It’s bucket list material. After all, if it inspired Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth, it’s surely good enough for this travel writing hack. The tourist honeypot that is the Lake District stands as one of the UK’s most popular summer destinations, guaranteeing beautiful views, superb boutique shopping, and outdoor activities galore.
So, as we wound our way towards Lake Windermere and our home for the weekend, , we wondered what our storied retreat might look like. Would it have a grand entrance? A sweeping driveway? A waterside view? A cursory glance at their website suggested that it would tick all of those boxes, but it wasn’t until the silhouette of a glorious Victorian mansion met our gaze that we quite appreciated the venue’s grandeur. The Great Hall is an impressive place to enjoy a cocktail or five minutes’ peace with a book.
It was, quite simply, breath-taking. Built in 1890 for Edna Howarth – the widow of a successful Mancunian businessman – this impressive pile along Lake Windermere harks back to the 19th-century Gothic Revival era. And following an extensive 12-month restoration, Langdale Chase reopened its doors to visitors in November last year, so it was the perfect time to explore its revamped interiors, as well as the region that Wordsworth described as ‘the loveliest spot that man hath ever found’.
Langdale Chase sits between Windermere and Ambleside, and there is plenty to see and do within the four-and-a-half-acre grounds. The wrap-.