Buttermere

England’s Lake District has lots of charming pubs that serve real, traditional ales and hearty food – just the thing after a long day of hiking.

Several of the area’s pubs also offer rooms, which range from basic to down-right luxurious. If you’re interested in historic Lake District accommodation that’s inexpensive and atmospheric, pub lodging is a good choice. And in many cases, you’ll get to know some of the local gentry.

Two miles east of Windermere in Ings, the Watermill Inn is one of the best-known and most appealing lake district inns. The pub – which is located in an old, stone mill – has won numerous awards, including Cumbria Pub of the Year in 2009 and UK Beer Pub of the Year 2011.

The pub pulls 16 Real Ales and serves traditional pub meals. The River Gowan flows through the property and there’s a sunny beer garden facing it. There are eight guest rooms upstairs, each with private bath. Dogs are welcome too.

The Bridge Hotel in Buttermere is on a site that’s been occupied for more than 1,000 years. The location near Buttermere Fells is great for walking. The 21 standard, superior, and four-poster rooms have telephones, but no TVs or radios. Internet access is available in the Residents Lounge.

Several apartments with kitchens and balconies or patios are also available. These have good views of Buttermere Round, Haystack, and the surrounding gardens.

The menu in the dining room changes nightly, and more than 60 wines are available, in addition to the good selection of ales.

A 17th-century traditional inn, Tower Bank Arms is in the village of Near Sawrey, next to Hill Top, the home of Beatrix Potter. The Tower Bank Arms is mentioned in The Tales of Jemima Puddleduck.

The inn is a National Trust property and the original slate floor, stove, and wood beams have been preserved. The pub serves local beers and organic wines, and when the weather’s fine, you can sit in the garden with views of the woodlands and village.

Wasdale Head Inn

Four rooms with private bathrooms, TVs, and tea and coffee-making supplies are available. Guests can also take advantage of the inn’s two fishing permits. Dogs may stay with their owners free of charge.

Nestled beneath England’s tallest mountains, Wasdale Head Inn offers classic Lake District accommodation. It has ten rooms in the main building and seven apartments in an old, converted barn. All have been recently refurbished.

Ritson’s Bar is a gathering place for hikers and raconteurs – the original landlord was known as the “World’s Biggest Liar.” And in summer, the patrons head out into the garden. The restaurant specializes in Herdwick lamb and mutton.

The location is quite remote, so you’ll enjoy plenty of peace and quiet during your stay.

If you’re in the town of Keswick, the Dog & Gun is an excellent pub known for its Hungarian Goulash and local ales. As befits the name, dogs are most welcome.

Find Lake District hotels.

Buttermere Image Flickr: Leshaines123
Wasdale Head Inn Image Flickr: AndrewH.uk

Lake Windermere

The Lake District of England is a great spot for a relaxing week or weekend communing with nature. The scenery is smashing, the food is first-rate, and the Lake District luxury hotels specialize in truly pampering their guests.

Located on 20 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds three miles east of Windermere, Gilpin Lodge has 14 rooms and 6 suites in two modern annexes to a 1901 country house. The most inviting are the Garden Suites, which have outdoor hot tubs. Dining is a big part of the experience here – which is good since it’s a drive to other restaurants – and there are four dining rooms to choose from. All are 3 Rosette winners. You can enjoy a cocktail in the stylish lounge or on the terrace. Spa treatments and massages are available in your room. And guest may use the facilities at the local health club.

Just a mile from the Windermere train station, Miller Howe Hotel and Restaurant has beautiful views of the lake from the garden terrace, and balcony rooms. The 14 rooms in the Edwardian country house are beautifully decorated in the British Arts and Crafts style. But if you plan to stay a while, book the Gardener’s Cottage which has it’s own garden and kitchen. The restaurant is quite good and serves lunch, dinner, and afternoon tea.

As the name suggests, Moss Grove Organic Hotel is as environmentally responsible as it is luxurious. The Victorian house – which is in the heart of Grassmere – was restored using natural products such as sheep’s wool for insulation, recycled timbers, and clay paint. And the restaurant serves organic, local, and fair trade foods. The décor is a charming combination of old and new, with rustic material side-by-side with flat-screen TVs and other modern amenities. The huge, marble bathrooms are state of the art and some rooms have private hot tubs or balconies. Moss Grove is the hippest Lake District luxury hotel.

Ambleside

The Samling is the top choice of celebrities because of its seclusion. It’s located on a rise a few hundred feet above Lake Windermere and surrounded by 67 rolling acres of greenery. There are just 11 rooms – five in cottages and six in the 18th-century stone house where Wordsworth paid his rent. Service is first-rate and discrete, but not stuffy. In fact, the ambience here is quite relaxed considering the prices. Take a stroll through the grounds to admire the sculpture or go trout fishing at the lake. The Michelin-starred restaurant is one of the best in the area, with a wine list to match.

