As rain is forecast to continue across much of the UK, one Peak District hotel is making a contrarian claim: that rain, not sunshine, creates the most romantic hotel stays.
According to Losehill House, grey skies, mist and drizzle are not something to work around - they can be the secret ingredient of a truly memorable British break.
The luxurious independent boutique hotel, nestled amongst the dramatic hills of Hope Valley, believes it may be the UK’s most romantic rainy-day hotel, arguing that wet weather enhances everything from landscape and spa experiences to food, atmosphere and connection.
“Rain slows people down,” says co-owner Paul Roden. “Guests arrive with fewer plans, stay closer to the building, talk more, eat better, linger longer and actually relax. Some of our most loved stays happen when the weather turns.”
An 111-year-old Arts and Crafts building, one of very few in Derbyshire, Losehill House is set well back from the road and completely secluded, with no traffic noise and nothing to disturb the calm beyond birdsong and the occasional baa from neighbouring sheep. Despite feeling wonderfully remote, it is unusually well connected and can even be reached by rail.
What makes the perfect rainy-weekend hotel?
With wet weather expected to continue across popular UK destinations this month, Losehill has shared what it believes are the essential ingredients every great rainy-day hotel should have - and why so many places fall short.
1. A setting that becomes more atmospheric, not less
Rain should add drama, not disappointment. Misty hills, softened views and changing light turn landscapes cinematic rather than closed-in.
2. Spaces designed for staying in
Guests need somewhere they actively want to linger: comfortable seating, cosy nooks, natural light, views and a sense of calm - not just a bedroom and a bar.
3. A spa that feels better in bad weather
Hot water, steam and warmth are amplified when it’s cold and wet outside. Rain should enhance the spa experience, not be irrelevant to it. Losehill is the only hotel within the Peak District National Park boundary with a full-service spa, including a heated indoor pool, sauna, and outdoor hot tub overlooking the hills.
4. Food that comforts - and gives you something to look at
Rainy days call for thoughtful, seasonal cooking and the freedom to enjoy a longer lunch or early dinner without rushing back outside. At Losehill, the fine dining restaurant features expansive sash windows with some of the best views in the Peak District, allowing guests to watch mist roll across the hills, including spectacular Win Hill, while they eat.
5. Permission to slow down
The best rainy-day hotels remove pressure. No packed itineraries. No need to ‘make the most of the weather’. Just space to rest, reconnect and reset.
Why Losehill leans into the rain
Losehill House was built for people who walk, pause and notice the landscape. When the rain sets in, the hotel becomes more cocooned, more intimate and more restorative.
Guests are encouraged to embrace the weather rather than avoid it, with touches such as cosy corners, spa rituals designed for colder days, wet-weather walking routes that showcase the Peak District at its most moody, and comforting, locally sourced food and drink.
If guests do fancy stretching their legs, Losehill offers access to one of the largest selections of walks in the Peak District, including routes to Ladybower Reservoir and the iconic Mam Tor - all of which take on a quieter, more contemplative beauty in wet weather.
“Sunshine is lovely,” says co-owner Kathryn Roden. “But rain gives people permission to stop striving. It creates a different kind of romance - quieter, slower and often more meaningful.”
A weather-proof British break
As travellers look for short breaks that don’t rely on perfect forecasts, Losehill’s rain-embracing approach offers a timely reminder that some of the UK’s most memorable stays happen precisely because the weather doesn’t behave.
For those staring at a wet forecast over the coming weeks, Losehill has a simple message: don’t cancel - lean in.
For more information, visit losehillhouse.co.uk.
