The Lake District may very well be the birthplace of the country house hote. And this part of the country has certainly got a wonderful collection of elegant Georgian and Victorian manor houses, now turned hotels — complete with spas, pools, terraces, bars and restaurants serving afternoon tea. But our Gurus think the backdrop has something to do with it too, the great swathes of spectacular countryside just outside the window of your luxurious room certainly add to the feeling of being somewhere special. Our Gurus have scoured the region and come up with their pick of the best country house hotels in the Lake District including some options with a fabulous spa, some wonderfully warm retreats, and some family friendly picks too.
For Playing Lord of the Manor
- For a country-house hotel in the Lake District with true history, consider Askham Hall, the former family home of the Earls of Lowther. With 13th-century origins, it has bags of atmosphere and is surrounded by stunning Grade ll-Listed gardens, and 40 acres of land just east of Ullswater. Inside are 17 rooms and suites, decorated with historic paintings and antiques. The Michelin starred restaurant makes great use of the expansive kitchen gardens.
For Grand Architecture
- Overwater Hall is a symmetrical castle, with round towers on each side, pillars, and crenelated ‘battlements’ — of course they’re not real battlements, this stately home was built during the Georgian era, but they certainly look the part! Inside are 11 rooms and suites, comfortably decorated in a style that’s more comfortable hotel than medieval castle: think regal prints, grand windows with sweeping curtains, and plush soft furnishings. Supper is five delicious courses as standard, and you can retire to one of the cosy sitting rooms afterwards to recover. Its location, on 18 acres near the northern lakes, is quiet and relaxing.
For the Views
- A beautifully converted hunting lodge, the Holbeck Ghyll Hotel is one of the Lake District’s original country house hotels, a wonderfully complementary blend of the building’s original Arts and Crafts features, and classic hotel comfort. Expect croquet on the lawns, tennis before afternoon tea on the terrace, log fires, and one of the most incredible views in the area. Rooms in the main house are traditional, with Morris wallpapers etc, while the larger suites in the out-buildings are more contemporary. Two of its suites, the Miss Potter and the Ghyll Side Cottage, have private hot tubs. The restaurant is superb, and there’s a small spa to complete with picture.
- Hillthwaite occupies a stunning spot, on a hilltop position between Windermere and Bowness, overlooking Windermere, the Lakeland Fells, and great swathes of the Cumbrian countryside. Stay here and you’re close to the lake and town, but far enough away to feel as if you’re escaping — Hillthwaite has a pool, sauna and steam room to help add to the feeling of relaxation and escape. Not all of the rooms and suites have the views, but you can still take advantage of them in the restaurant, the gardens, and on the terrace.
For a Waterside Retreat
- The Haweswater Hotel is an Art Deco style building put up in 1937, when the reservoir it sits right up against was created. It’s perfectly designed for its location, with lots of large windows overlooking the water. Many of the building’s original features survive today, and the current owners have sourced period pieces to match — including original travel posters and a 1930s soundtrack. It has just 17 rooms and suites, plus comfortable communal rooms, and a brasserie restaurant.
- Storrs Hall was built in the 18th century, an elegant Georgian charmer, with wonderful panoramic views of Lake Windermere. Now a hotel, with accommodation in rooms, suites and separate woodland cabins, plus a bar and restaurant in the tower, it still feels very much the country house retreat.
For a Rural Retreat
- The Eltermere Inn is a converted 18th century farmhouse on the very edge of the pretty village of Eltermere, with views over the lake. Its 12 rooms and suites are contemporary and unfussy, decorated with country plaids, botanical art and local watercolours. The restaurant is very thorough, they even make their bread from scratch, and offer a lovely afternoon tea too. Meals are served in the elegant dining room or the farmhouse kitchen.
- Lancrigg is at the end of a no-through road, at the foot of a hillside overlooking the Fells, so it feels farm more remote than it really is — only about a mile from Grasmere. A Victorian era country house, surrounded by mature woodland gardens, its current incarnation as a ten room country house hotel has updated some of the fading features, and plumbing, but retained the peaceful atmosphere. Expect vintage and antique finds, and not too much fussiness. The restaurant is known for its championing of local produce.
- If you want to come to the Lake District to escape the pressures of contemporary life then the Howtown Hotel is the perfect choice. Firstly, it’s historic and totally charming, with a great bar and restaurant, secondly, the lakeside setting with views over Ullswater is tranquil, and thirdly, there are no TVs, no wifi, and no phones.
For a Spa Break
- Sitting spectacularly, right on the edge of Derwentwater, the Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa is an impressive Victorian era country house, developed and extended into a spa hotel, with a collection of 71 rooms and suites. Rooms in the main hotel are traditionally dressed, with lake-views, while the newer, separate suites have a Scandinavian bent to their contemporary style, lots of space and decked balconies — if you stay in the suites you also get complimentary access to the spa. There are two restaurants onsite, and they also have a salon for afternoon tea. And it’s all set on 40 acres of picturesque Lake District countryside. Think long walks, open fires and serious pampering for weary limbs!
