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Another Place, The Lake

From $260/night • Score: 4.9★ (2180 reviews)

Exterior 1Exterior 2Interior 1Interior 2Surroundings

First Impressions & Architecture

Approaching Another Place, The Lake feels less like arriving at a conventional luxury hotel and more like being welcomed into the exceptionally stylish, deeply relaxed private estate of an adventurous British aristocrat with a penchant for modern design. Nestled discreetly on the southeastern shores of Ullswater in Watermillock, the property commands an enviable 18-acre slice of private parkland that rolls gently down to the water’s edge. Here, the rugged, romantic majesty of the English Lake District meets a fresh, unpretentious, and distinctly contemporary outdoor lifestyle ethos. At roughly $260 a night, the hotel occupies a rare and highly coveted sweet spot in the regional hospitality market: it delivers five-star experiential value and striking aesthetic ambition without the suffocating formality or exorbitant price inflation typically associated with top-tier Cumbrian retreats.

The architectural narrative of Another Place is a masterclass in bridging historical gravitas with forward-thinking design. The core of the estate is anchored by a stately Georgian country house, its weathered stone facade and symmetrical sash windows whispering tales of centuries past. Yet, rather than trapping guests in a dusty museum-piece period simulation, the property’s custodians have boldly integrated modern extensions clad in timber and expansive sheets of structural glass. This juxtaposition creates an immediate visual dialogue between heritage and hedonism. The historic main house, with its cozy nooks, roaring open hearths, and original architectural details, bleeds seamlessly into light-drenched contemporary wings where minimalist Nordic influences reign supreme.

Stepping across the threshold, the sensory transition is instantaneous. The heavy, damp air of the Cumbrian fells is left outside, replaced by the subtle, invigorating aroma of artisanal pine-infused room sprays, melting beeswax, and wood smoke drifting from the central hearths. The lobby is not a sterile transactional zone, but an expansive, social living area designed to immediately lower the guest's heart rate. Pale oak floors, earthy color palettes inspired by the surrounding fells, and plush, oversized linen sofas invite you to kick off your hiking boots and sink in. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame living, breathing landscape paintings of Ullswater and the dramatic, brooding peaks of the surrounding fells, ensuring that the wild exterior is perpetually present. It is an architecture of inclusion rather than exclusion, masterfully designed to pull the magnificent Cumbrian outdoors directly into the soul of the building.

The Room Experience

Continuing the hotel’s philosophy of relaxed refinement, the guest accommodations at Another Place are divided between the historic character of the Georgian main house and the sleek, contemporary lines of the newer garden rooms and woodland spaces. For this review, we checked into a Lake View Room in the contemporary wing—a masterclass in understated luxury that prioritizes comfort, texture, and an unbroken visual connection to the water.

The interior design scheme avoids superfluous ornamentation, favoring instead a sophisticated palette of slate gray, moss green, and warm cream, accented by rich woolen throws, bespoke tweed cushions, and handcrafted wooden furniture. The focal point of the room is undeniably the oversized picture window, which frames Ullswater like a living, cinematic canvas. Waking up to the morning mist rolling off the water and enveloping the distant fells is a transcendent experience that justifies the room rate entirely. The king-sized bed is dressed in crisp, high-thread-count Egyptian cotton linens and weighted down with a locally woven Herdwick wool blanket—a tactile nod to the agricultural heritage of the Lake District.

Lighting is thoughtfully layered, ranging from soft reading lamps to integrated architectural dimmer switches that allow you to curate an intimate, fireside ambiance as daylight fades over the water. Technology is present but refreshingly unobtrusive: a Roberts radio sits on the bedside table, high-speed Wi-Fi is reliable and complimentary, and a flat-screen television is discreetly integrated into the joinery, though you will likely find yourself staring out the window instead.

The bathroom is a sanctuary of wellness, clad in large-format porcelain tiles and featuring a deep, freestanding soaking tub positioned so you can gaze out at the landscape even while scrubbing off the mud from a day on the fells. A powerful, walk-in rainfall shower is stocked with generous-sized, locally sourced botanical toiletries in recyclable glass bottles, emitting notes of rosemary, eucalyptus, and damp earth. Fluffy, oversized bathrobes and thick waffle slippers complete the spa-like provisioning, encouraging guests to pad casually from their bed straight down to the pool or out toward the lake shore.

