Gilpin Hotel & Lake House

Breakfast was fresh and delicious, and the staff were warm, professional and attentive. We felt right at home. Our room had a private sauna, steam room and hot tub, along with a cozy fireplace, and the stone architecture and calm lake views were beautiful. Gilpin Hotel & Lake House made it easy to switch off and enjoy ourselves. We can’t wait to return!

The Knipe suite at Gilpin Lakehouse Hotel is out of this world. Calling it a great hotel room would be like calling Lake Windermere a puddle. We spent two joyful days walking the estate and rowing the complimentary boat on the tarn, with tranquil, breathtaking scenery all around the Lakehouse. The food was sublime, from breakfast there to dinner at the nearby sister hotel. I’m glad the chefs seem to be choosing the ingredients, rather than the accountant. Thanks especially to Amy from guest relations, Holly, Kyra, Brian and the restaurant team at the sister hotel. From the moment we arrived we were spellbound. For a restful, private sanctuary of exceptional quality in a relaxed atmosphere, I can think of nowhere better in the UK. Team Gilpin, take a bow.

The main draw here is the setting: woodland, a private tarn, spa views and a quiet, secluded feel that suits couples. People often praise the attentive hospitality, especially for honeymoons and anniversaries, as well as the food at Michelin-starred SOURCE and the more relaxed pan-Asian menu at Gilpin Spice. The Spa Lodges and Spa Suites stand out, with private hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms, massage chairs and countryside views. Gilpin combines a traditional country-house hotel with modern spa lodges and a separate private Lake House estate near Windermere. There are tradeoffs. It’s very expensive, and some guests feel the stay doesn’t always justify the cost. Reviews suggest the premium spa lodges are much better than some standard rooms, which a few people found dated or worn. There are also occasional reports of delayed housekeeping, booking errors and slow service in the restaurant or bar. The remote location works well for privacy, but is less convenient if you want to walk into town or avoid driving. It seems best suited to romantic getaways, anniversaries, honeymoons, spa weekends, fine dining and quiet luxury. It may be less suitable for budget-conscious travellers, families with young children, anyone wanting a lively town-centre hotel, or guests expecting every room category to feel ultra-modern. If you choose a newer spa lodge or suite and plan to enjoy the restaurants and spa, it can be a high-end Lake District escape with standout food and atmosphere. The main risk is value for money: expectations are high at these prices, and some older rooms appear less impressive than the marketing photos. Sentiment is still strongly positive, with ratings around 4.7/5 across thousands of reviews.

Andrew, the barman, kept us entertained one evening when we had the bar to ourselves for a while. Everyone at Gilpin’s Hotel was friendly and couldn’t do enough for us. We had a lovely midweek visit, with clean, spacious and luxurious rooms, a good minibar and safe, and fresh milk for tea and coffee. Our Troutbeck 8 room had a huge balcony with two loungers and a hot tub; we could see the estate’s alpacas, llamas and pigs from there. Both restaurants served superb meals, and walking around the pretty estate was a pleasure. We’ll certainly be back.