Waresley Park Estate, Cambridge: Stay, Wild Swimming, Spa and the First Estate Wine
Nestled within 120 acres of beautifully landscaped Cambridgeshire parkland, Waresley Park Estate is a one-of-a-kind rural escape set around a private spring-fed lake, a working vineyard, a French château-style country house, eight design-led lodges and a self-contained flat. Roughly an hour from London and thirty minutes from Cambridge, the estate has, in a few short years, become one of the most talked-about countryside destinations in the eastern counties - a place to swim in open water, take lunch in a courtyard coffee shop, watch Shakespeare performed in a hillside amphitheatre, or simply do absolutely nothing at all.
What makes Waresley unusual is the sheer breadth of experience on offer. In a single afternoon you can wild swim in a 1700s lake, warm up in a Finnish-style lakeside sauna, attend a lakeside yoga class in the Tipi, eat a wood-fired pizza under the vines, and finish with a glass of the estate's own wine - released, in 2026, for the very first time.
Location and Setting
Waresley Park Estate sits in the village of Waresley, Cambridgeshire, postcode SG19 3DD. The estate is roughly 55 minutes from London Kings Cross (with Sandy and St Neots both around fifteen minutes by taxi from the gates) and around 20 - 30 minutes by car from Cambridge. The grounds were laid out in the landscape tradition of Humphrey Repton, and the parkland - all rolling lawns, mature trees and carefully composed views - still feels true to that eighteenth-century design language.
At the heart of the estate sits The House: a turreted French château-style country house with seven en-suite bedrooms, two reception rooms and a kitchen built for feeding a crowd. Around it sit eight individual lodges and a self-contained flat, all set within their own private grounds. The private lake - naturally spring-fed from the surrounding hills and tested regularly for water quality - was designed in the 1700s and is the centre of gravity for the estate's outdoor life, with the new vineyard climbing the sun-facing slope above it.
The Vineyard and the First Estate Wine
The most exciting development at Waresley is the small vineyard that climbs the hillside above the lake. Tucked between the lake path and the amphitheatre, the vines are now mature enough to produce the estate's first-ever wine, released in 2026 from the 2025 harvest. Just 200 bottles of this debut vintage have been made, all from grapes handpicked on the estate.
The wine is a still Bacchus - one of England's most successful aromatic white varieties - with tasting notes of peach and garden mint. According to the Waresley team, those bright, herbal, summery notes are made for one particular British pairing: freshly cooked fish and chips. To celebrate the launch, the estate has planned a special one-off Waresley Wine Tasting with Fish and Chips on Friday 14 August 2026, 5:00 - 8:00 PM, where guests will be among the first in the country to taste the debut vintage. Tickets are £25 per person, including a glass of the Bacchus and a fish-and-chip supper by the lake, with gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options available on request.
A new Waresley Park Estate shop has also launched online for wine, gift cards and estate merchandise, and further wine releases are expected from the 2026 vintage.
Where to Stay
Waresley offers three very different ways to sleep on the estate, all bookable directly.
The House
Voted one of the Best Airbnbs in the UK by Grazia, The House is the estate's signature property: a turreted French château-style country house with seven en-suite bedrooms sleeping up to sixteen guests, two reception rooms and a walled garden. You book the whole house, exclusively, for the duration of your stay - perfect for milestone birthdays, family reunions, brand retreats or wedding weekends. As a guide, prices range from £1,800 to £3,400 per night depending on the season, with a two-night minimum as standard. Check-in is from 4pm, check-out by 11am. A private chef - including Head Chef Ed Forrest-Brown - can be arranged (book at least seven days ahead) for everything from breakfast to a tasting-menu dinner.
Two well-behaved dogs are welcome by prior arrangement, and travel cots and high chairs are available for younger guests. Staying guests also receive 15% off the spa, padel, gym and wild swimming sessions.
The Lodges
Eight luxury design-led lodges dot the estate, each positioned for maximum seclusion and uninterrupted views of the Cambridgeshire countryside. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows bring the landscape inside; each lodge has a private terrace and its own wood-fired OFYR barbecue / fire pit (with logs, firelighters, utensils, gloves and a frying pan all provided). Inside you'll find premium linens, towels and toiletries, high-speed Wi-Fi and a king-sized bed.
One small or medium well-behaved dog is welcome per lodge for £25 per stay, and dogs are also welcome in the on-site coffee shop, Bean Theory. Check-in is from 3pm, check-out by 11am. Guests can layer extras onto their stay - wild swimming, paddleboarding, yoga, axe throwing, beekeeping, vineyard tours - all bookable and payable separately.
