Luxury Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Breaks in the Lake District
The Lake District is England’s most famous landscape. Its high peaks, sparkling waters, and valleys have inspired poets, writers, and artists for hundreds of years. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has not only stunning natural beauty, but also an ever-improving dining scene. Michelin-starred restaurants sit next to charming country house hotels and historic inns, all of which serve the best of Cumbrian food and Lake District hospitality.
The Lake District’s gourmet restaurants are in some of the best places in Britain. They are near the romantic shores of Windermere, the wild wilderness of Wasdale Head, Wordsworth’s favourite Grasmere, and the quiet valleys of Borrowdale. Here you’ll find places that have mastered the art of combining stunning views with great food, whether it’s creative Michelin-starred cuisine made with foraged ingredients, refined country house cooking, or hearty traditional food after a day on the fells.
There are many types of Dinner, Bed & Breakfast places in the Lake District. Some are small restaurants with rooms hidden in the woods, while others are big Victorian hotels by the lake. There are also remote mountain inns and elegant manor houses that have been welcoming guests for hundreds of years. They all know that luxury here is more than just good food and soft beds. It’s about waking up to views of the mountains, breathing in fresh air, and feeling like you’re really in one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
This guide will help you find the best places to stay and eat in England’s most famous national park, whether you’re planning a romantic getaway by the lake, a walking vacation with gourmet food, or just a weekend of amazing food in beautiful surroundings.
Hotels with the Best Food
The food scene in the Lake District has changed a lot in the past few years. Now, world-class restaurants add to the area’s natural beauty.
Excellence with a Michelin Star
The Forest Side Hotel in Grasmere is the best hotel in the Lake District. It has one Michelin Star and five Rosettes. This Victorian mansion with four red stars serves creative food made with ingredients that are foraged or grown nearby. Chef Paul Leonard’s cooking is a true destination restaurant because it uses the Lakes’ natural larder in such a creative and skilled way.
The Samling is a 1 Michelin Star, 4-Rosette restaurant in a 4 Red Star hotel that may have the most romantic setting in the Lakes. The Samling has only 11 rooms, so you can be sure of a private and exclusive experience with stunning views of the lake from its 67 acres of woodland above Windermere.
Recognition for an Excellent Restaurant
Rothay Manor Hotel in Ambleside has been a Lake District landmark for decades and has won the Excellent Restaurant with Breakfast Award. Rothay Manor is a beautiful 4 Red Star Regency manor with lovely gardens. It serves refined traditional food and has friendly staff that make guests want to come back year after year.
Lakeside and Country Houses have very good restaurants.
Rothay Garden by Harbour Hotel and The Garden Restaurant in Grasmere are both great places to eat. They are both located in a 4 Silver Star riverside property in the middle of Wordsworth’s village. The Garden Restaurant has great food and a beautiful setting in Grasmere.
Hazel Bank Country House, Borrowdale is a great restaurant with a breakfast award. It’s in one of the Lake District’s most beautiful and quiet valleys. Great for walkers who want to relax and enjoy quality after a day on the fells.
The Borrowdale Gates Hotel in Grange-in-Borrowdale is a 4 Silver Star property with a very good restaurant. It is deep in the Borrowdale Valley, surrounded by dramatic peaks and ancient woods.
Merewood Country House Hotel in Windermere is a 4 Silver Star Victorian country house with a Very Good Restaurant. It sits on 20 acres with beautiful views of Windermere and offers traditional Lakes hospitality with style.
Cragwood Country House Hotel in Windermere is a great place to stay if you want to experience the Lake District in a classic way. It has a great restaurant, beautiful grounds, and views of the lake.
Langdale Chase & The Dining Room in Windermere is a great restaurant in a beautiful five-star hotel. This beautiful mansion by the lake has a mix of old-world charm and modern comfort, as well as amazing views of the lake.
Hotels that have a spa
The Lake District is more about natural beauty and outdoor activities than big spas, but the landscape itself is the best place to relax and feel good. The properties here don’t have full resort-style spas, but the fells, lakes, and fresh mountain air are what really make you feel better.
Forest Side Hotel in Grasmere is mostly known for its 1 Michelin Star restaurant, but it also has treatment rooms and wellness facilities in a peaceful woodland setting.
The Samling, Windermere – This 1 Michelin Star, 4 Red Star hotel has a spa and is located on 67 acres of land with a view of Windermere.
Langdale Chase in Windermere is a 5-star hotel with a great restaurant and beautiful grounds by the lake. It also has places to relax.
The Most Romantic Places to Stay
The Lake District is one of the most romantic places in England because it has beautiful views and small hotels.
Romance with a Michelin Star
The Samling, Windermere—this might be the most romantic hotel in all of the Lake District. This 1 Michelin Star, 4-Rosette restaurant is in a 4 Red Star property with 11 rooms on 67 acres with views of Windermere. Romance that lasts forever comes from complete privacy, great food, and stunning views. Great for anniversaries, proposals, and other special events.
