Location: Bowness-on-Windermere
Top Hotels in Bowness-on-Windermere
Top Restaurants in Bowness-on-Windermere
10 hotels in Bowness-on-Windermere: Best hotel deals for 2023
Not to be confused with nearby Windermere, the tiny village of Bowness-on-Windermere lies on the shore of England’s largest lake. Ferries run from here across Lake Windermere, while the traditional stone cottages, lakefront pubs, and lively fishing harbor tempt travelers to linger a little longer.
Restaurants in Bowness-on-Windermere
1. Storrs Hall
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1267 reviews
Welcome to Storrs Hall and 4 Star luxury on Lake Windermere. Of all the spectacular locations in the Lake District, Storrs Hall is among the finest. Its breath-taking setting in the shores of Windermere offers stunning views. Seventeen acres of grounds surround this GradeII* listed Georgian mansion house, making Storrs Hall a haven of peace, tranquility and luxury. The hotel offers 37 stylish en-suite bedrooms, each individually designed and decorated in a contemporary style to offer the perfect combination of luxury and comfort. For those seeking a unique hideaway take a look at the Boathouse, which sits in its own private grounds with a hot tub on the terrace, or the 6 Lakeside Suites, each with a private terrace and their own Japanese style cedar hot tub. There are a choice of dining options. The elegant two AA Rosette restaurant offers delicious dishes that change with the seasons, whilst the cosy Tower Bar offers an informal menu that focusses on some of the best ingredients the region has to offer.
Beautiful hotel in fantastic setting. Excellent food and service. Recommended
Reviewed By L3971CQandrewpA lovely hotel in a beautiful setting. Friendly welcome and the room overlooking the lane was fantastic and comfortable, wonderful bathroom. Ate in the restaurant on the first night, nice romantic table for 2 in the conservatory which was tucked away and wonderful views over the lake. Breakfasts were wonderful and service throughout our stay were friendly.
2. Lindeth Howe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1332 reviews
Discover peaceful surroundings and breathtaking views of the English Lake District at Lindeth Howe. Located within walking distance of the lakeside village of Bowness-on-Windermere, Lindeth Howe overlooks Lake Windermere, the largest lake in the country and the Cumbrian fells beyond.This unique 4 star country house hotel was once owned by the best-loved children's author Beatrix Potter, and boasts 34 beautiful bedrooms, cosy lounges and a fantastic 2 AA Rosette Dining Room which is also open to non residents. As of January 2nd 2018, Lindeth Howe will no longer have any leisure facilities.
Beautiful building but the overall experience was average
Reviewed By charlottee168The stay was a mix of good and the not so good. It’s a beautiful building with beautiful gardens, located close to Bowness pier (but there are closer hotels to the town centre). The staff were generally really friendly and the breakfast was really lovely, as was the dinner and light bites of an evening. The room was also generally clean, although we had an issue with ants in our room. We woke up one morning to several ants all over the bedside tables, on the floor in the bathroom and one evening I even found them crawling on me. Not really what I’d expect considering the price paid. I did report to the hotel, who were apologetic but the problem persisted during our stay. On the first day, my daughter opened the drawer to unpack and found a very old looking hairdryer in the drawer with earth cable (green and yellow) detached. The PAT test underneath read that it was due 2009, the kettle 2016 and the lamps also did seemed to be out of date for their PAT test (but I can’t recall the date) hopefully this had been done since then and just a new sticker had not been applied. Again, I raised the issue with the hairdryer with the hotel and the issue was dealt with swiftly. The rooms were serviced regularly and the cleaners were really polite and friendly. My daughter did have a hole in part of her bed linen one evening which didn’t seem hygienic and I would say that the beds were really uncomfortable (but of course that is subjective). On checkout there were a few items on the bill that we didn’t recognise and again this was dealt with swiftly and professionally. Aside from the ants and the bed issue, I put most of it down to the fact that it was a busy bank holiday weekend and that the staff were working really long hours. However, we did pay a premium to stay that weekend and I would therefore expect the stay to match the level we paid. Overall the hotel itself is beautiful and the staff friendly, but the experience we had really didn’t match its price tag in comparison to other hotels in the area and other hotels we’ve stayed at elsewhere in the country.