Signature Amenities & Atmosphere

If the guest rooms provide a private sanctuary, the hotel’s signature amenities serve as the beating heart of its vibrant, outdoor-centric social scene. Another Place has successfully shed the stuffy, hushed atmosphere historically plaguing country house hotels, replacing it with an infectious, high-energy spirit of adventure that appeals just as readily to solo travelers, adventurous couples, and modern families alike.

Unquestionably the crown jewel of the property’s wellness offerings is The Swim Club. Housed in a striking contemporary glass pavilion that cantilevers gracefully toward the shoreline, the facility is anchored by a magnificent 20-meter indoor pool. Enclosed entirely in floor-to-ceiling glass, swimming lengths here feels almost like gliding through the lake itself, with panoramic views of the water and the fells filling your field of vision. Adjacent to the indoor pool, guests have access to an outdoor hydrotherapy hot tub and a traditional wooden sauna, both strategically positioned to maximize the dramatic lake vistas. Cooling off between sauna sessions involves stepping out onto the timber deck to feel the crisp Cumbrian breeze sweep down from the mountains.

Beyond the indoor aquatic center lies the property’s true differentiator: its direct access to Ullswater via a dedicated water sports jetty. Another Place treats the lake not merely as a scenic backdrop, but as an active playground. The hotel employs an expert team of resident instructors and offers an exhaustive menu of aquatic pursuits:

For those seeking a more secluded, unplugged retreat, the estate also conceals a collection of bespoke shepherd's huts tucked away quietly in the woodland. These intimate, off-grid havens offer wood-burning stoves, double beds, and private decks, providing an elevated glamping experience just a stone's throw from the main hotel's amenities.

Food, Drink & Local Nightlife

Dining at Another Place is an unpretentious yet deeply satisfying celebration of Cumbrian terroir, driven by a farm-to-table philosophy that honors the abundant local larder of the Lake District. The culinary program is spread across distinct venues, each offering a unique atmosphere tailored to the time of day and the mood of the traveler.

The Living Space acts as the social epicentre for casual dining and fireside drinks. With its relaxed, communal vibe, sprawling leather booths, and wood-fired oven, it is the kind of place where you can happily linger for hours over a late-afternoon craft beer or a glass of biodynamic wine. The menu focuses on sharing plates, artisanal pizzas fired at blistering temperatures, and hearty seasonal comfort food. Think Cumbrian beef burgers topped with local smoked cheddar, charred flatbreads with roasted garlic hummus, and vibrant, locally foraged salads.

For dinner, the main restaurant elevates the culinary narrative, offering a more refined, seasonally evolving menu that showcases the best of northern English agriculture and foraging. Dishes might feature pan-seared Ullswater char with sea herbs and brown butter, roasted Herdwick lamb loin with root vegetable gratin, and delicate desserts incorporating damson plums picked from the estate’s own orchards. The wine list is thoughtfully curated, leaning heavily toward sustainable and low-intervention European vineyards, alongside a robust selection of local gins and craft ales brewed within a few miles of the estate.

While local nightlife in the traditional sense—meaning thumping nightclubs or late-night cocktail bars—is delightfully absent in this remote corner of the Lake District, the hotel more than compensates with its own atmospheric after-dark culture. Guests naturally gravitate toward the dimly lit library or the main bar, where conversations flow easily over tumblers of aged single-malt Scotch and local small-batch whiskies, shared in front of crackling open fireplaces while the wind whistles softly across the darkened waters of Ullswater.

Who This Stay Is For

Another Place, The Lake cuts a very specific profile in the luxury travel landscape, making it exceptionally well-suited for a distinct breed of modern traveler while potentially leaving traditionalists looking for gold-plated pomp wanting.

Conversely, those seeking a traditional, hushed country house hotel experience complete with strict jacket-and-tie dress codes, liveried footmen, and formal silver-service afternoon teas may find the barefoot, fleece-clad, high-energy lifestyle at Another Place slightly too informal for their tastes.

Practical Travel Notes

Planning a seamless escape to the shores of Ullswater requires a small degree of logistical foresight, given the gloriously remote and secluded nature of the location.