Overlooking the glorious Lake Windermere, Laura Ashley’s Belsfield Hotel is arguably the best located hotel in the Lake District, certainly in Bowness-on-Windermere.
Refurbished in July 2014, if you’re lucky enough to grab one of the 25 Lake View rooms, you’ll enjoy views across acres of landscaped gardens, the lake and, behind that, Langdale Pikes and Fairfield Horseshoe. Luckily, the hotel’s two restaurants also enjoy the same view, so everyone can watch the sun set over dinner. The location also means you just need to wander out the hotel doors to be smack-bang in the centre of all the small town has to offer. The grand Victorian Italianate hotel (built in 1845 as a private residence for Baroness Von Sternberg) has 62 designer bedrooms, a lounge bar and two restaurants, all subtly and beautifully decorated with Laura Ashley furnishings.
The Room
We were treated to two nights in a lake-facing suite, which included a bathroom, large living room (complete with television and two couches) and bedroom (including another television and huge Super King Size bed), both with glorious views over the lake. Everything you could possibly want from a hotel room was covered – teas, coffee, water, hairdryer, air-conditioning, an ironing board, slippers and robes, down feather duvets wrapped in Egyptian cotton linen and free Wi-Fi as standard. But the bathroom was where the room really came into its own, with a huge bath, strong shower, under-floor heating, a special night-light so you didn’t get lost on the way to the loo in the middle of the night and – wait for it – the most technologically advanced toilet we’ve ever had the pleasure of using including bidet, cleaning and drying facilities. What we loved about the room was that, even though it felt grand and luxurious, it wasn’t intimidating or cold, it was comfy, warm and welcoming and felt like you were right at home – only a much, much nicer, posher home. Undoubtedly though, as with every aspect of The Belsfield, it was the view that made it one of the nicest stays we’ve ever had. A huge window in each room proudly overlooked the gardens as they sloped down to the lake, meaning you could lie in bed and take in the views in the morning, and even enjoy a cheeky room gin while sat on the sofa watching the sun set later in the day.
Eating and Drinking
Tough as it is to resist the lure of the great outdoors on The Belsfield’s doorstep, there’s plenty of food and drink to keep you occupied in the walls of the hotel. For the first evening we enjoyed dinner at The Brasserie, sipping rose and enjoying fish and chips, guess what – overlooking the lake, at a very acceptable price point. The next evening we luxuriated in a five-course feast at AA Rosette-awarded Belsfield Restaurant. Again, the menu featured traditional British dishes with a posh twist, which uses Cumbrian produce where possible. If, like me, you’ve paid a pretty penny to chomp on average-tasting food that doesn’t match the view, you won’t be disappointed here. The price of the dishes isn’t inflated by the fabulous outlook – even though, to be honest, we wouldn’t have minded if it was. There’s also a lounge bar, drawing room, library and afternoon tea to sample if you’ve got more time on your hands to relax.
Insider Tips
If you’re looking for a great way to see a lot of Lake Windermere quickly (and an opportunity to burn off some of those multiple-course dinners), try hiring some bikes from local retailers, like Windermere Canoe and Kayak. We recommend taking the ferry across the lake and cycling the purpose-made trail along the west coastline, hugging the side of the water, up to Wray Castle. And if you’re up for it, go even further to Ambleside and enjoy a lunch in one of the nicest towns around (in our opinion, anyway!)
If you’re up for a big walk, head to Keswick and walk around Derwent Water – it’ll take a few hours, but you’ll appreciate all the great pubs Keswick has to offer even more.
And if you’ve forgotten the perfect outfit for dinner, need some extra layers, or just fancy a bit of shopping, Kendal, just outside the Lake District, is a short car drive away and has a super-cute High Street full of essentials.
When To Go
The hotel is open all year round - and it even has a special Christmas experience if you’re looking for a luxurious home away from home this year – and the lakes are gorgeous at any time, even the grey winter looks dramatic and romantic in the right light. But we enjoyed being in the hotel in that sweet spot when the nights are getting longer, the sunsets are even more beautiful – and the kids aren’t quite on summer holidays yet…
The Lowdown
Rooms start from £119 per night for a standard room. For reservations, go to lauraashleyhotels.com/thebelsfield or call 01539442448.