If you’re looking for a luxurious getaway in the Lake District, Langdale Chase Hotel should be on your radar. This stunning hotel offers incredible views of Lake Windermere, and its well-appointed rooms are perfect for a relaxing break.
We recently had the pleasure of staying here and were absolutely blown away by its beauty and charm. The service was top-notch and the afternoon tea was simply amazing.
Langdale Chase Hotel will most definitely tick your boxes if you’re looking for a romantic retreat or a comfortable family vacation to this beautiful part of England, however, there are a couple of things that may put some folk off.
Read our honest review before making up your mind as to whether this is the perfect hotel for your trip.
Location and History
Langdale Chase Hotel is located on the stunning shores of Lake Windermere, and is a 5-minute drive from the nearest town, Ambleside. The hotel has an incredible history dating back to the 1900s, and it’s easy to see why it’s been such a popular destination for so many years.
Built in 1890, Langdale Chase Hotel originally served as a private residence for the wealthy Mancunian family and their 16 or so members of staff. Over the years, it has undergone several transformations, and is now one of the most luxurious hotels in the Lake District.
The hotel sits on sprawling grounds with manicured gardens, and its rooms offer beautiful views of Lake Windermere. Langdale Chase Hotel is truly a gem in the Lake District, and we can’t recommend it enough.
First Impressions of Langdale Chase Hotel
As soon as we entered the grounds of Langdale Chase Hotel, we knew we had made the right choice. The views out towards the lake were just absolutely stunning! With plenty of parking right outside the main entrance, transferring our luggage and checking in was a breeze.
As for the interior…
Stained glass windows. Rich oak panels. Beautiful fireplace. Wooden beams. Oil portraits. Candelabras. Everything about the place is Victorian! You will certainly be thrown back in time and get a good feel for what it was like in this beautiful era.
The hotel staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming, and they went out of their way to make sure we had everything we needed before showing us to our room.
Now, this hotel getaway was a last-minute surprise from my partner, so I had zero input on the hotel or room selection. And being a fairly fussy person (particularly when it comes to the bathroom), my heart did sink a little…
Our bathroom was outdated, had no windows, and there were separate faucets for hot and cold water in the sink (which I tend to avoid at all costs). If it were purely down to me, I would have never considered this hotel, as I always look for comfort in the little things.
Well, I am so pleased that I let my partner take the reigns on this one, as the Langdale Chase Hotel ended up being one of the most romantic and memorable places we have ever stayed in the UK!
In fact, I may give him a little more responsibility with our future vacation plans…
Rooms at Langdale Chase Hotel
As the Langdale Chase was not originally built as a hotel, all rooms have their own unique layout and design.
We stayed in the largest Standard Room (Garden View) on the top floor, and what made this room special was the spacious balcony with views of the lake.
The staircase leading to this room is fairly narrow, and there are no elevators in the hotel. So those with mobility issues should make this clear when booking so that an appropriate room can be allocated.
Our room came with a large sitting area, a spacious bathroom with a shower and tub, and of course, the gorgeous views of Lake Windermere.
While I wasn’t too keen on the outdated bathroom, everything else about the room was just perfect. The bed was extremely comfortable, and we had more than enough space to relax and unwind after a long day of exploring.
Other room choices are:
Character Rooms
These rooms are slightly larger than their standard rooms, with guaranteed lake views.
Feature Rooms
Feature rooms are not just spacious, they come with an incredibly romantic feel to them. They also provide great views of the lake.
The Lake House
The Lake House offers 8 light and airy character bedrooms overlooking the lake and the mountains, and comes with its own patio terrace or private balcony.
The Boat House
The creme-de-la-creme, this room provides a secluded spot on the actual shorelines of the lake, with a private terrace built for stargazing and sipping champagne. If you love total privacy or sleeping over water, this is the room for you.
All rooms have a flat-screen TV, bottled water, toiletries, coffee machine, fluffy bathrobes and slippers, fresh milk for your tea (on request), and strong internet connectivity.
Dog-Friendly Hotel in Windermere
We were so pleased with how dog-friendly the staff were at Langdale Chase Hotel – it really made our stay that extra bit special.
They went out of their way to make sure she was comfortable – providing a dog bowl, towels, and doggie treats in our room, which was very kindly received by our hound.
The hotel grounds are catered perfectly for strolls with your pooch too, with plenty of open space and some lovely routes along the lake, and our dog absolutely loved admiring the views from our balcony!
The only place that dogs are not allowed is the restaurant and bar, otherwise, there are dining areas both inside and outside for doggos – we were so thrilled that we didn’t have to leave ours in the bedroom when we went down for breakfast in the morning!
We would 100% recommend Langdale Chase Hotel to anyone traveling with a dog.
Food at Langdale Chase Hotel
In terms of the selection of food at Langdale Chase Hotel, you really are spoilt for choice. They offer around 10 different menus depending on where you are eating and the time of day or week, and have plenty of variety to cater to everyone.
Although the food was generally very good, the two areas they really excel are:
Breakfast
The breakfast spread is one of the most impressive we’ve ever seen, with everything from a Full English Breakfast, American Stack Pancakes, Waffles, and Eggs Royale, to pastries, cereals, fresh fruit, and juices.
You can also order pancakes and eggs any way you like them, and porridge with all the toppings.
Afternoon Tea
If there’s one thing you shouldn’t miss, it’s the Afternoon Tea at Langdale Chase Hotel!
Particularly if you’re visiting in the summer months and seated outside, it will be one of the most memorable experiences you’ll ever have, with panoramic views across the lake.
And yes, apart from looking incredibly pretty, the spread itself was delicious!
Here’s a peek at what their chefs are currently cooking.
Is the Langdale Chase Hotel Value for Money?
In our personal opinion, it really depends on what you like from your trips.
We were incredibly lucky that the weather was perfectly warm and sunny throughout, which meant that we could thoroughly enjoy all of the outdoor space the hotel has to offer, and would happily book again, even if it meant paying slightly more than we had done previously.
It’s not the cheapest place to stay on Lake Windermere, but it certainly is the prettiest, and offers excellent all-round service. We booked our room at The Langdale Chase Hotel through Booking.com as prices were a little more favorable and came with free cancellation.
As for car hire, we used Discover Cars which has the best reviews of any car rental company, and the prices for an SUV were incredible too.
Our Langdale Chase Hotel Review
We were absolutely blown away by Langdale Chase Hotel and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a luxurious getaway in the Lake District.
With its incredible history, beautiful grounds, and stunning views of Lake Windermere, Langdale Chase Hotel is the perfect place to escape from it all.
What was your experience like? Let us know in the comments below!
