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Pool
Thermal facilities
Accessible Spa
Cancer care trained
Set in 380 acres of wide green open space with a glittering lake, you’ll find Y Spa. A recent addition the Waterfront Hotel & Restaurant – Y Spa has an indoor/outdoor wet and thermal spa with steam room and two saunas – one of which is a Kelo wood sauna make from one-hundred-year-old logs and reaching temperatures of 85 degrees. The crowning glory has to be the outdoor hydrotherapy pool, set in a redbrick courtyard garden terrace. A great range of Elemis and Made for Life Organics spa treatments are on offer in one of the eleven treatment rooms.
Y Spa has its own bistro for refreshments and lunch. Fish tanks built into the walls give you something calming to gaze at as you sip on your smoothie or quaff a glass of the signature Bottega Gold Prosecco and gaze at the flickering fairy lights in the trees. Wyboston Lakes Resort has aligned its own sustainability goals around the United Nations Good Life Goals and their own cultural aspirations for a hopeful future for all.
Wyboston Lakes is a hotel, golf course, conference space and spa sitting in a serene pocket of pretty countryside just off the London corridor between Cambridge and Milton Keynes. The 350 acres of rolling estate around Wyboston Lakes feels a world away from the nearby A1.
From the outside the modern lakeside hotel looks unassuming but the interior décor is stylish, light and airy, with clean lines and bold, contemporary artwork.
You’ll find the adults only Y Spa opposite the reception area of the main hotel. Guests staying in the Woodland Conference area can either walk across the car park to the hotel or drive and park outside.
The spa reception is spacious with a warm, welcoming feel. Glass shelves of Elemis and NEOM products are available to browse – we loved the stuffed broccoli toy sat on the blue sofa to promote Elemis’ Superfood range. Check in with one of the lovely ladies at reception or use one of two kiosks to receive a printed itinerary of your spa day.
Our receptionist greeted us with a smile and handed us an electronic wristband to operate our locker/ open doors in the spa, and a slip of paper listing our itinerary for the day.
We were then shown through to the large changing room, which is divided into three sections, each with its own seating area, private changing cubicles and lockers containing a white robe and two towels. The vanity bar has comfy stools, lit magnifying mirrors and hairdryers. Each bar is inscribed with inspirational affirmations such as ‘Forever Young’ (we wish). Lockers are adorned with vibrant nature scenes; eight shower cubicles are stocked with shampoo, conditioner and shower gel.
You’ll find the impressive thermal facilities behind glass doors from here. Being a cool October day, we headed straight for the Spa Garden and the comfort of the larger-than-average bubbly hydro-pool with its two powerful swan necks and bubble chairs. For a Monday, this was surprisingly busy with couples and groups of ladies, some sipping fizz from plastic glasses. In the summer, the little hut in the corner opens to serve coffees, wines and fizz under a fairy-lit, bunting-clad roof.
You’ll find the sauna chalet - ‘Some like it Hot’ – at the top end of the Spa Garden. Crafted from hundred-year-old Alpine wood, it looks and feels like a ski hut. We loved opening the door to find a pre-sauna area containing a shower and hooks for robes; a further door leads to the multi-level sauna which could easily seat 10.
At the other end is a secluded spot with comfy rattan sofas. A covered pagoda means you don’t have to worry if it rains, and there were plenty of teal fluffy blankets to keep you cosy. For sustainability reasons, the once present LPG gas-fed fire place has been pulled out and is soon to be replaced with a screen depicting seasonal scenes.
Of the internal thermal facilities, the gently heated sauna ‘Softy’ was our favourite, with its curved seating and glass window overlooking the spa garden. ‘Steamy’ is the spa’s beautiful grotto-like steam room with copper-hued mosaic tiles and soft colour-changing lights. The salt-inhalation room, ‘Salty’, is much hotter with contemporary white seating and enough salt in the air to banish pesky coughs and colds.
Try the mist and jets of the scented experience showers to cool down afterwards or head for the ‘Chill Out’ ice wall; press your wrists to the wall for an instant cool down.
Y Spa also has two indoor relaxation areas: the Chill Lounge and Time Out, both divided into three zones - one with comfortable beds facing a crackling fire; the other with 60’s-style relaxation pods to curl up on, and a third with waterbeds (some curtained-off) and soft lighting.
Those looking for a quick massage without the need to undress should try the spa’s hydromassage bed which can be booked in advance using a QR code..
We tried a Made for Life Organics Rose Quartz Wellbeing Facial (75 minutes, £92).
My therapist, Jodie, met me in the treatment lounge - with its long sofa, huge rocking chair and table stocked with magazines - and led me to one of 10 spacious treatment rooms with two single beds.
Jodie asked about my skincare routine, handed me some disposable undies and left the room so that I could get comfortable on the treatment bed, lying face up.
