Family Lodges With Hot Tubs in the UK: Four We’ve Stayed In, Compared Honestly
Updated: 3 days ago
A warm tub on the deck, the sky changing colour and two children who have finally run out of steam. The right lodge slows a whole family down.
If you’re searching for family lodges with hot tubs in the UK, here are four we’ve stayed in, and the right one depends on who’s coming with you. Bainland Lodge Retreats in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, is the one where every lodge has its own private hot tub. Landal Dylan Coastal Resort in Wales suits grandparents and spa lovers, Whalesborough near Bude works for Cornwall beach days, and the Sunset Lodges at Cotswold Farm Park are made for little animal lovers.
In this guide I’m comparing four family lodges with hot tubs we’ve actually stayed in: what each hot tub and lodge was like, what our two did all day, the honest downsides, and a link to my full review of each. I’ve also covered how to choose and what UK safety guidance says about children and hot tubs, with the most common questions answered in the FAQs at the end...
Quick Links:
Which Family Lodge With a Hot Tub Is Best? The Short Answer
There isn’t one winner, it depends on who is coming with you. If the hot tub itself is top of your list, start with Bainland: every lodge has a private one, and ours was ready to use on arrival and looked after by park staff all weekend. Add a restaurant, an indoor pool and what our little ones called “the best park they’ve ever been to”, and we were checking dates to come back as we drove home.
Based on what each one offers, here’s how I’d match them to your family:
A private hot tub with every lodge and plenty to do on site: Bainland Lodge Retreats, Lincolnshire
Grandparents, spa lovers and a view: Landal Dylan Coastal Resort, Laugharne
Beach days and dogs: Whalesborough Farm Resort & Spa, near Bude
Toddlers and animal lovers: Sunset Lodges at Cotswold Farm Park
A quick honesty note: this isn’t every lodge in the country, only four hot tub stays we’ve done as a family and I’ve reviewed in full, plus one lodge we loved for a very different reason. All four were hosted or gifted, which I’ve flagged again at the end.
Family Lodges With Hot Tubs: Quick Comparison
Here’s how the four compare at a glance.
Bainland Lodge Retreats
Bainland at a glance:
Where: Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire (LN10 6UX)
Lodge we stayed in: Curlew, The Cove, a lakeside lodge with its own little beach
Hot tub type: Private, ready to use on arrival and maintained by park staff
Suits: Families who want plenty to do without leaving the estate
On site: The Nest restaurant, indoor heated pool, spa, adventure playground, bike hire and instructor-led activities
Landal Dylan Coastal Resort
Landal Dylan at a glance:
Where: Laugharne, on the Carmarthenshire coast, close to Pembrokeshire (SA33 4SG)
Lodge we stayed in: A six-person Epic Spa lodge with three bedrooms on one level
Hot tub type: Private, on enclosed decking with estuary views
Suits: Multi-generational trips and anyone who loves a spa
On site: Milk Wood Spa with indoor and outdoor infinity pools, Milk Wood Bar & Kitchen, food delivered to your lodge and outdoor play areas
Whalesborough Farm Resort & Spa
Whalesborough at a glance:
Where: Just outside Bude, North Cornwall (EX23 0JD)
Lodge we stayed in: A Gwari Barn (a barn, strictly, but it does the same job)
Hot tub type: Private
Suits: Beach holidays, mixed ages and dog owners
On site: The W Club spa with an indoor pool, The Weir restaurant, soft play, farm animals and EV charging outside each barn
Sunset Lodges at Cotswold Farm Park
The Sunset Lodges at a glance:
Where: Cotswold Farm Park, near Guiting Power in the Cotswolds
Lodge we stayed in: A Sunset Lodge with a private deck
Hot tub type: Wood-fired, on the private deck with a BBQ
Suits: Toddlers and younger children who love animals
On site: The Farm Park itself (entry is included for lodge guests), indoor and outdoor play areas and a farm shop
Bainland Lodge Retreats, Lincolnshire: A Private Hot Tub With Every Lodge
Bainland is the one to start with if the hot tub is the main event: every lodge comes with its own private one, and there’s more than enough on the estate to keep children busy for a long weekend. Bainland is a 45-acre estate on the edge of Woodhall Spa with more than 60 lodges. We stayed for a long weekend in Curlew, The Cove.
