Independent hotel guide
Rothay Manor Hotel
Ambleside first visits, boutique country-house stays, food-focused couples and dog owners in the correct room.
- Upper mid-range
Image: Rothay Manor Hotel. Full attribution
At a glance
Quick facts
- Price band
- Upper mid-range
- Neighbourhood
- Ambleside
- Location
- the Lake District
Editorial take
Why consider Rothay Manor Hotel?
A Grade II listed country house with twenty-three individually styled rooms close to central Ambleside.
Best for
Ambleside first visits, boutique country-house stays, food-focused couples and dog owners in the correct room.
Avoid if
you want a large destination spa, a remote fell-side escape or a guaranteed lake view.
- Couple
- Travelling solo
Strengths and trade-offs
Strengths
- Quieter country-house atmosphere within reach of Ambleside
- Only twenty-three individually styled rooms and suites
- Rowan restaurant makes dinner at the hotel a credible part of the stay
Trade-offs
- This is near Windermere rather than directly on the lakeshore
- Room access, balconies and dog policies depend on the exact category
Fit check
Who it suits — and who should skip it
Best for: Ambleside first visits, boutique country-house stays, food-focused couples and dog owners in the correct room.
Skip it if: you want a large destination spa, a remote fell-side escape or a guaranteed lake view.
Related reading:the Lake District hotel guide; Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in the Lake District; Best Lake District Hotels with Hot Tubs.
Stay details
Rooms and spa
We have not yet published a room-by-room comparison for Rothay Manor Hotel. Room names, layouts and inclusions can change, so use the booking tip below and confirm the exact category with the hotel before paying.
A complete facilities inventory is not included in our current research record. Confirm any deal-breaker — such as a spa, gym, parking or air conditioning — directly before booking.
On the ground
Location and access
Rothay Manor Hotel is at Borrans Road, Ambleside, LA22 0EH. See our the Lake District hotel guide for the wider area context and other places to stay.
Borrans Road is south of Ambleside centre. Windermere is the nearest rail terminus; plan the onward bus or taxi and check the final walk with luggage.
Before you book
Good to know
Pets
Eight named bedrooms and suites are dog-friendly. The hotel provides dog kit and a washroom, with dogs permitted for dining in specified lounges; reserve the exact room and table.
Policy notes
Check current restaurant menus, room configurations and cancellation terms on the official site.
Accessibility
No accessibility survey has been carried out by BestUKHotels.com. Ask the hotel to confirm step-free access, room floor, lift availability and the exact bathroom before booking.
Quick answers
Questions travellers ask about Rothay Manor Hotel
What is the main reason to choose Rothay Manor Hotel?
A Grade II listed country house with twenty-three individually styled rooms close to central Ambleside.
Who is Rothay Manor Hotel best for?
Ambleside first visits, boutique country-house stays, food-focused couples and dog owners in the correct room.
Where is Rothay Manor Hotel?
The hotel is at Borrans Road, Ambleside, LA22 0EH. Borrans Road is south of Ambleside centre. Windermere is the nearest rail terminus; plan the onward bus or taxi and check the final walk with luggage.
What should I check before booking Rothay Manor Hotel?
Match the room to your needs: dog-friendly, ground-floor, balcony, hot-tub and pavilion categories differ significantly.
Featured in our Lake District guides
Rothay Manor Hotel is shortlisted in these editorial guides, each written for a different trip.
Destination guide
Best hotels in the Lake District
Curated guide
Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in the Lake District
Curated guide
Best Lake District Hotels with Hot Tubs
Where to stay
Where to stay in the Lake District
Curated guide
Romantic Hotels in the Lake District
Alternatives
Other hotels we have written up that may suit a different brief.
Langdale Chase Hotel
- Best for
- A romantic first visit, landmark architecture, lake views and travellers who want Windermere on the doorstep.
- Trade-off
- The roadside rural position is not a town-centre stay
The landmark lakeside choice for a first luxury Lake District stay, pairing a restored Victorian house with direct Windermere views and an address between Bowness and Ambleside.
Booking tipConfirm the exact building, floor and view: the main house, Lake House and Boathouse offer materially different stays.
The Forest Side
- Best for
- Destination dining, couples, Grasmere walking and travellers who prefer a small country house to a full resort.
- Trade-off
- The restaurant is central to the value, so it is less suitable if you do not want a tasting-led stay
The food-first Lake District stay: a twenty-bedroom Victorian Gothic house above Grasmere where the Michelin-starred restaurant and working kitchen garden shape the experience.
Booking tipCheck whether your rate includes the four- or eight-course dinner and choose Cosy, Superb or Master with room size and bathroom layout in mind.
Editorial evidenceSources5 cited references supporting this page
Claims are paired with the publisher and access date used during editorial verification.
Grade II listed country house, twenty-three rooms, Rowan restaurant and hotel overview
Official room and booking pages were available; upper-mid is an editorial relative price band, not a quoted live rate.
Borrans Road address
Dog-friendly room categories
Coordinates for LA22 0EH
OS Code-Point Open centroid for LA22 0EH
Open Government Licence. Map pin is the postcode centroid, not a surveyed hotel entrance.
Buttermere is the Pavilion Hot Tub Suite, with a private courtyard cedarwood hot tub; other Pavilion suites have differing gardens, balconies and baths. Pavilion accommodation is separate from the main house.
How this page was researched: how we review hotels · editorial policy · affiliate disclosure · corrections