There are places where the setting does much of the work before you have even checked in, and The Swan Hotel & Spa at Newby Bridge is one of them.
When we arrived for a two-night stay at the end of August, the first thing that struck me was the setting. The hotel sits right on the River Leven at the southern tip of Windermere, its whitewashed frontage facing an old five-arch stone bridge, with boats moored along the riverbank and wooded fells rising behind. Within half an hour of arriving we were on the riverside terrace with a hot chocolate and a pint, watching the river slide under the bridge.
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A Riverside Coaching Inn
The Swan has been looking after travellers for a long time. Historic England lists the building at Grade II and describes it as originally a posting house, noting its group value with the bridge beside it. Its whitewashed frontage still sets the tone for the whole riverside.
The bridge itself is Grade II* listed, a long, narrow crossing of five arches stepping up towards the centre, and it gives the setting much of its character. Look out, too, for a plaque nearby naming one of the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway’s crossings “Swan Bridge”: the heritage steam line passes close to the hotel, with Newby Bridge Halt a few minutes’ walk away.
Today the hotel is owned by BH Group, which completed a multimillion-pound refurbishment and expansion in 2022. That added new bedrooms and a spa, and gave the old inn a second life as a spa resort.
Holte Spa
Holte Spa is the big draw. Opened in 2022 as part of the new extension, the 8,000 sq ft spa was named Best Spa at the Boutique Hotelier Awards 2025, and it has become the heart of the hotel.
On our first afternoon I had the 60-minute Drift Away massage, and it was exactly what I needed to let the stresses of the week melt away. The therapist was excellent, talking me through the treatment as it went, and afterwards there was time to unwind in the relaxation room.
The following afternoon we spent two hours on the thermal journey, which moves from heat to water, then cool-down and rest. There is a steam room, an indoor Finnish-inspired sauna and an authentic outdoor Finnish sauna, an indoor-outdoor hydrotherapy pool and a vitality pool heated to between 36 and 38°C, with experience showers and a cold plunge for cooling off. Outside, the spa garden has a large Jacuzzi, loungers and The Bothy, an outdoor retreat built around a log burner, along with a bar for a drink between dips.
Treatments use TEMPLESPA products, and the Holte Spa Café & Deli serves coffee, bakes and light bites. Guests aged 16 and 17 can use the spa with an adult.
A Room Overlooking The Spa
Our Splendid Garden View room looked straight out over the spa garden. It was comfortable and spotless, with patterned wallpaper, heron-print cushions, a pair of armchairs by the window and a retro dial telephone on the bedside table.
The room was spotless, the bathroom well equipped, and the towels on the bed had been folded into a pair of swans, a nice nod to the hotel’s name. Most importantly, the bed was comfortable and we had a great night’s sleep.
Dinner In The River Room
Both evenings we ate in the River Room, the hotel’s brasserie, with three courses and a bottle of wine for the table. The menu runs from small plates to steaks, pies and fish, so there was plenty to choose from.
On the first night we started with Scotch eggs, the yolks still runny, and a baked camembert with bread, before moving on to steak with chips and lamb with chimichurri. A sundae and strawberries and cream finished things off.
The second evening began with cocktails, followed by slow-cooked pork belly skewers with salsa verde, a seared rare-breed pork chop with wholegrain mustard mash and a chocolate pot to finish. Across both nights, everything we had was very good.
For something more relaxed, The Swan Inn is the hotel’s dog-friendly pub serving British classics, and there is also a café. Breakfast was cooked to order. I went for eggs Benedict on the first morning, followed by a traditional full English on day two, and there were plenty of other options to suit everyone.
Out On Windermere
One of the highlights of the trip was getting out on the lake. Windermere, England’s largest natural lake, stretches for around 10.5 miles, and its southern tip is about a 20-minute walk from the hotel.
We drove up to Bowness and picked up a self-drive boat from Windermere Lake Cruises, then spent two hours heading up the lake and back. Exploring at our own pace, with the fells rising on either side, is something I would recommend to anyone staying at The Swan.
If you would rather leave the car behind, the company’s Yellow Cruise links Lakeside, a couple of minutes’ drive from the hotel, with Bowness, where the self-drive boats are based.
More To Do At The Swan
Back at the hotel, there is plenty more on offer. Paddleboards can be hired from the hut on the marina from late March to October, the Wild Swim Club runs guided swims in the River Leven on selected summer dates, and Wake District watersports sessions on Windermere can pick up from the hotel’s own jetty.
The Swan doesn’t always stay quiet, either. In summer its themed Spa-rtys bring DJ sets, cocktails and neon to the spa garden, a Christmas Spa-rty is planned for Friday 11 December, and the What’s On calendar also lists Christmas markets, a wreath-making workshop, party nights and a New Year’s Eve gala. We covered The Swan’s summer programme in July, along with Holte Spa’s twilight evenings.
Families are catered for too, with family suites, self-catering cottages in the grounds, a games room and an adventure playground, while dogs are welcome in selected rooms and in The Swan Inn.
The Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway is also on the doorstep. Opened in 1869 as a branch of the Furness Railway to bring visitors to the Windermere steamers, it closed to passengers in 1965 and reopened as a heritage steam railway in 1973.
A Lakeland Base
For me, that’s what makes The Swan work so well. You get the character of a riverside inn that has been welcoming travellers for generations, with a spa that is worth the trip on its own.
Add in a comfortable room, good food in the River Room and Windermere on the doorstep, and it makes a great base for a Lake District break, whether the plan is to switch off in the spa or get out on the water.
Five Top Tips For Staying At The Swan
- Book spa treatments early. Treatment slots and spa sessions fill up, so reserve them when you book your stay.
- Get out on the lake. Hire a self-drive boat from Bowness and spend a couple of hours exploring Windermere at your own pace.
- Book a table in the River Room. Reserve ahead for dinner and enjoy a quality meal, from small plates to steaks, without leaving the hotel.
- Start with a drink by the river. The terrace facing the bridge is the place to settle in on arrival.
- Check the What’s On calendar before you go. Spa-rtys, seasonal events and outdoor activities run through the year.
Our stay was hosted by The Swan Hotel & Spa.
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