For the Luxury
- The Daffodil Hotel sits right on Grasmere’s green shores, a large and imposing Victorian house turned contemporary country house hotel. Its 78 rooms and suites are as different from the traditional, austere exterior as you could imagine: inside it’s all sleek and metropolitan, in teal, dove grey, gold and bitter chocolate, with plenty of art on the walls. There’s a terrace for the view, and a spa with a massage pool and five treatment rooms, plus an excellent restaurant. Definitely try their afternoon tea.
For the Family
- Linthwaite House Hotel is a beautiful Edwardian country house turned chic contemporary hotel with 30 comfortable rooms, decorated with plenty of art and colour, and several stand-alone suites, which are just up the hill from the main house, and have cathedral ceilings and windows all the way up to them, private terraces and log fires. Linthwaite also has an award-winning restaurant. Its location, on a hilltop overlooking Lake Windermere and the Fells, is idyllic. Perfect for families, romantics, walkers and fisher-folk alike.
- Perched on a hillside overlooking Lake Windermere, The Samling Hotel is an 11 room country house hotel, converted from a Georgian Gothic Revival style property. The original building feels charmingly cottage-like, and the excellent restaurant sits right beside it, a contemporary box of glass with incredible views. The rooms and suites offer a similar blending of contemporary taste and period style, with plenty of white. The larger, family suites are in a separate building
For Romantics
- Broadoaks is a Gothic style country house, turned smart hotel and restaurant. Its 20 rooms are all uniquely romantic, with decor that ranges from the traditional to contemporary, with some great themes, four poster-beds, and indulgent bathrooms thrown into the mix. Five of the rooms are pet-friendly too. The restaurant offers classic dishes with a French twist, and guests are able to access the spa at the Low Wood Bay Health Club, a short drive away.
- Cedar Manor is a friendly, welcoming, home-from-home type of country house hotel/retreat, where the owners are there to carry your bags from the car, and greet you with hot drinks and handmade chocolates. You can also expect to find bespoke furnishings, bold decor, and sockets in all the right place. There are just ten rooms and suites, some with window seats, some spa baths. The dining room has been converted into a Modern British restaurant.
For Foodies
- The Forest Side is a 20 room hotel and restaurant, converted from a romantic, Gothic mansion in lush woodland just outside Grasmere. The hotel’s estate runs to 43 acres, and the section around the house is beautifully kept, really adding to the charming views from the rooms, bar and restaurant. However, it's the restaurant you might be most interested in, awarded a Michelin star for its visually sensational food and imaginative use of local produce. The restaurant decor is simple, to balance out the spectacular food, and the rooms have a more luxe vibe.
For Walkers
- For a Lake District country-house hotel with an away-from-it-all feel, try The Leathes Head in Borrowdale, one of the region's most beautiful valleys, with views over the Fells and Derwentwater. This is not a flashy hotel, it’s relatively simple and elegant, and most importantly very welcoming and comfortable. For many people this is what a country house hotel should be, though, converted from a large, Edwardian house in the country, with three acres of land, and fantastic rural views. There are 11 rooms and suites, and the restaurant is charming.
- A little further up the valley is Hazel Bank Country House, a cosy little owner-managed hotel with just seven rooms, dressed with antiques, plush fabrics, heavy curtains, and cosy fireplaces. The restaurant is comfortable and welcoming, and the views are wonderful. Adults only
- The Ryebeck is a substantial Edwardian manor house, overlooking Windermere, and only five miles from Bowness, but sufficiently far from the crowds to make it feel like a proper country escape. The atmosphere is warm, like a family home, with fuss-free decor, and the communal areas are the same, with simple, comfortable details and fantastic views. The restaurant fills the dining rooms and conservatory, and its Modern British fare is well practised.
For Great Value
- Lindeth Howe is a handsome, Victorian Mansion, overlooking Lake Windermere. A fun fact is that it was once owned by Beatrix Potter, who bought it for her mother to live in. Arguably it was a bit smaller then, but still on six acres of gardens and woods. Its 34 rooms and suites are simple and comfortable, with calm, classic hotel decor, but its public rooms are bolder, with more colourful, playful design and plenty of art. Dressing for dinner is encouraged, and they offer canapés and an amuse bouche.
- Rothay Manor is an elegant country house hotel tucked away in its own grounds on the edge of Ambleside. Edwardian on the outside, it’s decorated with a well balanced blend of country house comfort and contemporary style, from its 19 rooms and suites to its highly regarded restaurant.
Stll not sure where to book?