Lakeshore between Windermere and Ambleside · Hotel
Restored Victorian country house directly on the shore of Windermere, with an AA Rosette restaurant and lake views from most of the principal rooms.
Langdale Chase occupies one of the best positions on Windermere, standing in terraced gardens that run down to the water between Windermere town and Ambleside. The house dates from the 1890s and was built as a private lakeside residence, which explains the scale of the panelled hall, the carved staircase and the reception rooms that open onto the lawn. A comprehensive refurbishment brought the interiors up to current expectations without stripping out the period detail.
Rooms are spread between the main house, a coach house and a small number of separate lodges in the grounds. The lake-facing rooms in the main building are the ones to ask for, several with bay windows and window seats looking straight down the water towards the Langdale Pikes. Decor leans country-house contemporary rather than chintz, with good beds, proper bathrooms and, in the top grades, freestanding baths.
The kitchen holds AA Rosette recognition and serves a set dinner menu in a dining room with the same lake outlook, alongside afternoon tea and a substantial breakfast. There is a bar, extensive terraced gardens, and direct access to the shore with a jetty. The hotel sits on the A591, so the Stagecoach 555 bus stops close by and Ambleside is a short drive or a reasonable lakeside walk.
It suits couples, special occasions and anyone who wants the lake as the main event rather than a town centre. Walkers are well placed for the Langdales and Fairfield, and the location works for guests without a car. Rates sit at the higher end for the area, particularly in summer and at weekends, and two-night minimums are common.