Forest Side Hotel in Grasmere is a 1 Michelin Star, 5-Rosette gem in a 4 Red Star Victorian mansion surrounded by woods and hills. This is perfect for couples looking for something truly special because it has world-class dining, beautiful rooms, and a peaceful setting.
Grand Lakeside Manor Houses
Langdale Chase & The Dining Room, Windermere – A beautiful 5-star hotel with a great restaurant in a stunning mansion by the lake. Timeless romance is made by period features, beautiful gardens, sweeping views of the lake, and elegant rooms.
The Merewood Country House Hotel in Windermere is a 4 Silver Star Victorian country house with a Very Good Restaurant. It is set on 20 acres with views of Windermere. The combination of old-world charm, views of the lake, and great food makes it a popular place for couples.
Rothay Manor Hotel in Ambleside is a lovely 4 Red Star Regency manor with an award-winning restaurant and breakfast. This property has been welcoming romantic couples for generations because it is both elegant and warm, and it is set in beautiful gardens.
Private Country House Settings
Rothay Garden by Harbour Hotel, Grasmere is a 4 Silver Star hotel with a Very Good Restaurant in the centre of Grasmere. It has gardens by the river and a truly romantic village setting.
The Cragwood Country House Hotel in Windermere is a 4-star hotel with a very good restaurant and peaceful grounds. It has a romantic country house feel and views of the lake.
Romance in a Hidden Valley
Hazel Bank Country House in Borrowdale is a great place to eat breakfast and is hidden away in one of the Lake District’s most romantic and secluded valleys. Great for couples who want to get away from it all and be alone.
Borrowdale Gates Hotel, Grange-in-Borrowdale – A 4 Silver Star hotel with a Very Good Restaurant located deep in Borrowdale and surrounded by dramatic peaks. The valley setting makes it romantic and private.
Towns and villages with hotels
The cute towns and villages in the Lake District are great places to stay while you explore and have easy access to services.
Grasmere: The Heart of Wordsworth Country
The Forest Side Hotel in Grasmere has a 1 Michelin Star, 5-Rosette restaurant and is located on the edge of this beautiful village. It’s a great place to stay if you want to see Wordsworth’s favourite places.
Rothay Garden by Harbour Hotel, Grasmere is a 4 Silver Star hotel with a Very Good Restaurant in the centre of the village. It’s a great place to explore Grasmere’s shops, cafes, and famous gingerbread.
Ambleside: A Market Town in the Lake District
Rothay Manor Hotel in Ambleside is a 4 Red Star hotel with an Excellent Restaurant and Breakfast Award. It is in a great location in Ambleside, making it easy to get to this busy market town while still being in a quiet garden setting.
Windermere and Bowness are towns by the lake.
The Samling, Windermere—This 1 Michelin Star, 4 Red Star hotel is on its own grounds above the lake, but it’s not too far from Windermere and Bowness.
Langdale Chase, Windermere – This 5-star hotel with a very good restaurant is on the shore of the lake and has easy access to Windermere’s amenities.
Merewood Country House Hotel in Windermere is a 4 Silver Star hotel with a Very Good Restaurant on its own grounds. It is also close to Windermere and Bowness.
Cragwood Country House Hotel is a 4-star hotel with a very good restaurant near Windermere and easy access to the town.
Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel in Bowness-On-Windermere is a VisitEngland Taste Gold Award-winning property that used to belong to Beatrix Potter. It’s the perfect place to stay if you want to explore Bowness.
Hotels in the Country
Of course, the Lake District is mostly countryside, and these homes show off the best of the area’s beautiful scenery and privacy.
Lakeside in Windermere
The Samling, Windermere: This 1 Michelin Star, 4-Rosette, and 4 Red Star property is in 67 acres of woods above Windermere and has stunning views of the lake. Even though it’s easy to get to, it feels completely separate from everyday life.
Langdale Chase & The Dining Room in Windermere is a beautiful 5-star hotel with a great restaurant on a large lakeside property. It combines old-world charm with stunning natural beauty.
Merewood Country House Hotel in Windermere is a 4 Silver Star Victorian country house with a Very Good Restaurant. It sits on 20 acres with views of the lake, offering classic Lakes countryside luxury.
Cragwood Country House Hotel in Windermere is a 4-star hotel with a very good restaurant and beautiful grounds with views of the lake.
Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel in Bowness-On-Windermere was once owned by Beatrix Potter. It is a VisitEngland Taste Gold Accolade property with beautiful gardens and a historic feel.
Grasmere and the Central Lakes
The Forest Side Hotel in Grasmere has a 1 Michelin Star and a 5-Rosette restaurant in a 4 Red Star Victorian mansion surrounded by woods and fells. It offers world-class dining in a quiet country setting.
Rothay Garden by Harbour Hotel in Grasmere is a 4 Silver Star hotel with a Very Good Restaurant. It has riverside gardens in Wordsworth country.
