Top 22 things to do and attractions in Bowness-on-Windermere (2024)

We came for a 1 night stay first impressions wow!We was greeted by lovely staff who upgraded our room at no extra cost!Room was lovely and spacious.Bed was big and comfortable.Hot tub on the balcony amazing with amazing views.Restaurant co*cktail bar was fancy and a lovely terrace outside with beautiful views.Food was lovely we had steak.We also tried co*cktails they were very nice.Breakfast was also nice and was self service.The spa was beautiful and tranquil.Staff was friendly and welcomed us fully.Overall we have a lovely stay and I would definitely recommend.

The first thing to note about the Lakes Hotel and Spa, is that it's not a 5 star hotel. On the website, it explains that they've self-assessed the 5 star rating and a lot of the reviews, including mine, would argue it's not accurate (it's probably around a 3-4 star).Pros: The room was nice, quiet, and relatively cool considering the hot weather outside, though the shower was very basic. The welcome from the parking attendant was so friendly and personal (it was probably the nicest part of the trip and did feel 5 star), and the tour by the concierge was also great.Cons: We came for a spa break and that part of the trip fell a bit short. Accessing the spa through a pub felt strange and we weren't given any robes, slippers, or info on lockers etc on arrival (turns out robes and slippers are in your room), which meant it didn't feel like a warm welcome or at all special. The changing rooms were really substandard, with cloth shower curtains and lots of rusty metal fixtures. The spa itself was quite nice, but had to open 2 hours late for maintenance whilst we were there, and then still had a broken sauna. I also just think the setup (pub attached to it and darkly lit spa etc) made it feel a bit grubby and not like a health spa. I was also disappointed that when I asked of we could check out 1 hour late because we'd come on a spa break and couldn't use the spa for another 2 hours, I was told a very firm 'no' by the really unempathetic receptionist. Luckily, another receptionist interjected and immediately resolved the issue, but I definitely wouldn't expect a 5 star hotel to say 'no' to something which felt like a reasonable request.Overall, the room was lovely apart from the bathroom, the bar/terrace looked pretty and some of the colleagues went above and beyond. But the spa was just OK, a bit novelty, with rundown changing rooms, and one receptionist at the hotel was really unhelpful

Had an amazing stay here. Attention to detail and cleanliness of both the main hotel and room was excellent. Our room had a south facing balcony and hot tub which was a real treat and even the weather cleared to provide a view of the lake. Ate in the co*cktail bar and both meals were delicious with friendly service. Spa was clean and relaxing and quite warm so couldn’t stay too long, but access to the pub bar through the hatch helped cool off with a G&T. All the staff we encountered were very friendly and welcoming right from the entrance gate house and throughout.

I stayed the day before valentines day with my girlfriend and the staff absolutely made the difference, from the front desk to the concierge (Mark) to the bar staff, they're all lovely.We stayed in the exterior double and it was great. The spa is nice, it does get busy around 4/5 but is dead from 8pm onwards.

Everyone was extremely friendly and welcoming, especially the gateman, concierge and front of house staff. Even on departure the concierge was giving me advice on the best route for my journey home at that time of day.The room was very comfortable and the bed provided a great night sleep.Spa with great ambience and facilities and the breakfast had a good variety and was very tasty.Well worth a stay if you are visiting!

Would give this place a higher rating if I could. A wonderful experience from start to finish, with friendly staff who just want to help you. The room with hot tub was cozy, clean and just amazing (loved the celebration package!) but the hotel amenities such as the pool, restaurant and bar were outstanding too. The breakfast buffet had so many options and did not disappoint. Lake Windermere is just a short walk away, and would recommend hiring bikes to fully enjoy the adventure. Thanks for helping to make my partner's birthday celebration the best!

