Famous for fell walks, mountain scenery and its connections with the Romantic poets, the Lake District is also home to the UK’s most popular national park (and, since 2017, a Unesco World Heritage Site). More than 16 million people descend on the Lake District every year, so finding somewhere to stay can be a challenge — unless you follow our accommodation guide, that is.
Main photo: Cedar Manor, Windermere
1. Another Place, Ullswater
£££ | SPA | POOL
If it’s Lakeland location you’re looking for, this striking hotel offers one of the finest in the national park with 18 acres of grounds delivering grand views of Ullswater and the surrounding fells. It’s pretty special inside too. Built around the shell of a Victorian hotel and given a swish contemporary makeover, it has stylish, luxurious rooms; a choice of restaurants; a stocked library; and a glass-walled infinity pool looking out onto the hills. Activities are also a big part of the offering at Another Place: the activity school offers sessions in wild swimming, stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking.
• Read our full review of Another Place
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2. Forest Side, Grasmere
£££
Run by award-winning UK hotelier Andrew Wildsmith, Forest Side is his take on a classic Lake District country house hotel: think Zoffany fabrics, mounted stags’ heads, crushed velvet sofas and swirly wallpaper. Originally built as a hunting lodge near the pretty village of Grasmere, you’ll find the style here is bold, often surprising, but undeniably luxe: most rooms have fell views, and the Michelin-starred restaurant specialises in organic, locally sourced ingredients (often grown in the hotel’s kitchen garden).
3. Linthwaite House, Windermere
£££
Hotels abound around Windermere, but few command the cachet of Linthwaite House — one of the Lake District’s longest-standing luxury hotels. Set on a hilltop a mile south of Bowness-on-Windermere, rooms here are all about understated style behind the hotel’s gabled Edwardian exterior. Some feel traditional in golds, greys and creams; others, like the Lake and Loft Suites, are more modern, with clean lines and contemporary hot tubs. The glass-roofed bar opens onto a swoon-worthy patio overlooking Windermere, while the Henrock restaurant is overseen by star chef Simon Rogan, the Lake District’s answer to Heston Blumenthal.
4. Gilpin Hotel & Lake House, Windermere
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£££ | SPA
The Gilpin is another of the classic Lake District hotels, originally Edwardian, and now reinvented as an unashamedly lavish and unavoidably expensive boutique getaway. The main house has been overhauled to provide modern metropolitan-style rooms, augmented by a dozen standalone Scandi-style lodges in the grounds, clad in wood and glass, and all with their own private steam rooms and outdoor hot tubs. Alpacas and llamas wander around, while legions of staff are on hand to attend to every whim — and of course there’s a Michelin-starred restaurant, HRiSHi, inspired by the Lake District’s historic spice trade.
5. Brimstone, Great Langdale
£££ | SPA | POOL
The pamper dial is cranked up to 11 at this indulgent spa hotel, in a prime location in Great Langdale, arguably the most dramatic of all the Lakeland valleys. This is, without a doubt, one of the plushest places to stay in the Lake District: clad in Lakeland slate and chunky timber, it looks like a posh ski hotel. Gigantic beds, an outdoor swimming pool heated by an open fire, mezzanine bedrooms, bifold doors opening onto private balconies, a “thermal experience” spa — the Brimstone goes out of its way to spoil.
brimstonehotel.co.uk
6. Storrs Hall, Windermere
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££
Here’s a secret worth sharing: the southern shores of the Lake District are the quietest. This is where you’ll find Storrs Hall, an 18th-century Georgian building that peers out across Windermere and once hosted the likes of William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. There are 28 cosy rooms in the main house, most of which have lake views, though the show-stealers are six separate external suites that feel more like private lodges. Each comes with floor-to-ceiling windows and bubbling wood-fired Japanese hot tubs where you can soak with a coffee while watching red kites take flight over the still waters of the lake. Chef Andy Beaton serves hearty pub grub in front of a crackling fire in the Tower Bar and more refined dishes in the restaurant. The hotel also has its own boat, the Thames Slipper, for those who want private tours of the lake (from £300).
7. The Daffodil Hotel & Spa, Grasmere
££ | SPA | POOL
Despite its twee name and austere slate-fronted exterior, The Daffodil always impresses. The striking lobby and cheery decor make a pleasant contrast to the imposing, fortress-like Victorian façade: bedrooms are decorated with bold blocks of colour, sleek furniture and fun art prints that make them feel more city hotel than Lakeland heritage. The spa (complete with bubbling thermal pool) is a tempting addition, but it’s the location that ultimately sells it: this is the only hotel near Grasmere with a proper lake-view location.
