|
Welcome to your guide to luxury hotels in the English Lake DistrictThe Lake District has its fair share of luxury accommodation, and some of it is simply superb. The Samling, for example, is about as fine a hotel as you'll find anywhere in the world: it's one of those places that defines the word "service". Of course some of these hotels are pricey, but many have special offers and discounts, so you can enjoy luxury and comfort all around the Lakes without breaking the bank. Our favourite luxury hotels in the Lake District are listed below by region, starting with the South Lakes and heading north. We'd appreciate feedback from you on all these hotels and any others you think should be included here. By the way, it's worth remembering that the number of stars isn't always an accurate guide to the comfort and luxury you'll find, because a hotel may be marked down for things you may not consider important like not having a lift (elevator) or 24 hour reception. If you're a hotel owner, and would like to be included on this page of luxury Lakes hotels, please see our contact page for details.
South Lake District Luxury HotelsNewby Bridge - The Swan Hotel
Lakeside - The Lakeside Hotel
Windermere - The Samling
Windermere - Linthwaite House Hotel
Windermere - Gilpin Lodge
Windermere - Low Wood Hotel
Windermere - Storrs Hall Hotel
Windermere - Aphrodite's Themed Lodge
Windermere - Miller Howe
Central Lake District Luxury HotelsAmbleside - Waterhead Hotel
Grasmere - Dale Lodge Hotel & Tweedies Bar
Grasmere - Moss Grove Organic Hotel
Langdale - Langdale
Country Club and Hotel (Near Ambleside)
Eastern Lake District Luxury HotelsUllswater - Sharrow Bay
North Lake District Luxury HotelsBorrowdale - The Lodore Falls Hotel Over the centuries this hotel has attracted many visitors, and although it has had its ups and downs, the recent acquisition by the Graves family means that once again the finest traditions of Lakeland hospitality and luxury will be available in one of the most beautiful parts of Lakeland. In fact this was the hotel my family stayed in on our first visits to the Lakes many years ago, so we have fond memories of it, and it's heartening to see it making a return to the highest standards that a family run business is especially placed to achieve. With scenery which in my view matches that anywhere in the world, the Borrowdale valley is a superb base for exploring the quieter Northern parts of the Lakes - and of course the delightful town of Keswick is just up the road. If you're looking for comfortable accommodation, superb facilities, wonderful food and a great holiday, this hotel is just about perfect. They also have spa facilities and beauty treatments.
The Lodore Falls Hotel, Borrowdale, Keswick,
Cumbria, CA12 5UX
Phone: 017687 77285 Phone: 017687 77343 Email: info@lodorefallshotel.co.uk Bassenthwaite - Armathwaite Hall
North Lakes Hotel and Spa - Penrith
Appleby Manor - Appleby, Penrith
Appleby Manor is a country house hotel which
prides itself on attention to detail. You see this in the bedrooms, the
restaurant's excellent menus (indeed, the restaurant has won 2 AA Rosettes
- always a sign of very high accomplishments), the impeccable standards of
service, and somewhat unexpectedly in the astonishingly extensive wine and
whisky selection. Whether you want an active break with access to the
beautiful surroundings of the Lakes and the Yorkshire Dales, or you just
want a luxury break in a wonderful, characterful old building, this hotel
is going to fulfill your expectations - and maybe surpass them. When
we called in we chatted to some of the residents - without exception, they
praised the hotel unreservedly. In my view, the
swimming pool is a little on the small side, but this is such a minor
quibble it's hardly worth mentioning. The hotel is beautifully
situated in wooded grounds overlooking Appleby Castle.
|
|
Nestling
at the foot of Windermere in a tranquil and convenient location, this
hotel offers comfortable rooms in a refurbished 17th century coaching inn.
They have a swimming pool and spa, the quality of their food is good and
the hotel's within easy reach of the main attractions of Windermere and
beyond. We've enjoyed some very pleasant Christmas breaks here, which were
great fun: if you stay during winter and you're
fortunate enough to get some snow, you'll find that the setting becomes
even more romantic and delightful. Unfortunately the beds are only queen
size, so if you like really big beds, that might be an issue for you. 
This was a 17th century coaching inn, but it has been
developed into a much larger hotel which combines the best of Lakeland
tradition with 4-star luxury. There's a whole range of
rooms with varying degrees of luxury from the most sophisticated suites
with private spas and whole body showers, through family rooms to the very
comfortable standard doubles. The hotel has a great location on the
water's edge, and many rooms have fantastic views of Windermere. The
attention to individual design gives the rooms an extra special feel. The
food's pretty good, too, with a restaurant and a brasserie, where we
recommend you try the Cumbrian specialties. There's also a family-friendly
17 metre indoor pool, a
leisure complex and a beauty salon. 
A glorious hotel, which epitomises
everything that a modern luxury hotel should be. Its rooms are luxurious
without any of the totally over-the-top chintz, ornate furniture and
wooden panelling that sums up some country house hotels' ideas of luxury.
Its understated service, with the finest attention to detail you can
imagine, make this a hotel where everyone should stay at least once - and
preferably as often as you can! Highly recommended.
The owner Mike Bevans
has worked in the hotel industry for a long time, and his experience
shows. He's transformed this hotel in one of a breed of superb country
house hotels that are now flourishing in Britain, hotels which combine
effortless service and high standards with comfort and relaxation. Service
without pretension just about sums up Linthwaite. It offers superb comfort
and privacy, set in its own private grounds, with superb views and king
sized beds. The decor is modern and tastefully rich without being
over-opulent (if you want chintz, there are many other options in the
Lakes!). The food, needless to say, is superb, as you'd expect from
a hotel listed with 3 AA rosettes (which apparently makes it one of the
top 200 hotels in Britain). There's also a great vegetarian menu.
