Luxury Hotels in the Lake District
Most of the Lake District's luxury hotels gather around Windermere and Bowness.
- Best overall
- Linthwaite House Hotel
- Design
- Langdale Chase Hotel
- Romance
- Storrs Hall Hotel
- Affordable luxury
- The Samling Hotel
Tripplo’s selection · Founder: Axel Hernborg · Updated 1 October 2026
Ranking updated 1 October 2026
8 hotels compared · How we choose hotels · No paid placements
8 Recommended Hotels
Why this position: Among the three highest guest scores of the 8 hotels we rank here — 9.4 from 683 reviews. Leads the ranking: the same guest score as #2, on a larger body of reviews (683 to 553).
Linthwaite House Hotel is a country house for travellers who want the Lake District spread out in front of them. It stands on a hilltop above Windermere, with gardens guests call magnificent and many rooms looking out over the lake and hills. What reviewers return to most is the staff, quietly attentive from reception to the breakfast room, the breakfast itself and dinners at Henrock by Simon Rogan, along with the artworks that fill the house. The trade-offs are mostly about cost and extras. Guests find the food, the bar and the rooms expensive, the gym is small and basic, and Henrock is open only from Wednesday to Sunday, with an all-day menu in the Bar & Conservatory on the other days. The hotel is a little outside Bowness, although one guest notes that the walk is manageable. Couples who want a calm, polished base with lake views will be well looked after; anyone chasing value or a proper workout should look elsewhere.
Why this position: Among the three highest guest scores of the 8 hotels we rank here — 9.4 from 553 reviews. Level with #1 on the guest score (9.4) and on the reviews behind it.
Langdale Chase Hotel is a classic Lake District country house, and its setting does most of the talking. It stands on the shore of Windermere with its own jetty, so the lake is part of the stay rather than a backdrop: most rooms look over the water, afternoon tea is served on the stone terrace and the hotel can arrange sailing days and lessons. Guests speak most warmly about the staff, the spotless, characterful interiors and the dinners in the AA Rosette-winning restaurant. The weaker points are smaller but worth knowing. Breakfast does not always live up to the evening menu, service in the bar and restaurant can be uneven, and the kitchen officially closes at 9 pm. Windermere town is a five-minute drive away, so a car helps. Couples looking for a quiet, elegant base on the lake will feel at home; travellers who want to stroll out to restaurants will be better placed in town.
Why this position: Sits behind #2 on both the score (9.1 to 9.4) and the sample it rests on (318 to 553 reviews).
Storrs Hall Hotel is built around its setting. The Grade II* listed house stands on the shore of Windermere in 17 acres of private grounds, and most bedrooms look straight out over the lake. Guests return again and again to the views, the calm of the gardens and staff who come across as attentive without being stiff. Rooms and suites are praised for their comfort, the suites with private hot tubs especially, and both breakfast and dinner earn warm words. The traditional country-house style is the main point of division. Some guests love its old-world character, while others find it dated and feel that certain rooms need refreshing. There is no lift, the bistro is not cheap, and lake-view rooms vary in how much of the lake they actually show. Couples after a classic lakeside stay with polished service will feel at home here; anyone wanting a contemporary hotel should look elsewhere.
Why this position: Sits behind #3 on both the score (8.9 to 9.1) and the sample it rests on (225 to 318 reviews).
Gilpin Hotel & Lake House is built for slow days in the Lake District: long dinners, spa time and walks through private grounds. It is really two places, just over a mile apart. Gilpin Hotel has a Michelin-starred restaurant, the pan-Asian Gilpin Spice, a Champagne bar and rooms that open onto the gardens, while Lake House sits on Knipe Tarn with its own pool, hot tub and treatment rooms. Guests return again and again to the staff, many of whom they mention by name, and to the food. The trade-offs are mostly about cost and location. Guests find the rates high, particularly without breakfast, and the old building has no air conditioning, so rooms can feel warm. The hotel is outside town on Crook Road, and a car makes life much easier. Couples looking for a quiet, food-focused retreat will find it here; travellers on a tight budget or without a car may be better placed in Bowness-on-Windermere.
Why this position: Rests on more guest reviews than #4 (724 to 225), at a slightly lower score (8.8 to 8.9).
Broadoaks Boutique Country House is a place for slowing down rather than sightseeing from the window. The historic house stands in its own gardens a few minutes outside Windermere, and guests keep describing the grounds as idyllic, from the flowers and neat lawns to the outdoor hot tub. Inside, period pieces, spa baths and fireplaces set a cosy, traditional tone, and reviews speak most warmly about the welcoming staff, the cleanliness and the food, from breakfast to afternoon tea. The trade-offs are modest. The rooms look out over the gardens rather than the lake, Wi-Fi is offered in the public areas and can be unreliable in the separate lodge, and a few rooms lack small comforts such as a mini fridge or a handle by the bath. Couples marking an anniversary or simply looking for a quiet, romantic base in the Lake District will feel well looked after; those who want water views should look to the shore.