8. Haweswater, Bampton
££
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For escape-it-all seclusion, the Haweswater stands in a class of its own. It’s on the edge of Haweswater, perhaps the wildest and starkest of the Lakeland lakes (although it’s actually a reservoir). The isolation is the real draw here: it’s the only building for miles around, and bedrooms offer stunning, uninterrupted outlooks across the lake to the little-explored Mardale and Martindale fells. The décor strikes a trendy, vintage-antique balance: old beams, leaded windows and leather armchairs meet Japanese plunge baths, rainwater showers and art deco knick-knacks. For maximum bang-for-buck, book one of the Balcony Suites.
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• Read our full review of the Haweswater
9. Eltermere Inn, Eltermere
££
The Lake District has its fair share of boutique hotels, but the elegant Eltermere instead takes a more traditional country house approach. Located in the small village of Eltermere, between Ambleside and the valley of Great Langdale, it’s a homely, old-fashioned kind of place. Floral fabrics, hefty beams, window seats and watercolours feature in the 12 rooms, all of which are named after local fells. Hearty dinners are served in the pub, complete with wooden pews and roaring fire — and afternoon tea is served on the lawn on arrival, with views of Elterwater. Just so.
10. The Cottage in the Wood, Keswick
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££
This romantic retreat between the market town of Keswick and Bassenthwaite Lake is half-hidden among the trees along the steep road to Whinlatter Forest. Outside, the whitewashed exterior and slate roof is classic Lakeland. Inside, there are five cosy cottage rooms complete with brass bedsteads and oak furniture — but if budget allows, the more contemporary Mountain View rooms and Treetops Suite are definitely the top picks. Whichever you plump for, don’t miss head chef Matt Wilkinson’s fantastic, Michelin-starred food: many people come here just to eat.
11. Waterhead Hotel, Windermere
££
At the northern end of Windermere, Ambleside is one of the most attractive Lake District towns, and the Waterhead makes the perfect base from which to explore. Spread over several stone-clad buildings set back from the shore of Lake Windermere, and yet just a short walk from town, around half the hotel’s 41 rooms offer water views, but all share the same clutter-free, metropolitan styling. It’s practical rather than plush — although guests are welcome to use the spa and leisure facilities at its sister property, Low Wood.
12. Mason’s Arms, Windermere
££
You’re well off the beaten track at this whitewashed, 16th-century inn, tucked in along a quiet backroad from Windermere. It’s worth the journey: the pub affords sweeping views over the Lyth Valley (famous for its damson plums), and the five charming, colourful rooms are full of wood-beamed, wonky-walled character. The best are the split-level suites, which feature sitting areas downstairs, mezzanine bedrooms, and wonderful little patios overlooking the valley; they’re a bit of a squeeze, though, so there are also two self-catering cottages if you need more space. The pub’s won awards for its food, too, to add to the inn’s long list of brownie points.
13. The Yan at Broadrayne, Grasmere
££
This attractive, family-run bistro with bedrooms in the heart of the Lake District is lodged inside an old farmhouse surrounded by fells between Grasmere and Keswick. Head inside and you’ll find rustic decor with an edge of Scandi-chic: grey carpets and walls, oak doors, glass tables, compact showers and skylights, through which there are views of local summits such as Helm Crag and Silver How (both excellent short walks). The modern European food is a treat, too, and makes creative use of Lakeland ingredients (head chef Will is the owners’ son-in-law).
theyan.co.uk
14. Rum Doodle, Windermere
££
This witty, imaginative house in Windermere Town takes the bed and breakfast experience to a different level. The quirky name, Rum Doodle, comes from a fictionalised travelogue by W.E. Bowman (copies are provided in every room), and its rooms take their inspiration from characters and events in the book: think library-effect wallpaper, vintage map prints, battered valises, writing desks, binoculars and brass bedsteads. Right at the top is The Summit, a sumptuous attic suite with double skylights and wooden sleigh bed. All in all, a thoroughly jolly jape.
