The Ro Hotel Windermere

The bed was very comfortable and the pillows were soft, and breakfast was buffet style. But there was no food apart from breakfast, with no afternoon or evening meals or bar food. I wouldn’t have booked if I’d known. On Christmas Day, all the restaurants and cafes were closed, though I was lucky to find The Bellsfield Hotel open for Christmas lunch, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The Ro, please let visitors know when they book that you can’t provide a full menu. My double room overlooked the lake, but a wall on the balcony blocked part of the view, so I had to bend down to see the whole lake. The hotel is at the top of a very steep road, so anyone with mobility problems will need to get a taxi.

The room was a good size, clean and modern, with a lake view and a nice bathroom with a good shower. Breakfast was buffet style, good quality and nicely cooked, and the staff were friendly and helpful. A lovely hotel very close to the centre of Bowness.

The shower was possibly the worst I’ve ever used, more like a weak leak, and the rooms were poor, no better than a two or three star standard. They weren’t maintained between days, and the hotel layout felt old and quite bizarre. The attractive front has been extended and modernised, but it doesn’t match the rest of the hotel and feels like just a frontage. Breakfast was extremely poor, with rubbish food, buffet service and rude people. We booked because of the spa and pool, but the pool wasn’t working. Nobody told us when we made spa bookings, on arrival or when we spoke to reception about the spa. We only found out when the spa bill came. We cancelled the rest of our stay and moved to a hotel four minutes down the road. It was cheaper, with impeccable food, waitress service, kind staff and amazing facilities. There are much better options in the area, so don’t waste your money here. Also watch out for extra charges for room views when the outlook isn’t just the lake. Waking up to garden sofas and a brick wall isn’t much of a view.

We used the leisure facilities for a month while staying in the area, though we didn’t stay at the hotel. The recently renovated pool and gym have been done really well. The pool is small but lovely, and there’s a hot tub, though no sauna. The relaxation room has fantastic views. There’s also a little room with hair dryers and vanities for makeup or skincare, with some products available to use. The staff were all so friendly, especially the person I assume was the manager, a lady with glasses and brown hair. They were particularly kind to our children. The facilities feel fancy, while the service is down to earth. Thanks so much to everyone!