Nestled on a private island in Walton Hall, the Waterton Park Hotel & Spa offers a range of affordable spa treatments with access to lakeside hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms. Despite its remote location, the hotel is just a 15-minute drive from Wakefield city centre and can be reached via a small footbridge. The hotel is housed in a Georgian mansion built in 1767, once the ancestral home of Charles Waterton, a Victorian naturalist and explorer. Waterton was known for creating the world's first nature reserve by enclosing his estate with an eight-foot high wall. After his death in 1865, the property was sold, later serving as a maternity hospital before being converted into a hotel in the 1970s. Guests staying at the hotel can enjoy free access to the spa and pool from 7am to 9am, but must purchase a separate spa package for access during the rest of the day. Non-guests can opt for the Sunrise Lakeside Experience for £15, which grants access to all facilities, including the outdoor hot tubs. More expensive options include the Morning Lakeside Experience for £30, offering three hours of access from 9.30am to 12.30pm with a light lunch, and the Lakeside Luxury package priced from £179 per person. This premium package includes pastries and coffee on arrival, two 50-minute treatments, lunch with prosecco, full spa access from 9.30am to 4pm, and the hire of a robe, towel, and flip-flops. The hotel provides various dining options, including the Grand Café, Sunday lunches, afternoon tea, and the Essence Bar in the spa, which serves drinks and small bites. The Waterton Park Hotel & Spa was featured in the 2026 TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards, being highlighted as a top spa break destination in West Yorkshire. Reviewers have praised the hotel’s stunning surroundings, with one guest describing the peaceful experience of swimming while watching swans, ducks, and geese glide across the lake. Another reviewer appreciated the beauty of the historic manor house and the unique charm of staying on a private island. Some guests, however, mentioned that the hotel could use modernization, particularly in terms of the beds, which they felt needed upgrading. The saunas at the spa are known for their health benefits, including supporting kidney function by flushing out toxins, improving skin moisture, and stimulating natural collagen production.