15. Wasdale Head Inn, Wasdale Valley
££
This back-of-beyond inn is a Lakeland legend. Many early pioneers of British mountaineering used it as a base, and it remains a well-worn favourite with fellwalkers; the atmospheric Ritson’s Bar is nearly always packed with walkers nursing pints after a day on the hills. The nine rooms in the old guest house are small and basically furnished, although there’s more space in the nearby barn, which offers roomier self-catering apartments. But you’re not staying here for luxury — it’s the scenery you’re buying. The inn sits at the eastern end of the wild, glacial lake of Wastwater, and England’s highest hills (including the tallest of all, Scafell Pike) loom outside the door. It’s also dog-friendly if you want to bring your pooch along.
wasdale.com
• Best dog-friendly hotels in the Lake District
16. The Samling, near Windermere
££
Ensconced in 67 acres of grounds overlooking the northern end of Windermere, this is one of the Lake District’s top luxury hotels. Twelve sumptuous rooms (christened after Lakeland lakes) are divided between the original gabled Georgian building and a handful of cottages. All are subtly different, but offer grand Windermere views and a taste for deluxe trappings (Carrara marble bathrooms, walk-in showers, sunken bathtubs). Several also have private patios and hot tubs. The gardens are wonderful, and the Michelin-starred restaurant is a treat: the finest of fine dining, with widescreen views of Windermere.
17. L’Enclume, Cartmel
£££
Simon Rogan, the Lake District’s most lauded chef (often called Cumbria’s Heston Blumenthal) indulges his culinary whims (and fondness for local sourcing and foraged ingredients) at his flagship restaurant, a former forge, in the little village of Cartmel. To make a weekend of it, 16 rooms are spread around several village houses, all decorated in a cottagey style: exposed rafters, flagstoned floors, higgledy-piggledy layouts and natural fabrics (linen, cotton and wool). The nicest have views over the river and the village’s medieval priory, and touches such as Nespresso coffee machines and Bose stereos.
lenclume.co.uk
18. Moss Grove Organic, Grasmere
££
Eco-friendly and elegant, this small hotel is in the middle of Grasmere, a village famous for its Wordsworth associations. The Victorian house has been impressively updated with a focus on sustainable materials such as reclaimed timber, clay-based paints and sheeps’ wool insulation. The 11 rooms are spacious, and all have their own quirks — from chunky wooden bedframes to little balconies overlooking the village square (the suite even has its own outdoor hot tub). Breakfast is served buffet-style in the house kitchen.
19. Rothay Manor, Ambleside
££
This Ambleside favourite has been given a post-pandemic revamp with a set of tempting suites in its Pavilion Wing. The best of the bunch, Buttermere, comes with a hot tub, while those with pooches should opt for a ground floor garden suite – one of which is accessible – to bag a private garden. Each of the suites is Instagram-ready with perfectly clashing colours and textures: all moss-green panelling, velvet mustard sofas and fringed cushions. Stays in the boutique Regency building opposite are cheaper but also appealing with good-sized rooms and plush bathrooms. Book your spot at at the 3AA-Rosette restaurant to tuck into a ten-course tasting menu and sip on cocktails served in teapots. You’re a ten-minute walk from Ambleside and a ten-minute drive from Hawksmoor and Grasmere.
20. Yewfield, near Hawkshead
££
On a hilltop between Hawkshead and Coniston, this veggie-friendly Victorian mansion is run by the owners of Ambleside’s cinema and two of its best restaurants. It’s a huge, rambling place, gloriously detached, filled with antiques and surrounded by private grounds. Rooms are simply but smartly furnished, and nearly all offer outlooks over the fells and the Vale of Esthwaite: they’re also excellent value considering the space on offer. It’s very eco-friendly too — heating comes from a biomass boiler, and the gardens are sustainably managed. Breakfasts are exclusively vegetarian, and delicious.
yewfield.co.uk
21. Howtown Hotel, Ullswater
££
Stone-clad and creeper-covered, this secluded hotel on Ullswater’s eastern edge is defiantly old-fashioned. Faded prints and oil paintings line the walls, grandfather clocks tick away in the lounge, and bedrooms are a relic from a bygone age — brass knockers, pink wool blankets, wooden wardrobes and all. Some are en suite, others have bathrooms across the hall (soap is provided, but you must bring your own shampoo). Not everyone’s taste, certainly, but it all adds up to an endearingly quaint experience — and the outlook over Ullswater is utterly glorious. Better still, while high-speed internet is available in the hotel, it’s preferred that guests don’t use it in public rooms. Reservations are made by phone, with confirmation by post courtesy of the owner Mrs Baldry, who’s run the place for decades.