Why this position: A 4-star hotel scoring 9.4 from 132 reviews: the guest verdict outweighs the star class. Scores higher than #5 (9.4 to 8.8), on a smaller body of reviews (132 to 724).
The Samling Hotel is for travellers who come to the Lake District for the view and the quiet. The country house sits on Ambleside Road in Windermere with panoramic views over the lake and the surrounding fells, and guests return again and again to the tranquillity, the gardens and the original artwork that runs through the house. The staff draw the warmest praise, described as friendly, professional and quick to help, and the cooking, from breakfast to dinner with a lake view, is a highlight for many. The trade-offs are practical. There is a hot tub but no spa or pool, which several guests missed, and some rooms mean a walk outside to the main house, which is not ideal in Lakeland rain. Couples who want calm, good food and a view to wake up to will find little to fault; anyone who needs spa days or everything under one roof should look elsewhere.
Why this position: Rests on more guest reviews than #6 (336 to 132), at a slightly lower score (9.1 to 9.4).
Armathwaite Hall Hotel & Spa suits guests who want a country house stay and a proper spa under one roof. The house dates back to the 11th century and stands in 400 acres of deer park and woodland near Bassenthwaite Lake, with Skiddaw close by and walks from the grounds. Guests talk most about the setting, the infinity pool and its view, the warm interiors and the dinners, from the fine dining restaurant to the steak and Asian restaurants. The age of the building brings the main trade-offs. Rooms on the upper floors mean plenty of stairs, and some guests heard the original windows rattle on windy nights. Breakfast is uneven, praised by some and thought flat by others, and when a wedding is on, parts of the house feel less your own. Couples planning a restful spa break with time outdoors will find a calm, well-kept base; anyone who struggles with stairs should book with care.
Why this position: Level with #7 on the guest score (9.1) and on the reviews behind it.
Rothay Manor Hotel suits travellers who want a country house with a town on the doorstep. The listed 1825 house stands in its own gardens at Rothay Bridge, a five-minute walk from Ambleside and about 400 metres from Lake Windermere, so an evening can start with a stroll into town and end in a quiet lounge. Guests speak most warmly about the staff, who come across as friendly and well trained, and about the food: the three-AA-rosette restaurant and a breakfast that many single out as a highlight. The trade-offs are mostly about price and scope. Value for money is where guests are least enthusiastic, and some note that cheaper rooms are easy to find nearby. The dining is refined rather than hearty, and there is no spa or pool, so wet days call for plans beyond the hotel. Couples who care about food, service and a walkable base will feel well looked after.
Loading map...
Compare the hotels
| # | Hotel | Stars | Guest rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Linthwaite House Hotel | 5★ | Booking9.4· 683 reviews | Best overall |
| 2 | Langdale Chase Hotel | 5★ | Booking9.4· 553 reviews | Design |
| 3 | Storrs Hall Hotel | 5★ | Booking9.1· 318 reviews | Romance |
| 4 | Gilpin Hotel & Lake House | 5★ | Booking8.9· 225 reviews | Dining |
| 5 | Broadoaks Boutique Country House | 5★ | Booking8.8· 724 reviews | — |
| 6 | The Samling Hotel | 4★ | Booking9.4· 132 reviews | Affordable luxury |
| 7 | Armathwaite Hall Hotel & Spa | 4★ | Booking9.1· 336 reviews | Private pool |
| 8 | Rothay Manor Hotel | 4★ | Booking9.1· 325 reviews | — |
How we ranked these hotels
9 hotels looked at for this destination: 8 ranked above, 1 more we recommend.
The Google and Booking ratings for these hotels are based on a combined 4,005 reviews reported by the sources. This is not the number of review texts Tripplo has analysed.
How guest ratings, hotel class and facts inform our selections.
Read our methodologyMore hotels we recommend in Lake District
These pass the same checks as the ranked list, but sit outside our top selection for this destination. Several of them lead our all-inclusive and adults-only guides.
Weather & sea temperature — Lake District
Right now: 15°
Tripplo's luxury hotel selection in Lake District — in numbers
Most common facilities
- Free WiFi (9 of 9)
- Parking (9 of 9)
- Bar (9 of 9)
- Restaurant (9 of 9)
- Room service (7 of 9)
- Family rooms (3 of 9)
What these hotels do best
- Service (9 of 9)
- Dining (7 of 9)
- Views (7 of 9)
- Design & architecture (4 of 9)