The Flat
For couples or solo travellers after a quieter bolthole, The Flat is a self-contained one-bedroom apartment attached to the side of the main house, with its own fully equipped kitchen and all the privacy of a standalone stay. It's positioned for romantic retreats and peaceful getaways, with everything else on the estate - spa, lake, amphitheatre, Tipi - a short walk away.
Wild Swimming and the Lake
Wild swimming is at the heart of life at Waresley. The private lake is naturally spring-fed from the surrounding hills, regularly water-quality tested, and reaches between 1.8 and 2 metres at its deepest. The shoreline slopes gently from the beach area, making for an easy entry. Lifeguarded swim sessions run year-round, with a trained open water lifeguard on duty at every session.
Swim sessions and pricing
- 60-minute Wild Swimming (swim only): £15 per person (£10 for members)
- 90-minute Swim & Sauna: £30 per person (£25 for members)
- 10-Swim Pass (wild swimming only, valid across sessions): £125 - works out at £12.50 per swim
- 5-Swim & Sauna Pass: £120
Every session includes a hot drink by the fire pit afterwards. Tow-floats are required (some are available to borrow), dogs are not permitted at the lake, all attendees must be over 14, and under-18s must be supervised by an adult. The 24-hour cancellation policy applies to all lake bookings.
The Lakeside Sauna and the 'Nordic Cycle'
Perched right on the water's edge, the Lakeside Sauna is a curved, panoramic space designed so that steam drifts gently from ceiling to floor while you gaze out across the lake. The sauna is the hot side of the 'Nordic Cycle' - a hot-cold contrast ritual of sauna, cold plunge (or wild swim) and rest that boosts circulation, reduces inflammation, eases muscle tension and supports mental clarity. Sessions are for ages 16+ (16 and 17-year-olds must be accompanied by a parent or guardian).
The Lifeguard Team
Waresley's lifeguards are unusually visible, and many are introduced by name, from Lake and Wellness Manager Pippa Milton to open water coach Corinne Gingell and cold-water practitioner Anna Auckland, who also runs the popular Introduction to Cold Water Swimming workshop (£35 per person, 2.5 hours, every couple of months - see Events below).
The Spa
The Spa at Waresley is one of the most distinctive boutique spas in the region: a calm, light-filled space with a luxury indoor swimming pool and integrated whirlpool, a sauna, a basement relaxation lounge with an underwater viewing window into the pool, and two treatment rooms. The spa is normally booked for exclusive private use, so when you book, the whole space is yours.
Spa opening hours are 10am - 5pm daily, with late-night bookings available on request. All guests must be over 18 (16/17-year-olds are welcome if accompanied by a responsible adult). The pool is 8 feet at its deepest, slippers, robes, towels and products are all provided - you just bring swimwear.
Spa Treatments
Treatments can be booked on their own, without taking the whole spa, and include body massages, scrubs and wraps, Thai foot massages, facials and indulgent spa rituals. The current Waresley Spa Edit feature is the Hydraluronic Express Facial - 30 minutes for £55 - designed to hydrate and plump skin stressed by air-conditioned offices, central heating and summer sun.
Spa Packages
- Stillness at Waresley (for two): 3 hours of exclusive spa use, a complimentary glass of English sparkling wine, an inclusive full-body exfoliation and a Mediterranean candle back, neck and shoulder massage. £390 for two.
- Waresley Summer Escape: 3 hours of exclusive spa use with an inclusive scalp massage. £220 for 1 guest, £340 for 2, £520 for 4. Add a Hydrating Full Body Massage (60 min, +£75), Signature Skin Radiance Facial (45 min, +£60) or Full Body Exfoliation (30 min, +£45).
Optional add-ons at additional cost include the bar, afternoon tea, charcuterie or sweet charcuterie boards, fizz on arrival and a cocktail package.
Float & Sound Experience
Waresley's signature spa experience is the Float & Sound - a 90-minute floating sound bath in the warm spa pool. You float effortlessly while crystal bowls wash over you, then ease back with herbal tea, time in the sauna or a dip in the pool. £55 per person, including a 45-minute sound bath and 45-minute transition. Bring swimwear, spa shoes and a towel. Sessions run most Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 6:30pm through to mid-December 2026.
Wellness in the Lakeside Tipi
On the shore of the swimming lake sits the Lakeside Tipi, a natural, light-filled space that seats up to 30 (or 50 standing). It's the setting for most of the estate's movement and meditation programme, and one of the most peaceful spots you can find anywhere in the Cambridge countryside.
Yoga
The estate runs a full weekly yoga timetable inside the Tipi and out among the vines, taught by a small, deeply qualified teaching team:
- Rachel Miller - 300-hour British Wheel of Yoga trained, teaches Slow Flow Hatha (Saturdays 9:15am) and Strength & Stability (Saturdays 10:30am).