howtown-hotel.co.uk
22. Askham Hall, near Penrith
£££
Built by the Lowther dynasty, the hereditary Earls of Lonsdale, this miniature castle near the under-explored Eden Valley offers a slice of feudal finery. It’s actually a fortified medieval tower: blocky, crenellated and imposing, it’s a striking structure, surrounded by private lawns, clipped hedges and a kitchen garden. The style is upmarket country house: rooms feature mullioned windows, floral patterns, canopied beds and quirky layouts (there are even a couple of oddball rooms in the old stable and tack room). Elsewhere, there’s a book-lined library, an enormous drawing room, a great hall and a Michelin-starred restaurant in which to dine. Lordly stuff.
askhamhall.co.uk
23. Kirkstile Inn, near Loweswater
££
Ale aficionados make a beeline for this excellent pub, out in the sticks to the southwest of Keswick between the small lake of Loweswater and the Lorton Valley. It’s also a super place to stay: rooms have been handsomely refurbished with wooden furniture and tasteful colour schemes, and many offer cracking vistas of Grasmoor and Mellbreak Fell. Most are above the main pub, with more in a nearby annexe. Best of all, you’re far from the summer crowds here, allowing you to enjoy that pint of Loweswater Gold in blissful peace.
24. Punch Bowl Inn, Crosthwaite
££
Here’s another renowned dining pub that also offers delightful accommodation, with the added advantage of being only a short drive away from Windermere. The pub is in the quiet village of Crosthwaite, about six miles southeast of Bowness on Windermere. The nine rooms (named after former vicars from the village church) are handsome affairs, with original cruck beams, freestanding rolltop baths, Roberts radios and natural fabrics (a couple also have stylish, modern four-poster beds). The food is fantastic, but do ask to avoid any room with spillover noise — some rooms are situated above the pub’s kitchen.
25. Holbeck Ghyll, near Windermere
£££
Built as a country lodge for Lord Lonsdale in the 19th century, this Windermere mansion brims with Arts and Crafts detailing — from wood-panelled walls and stained-glass windows to William Morris wallpaper, tiled fireplaces and gleaming oak floors. The main reception rooms and communal areas are sumptuous, and while the bedrooms lack the same wow factor, they’re comfortable in a relaxed, country house kind of way — note that some are in an annexe or detached cottages, so put any preferences in when booking. The oak-panelled dining room makes a fittingly grand setting for supper.
26. Langstrath Inn, Borrowdale
££ | SPA | POOL
This whitewashed inn offers a real hit of remoteness. It’s on a narrow, no-through lane off the main road through Borrowdale en route to Honister Pass, and apart from a handful of other cottages near by, there’s nothing around apart from fields and fells, which explains why it’s popular with walkers. It’s simply decorated, and better for it: 11 rooms feature wooden beams, white walls and little windows looking on to the hills (the best views are from the rear), while downstairs there’s a residents’ bar for a pint and a steak-and-ale pie. No frills, no fuss and no noise pollution, guaranteed.
27. Cedar Manor, Windermere
£££
No lake view here, but the pleasant gardens and attentive service of this small hotel on the edge of Windermere Town make up for that. Slate-faced, double-gabled and fronted by lawns, the house is as pretty as a picture, and classically Victorian in style. The rooms have been tastefully modernised with plush fabrics, bold colours, pelmeted curtains and adventurous wallpapers. Some feature window seats, others ecclesiastical details or swish spa baths, and there’s also a super-blingy cottage in the old Coach House.
28. Augill Castle, Kirkby Stephen
£££
Always dreamt of staying at Hogwarts? This fabulous over-the-top folly might be as close as you get. Between the Lakes and the Dales, it was built for a wealthy Victorian solicitor with all the neo-Gothic trappings: crenellations, turrets and towers, arches, leaded windows and terraced lawns. Rooms are similarly grandiose in size and in style. They range from copious to cavernous, and many have four-poster beds and an eclectic mix of antiques and upcycled furniture. Still a family home, it’s an eccentric and somehow very English experience, and brilliant for kids: there’s a playroom, a tiny cinema and acres of grounds to go wild in.
29. Wild Boar Inn, near Windermere
££
From the outside, this looks like the quintessential Lakeland pub, and that’s what you’ll find inside too: a cosy bar with wooden beams, open fires, local ales on tap and a hearty smokehouse-style menu. However, the bedrooms are a surprise — all are individually designed, with the Feature and Luxury rooms offering deluxe touches ranging from copper bathtubs and canopied beds to Egyptian linen and rococo-style desks. And that’s not all: outside, there are 72 acres of private woodland, a wildlife hide and even a private shooting range. Definitely not your average boar.
Additional reporting by Lucy Perrin
• Best things to do in the Lake District
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