Wyboston Lakes Resort and spa hotel is home to two training and event spaces, award-winning Y Spa plus the stylish Waterfront Hotel. Here's how we got on when we paid a visit for the night.
Where is The Waterfront Hotel?
Just off the A1 and located between Bedford, Cambridge and Milton Keynes, The Waterfront Hotel is set in 380 acres of rural countryside and offers a peaceful lakeside setting.
Where will I sleep?
There are 103 bedrooms at the hotel, ranging in both size and style. There are the Superior and Deluxe rooms plus two suite options: the Junior Suite and the Wyboston Suite.
We stayed in the smart Deluxe room, a spacious room with sitting and work areas and an en-suite featuring rainfall showers and luxury Prija toiletries.
The super king-size bed with Hungarian down-topped mattresses provided an incredible night's sleep for both myself and my husband, so much so that we struggled to leave it in the morning!
We were really impressed that the contents of the mini-bar were complimentary as usually, this is something we give a wide berth as they typically come with astronomical prices. Instead, we were able to lounge in bed watching the 48-inch flat-screen TV while enjoying soft drinks, beer and wine.
What is there to do at The Waterfront Hotel?
Along with the 1Life Health & Leisure Club and popular Y Spa, there’s also an 18-hole golf course, two training and event venues plus The Aqua Park at Ride Leisure which includes trampolines, huge slides, balance beams, swing and more.
Spa facilities at The Waterfront Hotel
Located on-site, the thermal Y Spa is home to a wide array of fantastic facilities including a salt-infused steam room, Kelo wood sauna, experience showers and even a Frost Wall!
Check into the spa was nice and straightforward and we were provided with a wristband which allowed us access in and out of the spa and gives you electronic access to a dedicated locker within the changing rooms. This wristband can also be used with the various screens around the spa which when scanned will show you your scheduled treatments and timings for the day.
The spa prides itself on the use of hot and cold experiences as therapy, the benefits of which include improved respiration and circulation, relief of rheumatic aches, pains and stiff joints and more. We really enjoyed making our way around the different zones, many of which we hadn't experienced before at other spas.
While Y Spa doesn't have a pool as such, it does have a Hydrotherapy Pool which frankly, we reckon is much better! We spent most of our time at Y Spa reclining back on the bubble bed and massaging tension away using the body jets.
We couldn't resist checking out the many relaxation zones such as The Big Sleep where you can tuck yourself up in a darkened room with fire for a good nap or bag one of the water beds to get lost in a book.
What spa treatments are available?
Boasting 11 treatment rooms, there's plenty of chance to enjoy a treatment during your stay at The Waterfront Hotel. Along with Manicure and Pedicure Stations, the treatment menu is extensive, with offerings including a hot stone massage and reflexology.
We enjoyed the Elemis Superfood Pro-Radiance Facial, a 30-minute treatment that thanks to our skilled therapists, left our skin soft and glowing.
What is there to eat?
On our first night, we stopped by the newly refurbished The Gravel Pit for dinner. Having visited the restaurant on a previous occasion, we were impressed by the new look which offers a fresh, modern feel with views overlooking the resort's lake plus a spacious terrace for warmer days and alfresco dining.
My husband started the meal with the potato, spinach and leek soup of which he enjoyed every mouthful. While he picked the chicken fajitas as his main, I opted for the Gravel Pit beef burger. Although it, unfortunately, doesn't make the cut for the best burgers I've ever had, it was a generously sized and juicy patty accompanied by moreish French fries. The chicken fajitas however were a big hit with enough wraps and filling to comfortably fill his belly.
While we visited The Gravel Pit on a busy Friday night and understood waiting time would be expected, we were disappointed to end up waiting for at least 25 minutes before we were asked what we wanted from the dessert menu. Other than this, the staff were polite and helpful. The sticky toffee pudding was a little dry for our liking but we appreciated size and the accompanying sauce.
During our spa day, we stopped by the Y Spa Bistro where we tucked into a shared mezze platter which consisted of Tabouleh salad, sweet potato falafel, lemon and rosemary chicken skewers, focaccia and flatbread and more. We were also provided with dessert which we were unfortunately too full to eat! We really liked that our nutritious lunch was completely in keeping with the wellness theme of the spa.
Breakfast in the morning was a help-yourself hot buffet affair with the usual delights such as back bacon, Cumberland sausages and egg, constantly topped up to ensure there were no rumbly bellies. There was also a cold buffet consisting of fruit, yoghurt, cold meats, bread and pastries along with hot and cold drinks which again were self-service.
Final thoughts
We had a really enjoyable stay at The Waterfront hotel and all of the facilities really impressed us. Before we arrived we were told by friends and family who had previously visited how much they had especially loved Y Spa and how they couldn't wait to go back. Having experienced the spa and hotel for ourselves, it's a sentiment we now also share and have already recommended a stay to others.