Where to Stay in the Lake District by Angela Moore
Featured Hotel in Lake Windermere
The Windermere Suites
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There are hundreds of hotels in the Lake District, but only a handful are really special. They all have very individual characters, so if you know what sort of experience you want it’s easy to work out where to stay in the Lake District.
A Traditional Country House
It gets harder and harder to find a proper, unreconstructed English country house hotel. In the Lakes, Holbeck Ghyll is probably the closest you’ll get, though even here there’s a spa and a more contemporary look in the annexe. It’s a beautiful little house, with arts and crafts flourishes; set high on hill, it has the best position in the Lakes and views from almost all rooms. Rooms in the main house are chintzy and traditional but not at all stuffy. Service, too, is formal and traditional without stuffiness. The food is Michelin-starred and there are cottages which families can take whole, so Holbeck Ghyll is an excellent little all-rounder.
Something a Little More Contemporary
Linthwaite House is perfectly pitched halfway between the traditional Holbeck Ghyll and the urban-escapee chic of the Samling. The hotel describes itself as ‘Ralph Lauren meets Raffles’ – steamer trunks, wellies and designer country style – a look it pulls off very well. It has the best public spaces in the Lakes, with a particularly good wrap-around conservatory. It’s also the hotel that makes the most use of its grounds – with a large, handsome stone terrace and a tarn stocked with trout as well as croquet lawns. It’s not yet Michelin-starred but takes its food very seriously; prices, too, are pretty decent. It feels more contemporary and laid-back than Holbeck Ghyll but not as informally pubby as the Duck or the Punch Bowl.
Sumptuous New-Wave Country Chic
The Samling is one of those new-breed country hotels that have been made over with a hefty dose of urban chic. The rooms are romantic, lavish and cocooning – especially those in the old outbuildings, the best of which have private terraces. They deliberately pitch themselves to those seeking indulgent, romantic weekends – you’re encouraged to have breakfast in bed and to make use of the outdoor hot tub. It is undoubtedly expensive and at these prices you want the experience to be absolutely perfect. Last year, a few reviewers had a few negative things to say but the hotel responded to this with staff changes and the new management is passionate about righting any former wrong impressions.
A Stylish Country Inn
Close your eyes and imagine the perfect country inn: stylish rooms, sexy bathrooms, classy food and fireplaces... That’s the Punch Bowl. If you’re looking for an unpretentious, well-priced weekend in a stylish country inn, it’s hard to know how you would better this experience. Of course, no hotel is perfect, and you might find service a bit rushed and off-hand; also some rooms are slightly strangely positioned. The biggest problem, though, is trying to get a room – they are always, always full, so book way in advance.
Best for food: Holbeck Ghyll
Best for romance: The Samling
Best for views: Holbeck Ghyll
Best outdoor space: Linthwaite House
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