The treatment began with a cleanse using a buttery Made for Life balm followed by a gentle scrub which Jodie removed with mitts. Quickly discovering my dehydrated skin, she then used the brand’s Soak Balm as a nourishing mask; while this did its job, Jodie moved my head to the right and massaged my neck and shoulders, eventually moving my head the other side to work on the right. This led seamlessly into a scalp massage which was so gently effective that – for one split second - I drifted off.
Mask removed, Jodie reached for two pieces of rose quartz shaped like hearts and moved them in unison around my face, beginning at my chin and working up to my forehead. This long massage ended with Jodie pulling the instruments through my hair.
The facial ended with dots of eye cream, a good amount of moisturiser and some lip balm. Jodie left the room so that I could come to and put my robe on. She met me outside with a glass of water and led me to the treatment lounge when I met my spa partner. Having sustained a back injury during a game of tennis, he was grateful that his therapist tailored his massage to include hot stones on the area.
Y Spa offers a variety of facials, massages, wraps, scrubs, manicures and pedicures from Neom and Elemis. There is also a good selection of treatments for men, mums-to-be and couples who wish to have a treatment together. The spa specialises in Made for Life Wellness treatments for those living with cancer.
Lunch can be enjoyed in your robe in the spa bistro with its geometric patterned floor, faux white Eames chairs and long fish tank embedded into the wall. The spa has ditched the buffet in favour of a set Mediterranean mezze with individual menus for gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan guests.
On our platter: succulent chicken skewers, rich Tabbouleh, Focaccia bread, Mozzarella balls, mini cups of warming tomato soup, colourful pilau rice with kidney beans and sweetcorn, and a small salad. The menu comes with a dessert of the day which, on our visit, was a chocolate and orange delice, which we shared. A selection of hot and cold drinks is on offer for guests, including teas, Paddy & Scott’s coffee and a good range of wine.
Our three-course dinner that evening was served in the utterly gorgeous Gravel Pit Brasserie and Bar, with its lake views through bi-fold doors, industrial-style bar, cosy booths and outdoor terrace with pontoon overlooking a central fountain.
The huge menu of previous years has been paired down to prevent food wastage with classics such as steaks, burgers and wood-fired pizzas, together with a selection of small plates and desserts.
Tempted by the small plates, we filled the table with dishes to share: garlic and chilli prawns, pigs in blankets, halloumi fries and chicken wings made sticky with a ginger sauce. The perfect accompaniment was a glass of New Zealand Sav Blanc. Our spa partner shared his black and blue burger with blue cheese and crispy fries, which he washed down with a glass of Chilean Shiraz. The Gravel Pit has a good selection of cocktails on offer, so we skipped dessert and ordered two Espresso Martinis.
We loved
The Spa Garden - with its huge hydro-pool, ski chalet-style Kelo sauna and covered seating - is a delight whatever the weather.
The staff: everybody that works at Y Spa and, indeed, the hotel is kind, helpful and courteous.
The Gravel Pit restaurant was a real highlight of our stay with its lake views, chic design and Bot waiter.
We didn’t love
The changing rooms could do with being modernised.
Business guests (and their spa partners) can book Sandpiper Bay, a conference area overlooking the lake with a row of pastel-hued beach huts for break-out sessions, deckchairs on the grass and a Tiki bar shaped like a car.
Golfers: Wyboston Lakes Resort has an 18-hole golf course within its grounds with lake views from most holes.
Eco-lovers: Y Spa is going for BCorp status next year – we wish you the best of luck.
Once again, we awarded Y Spa at Wyboston Lakes a Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of 5 Bubbles for its well-designed Spa Garden; spacious, well thought-out thermal facilities; results-driven treatments; and fuss-free, fabulous food.
Stylish Spy visited in October 2024 and awarded it 5 Bubbles.
You’ll find light snacks, Paddy & Scott’s coffee, and something a little stronger in the newly refurbished Spa Bistro. There is also a drinks station within arm’s reach of the outdoor hydrotherapy pool.
Spa lunch takes place in the Spa Bistro too and you will be served a selection of yummy mezze bites. Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and vegetarian mezze platters available, just let the spa team know when booking your spa package.
Why not stay for tea and truly indulge at The Gravel Pit Brasserie & Bar. Glass frontage makes sure that all diners get a view of the lake.
Stay in one of the 103 comfortably furnished ensuite bedrooms. Deluxe rooms come with a selection of toiletries, smart TVs, Paddy & Scott’s coffee, a fridge, mineral water, cosy bathrobes, free Wi-Fi and more.
Every day apart from Tuesdays & Wednesdays.
The spa is located on 380-acres between Cambridge and Milton Keynes, easily accessible by train and car and less than an hour away from London. The location is only a 10 minute taxi drive away from St Neots station which is on the Great Northern line. There are ample free spaces, right outside the door, including designated disabled parking bays and electric charging points.
There are disabled bays right outside the front door, along with ramps where needed and aids for entering and exiting the pool. Please make the spa staff aware beforehand if you would need assistance for anything in the spa. They promise to make every effort to meet any person's needs and will not shy away from extra effort to deliver hospitality.
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