3. The Angel Inn
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1008 reviews
Everyone needs a place to lay their weary head. For travelers visiting Bowness-on-Windermere, The Angel Inn is an excellent choice for rest and rejuvenation. Well-known for its quaint environment and proximity to great restaurants, The Angel Inn makes it easy to enjoy the best of Bowness-on-Windermere. Guest rooms offer amenities such as a flat screen TV, and guests can go online with free wifi offered by the inn. The property also features breakfast to make your visit even more pleasant. Guests arriving by vehicle have access to free parking. Close to St Martin's Church (0.1 mi), a popular Bowness-on-Windermere landmark, The Angel Inn is a great destination for tourists. There is no shortage of things to do in the area: explore popular historic sites such as Blackwell, The Arts & Crafts House. The Angel Inn is sure to make your visit to Bowness-on-Windermere one worth remembering.
Less Than Average
Reviewed By loular09We had previously stayed here some years ago and had a lovely time so we were excited about returning. What a shock when we arrived! The once privately owned hotel has now been taken over by a hotel chain and it is sadly very obvious. There is an overall lack of enthusiasm by the staff, absolutely zero customer service and they all look so miserable. On arrival we were 15 minutes early ( check -in is at 3pm) and whilst we didn’t expect to go to our room before then we thought there may be a possibility….no such luck! The lady on reception, once she acknowledged our presence, told us quite bluntly to sit in the bar as housekeeping hadn’t finished our room. Suddenly at bang on 3pm it was ready!! On the hotel website it states food is served daily from 07:30 and all menus in house state the same but breakfast wasn’t served until 8am and despite us asking one day if we could eat at 07:30 ( we were out on an early trip ) the hotel refused. There was absolutely no flexibility in staff approach to making our stay a good experience. We booked a Superior Double room ( Rm 11 ) and even though it was clean and comfortable I doubt very much it was superior room, it was tiny and very cramped. The food is mediocre at best and very over priced…. One item on the breakfast menu stated …. “Eggs on Toast: Eggs of your choice on thick cut farmhouse loaf” Poached eggs fine, but bread was a thin slice from supermarket cut loaf! We did mention our concerns at the time as I believe in giving the staff a chance to turn the experience around. I think the person we spoke to was quite embarrassed and said he’d pass on our concerns. Let’s hope it’s taken note of and changes are made for future guests. Not sure we’ll return in the future!
4. The Belsfield Hotel
Overall Ratings
4 based on 2210 reviews
Situated in Bowness on the Eastern shore of Lake Windermere, The Belsfield Hotel is the perfect place from which to enjoy a break in Windermere. Set in 6 acres of landscaped gardens, the boutique hotel offers unparalleled views over Lake Windermere. The Belsfield has 62 designer bedrooms, including 25 Lake View bedrooms and 12 Garden View rooms, with 2 Four Poster bedrooms and Suites all enjoying views of Lake Windermere. Dining is provided in the Belsfield Restaurant and Belsfield Brasserie, with drinks in the Lounge Bar and opportunities to relax and take tea or coffee in the Drawing Room and Library. The setting makes the hotel the perfect location for your dream wedding, with a beautiful glass reception overlooking Lake Windermere creating a magnificent arrival. Facilities for up to 100 guests are available. Elegantly decorated meeting rooms with state of the art conferencing facilities make the hotel the ideal venue for your event in the Lake District.
Fantastic stay
Reviewed By Robert SWe arrived to a warm welcome from check in staff, we had lunch and breakfast in the hotel twice and the food was great, the staff where all lovely, friendly and very helpful, the hotel was beautiful and a great location in the heart of Bowness. The best parts of this hotel is the views from the restaurant or the gardens, stunning, we cant wait to come back.
5. Macdonald Old England Hotel & Spa
Overall Ratings
4 based on 3871 reviews
Macdonald Old England Hotel & Spa is one of the finest 4-star Lake District hotels. Set on the shores of Lake Windermere - England's largest lake - our hotel offers the best of breathtaking scenery and exceptional facilities. From unrivalled views over our mature lawns, to private jetties and moorings on the lake - our hotel proves a popular choice for family holidays. Our hotel in Cumbria is perfect for country adventures - hire a private jetty on our lake and marvel in the glorious scenery we have on offer. And once you've finished exploring, we recommend a visit to our spa and thermal suite for a relaxing steam before you dine in our award-winning Restaurant.
A good short stay.
Reviewed By Passenger557437Ideally located close to the Lake, the hotel is a little bit dated and tired, which was surprising when one considers the cost. It was clean enough, apart from crumbs on the dining room chairs and around the foot of one of the tables that we sat at. On our last evening, we spoke to one of the assistant managers, Agata, and complimented her on the staff. At breakfast the morning of our departure we were served by the most miserable, abrupt, aggressive and hurried waiter - the exception rather than the rule, perhaps. Murphy's Law at play, it would seem. Special mention must go to two staff members. Kye the waiter was polite, courteous and so helpful and Danny the barman oozed enthusiasm and knowledge about his work and was ultra-efficient and courteous in the extreme - a credit to the team. Would we go back? I doubt it, given the price.
