The Swan at Grasmere - The Inn Collection group

It was a lovely setting, and the staff were very friendly and helpful. The room was clean and spacious, with good shower amenities, and breakfast was very good with vegan choices too. The building is quite old, so there can be a bit of creaking, though it didn’t bother us.

We had a great three night stay with our dog. The room was immaculate, the bed very comfortable, and we slept brilliantly. We also used the green clean option for free drinks on our first night. Service was welcoming and friendly the whole time. My one quibble is the £15 per night dog charge. Since the room was cleaned so often, a one off fee would feel fairer.

The manager, I think his name was Conor, really turned things around for us. Our room was too hot, and he moved us to one where we could open the windows without cigarette smoke coming in from outside. He was great about it. The mattress was extremely firm, though, and the ground floor bathroom was nice. The room was clean and large, with pretty views. Staff were helpful and fairly friendly, and breakfast and supper were fine. No real complaints otherwise, and we’d stay again.

The location made getting out for walks easy, with stunning routes nearby and bus stops so close we didn’t need the car. It’s a quieter choice than busier places like Keswick and Ambleside, and the hotel has lovely views, a great beer garden and cosy decor. We had a superior double, which was huge. Breakfast set us up well for long walking days. The rooms were clean, and for stays longer than two nights you can skip a room clean in exchange for a free drink. I’m not usually keen on chain hotels, but this one was a real surprise. We were impressed and would happily return.