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Windermere has been called the ‘Gateway to the Lakes.’ With mountains, moors, lakes and tarns it is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the splendour of the English countryside, right in the heart of the Lake District. The Windermere Hotel occupies an excellent location at the head of the village of Windermere itself. Built from traditional Lakeland slate, our hotel is listed by English Heritage, and is one of the oldest hotels in Windermere having opened back in 1847 to coincide with the construction of the local railway. The hotel’s location is ideal for exploring the local villages of Bowness and Windermere, as well as the beautiful Lake District scenery.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Centrally Located
Historic Hotel
Languages Spoken
English, Polish
Location
Kendal Road, Windermere LA23 1AL England
The Windermere Hotel
1,597 reviews
Getting there
Great for walkers
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The Windermere Hotel garners mixed reviews, with its prime location earning high marks for convenience. However, guests have called out the need for a significant overhaul, pointing to the hotel's outdated ambiance and rooms that many feel are in desperate need of refurbishment.
While the service is often described as disorganized and the amenities satisfactory but dated, the hotel's cleanliness stands out positively. Even though the value proposition is seen as reasonable by some, additional expenses and the room conditions leave others questioning the overall worth.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Outdated
Rooms
Dated
Value
Reasonable
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Disorganized
Amenities
Satisfactory
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This hotel has a beautiful exterior of Lakeland stone but the interior is very tired and desperate for renovation. Reception staff are not very communicative, we had asked for a disabled car parking space but on arrival the car park was full, the staff were not helpful and suggested we find a space on the road outside. We actually parked in a lay by next to the hotel which is restricted to 2 hours between 9am & 5pm. We used the lay-by each evening and avoided the £6 fee for a hotel space. We wanted to avoid dogs (which are plentiful here) and so had a room on the second floor which is a doggy free zone. The room was quite small and the decor was dated but the views across to Lake Windermere made up for it. Beautiful in the sunshine! Just for info: the lake at Bowness is about a 30 minute walk from the hotel. The room and linens were clean. Comfortable beds and clean bathroom. Tea and coffee hospitality tray provided. The hotel only services rooms on request, meaning you’re left undisturbed (we swapped towels from housekeeping staff on the corridor). Most of the staff do not have English as a first language which means some don’t have the vocabulary required for good hospitality. Many of the staff only speak when required and can appear abrupt. In a hotel in decline, it would make good business sense to train staff to use pleasantries (and smile!) to improve guest experience. Breakfast is buffet style, the selection is basic and plentiful. The hot food is well cooked but the chafing dishes are not held at a decent temperature so food is often barely warm. Staff were mute or at best abrupt (except a wonderful Indian (?) woman who was bright, smiley and attentive). The only words the staff say each morning are “room number”. The hotel “Orrest Bar” is next door to the hotel and we enjoyed a couple of great meals there during our stay. The bar staff are excellent (particularly one ‘local’ woman who was very friendly and attentive to all our needs). Overall a good experience but lots to improve on. We paid a higher tariff as it was Easter weekend so not great value for money. Hopefully hotel staff who read this will do something about it and not write the continual platitudes that follow previous reviews.
