The Best Bed & Breakfasts to Book in the Lake District, UK

The stuff farm-stay dreams are made of, Crookabeck B&B is the Bell family’s gorgeous little farmhouse B&B in Patterdale. Located on a working farm surrounded by patchwork fields and close to Ullswater – one of England’s most beautiful lakes – Crookabeck B&B’s guest suite sleeps five people with two bedrooms, two bathrooms and an open-space living area. The home-cooked breakfast is all locally sourced, including eggs direct from the farm.

Can’t decide where you want to stay? Get the best of both worlds at Abbey House Bed and Breakfast. An old Victorian townhouse in the bustling market town of Penrith, Abbey House B&B is close to the epic countryside vistas that the Lake District is best known for, but still close enough to civilisation that you won’t have to go without any of your usual creature comforts. Accommodation is provided in five en-suite guest rooms, and a full English is served every morning.

If heritage chic is your aesthetic, the Bank House Bed and Breakfast will be right up your alley. Located in a 19th-century townhouse on the outskirts of Penrith, Bank House has carefully restored rooms furnished with antiques and views over the fells, a magical garden and one of the best breakfasts in the Lake District, including bread made with stone-ground flour from a nearby watermill, traditional jams, cheese, bacon, sausages and black pudding.

Horse lovers won’t want to miss one of the Lake District’s most unique B&B experiences – a luxury stable sleepover next to one of the Greenbank Farm’s famous Friesian horses or JB, the Shetland Pony. If spending the night horsing around with your new roommate isn’t your thing, then fear not, there’s also a heritage-listed 16th-century four-star seven-bedroom farmhouse with a hot tub up for grabs, too. You can book out the entire farmhouse – which sleeps up to 16 – or opt for a room-only en-suite with a view.

For an elegant, quintessentially British holiday (modern-day Downton Abbey, anyone?), Lindeth Fell ticks all the right boxes. This award-winning five-star Edwardian manor on the outskirts of Bowness offers sweeping views over Lake Windermere and the nearby fells. Home to the Kennedy family since 1984, this luxury B&B has 14 individually designed bedrooms, complete with cream sherry, Nespresso coffee machines, robes and slippers, a wonderful English garden and a terrace perfect for afternoon tea.

Built by famous architect Francis Whitwell in 1904 in a stellar location atop a crag overlooking the Brathay Valley, Nanny Brow is one of the Lake District’s most luxurious B&Bs. Taking inspiration from the Arts & Crafts style at the time, this country house is beautiful on both a grand and a tiny scale, with both Whitwell’s and the owners Sue and Peter’s eye for detail obvious in everything from the gardens to the guest rooms and the award-winning breakfasts.

Prefer something a bit more akin to a traditional Lakes getaway, complete with good old English pub grub, a roaring fire and a beer garden? Head to the Mortal Man Inn in Troutbeck Valley. First established as a pub in 1689, the Mortal Man Inn’s 12 en-suite rooms may have been upgraded, but the scenic views and the quaint feel of this historic village (probably) haven’t changed too much over the last few centuries. Still, in keeping with the vibe, you can only access the wifi in public areas. Breakfast can vary, from continental to full English, depending on current Covid-19 restrictions. This is reflected in the room price when you book.

An indulgent blend of old and new, Moss Grove Organic’s 11 rooms offer a stylish and environmentally conscious escape in a delightfully restored Victorian facade. Located in Grasmere, which was once described by William Wordsworth as “the loveliest spot that man hath ever found,” Moss Grove is close to some of the Lake District’s most beautiful attractions – that is if you can ever bring yourself to leave the comfort of your handmade bed. Breakfast is usually a Mediterranean buffet, featuring organic, fair-trade and locally sourced produce. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, this is currently on hold, but you can choose from the menu, and they will deliver it to your door instead. Alternatively, you can take your breakfast to go and head to a scenic picnic spot.

In the quiet village of Far Sawrey, Cuckoo Brow Inn is a laid-back, old-fashioned pub with open fires, good food, great beer and comfortable rooms where you can bring the whole family – including the dog. Breakfasts are optional, and include pastries, coffee and fruit, along with a good old fry up to fuel you up for a day’s exploring. Culture Trip loves the old stables, which have been converted into cosy lounge areas, perfect for a quiet nightcap or enjoying a rowdy game of Scrabble over a pint or three.