FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Gisborough Hall is a stunning, Grade II-listed, Jacobean-style mansion set amid the rolling hills of the North York Moors National Park in North Yorkshire. As you approach along the driveway, you’ll spot llamas grazing in a field. While the Hall itself makes a striking first impression, its historic stone façade cloaked in beautiful red ivy made our autumn visit special. Manicured gardens add to the country house charm.
The Hall’s name has a fascinating history, too: while the nearby town is spelt Guisborough, the hotel retains the historic spelling of Gisborough, which dates back almost 900 years to the founding of Gisborough Priory.
Opened in August 2026, Sakura Spa is the newest addition to this characterful country house hotel.
WHAT’S ON OFFER?
Take the driveway to the right of the entrance for the car park closest to Sakura Spa; the left road leads to the main hotel entrance. At spa reception, a wooden desk, Japanese acer tree, three stylish chairs and a small round table set the scene. Browse Elemis and Bamford products on the wall display while the team checks you in. We were handed an itinerary with our pre-allocated locker number, a wristband to access the facilities and a handy map of the spa. After a tour, we were invited to change into our robes before returning to reception to complete our digital pre-treatment forms. Throughout, the décor is distinctly contemporary, with clay-effect walls and ceilings complemented by wooden panels and beams.
Changing rooms continue the earthy colour scheme, with banks of wristband-operated lockers, each supplied with a Sakura Spa branded tote bag, robe and towel. Terracotta-hued, round leather seats provide somewhere to perch, while the vanity area has hairdryers and Elemis cleanser, toner and moisturiser. Three showers are stocked with Bamford amenities, alongside three toilets and a private changing room. A basket of flip-flops is available to help yourself to a pair in your size; simply return them afterwards for reuse. There’s also a swimsuit spinner and a convenient robe-and-towel drop in the hallway.
The highlight of Sakura Spa is its woodland spa garden, where thermal experiences sit alongside peaceful views of the surrounding greenery. A vitality pool is the natural starting point, with stainless-steel sides, a depth of 1.15 metres and water heated to between 34 and 38 degrees. Sixteen loungers line the pool, while massage jets, two bubbling volcanoes and a pair of swan-neck fountains provide plenty of ways to ease tired muscles and enjoy a soothing soak.
There are two saunas to choose from: the Herbal Sauna is a slightly cooler option, with dark wooden panelling, a copper pot suspended above the stove and a view out to the garden; the Finnish Sauna offers a more traditional, hotter experience, with temperatures between 80 and 95 degrees and another lovely garden outlook. Both have an attached snug where you can settle on comfortable cushions and sofas, put your feet up on a footstool, and help yourself to a hot-water bottle (nice) or magazine. High ceilings, wooden walls and large viewing windows looking out towards the woodland make these cosy retreats inviting. Water stations provide still and sparkling water, plenty of hooks for robes, and small towels are available to sit on. A cold-tap shower outside each sauna helps you cool down between sessions.
The Sea Salt Steam Room offers a different kind of heat, with temperatures of 40–45 degrees and twinkling constellation lights overhead. Outside, a cold shower and drench bucket provide a bracing contrast to the steamy warmth, while a water station is on hand to rehydrate.
For those who enjoy a more invigorating experience, the cold plunge pool is kept below a refreshing 10 degrees and surrounded by wooden decking. It’s a welcome contrast after time in the saunas or steam room, although certainly not for the faint-hearted. For the people watchers, head to the wellbeing terrace, where cushioned daybeds offer space to stretch out between experiences.
The treatment corridor has a pre-treatment waiting area, while two relaxation spaces provide somewhere to unwind. One is available to use throughout your spa day; your therapist will introduce you to the other aptly named Deep Sleep after your treatment.
TELL US ABOUT THE TREATMENTS
We tried a Bamford B Designed – The Massage (60 minutes, £95).
My therapist, Phoebe, met me in the pre-treatment area and asked me to complete a form, choosing which areas of my body I wanted massaged and how much time to spend on each. She then led me to Cherry, one of six treatment rooms, decorated in soothing neutral hues. After explaining how she would tailor the treatment to my preferences, Phoebe invited me to choose from three Bamford organic body oils. I opted for Silent, a relaxing blend featuring St John’s wort, Roman chamomile, lavender flower and vetiver root.
