15 Top-Rated Family-Friendly Hotels in Cumbria, UK

The Crooklands, BW Signature Collection is the most strategically located family hotel in this guide - just one mile from junction 36 of the M6 and 4 miles from Kendal, making it a genuinely efficient base for families covering multiple Cumbrian destinations in one trip. The hotel dates to 1750 and retains original wooden beams and log fires, giving it a character that generic roadside hotels lack. Family rooms are standard across the property, with large beds, flat-screen TVs, and tea and coffee facilities, and staff provide walking maps to guests heading into the Lake District or Yorkshire Dales. Lake Windermere is a 15-minute drive, making day trips straightforward without the need to pay for lakeside accommodation prices.

• Two on-site restaurants with traditional home-cooked food and local brewery ales
• Free parking and free WiFi throughout
• Walking maps provided by staff for Lake District and Dales routes

Royal Oak Appleby is a 17th-century coaching inn rated 4-star Silver by VisitBritain, set in the ancient market town of Appleby-in-Westmorland near the River Eden - a setting that suits families who want outdoor access without the Lake District crowds. A dedicated 2-bedroom stone cottage is available for larger family groups or friends travelling together, providing self-contained flexibility that standard hotel rooms cannot match. Appleby Railway Station is a 5-minute drive, giving access to the scenic Settle-Carlisle line - a strong draw for families with children who enjoy train journeys. The inn's restaurant uses local supplier ingredients, and real cask ales in the bar make evenings easy for adults while the Pennine Way and Lake District are both within striking distance for daytime adventures.

• 2-bedroom stone cottage option for larger family groups
• 5-minute drive to Appleby Railway Station and the Settle-Carlisle line
• Free parking, free WiFi, and full English breakfast included

The Dalesman Country Inn sits in the scenic market town of Sedbergh within the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and is accessible to both Dales and Lake District landscapes - Windermere is a 30-minute drive. The restaurant sources all ingredients locally and even produces its own ice cream, fudge, and toffee on site - details that resonate particularly with children. Family rooms, facilities for disabled guests, and a full English breakfast make it a thorough option for multi-generational families. The surrounding area offers riverside walks, a 9-hole golf course, tennis, fishing, and pony trekking that can be arranged through the inn.

• House-made ice cream, fudge, and toffee produced on site
• Pony trekking and fishing arrangements available locally
• Facilities for disabled guests and family rooms throughout

Sandfordarms is a 3-star property near Appleby offering family rooms, free parking, free WiFi, and on-site bar and breakfast in a low-traffic rural setting - making it the most budget-accessible option for families in the Eden Valley area. Brough Castle is under 8 km away, Brougham Castle is 25 km distant, and Whinfell Forest is 26 km - all accessible as half-day excursions. The property's simplicity works in its favour for families who prioritise outdoor time over hotel amenities.

• Family rooms with free parking and free WiFi
• Proximity to Brough Castle and Whinfell Forest for family day trips
• On-site bar and breakfast for straightforward evening and morning logistics

The Greenhill Hotel is a bed and breakfast set in a historic building in Wigton - a quiet market town on the Solway Plain, 33 km from Derwentwater Lake and 34 km from Whinlatter Forest Park. The property offers family rooms, a restaurant, a bar, a garden, and a shared lounge, providing space for families to decompress after days out. It is well-placed for families who want to avoid the central Lake District price premium while still having Buttermere and Bassenthwaite Lake within reasonable driving range.

• Family rooms with kettle, bed linen, and towels included
• Full English and continental breakfast options available
• Garden and shared lounge for relaxed family evenings

Wheyrigg Hall Hotel is an award-winning, family-run converted farmhouse 10 minutes from the Solway Coast, with a garden, bar, and restaurant serving frequently changing lunch, tea, and dinner menus - practical for families with varied appetites across the day. Carlisle and Bassenthwaite Lake are both around a 30-minute drive, and Wigton Railway Station is just 5 minutes away for families arriving by train. Family rooms include private bathrooms, TVs, radios, and tea and coffee-making facilities.

• Changing lunch, tea, and dinner menus with full English breakfast served daily
• 5-minute drive to Wigton Railway Station
• Award-winning family-run property with enclosed garden

The Inn At Ravenglass is positioned in the coastal village of Ravenglass, 2.3 km from Muncaster Castle and directly adjacent to the starting point of the Ravenglass and Eskdale narrow-gauge railway - one of Cumbria's most child-friendly attractions. Rooms include flat-screen TVs, private bathrooms, hairdryers, and kettles, and free parking and WiFi are included. The area is popular for hiking, and the western fells are accessible for families seeking less-trodden Lakeland terrain.

• Walking distance to Ravenglass and Eskdale narrow-gauge railway
• 2.3 km from Muncaster Castle owl centre and gardens
• Free parking and free WiFi with darts available on site

Howgills House Hotel in Sedbergh is a 4-star property offering a hot tub, garden, barbecue, shared kitchen, table tennis, and darts - a combination of facilities that gives families genuine on-site entertainment beyond the rooms. Family rooms are available, and the hotel accommodates guests with disabilities. The World of Beatrix Potter is 35 km away, and the Trough of Bowland is 45 km distant, making it a viable base for multi-day exploration of the Dales and southern Lakes.

