From the lovely country setting to the spa amenities, we can safely say that it’s a resort with a special Irish charm.

*Unsponsored review

There are a few places that you would assume most people who title themselves as ‘well-travelled’ would have travelled to if they live in the UK – London, Devon, maybe even the Scottish Highlands and you’d probably also put Ireland on that list especially Northern Ireland given that it’s part of the UK. Well, in this respect we had failed miserable as Ireland was a place we had yet to visit and so it was time to rectify this and it quickly moved to the top of the travel bucket list! After searching the web (and Tik Tok) for some hotel suggestions we came across the four-star Galgorm Resort and Spa in Ballymena and decided to give it a try for a long weekend.

The Resort

Approaching the hotel, it becomes clear that the standout feature of this resort isn’t the hotel at all but it’s the beautiful countryside where the hotel calls home, especially the river Maine flowing through its grounds. The Galgorm resort sits within its own enclave with a sweeping drive that leads up to the main manor house which has the main reception, various other function rooms and a couple of the restaurants. Given the location most people drive and there is plenty of parking available onsite.

The Room

Arriving on a wet and cold evening after waiting for our delayed Easyjet flight, when we arrived, we were glad that check in was swift and friendly. We booked into a Junior Suite for the weekend which was a really good size. On entry, it has a raised bedroom area and a living room space with a sofa, TV and a record player with some records to play which we thought was a nice touch. There was also a terrace out back but, in all honesty, the view left a lot to be desired plus it was chilly and so we didn’t use. The rooms are a little dated but appeared well maintained and our room was spacious and clean.

Other amenities in the room included robes for us to use in the room and in the spa area, a mini bar, tea / coffee facilities and flip flops. The mini bar is also free and so that’s a nice touch and you also get some calming pillow spray. I found the best thing about this room to be the bathroom! If you’ve seen my Tik Toks, you’ll know I’m a bath lover and this room had one of the best baths I’d come across in a hotel room. It was a large old school style soaking tub with a little seat in it so you don’t sink to the bottom. They also give you a bath bomb to use and if you don’t like baths there’s always the standalone shower that you can use.

The Spa

Now for the reason we really visited this resort, to relax and spa. Early spa access is available from 12noon on the day of check-in, at no additional charge. The main spa area is called the Thermal Village and it’s an oasis of swimming pools, saunas, steam rooms and jacuzzis dotted around the grounds. The weather was nice during our stay and so we spent a lot of time walking around and enjoying the facilities. We had a massage which was good although expensive. The therapist was good and after treatments there is a conservatory area to relax in that’s only for people having spa treatments and where you can have free sorbet and refreshments.

The lowlight to the spa is the crowds. The spa grounds are relatively big however, it’s probably almost inevitable that you get hen parties and groups that tend to hog some of the main spa areas which is disappointing when you want to try some of the facilities but they’re always occupied. For this reason if you can visit mid-week, then you may avoid this problem.

 

Riverside bathing experience

One activity that you can do is hire a hot tub that sits on the bank of the River Maine for one hour and relax with a glass (or bottle) of prosecco. This was the best part of the trip, it was stunning, calming, relaxing and a real treat!  A nice touch to add to your package if you’re celebrating a birthday or anniversary. Take a look at my review video here to see what the experience was like.

Food

There are three restaurants on site and so if you’re staying for a long weekend, there is plenty of choice. Given the location you’d find it difficult to head out elsewhere to eat unless you have a car. We ate at Gillies grill when we arrived and also Fratelli which is the Italian restaurant on site. They do ask you to reserve a time when making your reservation to ensure you’ll get a slot to eat.

Tip: For breakfast I recommend asking about reserving the conservatory. Availability may depend on the type of room you book and so again, if you’re celebrating a special occasion, see if you can reserve a table here. It overlooks the river and is a beautiful setting for breakfast.

Anything else?

About 30-45 mins drive from Belfast international airport the hotel is located in Ballymena and is accessible either by Taxi or car. It is quite isolated and so if you’re planning on exploring Belfast or the surrounding areas, I’d definitely recommend having access to a car. One evening we attempted to book a taxi into Belfast for the evening but was told that there were no taxis available and so luckily, we had our hire care and so we could drive. Also note that the motorways are essentially dual carriages with no lighting at night and so if this isn’t your thing you may want to plan on staying on hotel grounds. However, there are so many great things you can do in and around Belfast you may be missing out.

Overall, we loved our stay at the Galgorm. From the lovely country setting to the spa amenities, we can safely say that it’s a resort with a special Irish charm. Have you visited the Galgorm? Let us know what you think about the resort in the comments.

Average room cost per night:

Rates from £270 per night.

Watch the video review

Looking for a London hotel? Take a look at our review of the 5* Ampersand Hotel in South Kensington.