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Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Adri C, Guest Services / Front Office at The Windermere Hotel
Responded 4 Apr 2024
Dear Joanna K , We're sorry to hear that certain aspects of your stay didn't meet your expectations. Upon reviewing your comments I believe part of the review was influenced by the type of booking you had with us. I would like to take this opportunity and clarify some of your comments. Please note parking at The Windermere Hotel is limited and subject to availability on first come first serve basis. Our parking regime is clearly presented on our website and on all major online booking platforms. On your arrival hotel`s car park was indeed full and I kindly informed and guided you to park in the public lay by up the main road but I`m very sorry to read you found this unhelpful and not communicative. As a hotel nestled in the beautiful Lake District, we understand and appreciate the love for our furry friends. We are proud to be a dog-friendly establishment and while we warmly welcome dogs, we do have limitations on the number of dogs allowed in the hotel at any given time . Your comments about staff have also been noted and will be reviewed of course internally. Our staff typically receive positive feedback and are often appreciated for their service. I can assure you that regardless of our staff first language they all work tirelessly to ensure the comfort and satisfaction of our guests with a fully booked hotel every day. On a positive note I`m pleased to see you found the room and linens clean and that you enjoyed the comfort of our beds and the amenities provided. Let us wish you all the absolute best in your future travels. kind regards, Adrian C
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We spent one night in the Windermere Hotel as part of our coach trip with Caledonian. While it’s true the hotel could benefit from a few renovations, this is to be expected when staying in a building as old as this one. It’s in a beautiful location, just a few minutes walk from supermarkets, information points and other pubs if you don’t fancy grabbing drinks at the hotel bar. Being on a coach, we didn’t have to worry about parking but for anyone visiting by car, do be aware that they charge even if you’re a guest.
We were on the second floor in 203, a twin room right at the end of the hall. The elevator is only big enough for two people to squeeze in (one if you have bags!) so I’d advise anyone with mobility issues to request a room on the lower floor. That being said, it wasn’t an issue for us and we found our room easily. The room itself was quite dated – old furnishings, peeling window-frames, a TV not much bigger than an iPad – but it was perfectly clean, and who goes to the Lake District to watch TV anyway? The bed was comfortable and we both slept completely undisturbed even with windows open. One fault is the size of the bathroom (barely wide enough to move in) but since we were only here for one night, it didn’t bother us too much. Our room had an over-bath shower which could be dangerous since no mat was provided to prevent slipping.
Maybe feelings would be different if we’d paid separately rather than breakfast/evening meal being included as part of our coach trip, but we thought the food was fine, despite some other reviews on here claiming otherwise. It was a set menu with three options for starters/mains/desserts. Some of it was clearly shop-bought or frozen but it was all presented well and tasted good to us! Cumberland sausages for breakfast is one of my favourite parts of staying in the lakes and the hotel definitely delivered on that front. The staff were all very attentive, fast to clear tables and refill empty glasses. Can’t fault the service at all.
Overall, we had a pleasant stay and would return in the future 😊👍🏼
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Parking isn’t included
Request a downstairs room if you have mobility issues
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Adri C, Guest Services / Front Office at The Windermere Hotel
Responded 30 Jul 2023
Dear harrywalkr , Thank you for taking the time to share your experience of staying at the Windermere Hotel as part of your coach trip with Caledonian, we appreciate your feedback. We're glad to hear that you enjoyed your stay and the beautiful location of the hotel, with its proximity to supermarkets, information points, and other pubs. We agree that staying in an old building like ours can have its charm, but in the same time we understand the need for renovations to enhance our guests' experience. Rest assured, we are constantly working to improve the hotel and make it even more welcoming for all our guests. if you plan to visit the Lake District again, we would be delighted to welcome you back to the Windermere Hotel but until then let us wish you all the very best. with kind regards,
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The Windermere Hotel is a grade 2 listed building in need of upgrading and it looks like this has been started as some of the windows have been replaced. The whole place is in need of redecoration and new carpets and furnishings as it is tired. However we stayed in a deluxe room and yes the curtains needed to be sorted out as some of the hooks were missing and yes it was tired, but it was clean and comfortable. The bathroom was clean with a bath, shower and basin with powerful hot, water which was a pleasant surprise for such an old building. We were near the lift and stairs and didn’t suffer any noise, except for creaky floorboards, which is to be expected of such an old building. Breakfast was acceptable for a 3 star hotel, with a basic choice of cereals, limited fruit, and limited cooked breakfast, toast and croissants. More concerning to us was that the hot breakfast was not up to an acceptable temperature, only luke warm by 9am when we chose to eat. Also on two of our three day stay the kitchen staff wore dirty looking everyday T-shirts, jogging trousers and sliders rather than chefs whites when checking and refilling the cooked breakfast items. This gave the impression of just anyone available doing the cooking, which put us off eating the cooked options. The waiting staff were polite and the waitress in particular was friendly, smiley and welcoming. Reception staff were also helpful, polite and professional. Overall, the hotel was acceptable for a 3 star hotel for the price we paid. But with updating internally and new windows in keeping with the listed status it could be so much better. There is some parking at the hotel but this charged at an extra daily rate with a payable when you leave the hotel. Location wise the hotel is situated on a main road across the road from the railway station and Lakeland and not too far from some lovely local restaurants and shops. The walk to Windermere in Bowness is a 1.5mile away but it is a hilly walk back.
