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Places to Stay Near a Pub in Cumbria

Photo: Chensiyuan (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons

Places to Stay Near a Pub in Cumbria

A holiday cottage is improved immeasurably by a pub you can walk to. These Cumbria stays all have a local within about a mile — pub dinners, real ale and no designated driver required.

Must-have facilities
The Croft

The Croft

✓ Situated in the picturesque village of Hawkshead

🏖️ 2.36 miles from Coniston Water, Monk Coniston (Good water quality)

Hawkshead

Check availability
Apple Barn

Apple Barn

🏖️ 1.74 miles from Derwent Water at Crow Park (Poor water quality)

Keswick, North West England

Sleeps 4

£683 per break

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What the listings tell you about pubs and bars

There are 668 places to stay in Cumbria published on BritStays. If a drink at the end of a long day matters to you, it helps to know what the listings can and can't tell you. Only 33 stays list a bar and 36 list a restaurant, out of 81 hotels and 540 cottages. The listings don't record how far each cottage is from the nearest pub. If being able to walk to one is the whole point of your trip, ask the owner before you book.

The Swan Hotel in Grasmere shows the self-contained option. It has a bar, a restaurant and takeaway food, so you can eat and drink without going anywhere. If you'd rather stay in a cottage and head out in the evening, transport is the more useful filter. 336 stays are near a bus stop and 110 are near a train station, so nobody has to be the designated driver.

Choosing an area

Keswick has by far the most choice, with 224 stays across its listings. Ambleside comes next with 106. The Windermere side is split across Bowness-on-Windermere (71), Windermere and Troutbeck Bridge (56) and Windermere (18). Threlkeld and St Johns in the Vale has 27, which is worth a look if you'd like a smaller base. Kendal is also in the region, though none of the example stays below are there.

On coast versus countryside, this set leans firmly towards lakes and fells. None of the example stays is described as coastal, so if a sea view is essential, check each listing carefully.

Stays for different kinds of trip

  • Couples: The Hollies and Garden Cottage in Ambleside each sleep 2 and are near a bus stop, which makes an evening out without the car easier to arrange.
  • Families and groups: Falcon Crag in Keswick and Bramblebank in Ambleside both sleep 8. Helm View in Windermere and Troutbeck Bridge sleeps 7. Rolton House in Ambleside and Saddleback Cottage in Keswick sleep 6.
  • Arriving by train: Campbell Cottage, Alexandra Cottage, Slate Cottage and Helm View, all in Windermere and Troutbeck Bridge, are near a train station.
  • Dog owners: only 43 stays are pet friendly. Among the examples are Rivers Edge, Mallards and Garden Cottage, all in Ambleside. Mallards and Garden Cottage are also near a bus stop. Bear in mind that a dog-friendly cottage doesn't guarantee a dog-friendly bar, so check both.

Driving, parking and charging

EV charging nearby is the most common facility, listed for 497 stays. Parking is listed for just 43, and WiFi for 43. That doesn't necessarily mean the others lack them, only that it isn't recorded. If you're driving, or need to work while you're away, confirm both before you pay a deposit. Riverside spots such as Steppingstones Riverside Terrace - Viewpoint in Ambleside, which sleeps 4, are exactly the kind of place where you should ask about parking first.

Things to do between meals

The lakes are the obvious draw: Lake Windermere, Derwentwater and Ullswater. For heritage, the National Trust looks after Hill Top and Townend. Wray Castle and Levens Hall are also worth a day out.

If the weather turns, Keswick has Keswick Museum & Art Gallery, the West Cumberland Railway Museum and Knox Wood Wildlife Centre. Elsewhere in the Lake District you'll find The Lakes Aqua Park for a wet day of a different sort, and Eskdale Mill.

When to book

The facilities that make a pub-focused trip easy are also the scarcest, so they go first:

  • Only 33 stays have a bar on site and 36 a restaurant.
  • Only 43 stays are pet friendly.
  • Larger places that sleep 7 or 8 are fewer among the examples.

If you need any of these, especially for school holidays or weekends, book as early as you can. If your dates are fixed but your location isn't, start with Keswick, simply because it has the most choice.

Before you confirm, ask three questions:

  • How far is the nearest pub on foot?
  • Is there parking?
  • If you're bringing a dog, are dogs welcome inside the local bar as well as the cottage?

Frequently asked questions

How many places to stay in Cumbria have a bar on site?

Of the 668 stays published on BritStays in Cumbria, 33 list a bar and 36 list a restaurant. The Swan Hotel in Grasmere, for example, has a bar, a restaurant and takeaway food.

Which area of Cumbria has the most places to stay?

Keswick, with 224 stays across its listings. Ambleside follows with 106, then Bowness-on-Windermere with 71 and Windermere and Troutbeck Bridge with 56.

Can I get to a pub without driving?

Often, yes. 336 stays are near a bus stop and 110 are near a train station. The Hollies and Garden Cottage in Ambleside are near a bus stop. Campbell Cottage and Slate Cottage in Windermere and Troutbeck Bridge are near a train station. Distances to individual pubs aren't recorded, so ask the owner.

Are there dog-friendly stays in Cumbria?

Yes, but only 43 stays are pet friendly, so book early. Examples include Rivers Edge, Mallards and Garden Cottage in Ambleside. Check separately whether the local bar welcomes dogs.

Which stays suit a larger group?

Falcon Crag in Keswick and Bramblebank in Ambleside both sleep 8. Helm View in Windermere and Troutbeck Bridge sleeps 7. Rolton House in Ambleside and Saddleback Cottage in Keswick sleep 6.

What can I do in Keswick if it rains?

Keswick has Keswick Museum & Art Gallery, the West Cumberland Railway Museum and Knox Wood Wildlife Centre.

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🎭 Venues with something on in Cumbria

What's on at each, with tickets and places to stay within walking distance.

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