Highly recommended.
Now this really is a special place. While it's wrong to say that the food
and wine are the best features about this hotel, they are certainly one of
its greatest attractions! With many prestigious awards, a Michelin
star, and a continuity of experience that goes all the way back to
1987, the Cunliffe family have certainly brought the finest style and
quality of cooking to this corner of England. There are some wonderful
suites, some with private hot tubs and outdoor areas, and many of the
rooms have king sized beds. Highly recommended. 
The family who own Low Wood also own Storrs Hall
and the Waterhead hotel, and they all have their own charm. Low Wood
is situated on the shores of Windermere, and has some beautiful boating
facilities. (The hotel will even supply a personal chef and butler to cook
and serve your meals while you're aboard your yacht!) Good bedrooms with
king sized beds, a surprisingly spacious leisure/fitness centre, and
situated in the heart of the Lakes.
I like this hotel, even though it is more opulently
furnished and decorated than the hotels I usually select (I am a bit of a
minimalist at heart - Linthwaite's style is more my cup of tea). It's a
Grade 2 listed Georgian mansion right in the middle of 17 acres of grounds
on the shores of Lake Windermere, with panoramic Lake District views.
Fabulous! The luxurious rooms have king sized beds, and the restaurant has
been awarded 2 AA rosettes. And if you want a quiet break, this is the
place, since children under 12 are not accommodated. Highly recommended.
One of the most
unexpected and interesting properties in the Lakes, a hotel with a
difference! It has all the qualifications of a
luxury hotel - king sized beds, hot tubs, massive showers, luxury
bathrooms, heated outdoor pool, and so on. But in addition, it has the
most unusual feature of a different theme to each room - and some very
wild and whacky they are, too! Have a look at the website and pick the
theme that best suits your mood, then look forward to a luxurious stay
with a difference!
Miller Howe was one of the first of the modern
breed of luxury country house hotels with superb cuisine. The founder,
John Tovey, has retired, but the new owners claim that the
traditions he started live on. I haven't stayed there myself, so reports
from visitors would be most welcome. The furnishing is opulent, and some
of the rooms have king sized beds. Let us know how you find it. 
Very definitely my cup of tea, this hotel reflects a degree of urban chic
which is refreshing to find in the depth of the Lakes. Very sophisticated,
the design reflects attention to detail and whispers a reassuring confirmation of the
hotel's stated aim: "Every detail is designed to offer a relaxed, intimate
atmosphere, calm moods and a fresh approach to service." With king sized
beds, this contemporary town house hotel could hold its own in the best of
company. Waterhead is near
Ambleside, situated at the head of Windermere, so this hotel is very
convenient for all the attractions of the Lake District. Highly
recommended.
Situated
just on the edge of the village in mature grounds, this small hotel is
blessed with a variety of comfortable, well-furnished rooms including a
most delightful room fully accessible for the disabled on the ground
floor. With a chef who has worked at some of the top restaurants in the
world, it comes as no surprise to learn that the food is simply excellent.
If you prefer something simpler and more informal, there is the highly
enjoyable alternative of Tweedies Bar - just right for refreshments after
a tramp on the fells. The Lakes has many small hotels which have broken
the mould by basing their whole business philosophy on quality and
comfort, and the Dale Lodge Hotel is one of the foremost among them. And
if you're planning a wedding, this could well be the perfect venue....
Whether
or not you believe that a hotel can be organic, the sentiment is in the
right place - it's all about reducing pesticide use, recycling materials,
and using local produce. The hotel is luxurious and comfortable, well
appointed and yet relaxed, and will appeal to al those who love the more
refined kind of hotel - with a green twist, in this case! King sized beds
are available too - a wonderful feature for the truly relaxing stay!
Langdale is more of a
country estate than a hotel. It is set in a private woodland park criss-crossed with streams and tarns, and local flora and fauna. In the nineteenth century the estate was a gunpowder works, a
factory built in the open air due to the risk of explosions. Nowadays the
atmosphere is somewhat more relaxed, the estate being given over to luxury
accommodation in a grand manner.
In
addition to a conventional hotel, there are lodges, spread out village-style throughout the estate, making
altogether 57 en-suite luxury rooms, all individually and tastefully
furnished with modern fittings. Around the estate are a multitude of
facilities, including a solarium and two swimming pools, one with
dedicated lanes for serious swimmers. After burning off all those
calories, you will need to replace them at one of the fine restaurants. Purdey’s Restaurant offers some very serious cordon bleu cuisine with an
extensive wine list. Less formal, but of no less quality, is the Terrace
Restaurant and Café-Bar, which has an excellent menu, available at any
time of day. If you feel inclined towards "pub grub", just a
short walk away from the Estate is Wainwright's Inn, a traditional old
Cumbrian pub, regularly featured in the Good Pub Guide, with exceptional
real ale and good food, including a daily special. 
The original "Country House Hotel"
which, though now under a new regime, still speaks of luxury and opulence.
It may well be "the finest hotel in the Lake District", though of course
whether you agree with this bold claim depends to a large extent on your
chosen style of accommodation. This hotel is indeed furnished in an
opulent and classical style, and it's well worth considering if you have a
really special occasion (or you like this style of luxury).
Needless to say, the hotel has a
Michelin star - and many other awards as well. 
I
haven't stayed here, but it looks like a very traditional - and
comfortable - country house hotel in the old-school style. Wonderful views
of the lake, vast grounds to wander about in, and a very tranquil
environment. 
Run
by Shires Hotels, a small hotels group which provides consistently
reliable accommodation. Standard four star comforts. If you want a big
bed, ask what they have available.
