Storrs Hall, Windermere, Lake District

The hotel sits on the south-easterly flank of Windermere, with grounds that sprawl along the lake shore and lead onto a private jetty. Guests should not miss taking a stroll along the wooded shore, passing a historic stone temple as they go. The tourist hub of Bowness-on-Windermere is a six-minute drive away, providing plenty of amenities including a marina for boat hire, restaurants and the popular attraction, The World of Beatrix Potter.

By car: around 1 hour 45 minutes from Manchester, 3 hours from Birmingham and over 5 hours from London. Free parking available.

By train: direct trains to Oxenholme Station from Glasgow Central (1 hour 45 minutes) and London Euston (3 hours). The hotel is a 25-minute drive Book trains to Oxenholme.

The cream-painted main hotel building is fairly plain but disguises a tangible sense of history inside. The large lobby and staircase feel refined, with blazing fireplaces, large portraits and treasured artefacts in cases. The bedrooms are stylishly up-to-date, in stark contrast to the chintz you might find in other Lakeland hotels.

Staff are trained to provide a high level of service, helping foster a refined but not at all stuffy atmosphere throughout the hotel. Afternoon tea is served in the lounges, information on local walks is available, and staff will happily arrange for private boat trips and picnics.

• Bar
• Restaurant
• Terrace
• Garden
• Games room
• Family-friendly
• Free parking
• Free Wi-Fi

Bedrooms in the main building use sumptuous patterned wallpaper and oversized headboards to evoke a sense of grandeur, and the many categories of rooms all have pleasing sash windows. The Lakeside Suite lodges, meanwhile, are strikingly contemporary, with modern fires and freestanding baths behind glass panels that look towards the lake.

Room types: Classic Room, Superior Room, Feature Room, Deluxe Room, Master Suite, Lakeside Suite, The Boathouse

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom with toiletries, tea and coffee facilities, TV, free Wi-Fi

Dinner in the restaurant has an air of ceremony about it, and tables in crisp white cloths sit alongside windows facing the lake. Menus feature local produce and portions are hearty, though the cooking might not blow you away. Breakfast is comprehensive and it is beautiful to see the lake in the morning light.

Lake Edge Restaurant: elegant dining room. British cuisine, locally sourced ingredients. Open daily, lunch and dinner.

Tower Bar: cosy bar and relaxed dining. Serving British classics daily, 1:30-9pm.