Where to Buy a Hot Tub: Showroom, Dealer or Online?
See it first.
Then check who looks after it.
You can buy a hot tub in a showroom, from a local dealer or online. If it turns out to be faulty, the Consumer Rights Act protects you wherever you bought it.1 What differs is what you can see before you pay, and who looks after delivery, installation and aftercare once you have.
The short answer
Neither route is better in itself. A showroom lets you see the real size and sit in the seats. Buying online or by phone works from anywhere, and with us you can still be shown round a showroom on a video call.
The retailer matters as much as the tub. Choose one that delivers, installs and looks after it afterwards, and ask for the details in writing.
| Detail | In a showroom | Online or by phone |
|---|---|---|
| Seeing the tub | In person: the real size, the seats, the cover and the cabinet colours | Photos, specifications and videos, or a guided showroom tour on video |
| Trying it in water | A private wet test, where the showroom has one. Ours is at Hull | Ask for a video tour, or message the team on WhatsApp to see a feature or colour live |
| Changing your mind | The Consumer Rights Act covers faults. The 14-day cancellation right is for distance sales2 | 14 days to cancel from the day it is delivered, unless it is made to your specification3 |
| Delivery and installation | The same whichever way you buy: ask who delivers, who installs and who you call afterwards | The same whichever way you buy: ask who delivers, who installs and who you call afterwards |
What a showroom shows you
A photo gives you the shape of a hot tub. A showroom gives you the size of it. You can sit in each seat, see how the jets are laid out, lift the cover and compare cabinet colours side by side. Take the measurements of the space you have in mind, so you can judge the footprint against the real thing.
Our Hull showroom also has private wet testing areas, where you can try a hot tub or swim spa in the water before you buy. Go to the Hull showroom page for directions and opening times.
We also have showrooms in Carlisle, Garforth and Huddersfield, with hot tubs on display at each. See all of them on our showrooms page.
Buying online or by phone
If a showroom is too far away, you can still see a lot before you pay. Each product page lists the size, seats, jets and power supply. Our team can show you round a showroom on a video call, help you measure up and compare features. To check a cabinet colour or a feature up close, message the team on WhatsApp and they will show you live.
Many of our customers order by phone after talking it through with an adviser. Our Newcastle showroom is online only: you can buy and pay on the site and take a virtual tour of our hot tubs and swim spas.
Before you pay for any hot tub online or by phone, get three things in writing: when and how it will be delivered, the cancellation and returns terms, and the electrical supply and base it needs. Our electrical requirements guide and what to consider when buying a hot tub cover the last one.
Your rights in plain words
These come from UK consumer law. They are worth knowing before you pay, wherever you buy.
14 days
to cancel an online or phone order
If you buy at a distance, you can cancel up to 14 days after the day the goods are delivered.3 The right starts when you place the order.2
It does not cover goods made to your specification or clearly personalised.3
30 days
to reject a hot tub that does not match the contract
If a hot tub is faulty, for example, you have a short-term right to reject it within 30 days.1 The 30 days start after it is delivered and, where the retailer is to install it, after they tell you the installation is done.1
£100 to £30,000
paid on a credit card
For a single item costing over £100 and up to £30,000, section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act makes the card company liable as well as the retailer, even if you paid only part of the price by card.4
The law sets the minimum. Warranty length and aftercare differ between retailers and brands, so ask for them in writing before you buy.
Six questions for any retailer
Put these to a showroom, a dealer or an online shop before you pay.
Can I see the tub, or take a tour?
A showroom visit, a wet test or a video tour all show you more than a photo. Hot tubs are on display at every one of our showrooms, and Hull has wet testing.
Are you an approved dealer for this brand?
The manufacturer can confirm it. We are an approved Jacuzzi dealer.
Who delivers it, and where to?
We deliver nationwide, including Northern Ireland. Ask any retailer for the delivery area and how they will get the tub to your garden.
Who installs it?
Our own team installs, and we only bring a crane when the site needs one. Ask any retailer what installation includes: the lift into the garden, the base and the electrical connection.
Who do I call if something goes wrong?
Ask who handles warranty claims, and whether repairs are done by the retailer or the manufacturer.
What aftercare is on offer?
We offer aftercare service packages and extended warranties, and finance on eligible orders. Whoever you buy from, get the warranty length and what it covers in writing.
When you are ready to look, browse our hot tubs or find your nearest showroom.
Quick answers
Open a question to read the answer.
Is it better to buy a hot tub in a showroom or online?
Neither is better in itself. A showroom lets you see the real size and sit in the seats, and some, like our Hull showroom, let you try a hot tub in the water. Buying online or by phone works from anywhere. Whichever you choose, check who delivers, who installs and who looks after it afterwards.
Can I cancel a hot tub I bought online?
Usually, yes. If you buy online or by phone you can cancel up to 14 days after the day the hot tub is delivered. The right does not cover goods made to your specification or clearly personalised.
Do I have the same rights if I buy in a showroom?
Your rights if a hot tub is faulty are the same wherever you buy it. The 14-day cancellation right is for online and phone orders, so it does not apply to a purchase made in person.
How long do I have to reject a faulty hot tub?
You have a short-term right to reject a hot tub that does not match the contract within 30 days. The 30 days start after it is delivered and, if the retailer installs it, after they tell you the installation is done.
Can I try a hot tub before I buy it?
Yes, at our Hull showroom, which has private wet testing areas. Our other showrooms have hot tubs on display, and we can show you round a showroom on a video call if you cannot visit.
Does paying by credit card protect me?
For a single item costing over £100 and up to £30,000, section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act makes the card company liable as well as the retailer, even if you paid only part of the price by card.
Sources
- UK Parliament, Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 22: short-term right to reject, legislation.gov.uk
- Which?, Consumer Contracts Regulations, which.co.uk, accessed 26 October 2026
- UK Parliament, The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, Part 3, regulations 27 to 31, legislation.gov.uk
- Which?, Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, which.co.uk, accessed 26 October 2026
Paul Margerison
Managing Director & Founder, Outdoor Living
A hot tub is a big purchase, so I would always want to see one in the water first. If you cannot get to a showroom, we will show you round on a video call and answer your questions as we go.