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Date of stay: October 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Ask for a deluxe room.
Be prepared for a hilly walk wherever you The lift is very small.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Adri C, Guest Services / Front Office at The Windermere Hotel
Responded 1 Dec 2023
Dear Lynnylouise , Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are sorry for the issues experienced with the curtains and the temperature of the hot breakfast , will address these concerns to ensure a better experience for our guests. It's heartening to hear your positive remarks about our waiting and reception staff , we'll be sure to pass on your kind words to our team. We are committed to continuous improvement and will certainly use your comments to enhance our offerings. We hope to welcome you back as return guest. Kind regards,
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Firstly, this is not a hotel for disabled guests. It is not disability friendly. The two disabled parking bays are outside the front door of the hotel. However, there are 2 sets of three large steps with no handrail and a very tight spring-loaded door to negotiate before you even get into reception. There is no ramp or signage at the front door to indicate any disabled access. The disabled access can be found 100 metres away from the front door on a steep downward slope & well away from disabled parking and consists of a steep z shaped ramp with corners that a wheelchair would find difficult or impossible to turn in and when you get to what passes for a door you have to ring a bell that anyone in a wheelchair couldn't reach. The hotel was booked through Shearings self drive and boasts a 3 star rating. Parking at the hotel as a resident costs £6.00 per day, and if you forget to pay at the end of the stay, you will be fined. Secondly, the public areas are filthy, tables have not been wiped, there is a large accumulation of dust beneath the tables, and it's particularly thick on the slats the numerous venetian blinds. The bar is situated in the dining room, so if you want a drink, you have to get it yourself by walking past people who are dining at the time. In the dining area, we sat next to a radiator that was covered in filth and hadn't been cleaned for ages with food & drink stains on top and running down the radiator. Hygiene doesn't seem to be a priority in this area or, indeed, any of the public areas. Thirdly, in our room, there is paper coming off the wall, paintwork is chipped throughout, and common passageways to the rooms are dark and gloomy. There is only one lamp, one bedside table, and one chair in a twin room. Unless you specifically ask to have your room cleaned, it will not be cleaned. If you do ask for cleaning, you will get a light clean, which consists of emptying the bin, changing the towels, and inboard case washing one cup but not the sole spoon. It would be ideal if the bathroom had another shelf and hooks for hanging dressing gowns. The one redeeming feature is that the food is good.
