“A snug, beamed 17th-century village pub with a smart but understated contemporary country feel that still retains its atmosphere. Big comfortable bedrooms with occasional antiques and confident, robust cooking using ingredients from the local Lowther estates.”
“A snug, beamed 17th-century village pub with a smart but understated contemporary country feel that still retains its atmosphere. Big comfortable bedrooms with occasional antiques and confident, robust cooking using ingredients from the local Lowther estates.”
Hotel Review
Tucked away in picture-perfect Askham - handsome cottages, village green and grand house, Askham Hall – this 17th-century pub is a classic village inn. Small and snug, it has a traditional feel with its beamed ceilings, log fires, exposed stone walls and copper-topped bar, but has been carefully smartened up with plaid carpets, pale colours, tongue-and-groove panelling and hunting-print wallpapers. Modern art and deer heads hang on walls and there are comfortable cushion-strewn banquettes around plain scrubbed tables. Bedrooms are large and uncluttered, and furnished in a low-key country-house style: deep colours, bold wallpapers, a mix of antiques and simple wooden furniture. Bathrooms are handsome in size with old-fashioned basins and colourful floor tiles.
Food is well-above-average for a pub with many ingredients coming from the Lowther estates (the inn is owned by the Lowther family whose former family home, Askham Hall, is a Michelin-starred restaurant-with-rooms). On Fridays, there’s a ‘pop-up’ restaurant when chefs of either Askham Hall, or the other sister property, The George and Dragon, take charge. A lovely, welcoming pub to return to after a day exploring this less-touristy part of the Lake District.
Written by Helen Pickles
Recommended For
- Foodies
- The pub restaurant serves superb British cuisine, with a contemporary twist, using produce from the neighbouring estate
- Country Escape
- With fireplaces, local ales, hearty cuisine, and lovely walks this is the perfect country escape
- Sights nearby
- Visit Lowther Castle and stroll through its wild gardens while the kids play in the adventure playground
- Great walks
- Set out straight from the property on scenic walks through the Cumbrian countryside
- Watersports
- Head to Ullswater where a wide selection of watersports are on offer
- Full of character
- Restaurant
- Sit-out Terrace
- Quiet
- Gourmet
- Intimate
- Luxury
- Charming
- Traditional
- Child friendly
- Village
- Pet friendly
- Inn
- Chic
- Historic
- Boutique
Facilities
- Restaurant
- Sit-out Terrace
- Fireplace
- Bar
- Parking
- Wifi
- Child friendly
- Pet friendly
Activities
- Sights nearby
- Visit Lowther Castle and stroll through its wild gardens while the kids play in the adventure playground
- Great walks
- Set out straight from the property on scenic walks through the Cumbrian countryside
- Watersports
- Head to Ullswater where a wide selection of watersports are on offer
Map & Location
What's Nearby
See What They Say
Why do people love staying in your hotel?
The Queen’s Head is a village pub just a two minute walk from sister property Askham Hall. With six large, individual bedrooms, and offering hearty, healthy food made with produce from the Lowther family estate as well as a great, local pint or a carefully selected glass of wine. It is the perfect resting place after an invigorating day out.
What is there to do in the area?
Askham village is a mecca for outdoor activities with plenty of cycling, walking and running routes right on the doorstep, with no need to even get in a car. Lake Ullswater is just a 15 minute drive away. Nearby Lowther Castle with it’s strong family connections offers a great day out too.
What kind of breakfast do you offer?
Full English estate breakfast or continental breakfast
Do you offer other meals? And can you recommend good places to eat out locally?
We serve food daily from 10 to 6 including brunch, lunch and lite bites. Evening food is available for residents. Alternatively try out our nearby sister pub the George and Dragon Clifton or even our Michelin starred restaurant Allium at Askham Hall.
Which are your most popular room types, and why?
Room 4 is a characterful, luxurious room with an open beamed ceiling plus a separate bunk bed annex and good sized bathroom with a drench shower and separate bath. Perfect for families, plus a dog or two. Room 6 is fully disabled access yet characterful, also a popular choice!
What facilities do you have for children and can you fit extra beds in your rooms ?
3 of our rooms are suitable for families - one has a separate bunk bed annex, another a twin bed annex and a third has a sofa bed in addition to a king size bed. We can also provide cots and high chairs.
What message would you like to give Hotel Guru readers?
With 1000 years of accumulated knowledge, stay with us and we’ll share our insight, our landscape, our produce and our heritage with you. Make our story your story!
The Queen’s Head is a village pub just a two minute walk from sister property Askham Hall. With six large, individual bedrooms, and offering hearty, healthy food made with produce from the Lowther family estate as well as a great, local pint or a carefully selected glass of wine. It is the perfect resting place after an invigorating day out.
What is there to do in the area?
Askham village is a mecca for outdoor activities with plenty of cycling, walking and running routes right on the doorstep, with no need to even get in a car. Lake Ullswater is just a 15 minute drive away. Nearby Lowther Castle with it’s strong family connections offers a great day out too.
What kind of breakfast do you offer?
Full English estate breakfast or continental breakfast
Do you offer other meals? And can you recommend good places to eat out locally?
We serve food daily from 10 to 6 including brunch, lunch and lite bites. Evening food is available for residents. Alternatively try out our nearby sister pub the George and Dragon Clifton or even our Michelin starred restaurant Allium at Askham Hall.
Which are your most popular room types, and why?
Room 4 is a characterful, luxurious room with an open beamed ceiling plus a separate bunk bed annex and good sized bathroom with a drench shower and separate bath. Perfect for families, plus a dog or two. Room 6 is fully disabled access yet characterful, also a popular choice!
What facilities do you have for children and can you fit extra beds in your rooms ?
3 of our rooms are suitable for families - one has a separate bunk bed annex, another a twin bed annex and a third has a sofa bed in addition to a king size bed. We can also provide cots and high chairs.
What message would you like to give Hotel Guru readers?
With 1000 years of accumulated knowledge, stay with us and we’ll share our insight, our landscape, our produce and our heritage with you. Make our story your story!
Other Reviews
The Queen's Head
The leafier bits of England are overflowing with posh pubs. Problem is, in the rush to Farrow & Ball every door and window frame, many have lost their sense of place. They don’t feel much like pubs any more, either.
Originally published by The Times (view article)
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6 rooms from AU$244 per night
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