Discover the most luxurious hotels in the Lake District

At waterside Georgian mansion Storrs Hall, the banks of Lake Windermere are your front lawn. The hotel dates back to the 1790s and counts poet William Wordsworth as one of its earliest visitors. Nowadays, it retains its romantic-period charm with a woodland setting and classicly restored interiors.

Treat yourself to afternoon tea with freshly baked cakes and silky Cornish clotted cream. The menu at Lake Edge Restaurant is a love letter to local flavours; enjoy tender Cumbrian lamb and North Lancashire-sourced fish as you watch the sun set over the fells. End the day with a toast at the atmospheric Tower Bar.

Stay at the secluded boathouse for vistas of the lake and opulent amenities such as a freestanding duo bath, spa shower, steam room and hot tub.

Castle Green Hotel celebrates the archetypical English country retreat with its lofty Victorian ceilings and characterful fixtures. The hotel features an array of modern comforts too, such as flat-screen TVs and king-size beds. After strolling the storied paths of the Lake District, visit the stately art galleries in the quaint market town nearby.

Mini breaks are as much about relaxing as exploring, so make the hotel’s health club your next stop. Take a dip in the pool or detoxify in the steam room, then choose a massage, facial, scrub, wrap or beauty treatment at the candlelit Green Rooms Spa.

Mingle with locals and travellers alike at the hotel’s atmospheric pub, Alexander’s, set in a renovated stable block with wood-beam ceilings. Sample hearty dishes such as Cumberland sausage and creamed potato alongside a paddle of ales.

Discover a rural retreat perched on the shores of England’s longest lake, Windermere, at Merewood Country House Hotel. The authentic wood-panelled reception and Edwardian Conservatory Bar create a warm and welcoming feel while evoking the hotel’s early-1800s origins.

Treat yourself to a seven-course tasting menu at the Arboreal Restaurant, which has two AA rosettes. Chefs use techniques such as curing and charring to elevate ingredients sourced from the surrounding woodlands, including asparagus and quail eggs. If you’re in the mood for steak, try the rotating breed-of-the-week porterhouse at the informal Grill eatery.

At the end of the day, sink into a four-poster bed in your lake-view room. Witness the changing landscape from your window as the last of the light dances over the water.

Spectacular views are a given thanks to Macdonald Old England Hotel & Spa’s Lake Windermere setting. With its own private jetties for sojourns by boat, and sprawling manicured gardens, this country house is a natural oasis.

After a walk in the fells or a session at the technogym, relax with a foot treatment at the Elemis spa. Detoxify with a wrap or scrub, then melt away tension with a facial and massage. Pamper yourself with a manicure, pedicure, waxing treatment or makeup session, or simply lounge in the heated indoor pool.

Enjoy afternoon tea at the Terrace Lounge, where dainty finger sandwiches are paired with herbal infusions ranging from delicate Oolong to strong Assam. End your day with contemporary British cuisine at the in-house restaurant while gazing out onto the ever-changing views of the rippling water.

Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa is perched on the shores of Lake Windermere against a dramatic backdrop of verdant hills. This hotel combines a tranquil atmosphere with a sense of adventure: at its watersports centre, you can try anything from sailing to paddle boarding.

After a dose of excitement head to the spa, where the rustic interior is inspired by the hotel’s wild surroundings. Unwind with a massage, scrub or facial, or treat yourself to a manicure and pedicure. The hotel’s health club features a 50-foot indoor pool, an infrared sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi and gym. Men can enjoy a male grooming treatment while ladies can relax in the airy atrium with its floor-to-ceiling windows, then sip a vitamin-packed drink at the juice bar.

When it’s dinnertime, pick from three excellent restaurants. At Blue Smoke on the Bay, watch chefs cook tender aged steak and flaking fish over the hot embers of a wood-fired grill.

The award-winning Cedar Manor Hotel is an exclusive country retreat just a 10-minute walk from Windermere town centre. This secluded house dates back to 1854 when it was built as a rural bolthole. Meander through the immaculate gardens – complete with the cedar tree the hotel’s name derives from – then recline on heritage furniture handmade in Windermere.

End your day in the fine-dining restaurant with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc as a fruity accompaniment to a smoked haddock mousseline. The hotel’s 10 rooms each have their own personality. The Coach House Suite is distinguished by a rich berry-toned colour palette and private dining room, whereas the romantic Langdale has a spa bath and fell views.

Located in Bowness-on-Windermere, the Burnside Hotel & Spa is a stone’s throw away from a selection of the Lake District’s star attractions, including Beatrix Potter’s hilltop home and the steamer piers.

The hotel’s spa elevates luxury to a lavish new level. Enjoy a chilled glass of prosecco at the bar here, then locate the pool’s secret button to transform it into a large Jacuzzi. Relax in one of the two hot tubs, then reinvigorate your senses in the cold plunge pool. There’s a sauna and steam room to while away an afternoon at, too, perhaps after a stint in the gym.

The spa’s softly lit treatment rooms offer facials, scrubs, wraps, manicures, pedicures and waxing sessions, often using award-winning Aromatherapy Associates products. Innovative therapies such as lava shell massages are also available.

End your night in the rustic confines of Romney’s Snug Bar or recline in the private 18-seat cinema with a rich Cumbrian ale.

Escape to the lakes at Beech Hill. This elegant hotel sits on the eastern banks of Windermere, with views of the Western Fells’ dramatic ridges. Its early 1900s roots are still evident in the interior design: think original stone walls and Venetian chandeliers.

Head straight for your roll-top bath or private outdoor hot tub after checking in at the Wordsworth Suite. Afterwards, let the clean air revitalise you as you take a peaceful stroll through the hotel’s pristine gardens.

The Lakeview Spa takes pampering to the next level. Here, you’ll find a Himalayan sauna, scented steam room and outdoor pool with views over the shimmering lake. Indoors, you can take a dip in the 40-foot pool or indulge in an Elemis facial, massage or beauty treatment.

Located within three acres of gardens between Windermere and Bowness, Hillthwaite is a distinguished hotel with rooms overlooking the moody Langdale Pikes and Crinkle Crags. Expect homely yet high-end touches at private lodges featuring crisp Egyptian cotton sheets and sumptuously decorated sitting rooms.

While you indulge in a quintessentially English afternoon tea, your partner can opt for cured meats and baked goods. Have yours out on the terrace to feel the fresh lake breeze in your hair.

Watch boats drift across the misty water while enjoying your evening meal. Round off a night dining on seasonal fare such as Lakeland lamb rump with a set lemon curd featuring white chocolate ganache.