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Date of stay: June 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Parking is £6.00 /day and disabled access is limited. See review.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Adri C, Guest Services / Front Office at The Windermere Hotel
Responded 3 Aug 2024
Dear Nrose , Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback online, it is always greatly appreciated . We regret that our facilities did not meet your needs regarding accessibility. We do not advertise our hotel as being disability-friendly, and we encourage guests with specific accessibility requirements to contact us prior to booking. This ensures we can provide accurate information and assist with any special needs. Again, thank you for bringing these matters to our attention, we will address your observations with our teams to ensure we provide a positive experience for all our guests at all times. Kind regards,
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My daughter and I stayed in room 101 on arrival with Caledonian coaches the hotel staff came onto the coach and handed us a slip of paper with our names and room numbers very organised . We the went to reception to collect out key and tell the staff what time we would like dinner and breakfast we headed for out room I took the small lift and my daughter the stairs On entering our room we founds it to be spotless the bedding was clean mattress covers and clean mattress The hotel does need up dating think this on going the carpets sink bath cupboard old but spotless. Slight tweaking to paint and small repairs to windows etc. we then went down to the restaurant for evening meal the staff were very attentive the service second to none the three course meal beautifully presented The next morning after a good nights sleep we proceeded to get ready for breakfast lots of hot water and soft fluffy towels Breakfast was self service but tea and coffee requested was there at our table ready after our order. We had a lovely breakfast We then returned our key and went on the coach. We would like to congratulate the hotel we could see they are working so hard to bring the hotel up to scratch. Best wishes to you all and a very big than you
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Date of stay: August 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Adri C, Guest Services / Front Office at The Windermere Hotel
Responded 28 Aug 2024
Dear joanne5946 , Thank you for taking the time to share feedback online. We appreciate your kind words about our staff and the quality of both the service provided and the cleanliness of the bedroom. We're aware of the need for ongoing updates and are working hard to improve every aspect of the hotel. We look forward to welcoming you back in the future. Best wishes and thank you again for staying with us. Kind regards,
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So I've read quite a few bad reports on this hotel,well here's my perspective, if you are or your partner is disabled, is quite a large hotel, so do your homework or ring the property directly and ask for an appropriate room if you can get one,it's a big trudge if you are put in high room numbers unless you ask reception to open the bottom car park emergency exit or as they call it quick access to car park,(without walking the length of the hotel but that's your problem not the hotels unless you ask?) We were in the high end numbers twin room ,so I can't comment on the lower reception end rooms , but the room was basic,clean towels and bed linen and tv and shower room,the hot water wasn't, it was like warm on the 1st night but closer to hot the second night , so if occupancy is high, is hot water a problem, I didn't find it necessary to complain, but if you are there in high season and fot a week then it potentially could be. Breakfast and meal in downstairs bar reasonably priced, hot and tasty, not a la carte but you aren't paying for that it's good bar food at a reasonable price, staff were efficient and pleasant on our visit, so in summary if you pay over 130.00 per night in summer you should be happy, anything higher no chance, we paid 160.00 plus a tenner for breakfast, its a 3 star hotel so don't expect 4 or 5 star standard hotel it's that simple
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Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Don't book here if you want to be close to main hub
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Adri C, Guest Services / Front Office at The Windermere Hotel
Responded 24 Apr 2024
Dear Paul J , Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts on your recent stay at our hotel. We appreciate your detailed feedback and perspective. I will certainly pass on your compliments to our teams along with the issues mentioned to ensure that are promptly addressed. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future as return guest . with kind regards,
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The hotel sits at the top of the town on a main road opposite the train station There is limited parking costing £6 a night. The hotel is very clean Staff are very helpful The rooms of a good size, the bathroom also large Couldn’t find any fault with the room at all Bedding was clean and the bed was very comfortable to sleep in. Cumberland breakfast served Sausage, Bacon, ash brown, fried, scrambled and poached eggs, tomatoes, baked beans, Cold choice yogurts, fruit, croissants, Fruit juices , tea , coffee. All help your self
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Date of stay: October 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:The town can be busy during the day especially hight of summer
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Adri C, Guest Services / Front Office at The Windermere Hotel
Responded 19 Nov 2024
Dear Phillip , Thank you for your thoughtful review. We're delighted you enjoyed your stay at The Windermere and appreciated our convenient location. It’s great to hear you found the breakfast selection to your liking , we aim to offer something for everyone. Your kind words about our team mean a lot as well . We hope to welcome you back soon for another enjoyable visit. warm regards,
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Absolutely awful false advertisement feels like we have been scammed.
