Best budget hotels in the Lake District

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The best budget hotels in the Lake District 2023 are: Best for buzz: The Royal Oak Location: Keswick open image in gallery Luxury wallpaper and bespoke oak furniture make for a homely stay On the corner of Keswick’s Market Square, this former coaching inn is in the heart of one of the area’s most attractive towns with its jolly twice-weekly market, parks, Pencil Museum and fell-surrounded lake: Derwentwater. Best for families and eco credentials: The Quiet Site Location: Ullswater open image in gallery Gingerbread Houses at The Quiet Site can take two adults and four children On gentle slopes above the western shores of Ullswater, these ‘Gingerbread Houses’ are as cute as they sound with toastily insulated timber-clad interiors and exteriors, underfloor heating and solar panelled roof providing power and hot water for the shower room and small kitchen. Book now Best for shopping: Ambleside Townhouse Location: Ambleside open image in gallery Enjoy fresh breakfasts cooked to order in this smart but affordable B&B Less than five minutes from the bars, eateries and shops of busy Ambleside, this smart townhouse B&B is also only a 15-minute stroll from Lake Windermere – England’s longest natural body of water, and where you’ll find year-round cruises. Best for lake fun and games: The Crown Inn Location: Pooley Bridge, Ullswater open image in gallery The Crown Inn’s traditionally furnished bedrooms overlook Pooley Bridge’s market place Close to the M6 and Ullswater and in the popular village of Pooley Bridge – three pubs, cafes, deli, village store – The Crown ticks many boxes.