We love the Lake District and we were well overdue a trip. When we read about the Lakeside Hotel and Spa on Lake Windermere, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to see Cumbria again.
👩💻 About the author – Nichola is a family travel expert and has written for The Guardian, The Telegraph, Lonely Planet Magazine and Wanderlust, amongst many others. She’s spent over a decade travelling the world with her children, finding the best places for you to explore too.
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Table of Contents
About Lakeside Hotel and Spa, Lake District – Our hotel Review
The Lakeside Hotel in the Lake District is situated in a peaceful and idyllic location overlooking the southern tip of Lake Windermere. You would never believe it is just 15 minutes from the M6 motorway.
Originally a 17th Century coaching house you can feel the history throughout this hotel with its beautiful entrance foyer. The large hallways have numerous fires blazing in winter and filled with fresh flowers.
We loved the pianist who each evening sets the ambience downstairs with his friendly smile and beautiful playing.
With its own pool, spa and restaurants together with the incredible views, I can completely understand why people don’t want to leave Lakeside.
The views across the lake to the fells are so beautiful and it has an amazing large conservatory. It’s the perfect hotel from which to explore the Lake District.
Sleeps
With 75 rooms there are doubles, executive suites and family rooms, so something for everyone.
We stayed in a family room which had two sofa beds which during the day were folded up into sofas. In the evening the turn-down service would come in while we were at dinner and magically transform them back into beds.
And the beds are properly kitted out with gorgeous Egyptian cotton sheets, feather pillows and super-soft Hungarian goose-down duvets.
Food
Breakfast at Lakeside Hotel and Spa, Lake District
We have eaten our fair share of hotel breakfasts and Lakeside is currently in the number one slot.
I absolutely loved it. There was a great spread of cold items – fruit salad, an absolutely amazing variety of pastries and cereals.
The waiting staff come around filling up with fresh juices, coffees and teas.
But for me, the best bit was that for the cooked breakfast they even had a separate vegetarian menu. So brilliant to be treated as a regular customer who can pick up the menu and order absolutely anything.
Dinner
We also ate a meal in the John Ruskin’s Bar. While certainly not cheap we enjoyed it, especially the children’s fish and chips.
The best bits of the Lakeside Hotel and Spa, Lake District
The location of Lakeside just can’t be beaten – the lake is literally on the doorstep and ducks come up to the conservatory.
Within walking distance is an aquarium and a boat ride to other towns on Lake Windermere.
It really is so well set up as somewhere to park the car and forget about it for a while. You feel you can breathe deeply here and take in that Cumbrian air, and it feels so good.
Worth bearing in mind:
Breakfast is so amazing that on the Sunday there was a queue to get in. Those of us with the wonderful advantage (!) of a child-sized alarm clock were up and at it early but around 9.30 it seemed to get busier.
Luckily breakfast goes on until 11 so best to sit in the conservatory and take in the view if you have to wait.
Also, not all of the rooms face the lake. Ours didn’t which really didn’t bother me at all as we spent so much time around the lake anyway. But just a note in case you really want a Lake Windermere view that it’s best to check beforehand.
Child-friendly?
The Lakeside Hotel is very child friendly. The family rooms are perfect as they’re huge with sofa beds so plenty of space to relax and spread out a bit.
Lakeside has an amazing swimming pool and unusually it is open from 7 am until 7 pm with no exclusions for families. It was brilliant to be able to go for a swim after breakfast and return late afternoon for another swim.
It has a separate pool area for children and adults to swim, along with a hot tub and steam rooms. There were times when we had the pool to ourselves which was blissful.
We loved our stay and can understand why so many people come back year after year.
Things to do nearby
What makes Lakeside Hotel such a great base is how close it is to some of the Lake District’s best attractions:
- Windermere Lake Cruises – board right outside the hotel for scenic boat trips
- Lakes Aquarium – perfect for young children, located next door
- Haverthwaite Steam Railway – historic rides through the Leven Valley
- Grizedale Forest – for woodland walks and Go Ape tree-top adventures (15 mins drive)
- Hill Top, Beatrix Potter’s house – a short ferry ride across the lake
There are also wonderful walks right from the hotel doorstep if you prefer to keep things simple and local.
Ready to book the Lakeside Hotel and Spa?
Find out more about the hotel and how to book here.
What stunning views! The hotel room looks amazing, so spacious. I love that breakfast is served until 11am. It gives you a chance to have a sneaky little lie in!
The views were breathtaking…so lovely. And I can only long for a lie in until 11 but I appreciate for others this would be nice!!!
