The Best Hotels in Cumbria

George and Dragon, Clifton

A lovely place to stay, eat and relax, close to the Eden Valley. Part of the huge Lowther Estate, the village inn has been imaginatively revamped by Charlie Lowther who also owns nearby Askham Hall with its Michelin-star restaurant, Allium. At the George and Dragon, the ground floor is a triumph of conviviality and authenticity. The rustic bar, with its wood-burning stoves, banquette seats strewn with kelim cushions, and sightline through to the slate-floored, duck egg blue-panelled restaurant, create a delightful place in which to while away time.

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+44 (0)1768 865381 / georgeanddragonclifton.co.uk

Rothay Manor, Ambleside

Dating back to 1823, this handsome white stucco Regency house sits in the heart of the Lake District, at the northern tip of Lake Windermere. Husband and wife duo, Jenna and Jamie Shail, are breathing new life into the property, completing extensive stylish renovations on the main house’s 15 rooms, some with private terraces, others with balconies overlooking the landscaped gardens and wooded grounds. Next up is The Pavilion: eight beautiful garden suites designed with a soft, country-inspired, colour palette, peppered with opulent fabrics, sumptuous furnishings and luxury amenities.

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+44 (0)15394 33605 / rothaymanor.co.uk

Brownber Hall & House, Brownber

Nestled in the Yorkshire Dales and overlooking the Howgill Fells, Grade II-listed Brownber Hall was opened as an eight-bedroom guest house by Amanda and Peter Jaques-Walker in 2017. It was hugely successful, winning awards and charming visitors with its cosy, comfortable bedrooms, eclectic decor (cherry-picked vintage furniture, William Morris wallpaper, stained glass windows), and hands-on friendly service. Now the forward-thinking couple have changed direction, and have turned the place into an enticing self-catered private rental that sleeps up to 15.

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+ 44 (0)1539 623208 / brownberhall.co.uk

Askham Hall, Askham

If you lean towards staying in homes rather than hotels, head for this magnificent corner of the Lake District, between Ullswater and the Eden Valley. Askham Hall’s mighty, yet approachable Grade I-listed ‘pele tower’ (fortified house), was formerly the family home of the Earl and Countess of Lonsdale, whose son, Charlie Lowther, converted it into a hotel in 2012 after making a success of The George and Dragon in Clifton (in 2019 he also acquired Askham’s village pub, The Queen’s Head). A great location for holidaying in Cumbria.

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+44 (0)1931 712350 / askhamhall.co.uk

Augill Castle, Kirkby Stephen

Quirky and delightful, Augill Castle is a Victorian gentleman’s folly in the magnificent Eden Valley. It has all the trappings of a neo-Gothic castle – tower, castellations and mullions – but in miniature. Its wonderfully warm owners, Simon and Wendy Temple-Bennett, rescued it from dereliction and have created an award-winning and very special place to stay. It retains the atmosphere of a family home amid its vast rooms, with large fireplaces and antique furniture.

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+44 (0)1768 341937 / stayinacastle.com

The Queen’s Head, Askham

With just six rooms, this 17th-century village pub has been lovingly renovated by the Lowther family. Some come with classic wooden furniture and floral wallpaper; others feel more modern with mint green walls and pretty bedside lamps. The restaurant – awarded the AA Rosette for culinary excellence – is equally intimate, with nine tables for diners to tuck into the ‘posh pub grubbers’ menu or Sunday lunch. Produce is reared, foraged and grown on the grounds, and whipped up into refined dishes – such as earthy truffle with creamy artichoke – by head chef Gareth Webster. There are fantastic walks right from the front door, including on the fells and along the river Lowther. Afterwards, head back to the pub for a pint of ale by the copper bar.

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+44 (0)1931 712350 / queensheadaskham.co.uk

Hare & Hounds, Levens

Not only is the modest but charming Hare & Hounds that rare find – a thriving watering hole – it’s also the only place for miles that serves food all day, every day. It’s their background as former managers of London branches of All Bar One that makes it natural for the owners, Ash and Becky Dewar, to offer continual dining. Coupled with their easygoing, friendly approach, this has once again made the centuries-old inn a popular local hub. The website sums it up: ‘We are friendly and welcoming to all: families, tourists, walkers, cyclists, children, muddy boots, dogs.’

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+44 (0)1539 560004 / hareandhoundslevens.co.uk

Linthwaite House, Windemere

Linthwaite House, built in 1900 as a private home, is in many ways the perfect Lake District hotel: understatedly elegant and professional but also warmly welcoming and deeply relaxing. And the view over Lake Windermere, with the sun slanting across the water, is simply unbeatable. You’ll find a crackling fire in the hall’s carved mahogany fireplace, beyond which beckons the light, and an airy bar and conservatory, with those mesmerising views.

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+44 (0)15394 88600 / leeucollection.com/uk

Netherby Hall, Carlisle

Netherby Hall – with its sweeping drive and expansive gardens – is grandeur personified. Tucked away on 36 acres of parkland and lawns close to the Scottish border, the Grade II* listed mansion hosts nine luxury self-catering cottages and apartments. Following a recent, historically sensitive refurbishment, expect classical luxury with a Victorian touch. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy the walled garden and Victorian glasshouses – or branch further afield into the surrounding parkland, to the nearby River Esk, or across local flat lands. For foodies, take a trip to sister business, Pentonbridge Inn, for a delicious dinner, where three quarters of the Walled Garden’s fruit, veg, and herbs is cooked up into a delightful, seasonally inspired, eight-course tasting menu by head chef Chris Archer.

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+44 (0)1228 792732 / netherbyhall.co.uk

Storrs Hall, Bowness-on-Windemere

A Grade II-listed Georgian mansion surrounded by 17 acres of gardens and woodland, family-run Storrs Hall has a prime position on the shores of Lake Windermere. There are 30 classic bedrooms in the main house, all with original features, grand proportions and antique furniture. Alternatively, you can stay in the 200-year-old stone Boathouse with a fire pit on the terrace (the perfect spot for watching the sunset) or in one of six contemporary Lakeside Suites (adults only) on a rocky outcrop above the lake, each with sliding glass walls and a cedar hot tub on a private deck.

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+44 (0)1539 447111 / storrshall.com