I have recently spent a weekend here and I have to say it was very nice. Upon arrival the receptionist and concierge were extremely friendly. I stayed in a room with a hot tub which was all lovely (all be it the room was a little small with very little wardrobe space). I decided to have my first dinner with the hotel. This small dining room held a very tense atmosphere with a very obvious lack of smiles from both other guests and especially the staff. The food was good but I would say £90 for a dinner for 2 with only a main meal and a single drink was a little high. Breakfast was definitely the weak point. Under cooked scrambled eggs, rock solid fried eggs and sausages that I couldn’t finish was the most notable parts. The spa pool and massages were the most enjoyable aspect. Very relaxing. Over all a good stay, the wait staff needs to lighten up and the breakfast was beaten by premier inns

This was by far and large the BEST hotel me and partner have stayed in! We stayed here for our honeymoon last week and we turned up and they had provided us with a complimentary upgrade to the most beautiful room you have ever seen!The staff were amazing (from the bartenders in the co*cktail lounge to the wonderful people who gave me the best massage and facial). The service and food was outstanding and it honestly was the best week of our lives - we couldn't have asked for more from our stay! We will 100% be staying here again!

Wonderful place! Rooms so clean and comfortable. The staff were so friendly and welcoming. Was my mums 80th birthday and they celebrated with us. They arranged the Bentley car to take us out to the restaurant one night free of charge. The hotel restaurant was wonderful. Lovely food and lovely staff. The spa was so relaxing. Just one thing my daughter likes to read in a spa but it was too dark. Big shout out to Katalin who was so friendly and looked after us. Also to Stuart from concierge and Ian from the bar. Would definitely visit again! Thanks to everyone x

Booked a room for my partners birthday, the room was lovely, has a spacious king-size bed which unfortunately had what looked like a paint stain hidden under the throw and a small hole in the quilt cover, apart from that it was lovely.The sofa in the room seemed nice until we saw it had crumbs all over it and sliders left underneath it from the previous occupants.The hot tub was obviously it's selling point and it was marvelous, we loved it. The steps into the hot tub were sharp and I cut my ankle to the point that it was non stop bleeding, went to the reception and there was a lovely woman that gave me plasters, the glass on the balcony really should be frosted because I could definitely be seen getting in and out.The co*cktail bar and terrace was beautiful, the food was delicious and the staff were very polite and friendly.Having to go through a pub to access the pool was odd and the man behind the bar practically shouted at us because we didn't know we had to check in.Overall it's very lovely, pricey but certainly worth the price we both loved it plus the birthday card they left was nice.Stayed in room 230 13/10/23 - 15/10/23

We stayed on an October weekend. Most of the staff were very pleasant. Apart from one in the ‘Traditional Pub’. The food was fairly priced considering what sort of place it is. The food was also very nice. We ate in the co*cktail bar & terrace. Friendly service in there. We wanted to order some food up to the room but was put off the idea as soon as we read we’d be CHARGED TEN POUNDS [£10] simply for the food to be transported up to our room. Room was very nice. Lovely large TV and the hot tub was very clean, as was the balcony area. Although there was a previous guests pair of rather dirty sliders left under the sofa. Also had to put a carrier bag on the bedside table as it was sticky. We tried to wipe it. The sofa was dirty and looked as if it hadn’t been vacuumed. Overall if you have the money and want a nice weekend I’d recommend it.

We had an amazing time at the Lakes Hotel and Spa for our 10 year anniversary, they were kind enough to upgrade our room too which was an excellent surprise. Really appreciated all of the staff who were lovely and the view from the room was great. The balcony hot tubs are fantastic and you can use them until 11pm which was perfect for us. The celebration package was well worth the money and they wrote a lovely message on the mirror for us which again was a nice touch. We would love to stay again in future and would recommend it. Thank you!

Really great overall experience, staff were welcoming and polite. The setting and spa were amazing and the building and room were clean and well maintained. However, the breakfast was disappointing and it would have been better if the spa was connected directly to the hotel.I will definitely be returning here.