Once settled face down on the bed, Phoebe began with gentle rocking movements around my hips. She paused to let me breathe deeply while holding her oil-covered hand beneath the face hole – a lovely way to ease into the treatment. I knew I was in capable hands and found myself relaxing before the massage had properly begun.
Phoebe varied the pressure as she worked across my back, then down the backs of my arms and legs. Turning over, she placed a cooling rose quartz eye pillow over my eyes and spritzed Silent Pillow Mist. Having asked about an old injury during our consultation, Phoebe paid particular attention to my knee before moving on to my chest, shoulders, face and head. I left feeling thoroughly relaxed.
The beauty of this massage is how easily it can be tailored to you, with the option to include the abdomen, hands and arms, or foot reflexology.
Afterwards, Phoebe led me to the Deep Sleep post-treatment relaxation room, where I found my spa partner fast asleep on one of the six chaise longues, tucked beneath a cosy cream blanket. She’d enjoyed an Elemis Nourish Facial with therapist Hannah. A serving of blackcurrant sorbet was a refreshing final touch before heading back into the spa.
FOOD FACTS
Koyo is the casual dining spot for spa guests, whether you fancy a coffee and cake or a two-course lunch. Nine wooden tables and chairs sit alongside lower coffee tables, comfy moss-green armchairs and terracotta stools. In warmer weather, an outdoor terrace offers the opportunity to enjoy a little fresh air between thermal experiences.
For lunch, we headed here in our robes and opted for two courses, starting with flatbread and hummus to share, alongside edamame beans. For mains, we chose a Caesar salad with added chicken, while our spa partner tucked into the butternut squash salad with added salmon - a light lunch to refuel between thermal experiences.
In the evening, we dressed for dinner at Chaloners, the hotel’s AA rosette restaurant. To start, our spa partner chose the homemade mushroom soup, while we tried the Yorkshire ham terrine. For mains, we tucked into Gressingham duck with potato, duck terrine and carrot chutney, while our spa partner opted for hake with pickled grape, pomme Anna, Savoy cabbage and salmon roe.
There was just enough room for dessert, too: our spa partner finished with an Eton mess, while we enjoyed chocolate mousse with coconut sorbet.
SWEET STAY?
Gisborough Hall has 62 rooms, suites and hideaways spread across the historic Old Hall, the modern Woodland Wing and two Shepherd Huts. We stayed in Room 122, a Feature Room in the Old Hall, full of character and classic country house charm.
Huge Victorian windows offer panoramic views of the surrounding gardens and countryside beyond, framed by floor-to-ceiling curtains. An original fireplace added to the period feel, while modern comforts included a Nespresso machine, tea and coffee-making facilities, a TV and a mini bar stocked with still and sparkling water, fresh milk, Fentimans lemonade, crisps and Gisborough chocolate.
The bathroom had both a bath and a separate shower cubicle, with Molton Brown toiletries to enjoy. There was also a large wooden wardrobe, plus a hairdryer, iron and ironing board for added convenience.
Fancy something a little different? The hotel's secluded Shepherd Huts offer a rustic outdoor retreat for those looking to escape into the surrounding countryside.
WE LOVED…
The Bamford massage: our B Designed treatment was wonderfully tailored to our needs, with therapist Phoebe's thoughtful touches making it a real highlight of our visit.
The sauna snugs: adjoining both saunas, these cosy retreats with comfy sofas, footstools and woodland views are perfect for warming up and relaxing between thermal experiences.
The swan-neck fountains: powerful jets in the vitality pool deliver a satisfying shoulder massage – just the thing for easing away tension.
WHICH BUBBLE RATING DID YOU AWARD THIS SPA?
We awarded Sakura Spa at Gisborough Hall a Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of Five Bubbles for its stylish design, inviting woodland thermal garden, soothing vitality pool, delicious dining and personalised Bamford treatments.
Rest assured