- Kate Williams - 24+ years' experience, teaches Open Mat: Weekly Flow Yoga on Mondays at 6pm.
- Bea Grist - Professional Certified Coach with over 800 hours of training, teaches Sunrise Yoga in the Vines (Fridays 7:00am, among the actual vines), Sunday Sanctuary Morning Meditation, Sunday Sanctuary Yin Yang Yoga, Restorative Yoga (Wednesdays 6pm), and the monthly Women's Yoga and Women's Circle on the last Thursday of each month.
Most drop-in classes are £15 per session, or you can buy a five-class pass for £60 (the same price applies across Tai Chi, Pilates, Body Weight Strength, Core Class, Small Group Personal Training, Circuit, Hatha and Yin Yang).
Tai Chi, Pilates, Strength and Core
Mondays and Tuesdays at the lake belong to Chris Nutley's Tai Chi (lakeside, beginner-friendly, focused on balance, mobility and dynamic inner strength), while Juliet Clarke teaches Lakeside Pilates (Tuesdays 4:30pm) and the popular Bodyweight Strength Class in the Tipi (Mondays 11:30am, Wednesdays 12:30pm) - an all-over-body workout combining light cardio with bodyweight strength, finishing with a fiery core section.
Breathwork and Sound Baths
Monthly breathwork Ground and Breathe sessions with Alex take place in the Tipi on the last Saturday of each month. The lake also hosts regular Wild Float and Sound sessions - floating sound baths where you drift on the surface of the lake at sunset, immersed in healing frequencies from crystal bowls.
Eat and Drink at Waresley
Food and drink at Waresley centres on the Courtyard, the estate's social hub and home to the on-site coffee shop, the wood-fired pizza oven, the courtyard bar and the seasonal supper clubs.
Bean Theory Coffee
At the heart of the estate, Bean Theory is Waresley's on-site coffee shop, open 8am - 4pm daily. The coffee is roasted right here on the estate, and the kitchen serves a thoughtful selection of seasonal food, drinks and homemade treats - the perfect place to warm up after a swim, meet friends, or take a break during a corporate day. Dogs are welcome in Bean Theory.
Pizza in the Courtyard
The estate's wood-fired Pizza in the Courtyard is available Wednesday to Saturday, 12pm - 9pm. Pizzas are hand-stretched by Master Pizzaiolo Francesco, made with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and cooked in the courtyard pizza oven. Eat outside among the vines on sunny days or inside the cosy restaurant when the weather turns.
Fish & Dips
Every Friday evening from 6pm, the lake becomes Waresley's social hub for Fish & Dips: a refreshing hour of wild swimming followed by freshly cooked fish and chips around the fire pit or in the Tipi. The full Fish & Dips package is £25 per person, with a swim-only option for £10 and a fish-and-chips-only option for £12 (book the food-only option by emailing lake@waresleyparkestate.co.uk). All attendees must be over 14, with under-18s supervised by an adult. Gluten-free and vegan options are available.
Sunday Roasts and Supper Clubs
Throughout summer, Head Chef Ed Forrest-Brown cooks a series of open-fire Sunday Roasts in the courtyard, each portioned for two to share. Recent menus have included Asado lamb, lamb-fat flatbreads, garlic yoghurt, whipped feta, soy-marinated cucumber and a fig & brown butter frangipane tart with fig-leaf ice cream. £60 for two. Ed also hosts a programme of seasonal Supper Clubs through the year, showcasing local and estate-grown produce cooked over open flame.
Play: The Amphitheatre and Live Events
Shrouded in vines and cut into the hillside above the lake, the Waresley Park Amphitheatre is the estate's summertime hotspot for live entertainment. Wood-fired pizzas and a glass of wine in hand, you settle on a rug or folding chair under the sky as the curtain goes up.
The 2026 open-air programme has already included family favourites from Paperback Theatre - Aladdin, The Wind in the Willows, two performances of The Railway Children and The Tales of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny - alongside Much Ado About Nothing, Sunday afternoon jazz in the courtyard, and summer BBQs. Performances go ahead rain or shine (only cancelled for dangerous weather such as lightning or high winds), so the estate recommends waterproofs and a picnic blanket rather than an umbrella. A cashless bar serves snacks, ice creams, charcuterie and cheese boards, with pre-orderable afternoon teas and bottle-of-wine add-ons when you book your ticket. Only assistance dogs are allowed in the amphitheatre.