Rothay Manor Hotel in Ambleside is a 4 Red Star Regency manor with beautiful gardens. It has an Excellent Restaurant and Breakfast Award and offers timeless Lakes countryside hospitality.
Borrowdale: The Valley of Beauty
Hazel Bank Country House, Borrowdale is a great restaurant with a breakfast award. It’s in one of the Lake District’s most beautiful and least developed valleys, surrounded by dramatic peaks and ancient woods.
The Borrowdale Gates Hotel in Grange-in-Borrowdale is a 4 Silver Star property with a Very Good Restaurant. It is located deep in the Borrowdale Valley and has stunning views of the fells and a peaceful setting.
Wasdale: England’s Deepest Lake and Tallest Mountains
Wasdale Head Inn, Wasdale Head: This four-star inn is at the top of England’s deepest lake and under the country’s tallest mountains. This is the Lake District at its most dramatic and far away, making it a great place for serious hikers and people who want to be in the wild.
Remote Venues: Wilderness and Mountain Seclusion
The Lake District’s remote properties offer genuine wilderness experiences while maintaining comfort and quality.
The Ultimate Wilderness
Wasdale Head Inn in Wasdale Head is the most remote and beautiful inn in England’s Lake District. This four-star inn is at the end of the road, below Scafell Pike (the highest mountain in England) and at the head of Wast Water (the deepest lake in England). This is the Lake District’s best place to get away from it all. It’s surrounded by wild fells and is far from any other town. Great for hikers, climbers, and people who want to be really far away.
Hidden Getaways in Secluded Valleys
Hazel Bank Country House, Borrowdale—This Very Good Restaurant with Breakfast Award is hidden deep in one of the Lakes’ most beautiful and least developed valleys, so you can really get away from it all. Borrowdale is still very untouched, and Hazel Bank perfectly captures the valley’s calm, isolated feel.
The Borrowdale Gates Hotel in Grange-in-Borrowdale is a 4 Silver Star hotel with a Very Good Restaurant. It is in the middle of Borrowdale, surrounded by old woods and steep peaks. This secluded valley location gives you the feeling of being deep in the mountains.
Seclusion in the Hilltop and Woodland
The Samling, Windermere: This 1 Michelin Star, 4-Rosette, 4 Red Star property is located in 67 acres of private woodland above Windermere. Even though it is easy to get to, it is very private and secluded. The high location, large grounds, and only 11 rooms make it feel like a real getaway.
The Forest Side Hotel in Grasmere is a Victorian mansion with 1 Michelin Star, 5 Rosettes, and 4 Red Stars. It is surrounded by woods and hills. The forested setting and location on the edge of Grasmere make it a quiet, private place, even though it’s not as far away as Wasdale.
Quiet and peaceful by the lake
Langdale Chase, Windermere – This 5-star hotel with a very good restaurant is on a large private lakeside property that is quiet and private, even though it is close to busier areas.
Merewood Country House Hotel in Windermere is a 4 Silver Star hotel with a Very Good Restaurant. It is set on 20 acres of beautiful grounds that overlook Windermere and offers peaceful seclusion.
Unique Things to Do in the Lake District
For People Who Really Love Food
The Lake District has two Michelin-starred restaurants: Forest Side Hotel and The Samling. Both offer very different but equally amazing dining experiences. Forest Side uses foraged and hyper-local ingredients in creative ways, while The Samling offers fine dining in what may be the most romantic setting in the Lakes.
For People Who Like to Walk and Climb
The Wasdale Head Inn is the best place for serious walkers to stay because it is right next to Scafell Pike and the highest fells.
The Hazel Bank Country House and the Borrowdale Gates Hotel are both great places to stay in Borrowdale, where you can walk to beautiful places and eat very well to get your energy back after a day on the fells.
For People Who Love Literature and Culture
The Forest Side Hotel and the Rothay Garden by Harbour Hotel are both in Grasmere, which is in the heart of Wordsworth country. They are great places to explore literary history while enjoying great food.
Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel: This hotel used to belong to Beatrix Potter, who wrote some of the most famous children’s books in the Lakes.
For Luxury at the Lake
The Samling, Langdale Chase, and Merewood Country House Hotel all have great views of the lake, good food, and comfortable rooms.
For Parties and Special Events
The Samling is the best place to celebrate in the Lake District. It has only 11 rooms for privacy, a Michelin Star restaurant, and a stunning location.
The Forest Side Hotel is a great place to have a food-focused party because it has a 1 Michelin Star, 5-Rosette restaurant.
The Lake District’s Dinner, Bed & Breakfast venues are in one of the most beautiful places in the world, with views that have inspired poets, artists, and nature lovers for centuries. Whether you want Michelin-starred food in a secluded forest, traditional country house hospitality with lake views, or an adventure in the wilderness at England’s most remote inn, these places have it all.