The first Relais & Chateaux hotel in Britain, Sharrow Bay Country House Hotel is on 12 acres of Lake Ullswater waterfront. The views of the lake from here are the envy of the other Lake District hotels. The nine rooms in the Victorian main house are very formal – exactly what you’d expect from a luxury manor house. The rooms in the Edwardian Gatehouse and Bank House and less so. The restaurant, which has won a Michelin star every year in recent memory, is absolutely top notch, and service is impeccable.

Legend:
1) Gilpin Lodge
2) Miller Howe
3) Moss Grove Organic Hotel
4) The Samling
5) Sharrow Bay Country House Hotel

View Lake District Luxury Hotels Map in a larger map

Find more Lake District hotels.

Lake Windermere Image Flickr:AEJHarrison
Ambleside Image Flickr: foshie

With its shimmering lakes, green valleys, and towering peaks, England’s Lake District is one of the loveliest parts of the country. And some of the finest English manor houses are now hotels in the Lake District.

There are several towns in the Lake District that you can use as a base.

Lake Windermere and neighboring Ambleside are the most popular – and crowded. Lake Ullswater and Bassenthwaite are a little quieter.

Wherever you stay, you’ll be able to visit the sights – Wordsworth’s House, Beatrix Potter’s home and gallery, and the Ruskin Museum. And you’ll have countless opportunities to go hiking, boating, and golfing. But be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to do nothing but relax and enjoy the scenery.

Ambleside hotels.

A short walk from both Lake Windermere and the town of Ambleside, Rothay Manor occupies a Regency-style country house that dates from 1825. The manor was originally the summer home of a Liverpudlian cotton merchant, and today, the 19 rooms have many of the original period details. Rooms are beautifully furnished, and the public areas have lots of antiques, over-stuffed chairs, and fresh flowers. Just what you’d expect in a country house. Request a room with a balcony overlooking the lake. The restaurant is top-nocth, and it has a wine list to match. Guests have privileges at a nearby health club. The manor has been run by the same family more than 40 years.

About 2-1/2 miles from Ambleside, the Drunken Duck Inn is an old coaching inn that’s a pleasant place to eat, drink, or sleep. The 16 rooms are bright and modern, and many have nice views. They surround a gravel courtyard and gardens. The garden room has beamed ceilings, a wood stove, and a small patio. The well-regarded restaurant has a menu that includes sea bass and scallops and butternut squash mille-feuille – reservations are a must. The bar serves ale fresh from the Barnsgate Brewery. And guests at the Duck can use the pool, steam room, and exercise equipment at the Langdale Country Club.

Windermere hotels.

Located on 67 gorgeous acres overlooking Lake Windermere, The Samling is a favorite of the rich and famous. Celebrities like Victoria and David Beckham aren’t uncommon. But the Samling is much less stuffy than many country house hotels. Despite the luxurious surroundings, the ambience is more lodgy than stodgy. The late 18th-century stone house is where Wordsworth used to pay his rent. Today, there are 11 rooms, 6 in the main house, and 5 in cottages on the property. Each room is unique, but all are beautifully decorated. Some rooms are two- or three-story. The restaurant has been awarded a Michelin star, and the wine cellar is one of the best in the region. The staff are happy to arrange virtually any activity from paragliding to trout fishing. The Samling is one of the best Lake District hotels.

From the outside, Langdale Chase Hotel is an old stone Victorian mansion with lots of interesting architectural details. Inside, it’s filled with antiques, old paintings, oak-paneled rooms, ornate fireplaces and a grand staircase. It’s been a hotel since 1930, and it’s played a Victorian manor house in several BBC shows. Most of the 27 rooms feature magnificent views of the lake. In addition to accommodations in the main house, there are five rooms in an old cottage, and a highly coveted room above the lake-side boathouse. The view of the lake and pretty gardens from the terrace are wonderful. The hotel has a pier and you can take canoeing, kayaking, sailing, or windsurfing lessons. There’s also a restaurant and bar on the property.

Lord Lonsdale’s former hunting lodge, Holbeck Ghyll is one of the most expensive hotels in the Lake District. If you can afford the premium price, you’re not likely to be disappointed. There are a variety of accommodations – 15 rooms in the 19th-century main house, 6 in the lodge, which was built in 1998, and 4 rooms in a recently restored barn. Most of the rooms in the lodge have splendid lake views and patios or balconies. Four have kitchenettes. The Miss Potter Suite has a private terrace with hot tub. There are also several detached cottages. Active travelers will appreciate the gym, tennis court, spa, putting green, and croquet lawn. The restaurant has a Michelin star and the wine list has won many awards.

Lake Ullswater hotels.

