Excellence Luxury Villas · Lake District
Luxury Holiday Rentals in the Lake District
Lakeside houses, fell cottages and country manors, from Windermere and Grasmere to the quieter shores of Ullswater
As featured in
Lakes, fells and a fire to come home to
Wordsworth called the Lake District a sort of national property, and Britain came round to his view. It became a national park in 1951 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017. The landscape is compact: within a single morning's drive you can stand beside Windermere, England's largest natural lake, and look up at Scafell Pike, its highest mountain at 978 metres. Between the two are stone villages, Herdwick sheep, slate-roofed pubs and a great deal of weather.
Our Lake District collection runs to 60+ properties. They range from cottages in Grasmere and Ambleside to lakeside houses above Windermere and Ullswater and country manors with room for big family gatherings. Several have hot tubs, which in this part of England are less a luxury than a sensible precaution.
Below you will find the lakes worth basing yourself on, the season to choose and how our concierge can help.
The Lake District at a glance
- Properties
- 60+ houses, cottages and apartments, with up to 12 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £2,200 to £4,300 a week, from around £1,500
- Best areas
- Windermere and Bowness, Ambleside, Grasmere, Ullswater, and Grange-over-Sands in the south
- Best time
- May and June for long walking days; September and October for colour and quieter roads
- Getting there
- Trains from London Euston to Oxenholme in around three hours, with a branch line to Windermere; Manchester airport around 90 minutes by road
Browse all 60+ properties in the Lake District
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Manor Brantwood Windermere: Spacious 12-Bedroom Holiday Cottage with Lake Views – Lake District12 bedrooms
House Scafell Windermere: Luxury 8-Bedroom Townhouse with Hot Tub – Lake District8 bedrooms
House Cartmel Grange: Luxury 7-Bedroom Apartment with Seaview & Hot Tub – Lake District7 bedrooms
Lakeside House United Kingdom6 bedroomsExplore the north of England and beyond
Windermere and Bowness for boats, restaurants and the easiest base, Ambleside and Grasmere for walking from the door, Ullswater for a quieter lake with big fells, and Grange-over-Sands and Cartmel for the gentler southern edge.
Steamers, Peter Rabbit and a lakeside lunch
Windermere is the busiest lake and the most convenient base, with lake cruises from Bowness and Ambleside, restaurants and the Windermere Jetty Museum, which holds a fine collection of Victorian steam launches. A short ferry ride across the water takes you to Near Sawrey and Hill Top, the farmhouse Beatrix Potter bought with the proceeds of her first books.
Further south, the land softens towards Morecambe Bay. Grange-over-Sands has an Edwardian promenade, and nearby Cartmel has a medieval priory, a small racecourse and a village shop famous for sticky toffee pudding.
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Wordsworth country, with boots on
Ambleside sits at the head of Windermere and is a walking town through and through, with outdoor shops, cafés and fell paths that start almost at the front door. A few miles north, Grasmere is where Wordsworth wrote much of his best poetry. You can visit Dove Cottage, his home from 1799, and his grave in St Oswald's churchyard.
Do not leave without a packet of Grasmere gingerbread, baked in the village since the 1850s. For something more strenuous, Helvellyn rises to 950 metres to the north, and Striding Edge is the classic way up for anyone with a good head for heights.
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Quieter water and Wordsworth's daffodils
Ullswater is many people's favourite lake. It is long and winding, and the fells rise steeply from its shores. The Ullswater Steamers run between Glenridding, Howtown and Pooley Bridge, and a popular day is to sail one way and walk back along the shore. On its banks, near Glencoyne Bay, Dorothy and William Wordsworth came upon the daffodils that became his best-known poem. Aira Force waterfall is a short walk from the road.
To the west, Keswick sits on Derwentwater. It has a lively market, the Theatre by the Lake and the Castlerigg stone circle on the hill above.
Ask about lake cruises
Mint cake, Herdwick lamb and changeable skies
The Lakes eat well. Simon Rogan's L'Enclume has made Cartmel a place of pilgrimage for serious diners, and the country pubs serve Herdwick lamb, Cumberland sausage and local ales by the fire. Kendal mint cake goes in the rucksack.
Late spring brings long, light evenings for walking, and summer is busiest around Windermere. In autumn the bracken turns copper and the roads quieten. Grasmere Sports, with fell running and Cumberland wrestling, takes place in late August. Winter is quiet and often lovely, with snow on the tops. Our concierge can arrange guided walks, private chefs and restaurant tables.
Ask our conciergeFeatured properties in the Lake District
Manor Helvellyn Ullswater: Luxury 4-Bedroom Apartment with Lake Views – Lake District4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £5,495 a week
House Irtondale Eskdale: Charming 4-Bedroom Cottage Ideal for Families – Lake District4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £5,446 a week
House Helvellyn Windermere: Spacious 5-Bedroom Cottage with Hot Tub & Lake Views – Lake District5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £5,215 a week
Manor Bracken Kendal: Luxury 5-Bedroom Penthouse with Stunning Lake Views – Lake District5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £5,152 a week
House Lowther Penrith: Luxury 4-Bedroom House with Family Features – Lake District4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £4,879 a week
Lakeside Barn United Kingdom4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £4,295 a week
House Ghyll Eskdale: Charming 4-Bedroom Cottage with BBQ & Lake Views – Lake District4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £4,277 a week
House Heather Martindale Ullswater: Charming 2-Bedroom Apartment with Fireplace – Lake District2 bedrooms · sleeps 4From £4,249 a weekWhy book your house in the Lake District with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
The Lake District's lakes each have their own character, and the narrow lanes make distances misleading, so we know which houses let you walk to the water, the pub or the fells without getting in the car. With 60+ properties in the Lake District, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Guided fell walks, private boat hire on Windermere, restaurant tables in Cartmel and Ambleside, private chefs, and transfers from Oxenholme, Windermere or Manchester airport. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in the Lake District?
Windermere and Bowness are the easiest base, with boats, restaurants and a railway station. Ambleside and Grasmere suit walkers, Ullswater is quieter with big fells, and Grange-over-Sands and Cartmel are good for food and gentler countryside.
When is the best time to visit the Lake District?
May and June often bring long, drier days that are good for walking. September and October offer autumn colour and quieter roads. July and August are the busiest months, especially around Windermere. Rain is possible at any time of year, so pack for it.
Do I need a car in the Lake District?
It helps, especially for houses outside the main villages. That said, buses and lake boats link Windermere, Ambleside, Grasmere and Keswick, and many walks start from the village centres, so a car-free stay is possible if you choose your base carefully.
Can you arrange a private chef at a house in the Lake District?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury propertie in the Lake District cost?
Across our 60+ properties in the Lake District, weekly rates typically range from £2,200 to £4,300, with the most affordable from around £1,500 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How do I get to the Lake District?
Trains from London Euston reach Oxenholme in around three hours, and a branch line continues to Windermere. By road, the M6 runs along the eastern edge of the national park, and Manchester airport is around 90 minutes from Windermere. Our concierge can arrange transfers.
Are there houses in the Lake District for large groups?
Yes. Our Lake District collection includes properties with up to 12 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your house in the Lake District
60+ houses and cottages across the Lake District, booked direct with our concierge on hand