My wife and I have just returned from a four night stay at this clean and welcoming hotel. We travelled by train and received a great reception from the staff who quickly booked us in and explained about meal times etc. The room was on the first floor affording a view out to Lake Windermere and it was clean and well presented.(We hadnt booked a room with a view.) Meals were very good, with pleanty of choice. Though it was very cold outside the hotel was warm in the bedrooms and the public rooms. The staff were always ready to ensure that you were enjoying your stay and I can say, if you visit and have a problem, 'tell them', and they will rectify your problem. This hotel gives 'value for money'. Yes, there is a problem with seating space in the bar but work is in hand to build-on in the future. I think bar prices are a bit steep but we found similar in other bars in the Lake District during our stay. Local buses are just across the road and it is downhill to reach them. If you want to go down to the Lake by taxi it's £4 each way. An enjoyable stay. We will be coming back later in the year. Well done Windermere!!

We have just returnrd from a 3 night stay at this hotel, travelling by coach. My advice to anyone thinking of this is don't!! The hotel is at the top end of Windermere close by the railway/bus station. Every time you leave the hotel you are going up or down a hill. To the shops in Windermere it is about 5 minutes. to Bowness allow 20 going down and upwards of half an hour coming back up the hill.
The hotel itself is fine. You must bear in mind that it is a coaching hotel and therefore not the most modern.

Reception staff were pleasant and helpful. We arrived about 12.30 by coach and couldn't get into our rooms until 3pm.

Room. This hotel was built in the 1800s at the same time as the railway arriving. The floorboards in our room must be the origional given the noise they made every time we moved!! The beds were comfortable and the room was clean and tidy. The bathroom had all that you need with regard to toiletries. The TV felt that it was also installed in the 1800s. Digital does not seem to have caught up in Cumbria!! Tea, coffe, horlicks, biscuits etc replenished every day.

Eating. The restaurant was very nice. The staff there very efficient. The food fine for what we were paying.There was a fair selection on the menue and it was nicely presented. The food was always hot on arrival. No complaints at all.

Bar. The usual rip off for drinks. You are better going to one of the local pubs and getting a drink at a much lower price in a place with more atmosphere. Better still, nip over to Booths Supermarket across the road and get your own stash in your room!!

Entertainment. If you want to be entertained in the evening don't go here!! Only one night when there was a very mediocre vocalist on. If you are happy with your own company or want to chat with friends this is the place to go.

Conclusion. I would go back here but only by car so as not to be relient on either a trip out on the coach or the buses/trains. Give it a try and see what you think.

My husband and I enjoyed a New Year break in Windermere where the hotel staff and food were superb. The evening entertainment was very good as was the cleanliness of the rooms. As with most hotels, there is a certain amount of refurbishment required in some bedrooms, but we understand there is a refurb programme in operation. We would not hesitate to visit this hotel in the future.

The hotel is very impressive from the outside but I am afraid it ends there, our basic room (203) was always cold with drafty old windows,the heated towel rail had a mind of its own and was fitted about 10 inches from the toilet seat which made it dangerous when sitting even through it had a warning sticker it is far to close to the pan.small things like the tissue box in the toilet ran out after 2 of our 5 days and was never replaced,the shower unit was totally unpredictable hot, cold, fast, slow this room seriously needs updating.

Dining was laid out in three separate rooms and was acceptable for the price paid but unique to the Windermere the waiters could only take your order for one course at a time.

The bar area is totally inadequate for the size of the hotel and with guests on all inclusive packages is well supported if you are not seated by 7.30 the only place to sit is back in the restaurant.