The Old England is the most convenient hotel in the Lake District for people who want to arrive, park the car and walk. It stands above the lakeshore in Bowness-on-Windermere, among the pier, shops and restaurants, with the Windermere Lake Cruises pier and the World of Beatrix Potter a few minutes away on foot. The hotel has 106 traditionally styled bedrooms, and its spacious balcony suites look out across Lake Windermere to the fells beyond, which is the reason to pay for a lake-view category. A spa and leisure club with a swimming pool gives a reason to stay in on cold winter evenings, and the hotel works for couples on a spa break and families who want a pool after a day outdoors. Rates are mid-range to upper mid-range and move with the season, with special offers such as three nights for the price of two at quieter times.
Location and getting around
Bowness is the Lake District's busiest village, and the hotel is in the middle of it, which means everything is walkable. You can step out to the cruise pier, take the car ferry toward Hill Top and Far Sawrey, find a pub or fish and chip supper in minutes and catch buses to Ambleside, Grasmere and Windermere station. The trade-off is crowds on summer weekends and traffic in the village streets. In November and winter the village is calm and the lake is at its most atmospheric.
The rooms
Standard rooms are traditional, with a private bathroom and free wifi, and sleep two adults. Balcony suites are the splurge, with lake views from a private balcony that is lovely on a crisp winter morning if you wrap up. Family rooms are available, and the leisure club makes the stay work for children. Quiet rooms away from the street side are worth requesting if you sleep lightly, and a lake view should be confirmed when you reserve.
Good to know
The hotel is large, so expect a busy breakfast room and a hotel-style rather than boutique feel. Parking arrangements should be checked when you book, since the village is tight, and rates for winter weekends and the Christmas period are higher than midweek. It suits first-time visitors, families, and couples who want a spa and a lake view with no driving. Walkers who want a quiet fell-side base, and diners who want a destination restaurant, may prefer Ambleside or Borrowdale.
Why stay here
- ✓Lakeshore location in Bowness
- ✓Balcony suites with lake views
- ✓Spa and leisure club
- ✓Swimming pool
- ✓Walk to the cruise pier
- ✓Family rooms
- ✓Free wifi
- ✓Restaurant and bar on site
Good questions
Is the Old England close to the lake cruises?+
Yes. It is in the middle of Bowness, a few minutes on foot from the Windermere Lake Cruises pier and the World of Beatrix Potter.
Does it have a pool and spa?+
Yes, there is a spa and leisure club with a swimming pool, which is popular on cold winter evenings and for families.
Are lake views guaranteed?+
Not in every room. The balcony suites look over Lake Windermere, so choose a lake-view category when you book and confirm it in advance.
