Hotel Review
Victorian House Hotel, Grasmere, Lake District
Close to the centre of pretty Grasmere village, this traditional Victorian hotel has been given a fresh makeover to create a relaxed, contemporary feel while still keeping its vintage charm. Furniture is a mix of antiques, flea market finds and modern, while colours are soothing and earthy. The hotel is very family and dog-friendly, while the bedrooms are comfy and with decent views - several have big corner windows and telescopes for stargazing. The semi open-plan downstairs rooms include a bar-dining area and conservatory, and have a house-party feel when guests gather in the evenings, often after a day's walking, to enjoy informal supper plates or board games.
THE DETAILS
Location
It is great to be able to try out other bars and restaurants - The Jumble Room or Tweedies Bar are our favourites - without having to worry about driving.
The hotel is in the centre of the picturesque village of Grasmere, with traditional shops and pubs.
By car: 2 hours from Manchester, 3 hours from Edinburgh and just over 5 hours from London. There is free parking on-site.
By train: trains run from Manchester Piccadilly (just over 1 hour), London Euston (3 hours) and Edinburgh Waverley (2 hours) to Oxenholme Lake District station. The hotel is a 40-minute taxi ride from the station. thetrainline.com
Style & Character
The hotel feels spacious and uncluttered, even though there's an interesting collection of furniture and art. The atmosphere is nicely laidback so children, muddy walkers and dogs all feel welcome.
Service & Facilities
All guests are welcome to help themselves to homemade cake which appears mid-afternoon. We always enjoy a huge slice of carrot cake. Dogs are made very welcome, and are greeted with bowls, towels and treats, and are allowed throughout the downstairs areas.
- Bar
- Breakfast
- Snacks
- Terrace
- Free parking
- Free Wi-Fi
- Family rooms
- Pet-friendly
Rooms
We love the simplicity of the rooms - though clearly stylish, it is very relaxing. If you're a budding astronomer, opt for one of the corner Stargazer rooms.
Cosy, Comfortable, Spacious, Stargazer, Family Friendly, Dog Friendly
Facilities include: ensuite bathroom, Penningtons Coffee machine and organic Cosy Tea, free Wi-Fi
Food & Drink
There's a relaxed feel to the food service; no-one would mind if you wore your slippers. There's a nice focus on local beers and spirits, plus they make their own infusions to create cocktails such as a Lavender Sour, which is interesting.
Breakfast: Cumbrian grill, eggs, pancakes, porridge. Locally sourced ingredients. Vegan and gluten-free options available.
The Garden Room Bar: a fully stocked bar with a range of speciality licqours and unusual cocktails.