One of the finest hotels in the Lake District, Sharrow Bay Country House Hotel provides its lucky guests with terrific service, luxurious accommodation, and wonderful food. Oh, yes, and gorgeous views. It was the first member of the Relais & Cheateaux group in Britain. Originally a private, Victorian home on 12 acres fronting Lake Ullswater, it was purchased in 1948 and painstakingly restored. Today, there are 26 rooms – nine in the main house, and 17 in the Edwardian Gatehouse and cottages. The restaurant has been awarded a Michelin star 14 years in a row. Sharrow Bay is so close to Lake Ullswater, you can almost reach out and touch it.

On the shores of Lake Ullswater, Rampsbeck Country House Hotel offers very good value for money in an area that can be pretty expensive. The 18th-century house is on 18 acres of parkland and gardens with ¼ mile of lake frontage. Most of the rooms have been recently updated with LCD TVs, Bose radios, and WiFi Internet access. Mini-deluxe and deluxe rooms have separate sitting areas. The restaurant makes the most of fresh, local produce. And when the weather’s fine, the lounge opens onto the terrace.

Bassenthwaite hotels.

Once an 18th-century ale house, The Pheasant is an old coaching inn that just oozes ambience. It’s about midway between Cockermouth and Keswick at the northern tip of Bassenthwaite Lake on a quiet country road. Most of the 15 nicely updated rooms overlook the adjoining 60-acre forest. The restaurant is much better that you’d expect. And with its wood-paneled walls and warming fireplace, the cozy pub is still popular with locals. Guest have privileges at the local spa, five minutes away. The Pheasant is an affordable and charming Lake District hotel.

See our recommended hotels in Keswick here.

Keswick, Great Britain

Few places are more scenic.  And the lakes, valleys and mountains provide lots of opportunities for hiking, boating, biking, golfing, and fishing.

An old market town that was chartered in 1276, Keswick makes a great base for exploring the National Park.  It’s on the shore of Derwentwater, one of the loveliest of the lakes.

Keswick hotels offer a wide range of experiences, from staying in a stately manor house to enjoy the homey hospitality of a charming bed and breakfast.

Set in a 400-acre deer park on Lake Bassenthwaite, Armathwaite Hall Country House and Spa has 43 rooms, including one with its own roof terrace. The house dates from the 16th century and curling up by the fire in the huge, wood-paneled main hall is the perfect way to top off a long walk by the lake.   It’s one of the most expensive hotels in Keswick, but it’s a splurge you’ll remember.

The recently opened spa has ten treatment rooms, a swimming pool, an indoor waterfall, a hydrotherapy zone, and a tranquility room that overlooks the gardens and outdoor hot tub.   The Armathwaite offers countless distractions — from skeet shooting to tooling around the estate in a Landrover Defender or a Honda quad bike.  An expert fisherman gives lessons and you can go for a picnic lunch in a vintage Bentley or Rolls Royce.

Keswick Countryside

The Lodore Falls Hotel was built 200 years ago using the traditional Lakeland slate.  It has one of the best locations of all the Lake District hotels.  There are views of Derwentwater from the main rooms and dining room, and it’s a short stroll to the lake and Lodore Falls, which tumble more than 100 feet down a rocky ravine.

Derwent Water

Derwent Lodge, overlooking Skiddaw mountain and Cat Bells, is a three-star, country house hotel about 1.5 miles from Keswick.  The Georgian manor house was built in 1780, and the 1.7-acre grounds front the lake.  The eight rooms here were recently redone and include free broadband Internet access and flat-screen TVs.  Light meals and dinner are served in the lounge, but the terrace overlooking the lake is more enjoyable.  Water sports rentals are available at the marina adjoining the property.  If you want easy lake access, Derwent Lodge is the best Kewsick accommodation.  Reservations can be made at Derwent Lodge Hotel.

The Grange Country Guest house is one of the most delightful bed and breakfasts in Keswick. The Victorian house, which dates from 1850, was originally a private home, and the owners have worked to retain many of the original features.  There are ten rooms, each with private bath, and most of the rooms look out over the fells.  You can have a drink in the bar or on the terrace.  Breakfast includes locally farmed bacon, sausage, free-range eggs, fruit, and baked goods.   Wifi access and free parking are two other pluses.  For more information, visit Grange Keswick.

The Edwardene is another nice bed and breakfast that’s a five-minute walk to Keswick’s market square.  It’s close to restaurant, pubs, and shopping, but away from the noise.  The innkeepers here get high marks for helpfulness and filling breakfasts, and the 11 cozy rooms are nicely decorated and provide good value for money.  For reservations or information, go to Edwardene Hotel.

Read more Great Britain travel articles here.

Keswick image Flickr photo: Mike__Lawrence
Keswick Field image Flickr photo: Katherine_Davis
Derwent Water image Flickr photo: A Brief Moment in Time