First of all the room/bathroom was riddled with mould. Please see photos attached
The wall paper was coming away from the ceiling
There was a punch hole in the bathroom door
The handles on the drawers were hanging off
The door lock was coming away from the door frame
Marks all over the walls
I mentioned this to a member of staff and they simply smiled and apologised no room change no alternative.
We decided to go for a drink in the bar next door which is part of the Windermere hotel. The man on the bar was so rude he didn’t even tell me how much our drinks was he simply opened his hand to me to take my £20 note I was had ready to pay. Didn’t say thank you and gave me the filthiest look ever. I actually cried when I left this bar. We of course didn’t ever go back after that one drink.
Again I mentioned this to the receptionist and they smiled and apologised. The next day I requested more toilet roll, bins to be emptied and a coffee to be refilled. The only thing that was done was the bins were emptied. I did not have a shower during our stay as you can see from the pictures it was riddled with mould.
We paid overall 310 to stay here Friday to Monday which included parking.
As you can see from all my other reviews I am not one to just write bad reviews and I am happy to give great reviews when needed.
The money we paid is ridiculous I feel that they should have paid us to stay there.
I have also emailed the hotel which I have had no reply.
AVOID AT ALL COST
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Date of stay: October 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Avoid the hotel completely
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Adri C, Guest Services / Front Office at The Windermere Hotel
Responded 17 Dec 2024
Dear Claire M , Thank you for sharing your comments on the website . Guest satisfaction is important to us and we truly care about each guest's experience. Unfortunately, during your stay, the hotel was fully booked and we were unable to offer a room change. Please rest assured that the maintenance issues you mentioned have now been addressed by our teams. We hope you will allow us the opportunity to provide a much improved stay in the future. Wishing you a happy and festive holiday season . with kind regards,
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I booked this as part of a red letter days gift (so the choices were limited) and instantly regretted it after reading the reviews. Having very low expectations, I was actually pleasantly surprised. The hotel is in a great location for the town and surrounding areas, there is payable parking on site which is clearly marked. The room, although nothing special was perfectly adequate and comfortable, it was clean. Rooms aren't serviced daily but we were only there 2 nights so that was fine for us. Breakfast was at an additional cost so we went into town.
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Date of stay: June 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Adri C, Guest Services / Front Office at The Windermere Hotel
Responded 3 Aug 2024
Dear Jo R , Thank you for sharing your experience . We are pleased to read that you found your room clean, comfortable and adequate for your needs. We hope to welcome you back in the future and continue to exceed your expectations. with kind regards,
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A superb hotel at a very reasonable price in an excellent location and only a short walk down to Bowness. The car park is spacious and reasonable priced at £6 per day.
The room was well heated and comfortable with plenty of storage if required. The bed was very comfortable and has a good quality duvet and pillows. The bathroom is large with an excellent large shower cubicle that was very powerful giving a great invigorating shower. The room and bathroom were both very clean and modern.
Breakfast was exceptional with a fantastic choice of food and again in a clean and welcoming environment. If you like a Full English breakfast then you won’t be disappointed as the bacon and sausages were superb. Tea, coffee and orange juice were in plentiful supply and the toasting machine worked perfectly.
We will definitely stay here again and I can highly recommend the hotel for quality of service at a reasonable price.
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Plenty of parking on-site, 10 minute walk down to Bowness
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Adri C, Guest Services / Front Office at The Windermere Hotel
Responded 11 Mar 2023
Dear MartinRS2K, Thank you for taking the time and rate your recent experience at The Windermere Hotel. Our team and I all appreciate your valuable feedback and we look forward to welcoming you back on a future occasion soon, until then let us wish you all the very best. Kind regards, Adrian C The Windermere Hotel
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There are more places to choose from in the Windermere area.
PRICE RANGE
$103 - $180 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
the hotel windermere, windermere the hotel, windermere hotel windermere
LOCATION
United KingdomEnglandCumbriaLake DistrictWindermere
NUMBER OF ROOMS
69
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