Featured Upcoming Events at Waresley Park
The full events programme covers a weekly timetable for the lake, the Tipi, the gym, food and music. The biggest upcoming dates in the diary include:
- Friday 14 August 2026, 5pm - Waresley Wine Tasting with Fish and Chips (£25). The headline event of the summer, celebrating the launch of Waresley's first-ever estate wine. Book here.
- Saturday 15 August 2026, 7pm - Much Ado About Nothing. Shakespeare's romcom in the hillside amphitheatre. Tickets.
- Sunday 16 August 2026, 12pm - Sunday 'Roast' in the courtyard with Ed Forrest-Brown (£60 for two). Book.
- Sunday 16 August 2026, 2pm - Music in the Courtyard. Live jazz from Will Robert. Tickets.
- Friday 21 August 2026 - The Railway Children at 3pm and again at 6pm, Paperback Theatre in the amphitheatre. Matinee / Evening.
- Friday 21 August 2026, 6:30pm - Cocktail Making Workshop with in-house mixologist Tilly (£50 per person, includes four cocktails and a pizza). Book.
- Saturday 22 August 2026, 2pm - Introduction to Cold Water Swimming workshop with Anna Auckland (£35). Book.
- Sunday 23 August 2026, 2pm - Jazz in the Courtyard with Bella Music and vocalist Isobel Pearce. Tickets.
- Wednesday 26 August 2026, 6:30pm - Float & Sound Experience in the spa (£55). Book.
- Thursday 27 August 2026, 7:15pm - Full Moon Swim and Full Moon Swim and Sauna on the lake under the stars.
- Saturday 29 August 2026, 4pm - The Tales of Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny in the amphitheatre. Tickets.
- Sunday 30 August 2026, 2pm - Music in the Courtyard with Will Robert.
- Saturday 19 December 2026, 10am - HIIT Class at The Gym at Waresley.
Recurring highlights to look out for across the summer include the weekly Saturday Morning Hatha Yoga Flow and Strength & Stability Yoga, Tai Chi on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Lakeside Pilates, Bodyweight Strength, Core Class, Circuit Class, Small Group Personal Training and the monthly Women's Yoga and Women's Circle - all bookable through the same What's On calendar.
Membership
For those who'd rather make Waresley a regular habit, the estate offers three monthly memberships:
- Waresley Member - £10 per month. Preferential rates and benefits across swimming, padel, classes and events; a simple way to feel part of the wider Waresley community.
- Lake Member - £80 per month. For committed swimmers and sauna-goers: unlimited swimming, ongoing Swim & Sauna access, plus member benefits across selected experiences.
- Full Estate Member - £200 per month. Unlimited core activities (including wild swimming), monthly padel sessions and the full spread of member benefits.
Members also get exclusive access to The Gym at Waresley, which is otherwise closed to non-members. Opening hours mirror Reception: Mon - Tue 9am - 5:30pm; Wed - Fri 9am - 9pm; Sat 10am - 7pm; Sun 9am - 5:30pm.
Groups, Padel and the Tipi
Waresley has been carefully designed for groups. The Spa is available for private hire for groups of up to ten (pool, sauna, treatment rooms and Float & Sound). The Tipi, on the shore of the lake, seats 30 and holds up to 50 - a natural, light-filled space for workshops, wellness sessions and evening gatherings. The Long Room, next to Bean Theory, is a relaxed event space for up to 30. For those who want to stay, the eight lodges, the seven-bedroom House and the Flat can be combined for a single booking.
The estate also has two outdoor padel courts (racket hire £3 per 60 minutes; balls £6 for three), Year-round open-water swimming, paddleboarding on Thursdays and Sundays (£15 per session, equipment included), and a full Waresley Adventurers programme of outdoor activities for younger explorers, from den-building and nature trails to axe throwing and archery.
Practical Information
- Address: Waresley Park Estate, Waresley, Cambridgeshire, SG19 3DD
- Telephone: 01223 491396
- Email: hello@waresleyparkestate.co.uk (general), lake@waresleyparkestate.co.uk (lake enquiries), spa@waresleyparkestate.co.uk (spa), stay@waresleyparkestate.co.uk (accommodation)
- Shop: shop.waresleyparkestate.co.uk
- Events calendar: waresleyparkestate.co.uk/whats-on-at-waresley
- Social: Instagram · Facebook
- Gift cards: Redeemable across wild swimming, spa treatments and packages, wellness activities and events, food and drink - and towards accommodation (book by phone). Buy online.
From its first estate Bacchus to its lakeside wild swims, from the French château to the yoga Tipi, Waresley Park Estate is the most quietly ambitious vineyard-and-estate project to emerge in Cambridgeshire in a generation - and, in a single summer afternoon, you can quite easily try almost all of it.