6. Bowness Guest House
Overall Ratings
5 based on 401 reviews
Formerly known as Number 80 room only Under new management from Feb 2019 Bowness Guest House operates as a room only establishment We offer 1 dog friendly room out of our total of 5 rooms. This is our Superior King room We recommend to use this dog friendly room, you need to enquire about its availability separately Not all the bedrooms accommodate dogs ! We have another 4 all en-suite bedrooms, in different styles All our rooms are en-suite with new smart TVs with built in Netflix Tea /coffee making facilities in all rooms, free bottled water on arrival. Fresh towels everyday, beds freshened up if stay is more than 2 nights. Our Dog friendly room has direct access to the rear of our property, with a seperate entrance. We are situated at the end of The Dales Way walk, and perfect location to enjoy the many shops and bars Bowness has to offer.
Wonderful stay!
Reviewed By Q1472CXandysWe had a wonderful 3 night stay at the Bowness Guest House. Located in a lovely quiet street literally 3 mins walk from Bowness. Very peaceful location. From our room (4) we had views of the forests behind the lake. The room was spotless and very stylishly decorated. The bed was very comfortable and bathroom was modern and well equipped. Netflix was included on the T.V. free of charge, You don't get that at some of the big hotels! Michelle was super friendly and very helpful. Knew lots about the local area and recommended plenty of things to do and places to go. We didn't meet Bernard, but I'm sure he is as nice as Michelle. I would 100% recommend Bowness Guest House.
7. Lakes Hotel and Spa
Overall Ratings
4 based on 175 reviews
The Burnside Hotel and Spa, one of the finest four star Lake District Hotels, located in the best place to discover the beautiful Lake District, set in mature gardens with views overlooking Lake Windermere and the surrounding lakeland fells. Our hotel is ideally situated just a short stroll from the steamer piers that travel the length of Windermere and the bustling village centre of Bowness-on-Windermere, perfect for exploring the many historic, cultural and contemporary attractions within the Lake District including Beatrix Potter's 'Hilltop'. The Burnside Hotel offers a large selection of bedrooms from snug, standard and family rooms to beautiful suites and deluxe rooms with hot tubs, each with their own unique design. Many of our rooms have views across the gardens and trees. For a small supplement a view of Lake Windermere can be arranged. Others have views over the hotel reception and spa. The hotel offers a limited number of pet friendly rooms. Please ensure you book these rooms direct with the hotel as they are not available online or through any agent. Whichever room you choose you'll enjoy a 40 inch flat screen TV and free wi-fi, a large comfortable bed (minimum 5ft king size bed, some rooms have 6Ft super king beds or twin beds). An en-suite bathroom with bath and/or shower (some rooms have separate shower cubicles) and tea and coffee making facilities. Our Restaurant is as popular with passers-by as it is with our guests, with our tempting traditional hot and cold buffet breakfast, a sumptuously seasonal table d'hôte dinner menu using only the best locally sourced produce, with Chef's specialty dishes and homemade desserts complimented by fine wine, all make sure the view on your plate is as memorable as the one from our windows. For a light bite, our homemade bistro meals served during the day here mean you can enjoy conservatory cuisine in comfort taking in the breathtaking views over the lakes, hills and mountains or dine in our cosy lounge with a roaring log fire. Burnside Spa offers our guests pure lavish indulgence from sitting by the pool and enjoying a glass of prosecco to unwinding in one of two hot tubs, steam room or sauna; not to mention the main pool is an experience within itself, press the secret button and make the whole pool bubble. Our two treatments rooms offer a large range of treatments using Aromatherapy Associate products. All set in a relaxing and tranquil environment with mood lighting, poolside seating and bar facilities. The ultimate experience in relaxation. Romney's Snug Bar our Traditional Pub within Burnside Spa offers traditional food and real ale. Open every day, enjoy a cappuccino after that early morning swim, a light lunchtime snack or traditional bar meal early in the evening. Guests of the pub a can enjoy use of our Private 18-Seater Cinema or a game of pool (just £1.00).
5 star service
Reviewed By robert hThis really is a fantastic place to stay and relax. The staff are all very friendly and nothing is too much trouble. From the welcome as you arrive to the rooms, food, drink and amenities everything is 5 star. I cannot say enough about this hotel and its staff. You will not be disappointed if you choose to stay here. Plus it is only a 5 min stroll into Bowness Town itself.
