifically, flag this at the time of booking and check the garden security, as this varies between different lodge types.
Final Verdict: Is Bainland Lodge Retreats Worth It?
Bainland is not cheap. That's the honest answer. Lodge rates reflect the quality of the accommodation and facilities, and dining and activities add up if you're not budgeting carefully. But for what you get with the setting, the private hot tubs, the spa, the quality of the lodges, the food at The Nest and the sheer amount on offer without ever leaving the estate, it absolutely delivers value.
The best analogy I can give is this: Bainland is the kind of place where you arrive and immediately stop thinking about what you need to do next. The pace slows down naturally, the kids are happy, and the adults get to be actual humans again rather than just the people who manage the schedule.
We came for a long weekend in Curlew, The Cove. We left already searching the availability calendar to return. That, for us, is the only review that matters.
Ad/PR Invite, our stay at Bainland Lodge Retreats was gifted. Thank you to Bainland for having us. Don't forget to use code LOULUXE10 for 10% off your booking at bainland.co.uk
If this has sparked your wanderlust, make sure you’re following me over on Instagram and TikTok [@sammylouluxe] as that’s where I share behind-the-scenes stories, travel tips, and magical moments from my trips as they happen. Think of my Stories as your front-row pass to the adventure, long before it hits the grid or features on the Travel Editorial.
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