Places to Stay With a Hot Tub in Shropshire

What's on offer in Shropshire

BritStays currently lists eight places to stay in Shropshire with a hot tub. They vary more than you might expect. Three are caravanning sites, two are holiday parks, two are hotels and one is a campsite. That means you can choose between a spa-style hotel break, a lodge or cabin with room for a group, or something simpler under canvas.

Shropshire is an inland county, so these are all countryside stays rather than seaside ones. The listings spread across the county. Three are listed simply as Shropshire, and the rest sit at Ludlow, Shrewsbury, Middletown, Hadnall and Hopton Heath near Craven Arms.

Matching the stay to your trip

Couples after a quiet treat. The two hotels are the obvious picks. Fishmore Hall in Ludlow pairs its hot tub with a spa and a bar. Hawkstone Hall offers a hot tub, spa and gym. Both suit a short break where the point is to unwind rather than to self-cater.

Families. Look at the parks with more going on.

• Bank Farm Caravan Park Welshpool, at Middletown, has a playground and a bar.
• The Beeches at Hadnall adds a swimming pool and evening entertainment.
• Love2Stay has a swimming pool and a gym as well as its hot tub.

Two of the eight stays have a pool, so if children will judge the holiday by swimming time, narrow your search to those first.

Groups and self-caterers. Riverside Cabins near Shrewsbury and Ashlea Pools Lodges at Hopton Heath both sleep six. Ashlea Pools Lodges also lists takeaway food and is near a bus stop, which helps if nobody fancies cooking or driving every evening.

Dog owners. Of the example stays, only Riverside Cabins is listed as pet friendly. If your dog is coming, check the pet policy with any other stay directly before you book.

Campers. Lower Hill campsite is the one camping option in this set. It lists a gift shop and a picnic area alongside its hot tub.

What the facilities tell you

Every stay here has a hot tub, but the other facilities are less consistent:

• WiFi appears at five of the eight.
• Disabled access and a bar each appear at four.
• Parking and being near a bus stop each appear at three.
• A laundrette appears at two.

Don't assume parking or WiFi just because a place has a hot tub. If either matters to you, confirm it.

It's also worth asking whether the hot tub is private to your lodge or cabin or shared with other guests. At a hotel or holiday park it may well be shared, and there may be set times or booking slots. Riverside Cabins lists disabled access. If you need step-free access to the tub itself, rather than just the accommodation, ask specifically.

Things to do once you're there

Shropshire is rich in history, which makes a good balance to evenings spent soaking.

• Castles and big houses: Stokesay Castle, Wattlesborough Castle, Cound Hall and Pitchford Hall.
• National Trust properties: Attingham Park, Benthall Hall and Town Walls Tower.
• Gardens: Sunnycroft Gardens is a good choice if you'd like a gentler afternoon.
• Roman history: the Wroxeter Roman City Museum and the Wroxeter Roman Site Museum.
• Industrial and railway history: Ditherington Flax Mill and the Tanat Valley Light Railway Museum.

If you're happy to cross the county border, Worcestershire has the Stourbridge Glass Museum, Dudmaston Hall and the National Telephone Kiosk Collection. Staffordshire has the Brampton Museum.

When to book, honestly

With only eight hot tub stays in the county on BritStays, choice is limited. The ones sleeping six, or with pools and family entertainment, are likely to be in demand at weekends and during school holidays. If your dates are fixed to those periods, book early rather than waiting for a late deal.

Midweek and term-time breaks usually give you more flexibility, and a hot tub is just as enjoyable on a cold evening as a warm one. Before you pay, check these points with the stay:

• how many people it actually sleeps
• whether the hot tub is private or shared
• any hot tub opening hours or slots
• the pet policy
• parking

Get the answers in writing if you can.