The Queen's Head

For a classic Lakeland coaching inn with classic Lakeland views, and with a smart-but-not-fancy interior, you can’t do much better than here. With its slate-and-white-washed exterior, the 17th-century Queens Head, in a lofty position in the Troutbeck Valley just above Windermere, is a Lakeland landmark. After a disastrous fire in 2014 it reopened in early 2017 following a classy but reassuringly pubby restoration: oak floors and furnishings, exposed beams and stone walls, plus colourful plaids and the odd flying duck and stuffed fish. The 10 bedrooms are seriously-above-average for a pub, with a meticulous attention to detail. Floors and furniture are bespoke light oak, walls and curtains are smudgy Lakeland colours, splashes of velvet add luxury while open beams and exposed-stone walls remind of the building's age. Food is generous yet unpretentious, and if it’s warm, you need to bag a table on the terrace to savour the views. A great place if you want to do some serious walking - Helvellyn or High Street are close - or just enjoy the honeypots of Windermere and Ambleside.