The Hot Tub and Lodge
Our hot tub was right next to the lodge’s little lakeside beach, and the fencing between lodges is substantial enough that we genuinely couldn’t be overlooked. It was clean and ready to use on arrival, and park staff maintain it during your stay, so there’s no faffing with chemicals. Inside, the lodge felt more boutique hotel than self-catering (Le Creuset cookware, Elemis toiletries, robes laid out).
What the Children Did
Each lodge at The Cove has a small beach at the edge of the lake, right next to the hot tub, so our two played there while we soaked. A family of ducks and ducklings visited every day for our leftover bread. Away from the lodge, they spent long sessions on the adventure playground that The Nest overlooks, and we hired bikes (with a trailer for Roman behind Laz) to explore the woodland trails.
The Honest Downsides
Bainland is not cheap, and meals and activities add up. Almost everything needs booking ahead, from pool sessions to a table at The Nest, and check-out is a strict 10am.
Worth knowing: At the time of writing, Bainland’s website says children over five can use the hot tubs with an adult present, and that tubs are drained from 8am on departure day, so don’t plan a last-morning soak. Read my full Bainland review for everything else.
Landal Dylan Coastal Resort, Wales: For Grandparents and Spa Lovers
Landal Dylan is the one to look at for a multi-generational trip, or if you’re after luxury lodges with hot tubs in Wales with a serious spa attached. Landal Dylan Coastal Resort sits on a clifftop above the Taf Estuary, just outside Laugharne on the Carmarthenshire coast, close to Pembrokeshire. We spent a long weekend there with our two (three and seven at the time) and the grandparents.
The Hot Tub and Lodge
Our Epic Spa lodge slept six across three bedrooms, all on one level, which made life easy with a three-year-old and with grandparents. The private hot tub was on enclosed decking looking over the estuary. We fell into a lovely rhythm: a soak in the late afternoon, children fed and into bed, then back out under the stars once they were asleep. Having the grandparents there meant we could sneak out for the odd quiet soak too.
What the Children Did
We went to the Milk Wood Spa every single day. It has an indoor infinity pool and a heated outdoor hydrotherapy pool, and children are welcome outside an adults-only window in the early evening. The moment they’ll remember, though, was an hour-long boat trip around Skomer Island to see real puffins, which was magical for two Puffin Rock fans!
The Honest Downsides
Laugharne is on the doorstep of Pembrokeshire, not in it, so some of the bigger days out involve a drive. The Skomer boats leave from Martin’s Haven, around an hour and a half away. Landal’s website also lists hot tub lodges as their own category, so check yours has one. Here’s my full Landal Dylan review.
Whalesborough Farm Resort & Spa, Cornwall: For Beach Days and Dogs
Whalesborough is the one to look at if you want luxury lodges with hot tubs in Cornwall and beaches within easy reach. Whalesborough Farm Resort & Spa is set in countryside just outside Bude (the resort puts it about three miles from the town centre). We stayed in one of the Gwari Barns with a private hot tub.
The Hot Tub and Barn
The barn had room for everyone to spread out, smart but relaxed enough for real family life, with a fully equipped kitchen and EV charging right outside. The hot tub quickly became our favourite way to slow everything down after a day on the beach, especially on cooler evenings with the sea air still lingering.
What the Children Did
We used the barn as a base for beach days, and my little ones loved the rock pools, pebbles and waterfalls at Sandymouth Bay. Back at the resort there’s soft play, farm animals, an indoor pool at the W Club spa and an open play area beside The Weir restaurant, so the children can play within sight while you finish a meal.
The Honest Downsides
Not every cottage here has a hot tub. At the time of writing, the resort’s website says a number of its cottages have private hot tubs, so filter before you fall for the wrong one. The Gwari Spa Barn 2.0 listing describes a two-floor layout, so ask about a stair gate with toddlers. The website also shows the Gwari Spa Barns from £320 per night (sleeps four) and £420 (sleeps six), but always check for current prices. Here’s my full Whalesborough review.