8. Linthwaite House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1852 reviews
After a year long refurbishment ending in 2018, the latest addition to the Leeu Collection portfolio is Linthwaite House, a 36-room country house retreat overlooking Lake Windermere in England’s scenic Lake District. Breathtaking views, private gardens and woodland grounds, and an award-winning restaurant - Henrock by Simon Rogan, make for an idyllic stay.
Staff make this Hotel
Reviewed By simonjcohenValue for money always depends on how much one has but if you were just to take the rooms, you may be disappointed. Very well equipped and nice decor but small without a view and, in ours mirror light didn’t work nor did another switch in the room and the bath is small to shower in. Probably not worth five times the price of a Travelodge room. The leisure facilities are the same as Travelodge - none, no pool, gym, sauna etc. However the rest is stunning. The African art gives the hotel a very unique feel and the grounds, view and decor are as good as anywhere we’ve stayed. Drinks on the terrace with that view gives a rare sense of occasion and tranquility. The food in the restaurant is also absolutely as good as one would expect given the reputation it has. However what elevates this hotel into one of the very best anywhere is the staff. They were polite and unobtrusive so nice, so helpful and always had time for a chat. They made us, who were only staying for one night, feel like the hotel’s most valued customers. If they got most of the money spent on a room then we’d see it as fantastic value.
9. Bowness Bay Suites
Overall Ratings
5 based on 317 reviews
Bowness Bay Suites is situated in the centre of Bowness-on-Windermere. Close to all the restaurants, pubs, shops and just 2 minutes walking distance from Lake Windermere. Each individually named suite comprises bedroom area, lounge area and bathroom. 5 of the 6 suites have Juliette balconies which open out for our guests to enjoy the full splendour of the Lake Windermere and the fells beyond. Wide-screen TVs and romantic fires in the lounge area are allow you to completely relax and unwind after your enjoyment of everything the lake has to offer.
A Brilliant Stay
Reviewed By LouiseySmithWe had a brilliant stay here. Check in was quick and the parking permit system worked a gem. The location is great as everything is so close, room was spotlessly clean and had a gorgeous view of the lake. Really comfortable stay and have recommended to friends and family. Cant wait to visit again!
10. The Burn How Garden House Hotel
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 766 reviews
This unique Lake District hotel only two minutes stroll from Lake Windermere and the village of Bowness, is an oasis of peace and tranquillity. The Burn How's unique layout is refreshingly different to most hotels; all of the bedrooms are located outside of the main building within the private grounds making the stay peaceful and relaxing for the discerning guest. You can take picturesque walks from the hotel, or cruise on Lake Windermere, and if you take the Post Knott walk and you find the hotels bench, bring back the inscription and you will have a drink on us. For the shopping magnets find a special Lakeland gift in the village only two minutes walk away. On your return from a full day, relax and meet friends or family in the congenial atmosphere of the lounge and bar, or on pleasant summers evening sit out on the patio and take in the beautiful surroundings. Relax in the comfort of your room choosing from modern chalet style to four poster or traditional bedrooms. Most have private sun terraces. All have ensuite bathrooms, colour televisions, telephones and hot beverages. Rooms on the ground floor have direct access to the rose garden and patio, with some having disabled facilities. There is ample free parking available. Experience English and French Cuisine made only from the freshest produce and served in the style in which Burn How Garden House Hotel is famous. Three courses and coffee is around £35.00 Per person. At the end of the day relax with family and friends in the congenial atmosphere of the lounge and bar or on a pleasant summers evening take in the beautiful surroundings of the patio and gardens. Shoppers and browsers will delight in the speciality stores and attractions in nearby Windermere and Bowness. Whilst a drive over the Hard Knott pass is for the courageous with its 1 in 3 and 2.5 Gradients - but the views are spectacular.
Fabulous stay!
Reviewed By Peter RI booked at the Burn How to celebrate the end of the Dales Way Walk but also my wife's 70th birthday. We were shown to the Mews suite which has recently been stunningly redecorated. It is a charming and spacious place to stay. The staff had left a birthday card and box of lovely chocolates in the room - a bottle of champagne ordered in advance was chilled and ready to go! This was the start of a wonderful couple of days. The staff here provide impeccable service, warm and helpful. The breakfasts were great with an abundance of choice. The beautiful garden with its busy bird tables provides a lovely view first thing in the morning. This place is a great choice for a special occasion and we hope to return some time in the future.
