I never got into the whole “hygge” trend that swept the nation a few years back. The Danish lifestyle concept is defined as ‘creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people’. And while I didn’t follow the relevant hashtags or purchase the tasteful coffee table books on the subject, it’s truly the most apt word to describe a mini break at Langdale Chase, a boutique hotel on the shores of Lake Windermere in Cumbria.
The cosy vibes of our two-night stay were intensified by the fact that we visited a mere two weeks before Christmas, so festive charm abounded with wreaths, roaring fireplaces, twinkling fairy lights and a towering Christmas tree. Langdale Chase has been a hotel since the 1930s, but by its own admission was in desperate need of some TLC in recent years. The Victorian villa occupies an enviable position on the banks of Lake Windermere (the only hotel in the area to do so), sandwiched between the towns of Ambleside and Windermere with views across the Pikes. The house is perched on a rocky bluff and its 4.5 acres of gardens were designed by prolific Edwardian landscape architect Thomas Mawson. These have been gently reconstructed and freshly repopulated with some 4,000 new plants and trees. The estate was originally purchased by businessman George Howarth in the late 19th century, who had visions to build a modest summer house. When he died unexpectedly in 1889, his widow, Edna, took over and decided to create a residence on a far more ambitious scale. The villa took three years to complete and Edna happily lived out the rest of her life here before the property later passed to the Dalzell family, who turned it into a hotel in 1930.
Today, Langdale Chase is under the ownership of family-owned hotel group Daniel Thwaites; a fellow Lake District business. The Grade II-listed villa was closed for over a year while undergoing an extensive refurbishment to bring it back to its former glory, reopening in late 2023.
Jane Goff, director of interior architecture firm Goff Associates, has masterminded a sensitive and sophisticated makeover that artfully balances contemporary and traditional. The main hall sets the tone, with its gorgeous restored oak staircase and mezzanine and walls coated in the kind of maximalist wallpapers we all wish we could pull off at home. Edna Howarth clearly had excellent taste, with her Art Deco-esque stained glass, tiled hallways and handsome carved stone details still taking centre stage.
We are welcomed on arrival with a glass of fizz and whisked off to the cosiest seating area, tucked under the staircase and next to the fireplace. The downstairs sitting and dining rooms have been reconfigured to take full advantage of the lake views with large floor-to-ceiling windows that lead to an alfresco terrace. The hotel has 30 bedrooms, 21 of which are in the main house, eight in the adjoining Lakehouse and one superior accommodation in the Boathouse, an intimate bolthole originally installed in 1896, which even features a copper bathtub on the roof. Our room, the Langdale Pikes Suite, is a sweeping space with soft New England-inspired interiors (think tasteful checks and the odd sailboat motif), with a marble bathroom and sculptural tub. Even more impressive is the adjoining “snug” built into the turret of the hotel, which features two armchairs, a table and Scandi-style blankets. Watching the clouds roll over the Pikes and the odd boat or two gliding across the lake – cup of tea and book in hand – is a moment of sheer bliss.
Another string to Langdale Chase’s bow is the food. Open for guests and non-residents alike, the two AA Rosette-awarded dining room is led by executive chef Michael Cole and features classic British staples that champion local produce. Standout dishes include the Orkney scallop with cauliflower and golden raisin starter and the Jerusalem artichoke with goat’s curd and black truffle, fashioned like a risotto. We also enjoyed an indulgent afternoon tea and roasts are served on Sundays. The bar and lounge areas are open all day for breakfast, lunch and evening meals. If you’re feeling flash, make sure to order the New England lobster roll, served in a toasted brioche bun with chipotle mayonnaise and a side of gloriously salty skinny fries. The bar area is also the ideal place to retreat to after dinner for a nightcap before retiring to your room, full of delicious food and a renewed appreciation for the good things in life. Hygge to the max.
Gemma Billington is a London-based writer and editor
