Pools and Hot Tubs in Peterborough Hotels
Peterborough, gateway to the Kawarthas, has no full-service spa among the six hotels listed here, and I would rather say it plainly. What it offers is warm water: indoor pools, hot tubs and in-room spa baths that suit a quiet break after a day on the water or the trails. The Best Western Plus Otonabee Inn combines an indoor pool and hot tub with creekside gardens, the Holiday Inn Waterfront has connected indoor and outdoor pools on the Trent-Severn Waterway, and the Quality Inn offers rooms with spa baths and fireplaces. I would pick by the kind of relaxation you have in mind.
Peterborough is a university city on the Otonabee River, known as the gateway to the Kawartha Lakes. The Trent-Severn Waterway runs through it, and its hydraulic Lift Lock is one of the best-known sights in Ontario. The Canadian Canoe Museum reflects the region's paddling culture. For a wellness break, the city offers a relaxed pace, water and trails close by, and hotels where a pool and a hot tub round off a day outdoors.
Warm Water by the Waterway
Wellness in Peterborough is mostly about simple comforts at the end of an active day: a swim, a hot tub, a soak in a deep bath. The city sits on the Otonabee River and the Trent-Severn Waterway, with lakes and trails all around, so many visitors paddle, cycle or walk during the day. The hotels below do not offer treatments or a spa menu in their descriptions, and I flag what each one actually has, so you can choose a pool, a garden or a private spa bath.
The Best Western Plus Otonabee Inn is my first choice for a calm stay. It sits creekside with tranquil gardens, an indoor pool and a hot tub, and its breakfast room looks over the water. Rooms are warmly decorated, with flat-screen TVs, small fridges and coffee facilities. The Peterborough Lift Lock is about five minutes away by car, and the Canadian Canoe Museum is just over two kilometres from the hotel. Guests give it one of the better scores in the group. For a weekend where a swim, a soak and a quiet garden matter more than nightlife, it offers the most peaceful setting of the six.
The Holiday Inn Hotel Peterborough Waterfront stands directly on the Trent-Severn Waterway, with connected indoor and outdoor pools, a hot tub and a fitness room. Rooms have free Wi-Fi and views of the river, the city or the harbour, and there are several places to eat on site. It is less than five minutes by car from central Peterborough and accepts pets. Guest scores are lower than at the Otonabee Inn, but the waterfront location is the strongest in the list. I would book it in summer, when the outdoor pool and the harbour views make the most of the setting, and evening walks along the water are easy.
The Hampton Inn Peterborough has the highest guest score of the six, though from a smaller number of reviews. Its saltwater indoor pool and fitness centre suit travellers who prefer a gentler swim, and it adds a daily buffet breakfast, free on-site parking, family rooms and barbecue areas. The Quality Inn takes a different angle: some rooms have spa baths, fireplaces or ground-floor access, and there is a fitness centre, a lounge and room service. For a couple, a room with a spa bath and a fireplace can be more relaxing than a busy pool, so I would ask for one of those units when booking.
Two hotels sit beside the Kawartha Golf club. The Comfort Hotel & Suites has an indoor heated pool with a spa bath, an on-site restaurant and spacious, contemporary rooms with a microwave, fridge and coffee maker, a four-minute walk from the club. The Super 8 by Wyndham, adjacent to the Kawartha Golf & Country Club, offers an indoor pool with a spa bath, a free continental breakfast and an airport shuttle, with many guest reviews. Both accept pets. They are practical choices for golfers and families who want a pool in the evening, but less suited to a dedicated wellness weekend.
A traveler's takeI would choose according to the season and how you want to relax. In summer, the Holiday Inn Waterfront's outdoor pool and harbour views are hard to beat. All year, the Best Western Plus Otonabee Inn's indoor pool, hot tub and gardens offer the calmest setting. For a couple, a Quality Inn room with a spa bath and fireplace is a quiet alternative to a shared pool. None of these hotels lists massages or treatments, so plan those separately if they matter to you.
4.5Hampton Inn Peterborough
Spa & Wellness · 186 reviewsFamily-friendly hotel with a saltwater indoor pool and casino in Peterborough
Why guests love itA saltwater indoor pool and family rooms make the Hampton Inn Peterborough an easy choice with children, and its 8.9 rating from 186 reviews backs that up. The daily buffet breakfast is included, parking is free, and rooms are air-conditioned with free WiFi. Barbecue areas add an option for a relaxed evening in good weather. Pets are accepted. I would book a family room rather than a standard one.
4.2Best Western Plus Otonabee Inn
Spa & Wellness · 526 reviewsCreekside hotel with an indoor pool, hot tub, and tranquil gardens
Why guests love itBest Western Plus Otonabee Inn gives families a calm creekside setting in Peterborough, with gardens to wander and an indoor pool and hot tub for any season. Rooms include small fridges and coffee facilities, handy for breakfast snacks or bottles. The Peterborough Lift Lock, a fun stop for children, is a 5-minute drive, and the Canadian Canoe Museum is 2.2 km away. Guests score it 8.4/10 from more than 500 reviews.
4.0Super 8 by Wyndham Peterborough
Spa & Wellness · 1321 reviewsIndoor pool, spa bath, and airport shuttle near Kawartha Golf & Country Club
Why guests love itSuper 8 by Wyndham Peterborough is a three-star hotel next to Kawartha Golf & Country Club, and I would recommend it to families who want an indoor pool and a dog-friendly room. The pool has a spa bath, rooms include a microwave, a mini-fridge and free Wi-Fi, and a free continental breakfast is served. An airport shuttle is available. It is a practical stay, not a polished one.
4.0Comfort Hotel & Suites
Spa & Wellness · 331 reviewsIndoor heated pool, spa bath, and on-site dining near Kawartha Golf Club
Why guests love itKelsey's Restaurant opens straight off the lobby at the Comfort Hotel & Suites in Peterborough, which makes dinner with children easy, and the indoor heated pool and spa bath fill the evening. Rooms are spacious, with a microwave, a refrigerator, a coffee maker and free WiFi. Kawartha Golf Club is a four-minute walk away, and pets are accepted. Guests rate it 7.9 from 331 reviews.
3.9Quality Inn
Spa & Wellness · 462 reviewsComfortable rooms with spa baths and fireplaces near Peterborough attractions
3.8Holiday Inn Hotel Peterborough Waterfront by IHG
Spa & Wellness · 521 reviewsWaterfront hotel with connected pools and dining on the Trent Severn Waterway
Why guests love itHoliday Inn Peterborough Waterfront sits directly on the Trent Severn Waterway, and its connected indoor and outdoor pools are the big draw for children: they can swim inside or out depending on the weather. A hot tub and fitness room add to it, and several dining venues on site make meals easy. Central Peterborough is under 5 minutes by car. Pets are allowed. The 7.6/10 score from over 500 reviews is fair rather than outstanding.
Local tips
- 1Choose the Best Western Plus Otonabee Inn for an indoor pool, a hot tub and gardens beside the creek.
- 2Book the Holiday Inn Waterfront in summer to enjoy its outdoor pool and views over the Trent-Severn Waterway.
- 3Ask for a Quality Inn room with a spa bath and fireplace if you prefer privacy to a shared pool.
- 4Pick the Hampton Inn if a saltwater pool and a buffet breakfast are part of your idea of a relaxing stay.
- 5Visit the Peterborough Lift Lock, about five minutes by car from the Otonabee Inn, before an evening swim.
- 6Arrange massages or treatments separately, since none of these hotels lists a spa menu in its description.