In short: Tripplo’s analysis covers a sample of 58 guest reviews of Gilpin Hotel & Lake House. Guests in the sample highlight Service & staff, Location and Food & restaurants. The most common complaints: Many found it overpriced for the standard. Tired furniture and decor in places.
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Gilpin Hotel & Lake House, a Relais & Châteaux hotel near Windermere in the beautiful Lake District.
Gilpin is dedicated to nourishment, recuperation, and relaxation, and is made up of two hotels on two separate estates, just over a mile away from each other.
GILPIN HOTEL
All bedrooms have incredible Lakeland views, leading onto the beautiful hotel gardens.
GILPIN LAKE HOUSE
Just over a mile away from Gilpin Hotel, within 100 acres of breathtaking grounds and situated on the bank of Knipe Tarn, Gilpin Lake House is a true sanctuary far away from the crowds, but just a stone’s throw from the breath-taking lakes and fells. With a lounge, shared swimming pool and hot tub and spa treatment rooms, it has the feel of a country house with all the services of a hotel.
(Please note that only Lake House guests have access to the spa facilities at the Gilpin Lake House.)
Tripplo’s hotel summary
Tripplo’s analysis · Updated 20 October 2026 · How we review hotels
Gilpin Hotel & Lake House is built for slow days in the Lake District: long dinners, spa time and walks through private grounds. It is really two places, just over a mile apart. Gilpin Hotel has a fine-dining restaurant, the pan-Asian Gilpin Spice, a Champagne bar and rooms that open onto the gardens, while Lake House sits on Knipe Tarn with its own pool, hot tub and treatment rooms. Guests return again and again to the staff, many of whom they mention by name, and to the food. The trade-offs are mostly about cost and location. Guests find the rates high, particularly without breakfast, and the old building has no air conditioning, so rooms can feel warm. The hotel is outside town on Crook Road, and a car makes life much easier. Couples looking for a quiet, food-focused retreat will find it here; travellers on a tight budget or without a car may be better placed in Bowness-on-Windermere.
Guests score it 8.9 out of 10 — the average across the 9 hotels we list in the Lake District is 9.1.
- Staff are the most praised part of a stay. Guests describe luggage carried to the room and the car parked for them on arrival, name individual staff members, and one family wrote about the kindness shown to their disabled grandson.
- Food comes up in almost every review. Gilpin Hotel has a fine-dining restaurant and the more casual pan-Asian Gilpin Spice, and guests praise the tasting menus, the bartenders and the care taken with special dietary needs.
- Several guests found the nightly rate high, especially when breakfast is not included, and some felt the in-room facilities did not quite match the price. One also noticed a service charge added to the bill.
- There is no air conditioning in the old building, and a few guests found their room too warm, particularly at night. One wished for a window that could stay open when it was too cold to leave the French doors ajar.
Free PDF: what guests really say about Gilpin Hotel & Lake House
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- Pros and cons in every category guests mention
- The complaints that come up again and again
- Room guide and price analysis
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Should you book it?
Gilpin Hotel & Lake House is worth booking for couples who plan a stay around good food and spa time — but pick somewhere else if you travel without a car and want shops and restaurants on the doorstep.
Book it if you want
- Couples who plan a stay around good food and spa time
- Travellers who want privacy and quiet grounds in the Lake District
Pick somewhere else if
- You travel without a car and want shops and restaurants on the doorstep
- You need air conditioning in summer
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What guests actually say
Tripplo’s analysis uses a sample of 58 guest reviews. Texts may be shortened. Mentions are counted after automated classification and describe the sample, rather than every guest’s experience.
The sample follows how Booking.com and Google sort reviews, which puts satisfied guests first, so criticism is under-represented. Read the drawbacks below and the latest reviews on Booking.com before you book.
Food & restaurants
- +Excellent food in the on-site restaurants, especially the Asian-inspired one
- +A fine-dining tasting menu that many found memorable
- +A high-quality breakfast with plenty of choice and lovely views from the dining room
- +Fresh, locally sourced ingredients
- –Mixed views on the fine-dining restaurant, from slow service to a rushed pace
- –Restaurant tables need booking well in advance
- –Some found the menus too refined or unappealing
”The breakfasts were excellent. The evening meals in both restaurants were not to my taste.” — guest, translated
Service & staff
- +Warm, attentive staff who make the stay feel personal
- +Upgrades without asking and help with luggage
- +There is always someone around to help
- –Service falls short at times, with a rushed reception and some curt staff
- –Understaffing can mean long waits at the bar
- –Late turndown and small requests not met
”The staff went above and beyond for us. They made the whole trip personal.” — guest, translated
Pools, beach & aquapark
- +Hot tubs, a pool and even a rowing boat that you can book just for yourselves
- +Lovely outdoor hot tubs
- –The spa facilities are small and cost extra on top of the room
”The hot tubs and the pool were very nice.” — guest, translated
The rooms
- +Spacious suites with quality furnishings, some with a private hot tub or spa
- +Very comfortable beds and lovely bathroom products
- +Thoughtful details, including locally made, handcrafted products
- –No air conditioning, so rooms can get very hot in summer
- –Some rooms feel basic, with dated bathrooms or small showers
- –Some rooms look out over the car park or a neighbour's patio
”The room and grounds were beautiful. It was very warm and there was no air conditioning, which was disappointing for the price.” — guest, translated
Condition & cleanliness
- +Very clean rooms
- –Tired furniture and decor in places
- –Upkeep issues such as dirty windows, mould or broken fittings
- –Problems with the water supply and a power cut
”The room and bar furniture were tired.” — guest, translated
Location
- +A beautiful, secluded setting in its own grounds
- +Grounds to stroll around, including a llama field
- +A good base for exploring the Lakes
- –The Lake House rooms are a drive away from the main hotel
”An amazing setting, just far enough away in its own grounds.” — guest, translated
Noise levels
- +Very peaceful and quiet, with no children
- –Creaky floorboards and noisy garden works
- –Portable air-conditioning units and in-room fridges are noisy at night
”Lovely ambience, peaceful and very quiet.” — guest, translated
Value for money
- +Some felt it was expensive but worth it
- –Many found it overpriced for the standard
- –An optional service charge is added to the bill
- –Breakfast, spa access and room-service tray charges come on top
”It is expensive, but in my view it was worth it.” — guest, translated
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Frequently asked questions
How do guests rate Gilpin Hotel & Lake House?
On Booking.com it scores 8.9/10 from 225 guest reviews.
How many stars does Gilpin Hotel & Lake House have?
Gilpin Hotel & Lake House is a 5-star hotel.
What amenities does Gilpin Hotel & Lake House offer?
Gilpin Hotel & Lake House offers spa, swimming Pool, hot Tub, 2 Restaurants, bar and room Service.
Weather & sea temperature — Lake District
Right now: 6° air · 12° sea
Prices for your dates
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Crook Road, Windermere, LA23 3NE, United Kingdom