Victorian House Hotel, Grasmere, Lake District

It is great to be able to try out other bars and restaurants - The Jumble Room or Tweedies Bar are our favourites - without having to worry about driving.

The hotel is in the centre of the picturesque village of Grasmere, with traditional shops and pubs.
By car: 2 hours from Manchester, 3 hours from Edinburgh and just over 5 hours from London. There is free parking on-site.
By train: trains run from Manchester Piccadilly (just over 1 hour), London Euston (3 hours) and Edinburgh Waverley (2 hours) to Oxenholme Lake District station. The hotel is a 40-minute taxi ride from the station. thetrainline.com

The hotel feels spacious and uncluttered, even though there's an interesting collection of furniture and art. The atmosphere is nicely laidback so children, muddy walkers and dogs all feel welcome.

All guests are welcome to help themselves to homemade cake which appears mid-afternoon. We always enjoy a huge slice of carrot cake. Dogs are made very welcome, and are greeted with bowls, towels and treats, and are allowed throughout the downstairs areas.

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Snacks
• Terrace
• Free parking
• Free Wi-Fi
• Family rooms
• Pet-friendly

We love the simplicity of the rooms - though clearly stylish, it is very relaxing. If you're a budding astronomer, opt for one of the corner Stargazer rooms.

Cosy, Comfortable, Spacious, Stargazer, Family Friendly, Dog Friendly
Facilities include: ensuite bathroom, Penningtons Coffee machine and organic Cosy Tea, free Wi-Fi

There's a relaxed feel to the food service; no-one would mind if you wore your slippers. There's a nice focus on local beers and spirits, plus they make their own infusions to create cocktails such as a Lavender Sour, which is interesting.

Breakfast: Cumbrian grill, eggs, pancakes, porridge. Locally sourced ingredients. Vegan and gluten-free options available.
The Garden Room Bar: a fully stocked bar with a range of speciality licqours and unusual cocktails.