Cumbria’s hotels range from the painstakingly ecological to the unrestrainedly luxurious. Most take full advantage of the stunning Cumbrian landscape, whilst paying equal attention to their rooms, restaurants and, yes, hot tubs. Here’s our guide to the best.
The Cottage In The Wood sounds like something from a fairytale, and well, it is. It’s a beautiful boutique hotel in Keswick in the heart of the Lake District, near some of the region’s most picturesque lakes and mountains. If things couldn’t get even more fantastical, you’ll find it 1000ft above sea level on a place called Magic Hill. Beatrix Potter, eat your heart out.
Grasmere is the cultural heart of the Lake District, largely thanks to William Wordsworth wandering lonely as a cloud around here back in the early 19th century. These days the village revolves around tourism, full of open-top buses and camera-wielding day-trippers. And while there are plenty of pleasant little B&Bs and private cottages, it sorely lacked a top-quality hotel. Not anymore. Hotelier Andrew Wildsmith has spent over £4m renovating a fairytale Victorian Manor which opened to the public in early 2016. It’s something of an understatement to say it’s money well spent.
It’s safe to say The Cranleigh Boutique is not what you’d expect from a Lake District hotel. Far from the traditional cosy cottage feel you’d find in most of the places to stay in the Lakes, The Cranleigh Boutique plays host to a bunch of vibrant, almost out-there rooms with an entirely unique character.
Famed for personalising your visit in advance, The Samling is at the higher end of Cumbria’s hotel offerings – it even boasts a Michelin-starred restaurant. Situated in 67 acres of land, with contemporary art works dotted about its gardens, this hotel commands lake views, a kitchen garden and a wide range of luxury rooms.
Lawson Park Farm Cottage near Coniston is stylish holiday accomodation indeed. Winner of a prestigious Royal Institution of British Architecture Award it combines eco-features with interior artworks to deliver a quirky yet luxurious self-catering get away. Originally part of John Ruskin’s estate at Brantwood, the setting is stunning – inside and out – in its own gardens and with views across the Crake Valley to the Coniston Fells.
The independent and award-winning Trout Hotel sits on the bank of the River Derwent in Cockermouth, which is pretty much as idyllic and relaxing a setting as you can get. Inside, you’ll find good, old fashioned service and a welcome attention to detail; it’s run by an enthusiastic team who go out of their way to make visitors feel at home.
A beautiful boutique hotel in the Lake District, near some of the region’s most stunning lakes and mountains.
This historic inn serves as an ideal starting point for exploring the Cumbrian countryside.
Dramatic landscapes and beautiful wilderness surround this Michelin awarded restaurant and hotel.
Gilpin Lake House is a stunning Lake District getaway, hosting just 16 guests on 100 acres of private grounds, with its own lake.
In a picturesque nook of Cumbria’s Eden Valley, Askham Hall offers luxury accommodation in a historic country house just outside of Penrith.
Close to the centre of Penrith, Bank House is a stylish family-run bed and breakfast, in a Victorian house with a traditional garden.
You’ll find cosy rooms and a welcoming bar and restaurant serving down-home cuisine. Located in the centre of Kendal near all major attractions.
A vast hotel housed partly in a fascinating former industrial building, the Riverside looks directly over the River Kent.
Set in the countryside five minutes outside of Kendal itself, but still within easy reach, the Castle Green promises a relaxing city break.
The Swan Hotel in Newby Bridge is a boutique hotel with quirky rooms and cottages, based at the tip of Lake Windermere in the Lake District.
Award-winning and wonderfully unique boutique hotel at the heart of the Lake District.
A luxurious four star hotel in Grasmere, in the heart of the Lake District.
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