Sunset Lodges at Cotswold Farm Park: For Toddlers and Animal Lovers
The Sunset Lodges suit toddlers and younger children especially well, because the entertainment is a farm park right outside the door. The lodges at Cotswold Farm Park sit in their own private field near Guiting Power, looking over the hills and animal paddocks. We stayed over May half term, in glorious sunshine.
The Hot Tub and Lodge
Our hot tub here was wood-fired, out on the private deck with the BBQ, and the lodge is positioned to catch the evening light over the hills (the lodges earn their name). Inside, it was bright and modern, with a well-equipped kitchen and big countryside views from the lounge. Bedroom layouts differ; at the time of writing, the Farm Park’s website lists lodges sleeping four, five or six.
What the Children Did
Everything, at their own pace. They bottle fed lambs and goat kids (and talked about it for days), watched sheep shearing, took a tractor ride and spent hours in the play areas. Farm Park entry is included for lodge guests, with wristbands for unlimited re-entry, so we popped in and out around downtime at the lodge.
The Honest Downsides
It’s a simpler, farm-first stay. My review doesn’t mention a pool or spa here, so if those matter to you, look at the other three, which all have both. At the time of writing, the Farm Park’s website lists the wood-fired hot tub as an upgrade, so confirm it’s on your booking. The animal activities run at set times, and countryside evenings can be cool even in May. Here’s my full Sunset Lodges review.
How to Choose a Family Lodge With a Hot Tub
Choose on three things: how private the hot tub is, how it’s heated, and how well the set-up suits the ages of your children. Whichever luxury lodges with hot tubs you’re comparing, those details shape how the stay actually works.
Private Versus Shared
All four of ours had a private hot tub at the lodge, and with children that’s the set-up to look for, because you can fit a soak around bedtimes the way we did at Landal Dylan. Privacy varies, though. At Bainland we couldn’t be overlooked, but the resort’s own FAQs say some lodges are more private than others, so ask.
Wood-Fired Versus Electric
A wood-fired tub is heated by a log fire, where an electric one holds a set temperature on a thermostat. Trading Standards guidance for accommodation owners points out that a wood-fired tub has no automatic thermostat, so the water temperature has to be adjusted by hand, which brings a scalding risk. It’s worth asking the site how theirs works before you go. At Bainland, by contrast, our tub was ready to use when we arrived, and the resort’s website says tubs are heated before every stay.
Safety With Young Children
Look at the layout as much as the tub. Our Landal lodge had enclosed decking, which made all the difference for keeping an eye on the little ones, and everything on one level. Ask whether the tub has a solid cover too, and what the lodge’s age rules are, because they vary.
What to Check Before Booking
These are the questions I’d ask before paying a deposit:
Is the hot tub included in the price or an upgrade
Does every lodge have one, or only certain lodge types
Is it private, and how overlooked is the deck
What are the age rules for children
Is it heated and ready on arrival, and who maintains it
Is the decking enclosed, and are there stairs inside
Hot Tub Safety With Children: What the UK Guidance Says
Here’s what the published UK safety guidance says about hot tubs and children, with links so you can read it yourself.
What RoSPA Says
RoSPA’s hot tub safety guide, from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, says adults should keep a close eye on children around an open hot tub. The safety charity recommends a solid, lockable cover, sessions of around 15 minutes, and saving the glass of wine for afterwards. RoSPA also notes six reported drowning deaths linked to hot tubs at home between 2014 and 2020.
Who Looks After the Water
Water hygiene is something the official guidance puts on the people running the site. The Health and Safety Executive publishes guidance for managers and operators on controlling legionella and other infections in spa pools, and it covers hot tubs in holiday park rental units. Bainland, for example, says its tubs are drained, cleaned, refilled and heated before every stay.
The points I’d pull out for families, with the source for each, are these:
Sessions of around 15 minutes (RoSPA)
A solid, lockable cover on the tub (RoSPA)
A close eye on children around an open tub (RoSPA)
The lodge’s own age rules, which vary from site to site
Family Lodges With Hot Tubs FAQs: Everything Families Ask
Here are the questions I get asked most about booking a lodge with a hot tub for a family break.
What are the best lodges with hot tubs in the UK for families?
