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This grand Victorian house on the shores of Lake Windermere makes for a deeply comfortable place from which to explore the beauty of the Lake District. For me, the recently renovated hotel was a perfect lure to entice my family to dip their toes (literally) into the Lakes for the time.
Why stay here
On a warm summer’s evening having a drink or dinner on the long terrace with its grand balustrade overlooking England’s largest lake, I imagine you could fool yourself you were actually on Lake Como. Right on the waterfront, you can swim from the jetty below the hotel and there is so much to do and explore within a short drive but you could easily get away with never venturing beyond the hotel’s grounds. The staff are chatty and helpful and keen to make sure you get the most out of your stay.
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Design notes
The house was built in 1890 for a wealthy Manchester businessman and is grand in scale and ambition with turrets, gables and stained glass galore. Everything revolves around the Great Hall, a double height, panelled space, but all main reception rooms and bedrooms look out to the extraordinary lake view. The hotel sits in a six-acre garden laid out in 1890 and which is currently being restored and reimagined by Annie Guilfoyle.
The recent renovation has brought the hotel up to date with carefully chosen patterns and colours to ensure the view is still the main focus. Each bedroom is decorated individually and many have interesting architectural details - including one with an original stained-glass ceiling and another two with secret wardrobe doors into bathrooms. Comfort is key. We (me, my husband and three children) weren’t totally sure of the Toto loos but they nevertheless provided amusement, and the bathrooms were spacious and luxurious. We were charmed by the relevant selection of books in each bedrfoom, and fought over the pair of binoculars on the window sill.
What’s around
You are in the heart of the Lake District. The downside is you have to get in the car for any exploring or activity, but it’s a very quick drive to Ambleside where you can hire a boat or paddle board. There are plenty of water sports opportunities and of course endless walking. We drove around to the other side of the lake through what seemed like ancient countryside, mesmerisingly beautiful and untouched, and did a woodland walk through National Trust land looking down over the lake. If we’d have been more organised we’d have booked Sunday lunch at The Drunken Duck.
Rooms
There are 30 rooms, including seven suites, across the main house and the Lakehouse. Some rooms have balconies or a terrace - ours came complete with a hot tub. Several dog-friendly rooms can be accessed from the garden so there is no fear of them bothering other guests. One suite is in the historic Boathouse, set apart from the main house and right on the water, with a wraparound balcony and rooftop terrace.
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Food and drink
You can eat from the all day menu in the bar and lounge areas which includes the likes of a chicken club sandwich and a caesar salad. Or you can dine - very finely - in the main restaurant where the food is artful and interesting. Perhaps at times it is a little too clever, for my personal taste, but we enjoyed it nonetheless. Afternoon tea seemed to be very popular and includes cakes beautifully crafted into the shapes of the fruit they are flavoured. We missed out because my children were instead helping themselves to bento boxes and ice cream in the cinema.
Family-friendly and accessibility
My children loved it here. We had two large rooms that were joined together for our stay and theirs had a huge balcony with a copper bath jacuzzi, perfect for warming up after a swim in the lake. There were child size dressing gowns and slippers and beakers of milk in the fridge.
Booking essentials
Rooms and Langdale Chase start from £390 for two people sharing, including breakfast. Ambleside Road, Ecclerigg, Windermere LA23 1LW