Oh what a beautiful place! So refreshing to hear about hotels that happily cater for families, I’ve felt myself almost apologising for having a child in other less than friendly places!
That’s terrible to feel like you have to apologise!! I agree though, it’s really nice when hotels go out of their way to promote children as guests! Thank you for commenting!
Oh wow! What a lovely hotel. Love that front entrance x
It’s great isn’t it?! You can really see the old coaching lodge that it was – steeped in history and just beautiful.
I love the Lake District. The vegetarian breakfast sounds great!
In my opinion you can’t beat a great vegetarian breakfast!! Thank you for your comments.
LOVE this. I have fond memories of a trip to the Lake District with my Mum many years ago and would love to return. The room looks so spacious (important for a big family!) and the food delicious. (Love the chunky chips in the cone!) As for the view – stunning.
Thank you! It was a lovely trip and I can’t wait to go back to the Lake District and spend more time there. It’s great you’ve got so many fond memories of the area – it’s beautiful!
that pool looks lovely and very inviting
I know it’s great isn’t it? I love a hotel with a good pool!! 🙂
Looks gorgeous, and hoorah for a hotel with a decent veggie breakfast!
Absolutely!! Why don’t more do this?! Theirs was fantastic!
Looks amazing. Haven’t been to the Lake District in years!
It’s such a beautiful area with so much to explore…I can’t wait to go back!
What perfect timing! I’m looking for a hotel for two nights in August, in the Lake District. This looks perfect 🙂
Oh definitely check it out!! It’s a wonderful place and I would recommend it without hesitation!
It looks beautiful there. That room is huge
It really was…I think they describe it as double sized!
What a stunning location & massive rooms x
The location is just amazing…I really want to return! And if you’re travelling with a family you can’t beat big rooms can you?!
what a lovely location and the hotel looks lovely and child friendly too, x wish there was hotels for families of 9
It is such a brilliant location, right on the lake and really child friendly. You’d probably have to have interconnecting rooms for 9 of you but I personally love interconnecting rooms! Thank you for your comments!
That view on to the water is amazing!
It was really beautiful…I could look at it all day long!
I love the Lake District, it is such a beautiful part of the country
It really is isn’t it? So unique and beautiful, I can’t wait to return!
wow, this looks fantastic! and what a view!
I know, it’s amazing isn’t it?! Thank you for commenting!
Wow, this looks amazing!! I love the fact there is a pianist there, that in itself shows how much the atmosphere and experience of the guests matter to the people who run it 🙂
Yes, I definitely agree – it really felt like they cared and they greeted all the guests so warmly. Lovely hotel!
The Lake District is on our list of places to visit when our children get a little older. This hotel looks great!
I Can’t recommend it highly enough – it’s a beautiful part of the country…we can’t wait to get back there!
The pool looks great! My dad lives in the lake distict but we’ve not gone up to see them yet, and they dont have room for us all to stay, this looks like a good alternative!
I think this would be an amazing alternative! It’s great that the pool’s there too to enjoy before dinner! Lucky you having a reason to regularly go there!
Sounds wonderful – love the fact that breakfast is served until 11am! Will have to pay it a visit.
I know…breakfast until 11 is such a bonus!! It’s a beautiful place.
looks lovely, was just saying to dh how nice it would be to go somewhere nice with our little one in summer away from hassle
The Lake District would be perfect – there’s so much to do and see there if you want to but also simple family days by the lake is just idyllic. Happy planning!
Oh wow what a fabulous place to stay – such great views and a wonderful part of the world. Those last 2 photos totally made me want to just magic myself there now – if only 🙂
It’s a good place to plan a break for…a real getaway. Thank you for your comments!
That pool looks so inviting! We have been to the Lake District once and I would love to go back……was introduced to marzipan fudge in Windemere
Marzipan fudge???! Wow that sounds amazing!! I will have to look out for that next time!
WOW what a stunning looking hotel and location, that food looks delicious as well. x
It’s a great place and definitely recommended! Thank you for your comments.
We love visiting the Lakes, but have never stayed at this hotel. It looks lovely, will try and book for this summer. Thanks for sharing.
Oh let me know if you do, it’s a beautiful hotel in a great location and I recommend it completely!
I can’t believe that we’ve never been to the Lakes – must put that right!
Yes, it really is a beautiful area. I hope you get there soon!
Lakeside Hotel is only a few minutes walk from our Lakeside Pier where you can take the boat north on the lake to get to Bowness, Brockhole, Ambleside and more. Ask for vouchers from the hotel reception to get a special discount on board. Our cruises operate all year from Lakeside Pier (weekends only in January) – Enjoy your trip- www.windermere-lakecruises.co.uk