Rockliffe Hall’s spa is famous for good reason. It’s expansive, beautifully designed and built around the philosophy that wellness should feel both immersive and effortless. The spa is a serious piece of luxury engineering with a 5-star hotel to match, and I am oh so pleased I got to try out everything Rockliffe has to offer!
On the border of County Durham and North Yorkshire, Rockliffe Hall, is a five-star hideaway set on a vast 375-acre estate, on which blends old-world charm with modern elegance. Guests can choose between the characterful Old Hall, with its period details and sense of history, or the contemporary New Hall, where spacious rooms look out across the championship golf course and sprawling parkland.
There’s a warmth to the service at Rockliffe Hall, and with this now being my fourth visit to this part of the North, I can honestly say, northern hospitality is unmatched!
The aesthetic at Rockliffe is refined without being fussy with soft neutrals, deep beds, and marble-touched bathrooms and views that frame the estate like a landscape painting. Each guest has everything you could possibly need in the comfort of each room, with a very well stocked mini fridge, teas, coffees, chocolates left at turndown service and ample magazines for you to peruse in your fluffy robe and slippers.
During any stay you can organise spa access. Inside, you’ll find an impressive thermal suite with steam rooms, saunas, a tepidarium, foot spas, hot-and-cold hydrotherapy features and a large pool edged with soft lighting. The result is gentle acoustics and an ultra-calming space that invites you to linger. Despite it being a weekend stay, the spa was not overcrowded, which I find is always a plus.
Now, if the indoor spa is the heart of Rockliffe Hall, the Spa Garden is its soul! If you really fancy treating yourself, you can opt to pay extra and have 90 mins in the separate Spa Garden which is a showpiece space overlooking the surrounding country estate.
The concept is simple: relax between the indoor serenity and outdoor immersion. A circular, glass-fronted pavilion opens onto a raised wooden deck overlooking the grounds, and at its edge, a heated infinity style hydrotherapy pool spills into the landscape. The jets are perfectly positioned to work their magic on tired muscles and let you take in the country air at the same time.
Other perks of the spa garden include:
- Glass-fronted saunas with open views
- Heated loungers perfect for winter escapes
- Snug daybeds designed for long, lazy afternoons
- A fire pit that becomes irresistible at dusk
You even have dedicated spa garden staff to assist you and bring drinks and towels etc.
After a very long afternoon unwinding at the spa, the night time activities at the hotel are to then wine and dine! The hotel treats food with the same seriousness as its wellness programme – and it shows.
The Clubhouse overlooks the golf course and offers brasserie classics and comforting favourites. The cocktail bar is quietly glamorous and ideal for a pre-dinner drink or a slow nightcap under the stars as the restaurant also has a terrace.
My steak was cooked to perfection and the servings are absolutely huge at The Clubhouse (and this includes the wine pours!). I skipped dessert after two delicious courses and called for a hotel shuttle to kindly pick me up so I could roll back to my room and unbutton my jeans with a little dignity in private!
Added perks for me, the TV’s in the baths! After a hearty meal, it was nice to get back into the water, put on a film and be weightless once again. It’s become a bedtime ritual for me when at hotels, to have a bath before bed even if I did have one earlier!
This quietly luxurious estate is designed for those in search of a proper spa break, travellers looking to reset or golfers who appreciate the reward of skilled hands after 18 holes. But most of all, Rockliffe Hall is one of the North’s most sophisticated retreats and it officially has my seal of approval!
Important Update:
Rockliffe Hall is currently undergoing an exciting renovation project designed to further elevate the resort and introduce a new world-class dining experience. The refurbishment also includes the restoration of the Grade II listed Old Hall.
www.rockliffehall.com
Review and Images by Zoe Laing @_zozogram_
