Windermere Manor Hotel

The room was stunning, with a direct view of the lake. My only small gripe was that the windows were a little small, though I understand that’s not easy to change in such an old building. The hotel is ideally placed, within walking distance of Windermere town centre and Bowness, and there’s a lovely footpath down to the lakeshore about five minutes away. I spent four days and three nights here for my birthday and had a wonderful time. The staff were very friendly. Breakfast was fairly standard, but it was included in the price, so I can’t complain. Lunch and dinner were delicious and came out quickly. I’d especially recommend the steak and ale pie.

My daughter loved the swimming pool, and parking was easy with plenty of spaces. The hotel is in a great spot, just a short walk from Bowness. Our room and bed were really cosy, and the shower was excellent. We had a lovely stay, with an excellent breakfast buffet. We’ll be back next year.

After a long day of walking and exploring, it was great to come back and relax in the pool. The food was very good, the service was good too, and I could unwind with a drink in one of the comfy rooms. The hotel was clean and tidy, and our room was spotless and comfortable. This was my first stay at the Windermere Manor Hotel, and I’ll be back. I’d read comments about miserable staff and the place looking tired, but I was greeted with a smile as soon as I arrived. The staff were helpful throughout.

The grounds and building are lovely, and the pool was pleasant, with warm water and toiletries in the showers. Our rooms were clean, though very basic. Standard rooms didn’t have shampoo, which surprised us. The hotel interior felt tired, and it seemed understaffed. Customer care was uneven too. My sister paid cash and had to insist on getting a receipt. We arrived with high expectations, especially since family had travelled from Majorca to stay together. The service before arrival was good, but the visit overall fell short. On the first evening, we were told a table for nine couldn’t be booked, so the family ended up split across three tables at different times. The food was fine, but being separated was disappointing. The second night we were seated together, but staff couldn’t take all nine orders at once. They were clearly working hard, but seemed stretched, and service was slow, items were missed, and nobody apologised when drinks arrived half an hour late. The breakfast restaurant manager deserves special recognition. He was exceptional at his job. Was it a good hotel? Yes. Would we stay again? No, the experience didn’t meet our expectations.