We were greeted on the drive by the gate keeper, who welcomed us warmly. My wife and I had an apartment room in the Spa complex, which was beautifully furnished. The main part of the hotel was superb. We dined in the hotel on one of our nights. The service was exceptional, as was the food. The surroundings were spectacular. The view from the terrace towards the lake could not be bettered. It is a beautiful hotel in a beautiful location.

My partner and I have just returned from our stay to celebrate our anniversary. We were greeted on reception by Mark, who upgraded us to the Junior Suite with hot tub and gave us complimentary cookies which was a wonderful surprise! Shaun gave us a tour of the hotel and our room, and could not have welcomed us any better. The spa was amazing as was our lunch in the hotel pub. As it was raining in the evening, Mark offered to take us into the Village in the Bentley, another wonderful touch you would not receive in any other hotel. The hotel & bar staff were all fantastic, and we will 100% be visiting again for our birthdays next year!

A 5 star hotel teetering on the very baseline of standards needed to fulfil this rating. Before you book yourself a room with a balcony spa, please be aware that your view may be of the car park, where staff are working loudly. Your balcony will not afford you any privacy either - how about some frosted glass at least? A shocking £12 to use the car park if you've not booked directly with them (why, exactly?). No indoor route to pub and spa facilities. No air conditioning. Bathroom looked tired. No minibar. Water damage to room carpet. And this was a room we were "upgraded" to! All a bit fur coat and no knickers. For the price, I expected better. Felt like a dishonest place, designed to maximise profits at detriment to customer experience.

What a place! My partner brought me here as a special treat and It did not disappoint. The room was immaculate and the lake view was stunning. The food in the co*cktail bar was absolutely delicious and the staff could not do enough for you. The attention to detail re decor is second to none, The whole place had a luxurious feel to it and the spa area (albeit a little bit too warm) was fabulous, especially having the window to the bar where you could enjoy a drink in a jacuzzi or poolside cabana. The glass of Prosecco on the roof terrace on arrival was a lovely touch too. I’m a little flabbergasted by some of the negative reviews to be honest, it seems booking directly with the hotel is the best way to go but everything was 5 Star. The walk into Bowness was a mere 5 minutes away and what a lovely town, the people really friendly and so many barsand shops which were well worth a visit too.

Underwhelming honeymoon. We came here hoping for something special after our wedding. When we arrived, my wife told the receptionist that she was writing her signature with her new surname for the first time - and the reply from the receptionist was that she would be able to practice writing the signature by signing lots of bills throughout our stay at the hotel. That was the level of heart we received throughout the whole stay, there was no effort to make it feel special for our honeymoon.Cleanliness was also an issue. We found a large toenail in our bed on the first night, and when we reported it to reception they tried to blame the supplier of the bedding and said they would have the bedding changed for us. The bedding was changed but the cleaner then left a dirty rag on the dresser in the room. Our bathroom had lots of black mould too, and water leaked across floor whenever we used the shower.There was never an effort made to make us feel better about our stay - or valued as customers paying a lot of money to be there. We were frequently ignored by concierge staff and service from most other staff felt underwhelming and heartless. We won’t be going back.

The Spa was noisy and a lot of drunk people still being served more drinks…. not relaxing at all. The plunge pool wasn’t very cold, the steam room not steamy and one of the hot tubs was broken. Male changing rooms were really dirty, no one cleaned them throughout the day. I mentioned the problems to a couple of staff members but nothing was resolved. It’s a real shame the spa was so disappointing as the hotel was amazing. For the price I paid to stay here I was very unhappy.

Spot on (if a little pricey). Staff were excellent. Food in Muzumi is generally good (some items are great and some a little bland) and I did enjoy the experience. I judge a place on whether or not I would return, and I would. The staff make this place and the views are fantastic.

