Stay at The Penn - Windermere, a 4.8-star B&B with free Wi-Fi, pet-friendly rooms, set in a 19th-century stone home near Orrest Head and Lake Windermere.
Guests consistently highlight the cosy, well-decorated rooms with luxury bathrooms and excellent location close to Windermere town and nearby attractions. The pet-friendly policy and helpful on-site parking add to the appeal. Some minor heating control issues were noted, but overall the experience is highly positive.
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Rooms, shared spaces, dining and exterior — grouped so you can skim quickly.
Set within a stone building dating back to 1847, The Penn - Windermere offers an informal bed and breakfast experience in a 19th-century home. The accommodation features low-key rooms and suites equipped with free Wi-Fi, designed to provide a comfortable and unpretentious stay. The property is smoke-free, pet-friendly, and suitable for families, though it does not include breakfast service, a restaurant, fitness center, or pool facilities.
Located just off the A591 road on Ambleside Road, the property occupies a convenient position within Windermere. It is within walking distance of local shops and dining options, and approximately half a mile from Orrest Head hill, which is popular for its scenic views. The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction is slightly over a mile away, adding cultural interest for visitors. Guests highlight the ease of access to outdoor activities, with Windermere lake offering boating options a short drive away.
Reviewers frequently praise the comfortable and tastefully decorated rooms, noting amenities such as underfloor heating in the bathrooms and spacious baths as appreciated additions. The facility is noted for its dog-friendly approach, including thoughtful touches like pet beds and welcome gift bags. Parking on site is readily available, which complements the property's accessible location. The check-in process is contactless, starting at 15:00, with check-out by 10:00.
The Penn's relaxed style and practical facilities make it well suited for visitors seeking a quiet and homely base to explore the Lake District. It attracts guests traveling with pets or families, as well as those interested in nearby walking trails and local attractions. While the accommodation lacks on-site dining and leisure amenities, the surrounding area offers plenty of options to meet these needs.
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Reviews from travelers who stayed here in the last 12 months, grouped to help you spot the pattern quickly.
We had the most amazing stay at the Penn over new year. The room was decorated perfectly, it was cosy/ countryside vibe but still modern and luxurious, with heated floor tiles in the bathroom and the most amazing luxury bath and shower. We had booked to bring our dog and they got her a bed and little doggy goody bag which was such a lovely touch. It's in a great location a couple of minutes into the town or a 25/30 minute walk to bowness. They had onsite free parking for guests, and they left a book of recommendations which were really helpful! We can't wait to stay again.
Beautiful room like home from home. We came for our mini moon on our wedding day. It took me a while to find the perfect place for us to stay and this was definitely it! Perfect location will definitely come back
Just returned from a gorgeous weekend at the Penn! Our room was gorgeous - the bed was soo comfy, the bath was amazing and the underfloor heating was such a nice touch. The guide was really helpful and we enjoyed some great walks and meals from the recommendations. Excellent location and very dog friendly. 5/5 no notes would 100% return/recommend!
We stayed at The Penn for 2 nights and had the loveliest stay. The Penn is located right in windemere a short walk to lots of lovely food and drink options! Our room was gorgeous, clean and and the extra little touches added made all the difference. Staff were on hand when needed and it was just a lovely stay! Only issue was the heating, the temp on the thermostat kept going up when we were trying to turn down and then the following day it was the opposite!
Had a lovely stay at The Penn last week! We were unexpectedly upgraded to a larger room, which was gorgeous. I especially loved the radios that you can connect to via bluetooth as well. And the bath was amazing! The location is perfect, just a few minutes walk to the shops and restaurants in Windermere, and also close to local trails. Check in was smooth despite it being contactless. Would stay here again every time!
Travelled from down south to the Lake District for the first time. Arrived in the evening to The Penn and completely blown away. Gorgeously decorated room, stunning bathroom (massive bath!!) and such a comfy bed. The room was very clean and we were obsessed with the underfloor heating in the bathroom! Being upgraded to the king size room was such a treat, we felt so lucky. To top it off we had a bottle of Prosecco, some fudge and a note for my partners birthday. We managed to get a parking space 9/10 times so we were happy with that. Gorgeous location and quiet in the evenings for some well needed rest. The keypad to get in was handy as we didn’t need to worry about loosing a hotel key. The welcome book was so handy for food recommendations. Best hotel we’ve stayed at in the UK!!! We didn’t want to leave!!!
Just got back from a few days stay at The Penn and we had the best time. We got upgraded to a king size room (thank you!), which was so lovely. The bath was really appreciated after a rainy walk and the bed was SO comfy. Having a fridge was really useful as well. The only thing missing was a full length mirror, but not a big deal as everything else was perfect! Communication was brilliant from the moment we booked (had to email to add our dog to the booking) and any emails and questions were answered incredibly quick! Location was great, an easy drive out to Bowness, Ambleside, Keswick and Kendal and plenty of restaurants and shops within walking distance as well. Parking was really easy, plenty of space right outside, we never struggled to get parked. The local fudge for us and treat bag for our dog was such a lovely touch, Stanley definitely enjoyed his visit as much as we did. We’ll definitely be back next time we come to the Lakes and we’ll be recommending to friends as well!
Dog friendly spot that's really close to the train station. Very nice rooms, lovely amount of communication before we stayed, and great, charming rooms. The little gift bag for the dog when we arrived was a very cute touch. Fabulous.
Set in an 1847 stone building off the A591 road, this informal B&B is also a half mile from the Orrest Head hill, and 1.3 miles from The World of Beatrix Potter.
Curated spots travelers usually pair with a stay in Windermere. Distances are rough real-world times, not straight-line.
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