It depends on who’s coming. Of the four we’ve stayed in, Bainland Lodge Retreats in Lincolnshire has a private hot tub with every lodge, Landal Dylan in Laugharne suits grandparents and spa lovers, Whalesborough near Bude is a base for beach holidays, and the Sunset Lodges at Cotswold Farm Park are ideal with toddlers.
Can children go in a hot tub?
It depends on the lodge’s own rules, which vary from site to site, so check before you book. RoSPA says adults should keep a close eye on children around an open hot tub, and suggests sessions of around 15 minutes.
Are there luxury lodges with hot tubs in Cornwall for families?
Yes. We stayed in a Gwari Barn with a private hot tub at Whalesborough Farm Resort & Spa, just outside Bude in North Cornwall. Not every cottage there has a hot tub, so check before you book.
Where can I find luxury lodges with hot tubs in Wales?
Landal Dylan Coastal Resort in Laugharne, on the Carmarthenshire coast close to Pembrokeshire, is the one we’ve stayed at. Our six-person Epic Spa lodge had a private hot tub on enclosed decking above the Taf Estuary.
Are any of these lodges with hot tubs dog friendly?
Yes. Bainland has a number of dog-friendly lodges with enclosed gardens. At the time of writing, Whalesborough’s website says all 26 of its cottages accept dogs, and Cotswold Farm Park’s says all its lodges are dog friendly. Tell the property about your dog when you book, and check the lodge you want takes them.
How much do family lodges with hot tubs cost?
It varies widely by season and lodge size. As a guide, Whalesborough’s website shows its Gwari Spa Barns from £320 to £420 per night at the time of writing. Always check the official website for current prices.
Tips for Booking a Lodge With a Hot Tub
Here’s what I’d pass on to any family booking their first hot tub lodge:
1. Check the hot tub is actually on your booking. At some sites it’s only certain lodges, or a paid upgrade.
2. Book the restaurant and activities before you arrive. The Nest at Bainland and Milk Wood Bar & Kitchen at Landal Dylan both get very busy, especially at weekends.
3. Pack a hot tub bag. A waterproof bag for your phone, drinks and a book makes evening soaks even better, and something warm to pull on after dark is a must.
4. Choose one level with toddlers or grandparents. Our single-storey lodge at Landal Dylan made the weekend easier for every generation.
5. Build in downtime. Some of our best moments at Landal Dylan involved nothing more than the terrace and the view. That’s the whole point of a lodge break!
The Honest Bits
Lodges with hot tubs for families aren’t usually a budget option. Bainland is not cheap and the extras soon add up, and the Sunset Lodges go quickly for school holidays.
And you may not need a hot tub at all. One of the most magical family stays we’ve done, the Rhino Lodge at West Midland Safari Park, doesn’t get a single hot tub mention in my review. What I wrote about instead was the standalone bath facing the rhinos, and honestly, the animals outside the window kept both children busy for hours. At the time of writing, the safari park’s website lists a hot tub with some of its Tiger Lodges, but those aren’t lodges I’ve reviewed.
Final Thoughts: Which One Would We Book Again?
All of them, genuinely, but for different trips. Bainland is the one where every lodge has its own hot tub and there’s a whole estate to explore. Landal Dylan is where we took the grandparents, and it worked for every generation. Whalesborough made a brilliant base for beach days in North Cornwall, and the Sunset Lodges are the ones for children who think bottle feeding a lamb is the best thing ever.
What they all share is the thing I look for in any family stay: tired, happy children at the end of the day and a proper rest for the adults as well. For me, that’s what luxury looks like on a family trip, everyone looked after and nothing feeling difficult.
Disclaimer: Our stays at Bainland Lodge Retreats and Landal Dylan Coastal Resort were gifted as PR invites, and our stays at Whalesborough Farm Resort & Spa and the Sunset Lodges at Cotswold Farm Park were kindly hosted as part of a collaboration. As always, all views and opinions shared are entirely my own.
You might also enjoy: our lodge escape at Bainland in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, our family long weekend at Landal Dylan Coastal Resort in Wales and our Halloween stay at Wookey Hole Hotel in Somerset.
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.
Photo credits: SammyLouLuxe and the resorts featured
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