Our stay at Lakes Hotel and Spa was nothing short of fantastic! From the moment we stepped into the reception, the staff greeted us with personalized warmth, making us feel right at home. The complimentary glass of prosecco added a delightful touch to the check-in experience.The rooms were spacious, impeccably clean, and adorned with modern amenities, providing a comfortable retreat after a long day of exploring.The spa facilities were a highlight of our stay, boasting a pristine swimming pool, three inviting hot tubs, a rejuvenating sauna, and a relaxing steam room—all impeccably maintained for maximum enjoyment.However, the only downside was the consistent noise in the spa area, as some guests seemed to treat it more like a party spot than a serene sanctuary. This disturbance led to the deduction of one star from an otherwise flawless experience.The massage we received was truly out of this world, leaving us feeling completely rejuvenated and stress-free.Lastly, the breakfast spread was expansive, offering a hearty full English breakfast alongside excellent continental options, ensuring a satisfying start to each day of our stay.Overall, Lakes Hotel and Spa exceeded our expectations, and we look forward to returning for another rejuvenating getaway soon.

I booked a room here for my girlfriend’s 21st birthday and we were not disappointed. We travelled by train and opted for the Bentley chauffeur service which was amazing as the driver gave us a full tour of the town, recommending various shops and restaurants to us before dropping us off outside the hotel and taking our bags in for us. The customer service from all the staff we spoke to was impeccable, and when we first arrived we were given complimentary Prosecco and a tour of the hotel. We had a double room with a hot tub, with a gorgeous view from the balcony. The terrace is a great place to sit and have a co*cktail whilst taking in the scenery. The hotel itself is in an excellent location aswell, only a short walk away from Bowness town and the boats. The only slight negative was the food in the pub, the service was excellent from the staff, but we probably wouldn’t eat there again. The breakfast options were great, a lot of different food ranging from cooked breakfast, to cereal, fruit and cooked meats. We were also able to leave our bags with reception after check out, allowing us to explore the area freely, giving us another day of our holiday. If we hadn’t been able to do this we would have returned home a lot sooner that day than we did, so we really appreciate this service. Overall, an excellent experience, and we would definitely stay again.

Stayed as a couple from Sunday to Monday. The manager called the night before to say unfortunately one of the Spa team had taken ill and they had to cancel the treatments. As disappointing as this was, it's just one of those things. As a sorry we were given free co*cktails which although wasn't necessary we very much appreciated and enjoyed. Upon arrival we found out we were also gifted a room upgrade which was absolutely fantastic. Really made us feel welcome. The room itself was amazing, and we practically lived in the hot tub on the balcony.Ate at the Asian restraunt which we highly recommend. My girlfriend who is vegetarian also enjoyed and there were plenty of options for her.The staff throughout the stay were brilliant, especially in the co*cktail bar. Very friendly and couldn't do enough for you.The spa itself was very nice, although a bit on the small side. If you like to have a space for yourself and a bit more quiet, then maybe aim to go in out of peak hours. Literally the only downside of the whole thing, which for us wasn't really because we were just chilling in the pool for hours anyways.All in all, a lovely getaway for anyone who needs it.

Avoid this hotel, my wife caught hot tub folliculitis from their pent house suite room. We immediately informed the hotel about this and they didn’t take any blame and ultimately blamed my wife for apparently wearing fake tan, which she has never worn in her life.She left a trip advisor review about it to then have such a rude response from the manager Justine again deflecting any blame from the hotel when our GP has confirmed this is what it is.Avoid this hotel I’d recommend reading all trip advisor reviews.

Lovely hotel in a brilliant location, the staff were brilliant and reception was very helpful. The room itself was more then big enough and had an upstairs lounge with a huge TV and L shaped couch. The hot tub on the balcony was great to watch the sunset with a great view

Lovely stay over Easter Bank Holiday. Excellent service, special mention to Patrick for going above and beyond to help us even after his shift ended- thank you.Lovely clean suites with hot tubs, terrace was lovely in the sun and good food mostly, unfortunately chips were a little insipid and dry, but everything else was tasty on the tapas menu.