• Hot tub, barbecue, shared kitchen, table tennis, and darts on site
• Family rooms with free WiFi and facilities for disabled guests
• 35 km from World of Beatrix Potter; strong base for Howgill Fells walks

Crown Hotel Wetheral is the standout family option for parents who need on-site leisure facilities - it is the only property in this guide offering a 12-metre swimming pool alongside a sauna and steam room, making rainy Lake District days manageable without leaving the hotel. Set in the picturesque village of Wetheral, just 6 miles from Carlisle, the hotel's award-winning Conservatory Restaurant uses local produce for English/French cuisine, while Walton's Bar covers pub food and real ales for more casual evenings. Rooms include en suite bathrooms, complimentary toiletries, safes, and radios, and the landscaped gardens overlook the Pennines and the River Eden - a setting that gives families genuine outdoor space without the noise of a tourist hotspot. EV charging points on site cater to families arriving in electric vehicles.

• 12-metre indoor swimming pool with sauna and steam room
• Award-winning Conservatory Restaurant using local Cumbrian produce
• EV charging points, free parking, and family rooms included

Abbey House Hotel is built on 14 acres of landscaped grounds adjacent to the 12th-century ruins of Furness Abbey - an immediately accessible piece of history that children and adults can explore on foot from the hotel gardens. Built in 1914 and host to King George V and members of the royal family, the hotel retains high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and Edwardian architectural details that create an atmosphere entirely distinct from standard family hotels. Oscar's Restaurant holds a Rosette accreditation, and Roanhead Beach - a quieter, family-friendly stretch of sand - is just a 5-minute drive. Lake Windermere is reachable in 30 minutes, and the birthplace of Stan Laurel in Ulverston is 15 minutes by car, providing cultural stops that work well for older children.

• 14 acres of grounds with direct access to Furness Abbey ruins on foot
• Rosette-accredited Oscar's Restaurant with full English breakfast included
• Fitness centre, family rooms, and facilities for disabled guests on site

Seacote Hotel sits directly on the seafront in St Bees - the official start of Alfred Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk - with sandy beach access and sea views from the property, just 6 miles from the Lake District National Park boundary. With 3 bars, a locally-sourced restaurant, and a dog-friendly policy (up to 2 dogs per room at £10 per night), it covers the full range of family and outdoor traveller needs in one location. St Bees Golf Club is a 9-minute walk, and the historic port of Whitehaven is 4.6 miles away for a half-day cultural excursion. Family rooms, free parking, and facilities for disabled guests are all available.

• Beachfront location on St Bees with direct sandy beach access
• Dog-friendly with up to 2 dogs per room accepted
• 3 on-site bars and a locally-sourced restaurant for flexible family dining

The Sally is the only 5-star classified property in this guide and the most urban option, located in Carlisle with free parking, room service, luggage storage, and an allergy-free environment - a meaningful distinction for families managing food allergies or sensitivities. Each room includes a flat-screen TV, safety deposit box, coffee machine, and private bathroom, with certain rooms offering mountain views across the northern Cumbrian landscape. Housesteads Roman Fort on Hadrian's Wall is 33 km away, and Brougham Castle is 43 km distant - both excellent family day-trip destinations accessible directly from Carlisle. Newcastle International Airport is 80 km from the property, making it the most accessible option for families flying in.

• 5-star rating with room service, allergy-free rooms, and luggage storage
• 33 km from Housesteads Roman Fort on Hadrian's Wall
• 80 km from Newcastle Airport - most accessible for flying families

Kirkstile Inn is positioned in Loweswater, one of the quietest and least commercialised lakes in Cumbria, 10 km from Buttermere - a location that suits families specifically seeking to avoid the Bowness and Ambleside tourist concentration. The inn holds an exceptional breakfast rating and offers full English, continental, and vegetarian options - a practical range for families with varied dietary preferences. A garden, terrace, shared lounge, and allergy-free environment are complemented by two on-site restaurants and a bar serving local produce. The property is 4-star rated with facilities for disabled guests and free parking throughout.

• Loweswater location - quietest lakeside setting in this guide
• Rated exceptional for breakfast with full English, continental, and vegetarian options
• Two restaurants, allergy-free environment, and facilities for disabled guests

Hunday Manor Country House Hotel is a 4-star country house property in Workington offering a garden, terrace, restaurant, bar, room service, and a 24-hour front desk - an operational standard that families with young children or irregular schedules will appreciate. Derwentwater Lake is 36 km away and Buttermere is within reach for day walks, while the hotel's western location makes it useful for families exploring the Cumbrian Coast and the northern Lakes without paying central Lakeland prices. Family rooms, free parking, and free WiFi are standard.

• 24-hour front desk with room service for flexible family schedules
• Garden and terrace with country house character in Workington
• 36 km from Derwentwater Lake; well-placed for the Cumbrian coast

The Golf Hotel is an award-winning property in the centre of Silloth, a small coastal town within the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, 4 minutes on foot from the sea and 5 minutes from Silloth-on-Solway Golf Club. The hotel restaurant covers cooked breakfasts, evening meals, and packed lunches - the packed lunch option being particularly practical for families heading out on coastal or countryside walks from the hotel. Family rooms and free parking are available, and the bar and lounge stocks local beers and malt whiskies alongside afternoon tea. Carlisle is a 40-minute drive for families needing urban facilities.

• Packed lunches available on request for walking families
• 4-minute walk to the sea within the Solway Coast AONB
• Award-winning property with family rooms and free parking