YHA Langdale

I live in West Cumbria but decided to book an overnight stay as I was walking in the area. I didn't want to remove a star as I had a great stay, the only negative was that the outside of the building looks a bit shabby, could do with a paint, as it doesn't give a good first impression. However, loads of good points.|Plenty of parking. |Lots of space and different spaces for guests to sit.|Historic building.|Good clean kitchen facilities.|Really good reception, sells Dizzy Blonde beer on draft!|Cake and snacks available.|Really good breakfast, well cooked with proper bacon and sausage.|Clean and tidy.|Comfy beds.|Outside seating areas and space for kids to play.|Good base for walking.|Comfy and clean beds.|I think it was a bargain, I booked a bed in a shared dorm with full breakfast on a special deal and it was just over £20. Would I recommend, yes!|Thank you for a great stay! |

Fantastic place to stay with kids. Easy access on foot to some lovely local walks (eg Loughrigg and Silver How). The building is beautiful but obviously needs a lot of maintenance and you can see that the YHA are struggling a bit to fight condensation etc. the rooms are clean though and the building is warm. The staff are really friendly and helpful. Good facilities (eg kitchen and drying room) and it's nice that you can get a hot meal cooked for you if you have run out of energy after a day in the hills

Cosy and peaceful place to stay and wander around and hiking together with friends. Rooms might need better maintenance. Overally very nice place. We really enjoyed. Thank you...

Always a good stop when walking in the Lakes. They have improved so much over the years with accommodation, food, and facilities like the drying room. Reading other reviews you need to expect It is a hostel and not a five star hotel and as such it is for travel and walkers alike. Staff were great, helpful, and friendly, and the little touches now of the drinks available just add that bit on an evening after a good walk. My only mention would be the weak cold showers and lack of plugs in the room. But, the food was great especially the breakfast. Lovely old building.

Mixed feelings as is usual with the YHA. The location is good, the staff were nice, but often difficult to find, and their knowledge of the surroundings was very limited. Upon check-in the room was freezing. All the Windows were open and the radiators off...and they would have remained so late into the night had I not adjusted such. The WiFi, as is common in the YHA, only worked downstairs. The kitchen, however, was good, and there is a drying room and nice common areas along with a pleasant green outside. I think the property needs to prioritise (actually the YHA as a whole) the necessities, i.e., good WiFi, heated abodes during cold months and knowledge of the surroundings. Why not pin up a bus schedule for example?

The location of the hostel is simply excellent. The walk from the hostel to the nearby village and to Grasmere Lake takes about 25 minutes, which is perfect for a relaxing stroll. The way back is a bit more challenging due to the 25% incline, but the beautiful views and bird signs make it all worth the effort. The hostel itself is a massive building, and I suspect I didn't explore all of it. In the female dorm, it was warm, the bed was clean and quite comfortable, and there were power sockets by the beds, at least by mine. The windows had good curtains. There was also a wardrobe in the room, which was very practical. On the floor, there were shared toilets for men and women together and one separate one. To my surprise, all of them were very clean. The showers, also on the same floor, were divided into male and female, and the female ones were impressively clean. Unfortunately, the water pressure in the middle shower was terrible, but the first one from the entrance had relatively good pressure, and the water was warm. I must emphasize once again how clean everything was! Downstairs, there is an entertainment room, a lounge with sofas and armchairs for relaxation, and two dining rooms where they serve good food. I had a vegetarian pie with mashed potatoes and pea mash, accompanied by a non-alcoholic Corona. Additionally, I had coffee with oat m twice and once a fruit tea, all of which were very good. There is also a kitchen downstairs for those who want to cook their own meals. The reception deserves special praise – the service was outstanding. The girls working at the reception were full of positive energy and always in a good mood. They always had great answers to my questions and provided me with many useful tips. Thanks to one of them, I discovered the route to Grasmere and the spot for paddle boarding and swimming in the lake. The other one gave me a wonderful YHA book with a stamp from my stay. Girls, you are amazing! To your Boss: These girls are doing an extraordinary job! Outside, there is a large, well-maintained garden, a terrace, and below that a drying room with plenty of space but a strong odour. It would be good to improve the ventilation and increase the temperature in the drying room to ensure that things dry properly and don't start to rot. The parking area is quite spacious; I never had trouble finding a spot. The location and access to the hostel were straightforward and well-signposted, although challenging due to very narrow two-way streets with a 25% incline. After reception hours, access to the facility requires an access code (which changes daily) for security reasons. The dorm rooms have locks, so you can sleep securely. This was my first experience with YHA and my first time staying in a dorm room as an adult, but it will definitely not be my last. Pros: 1. Location: Excellent, with beautiful views and bird singing during the walk to the nearby village and Grasmere Lake. 2. Cleanliness: All areas, including toilets and showers, were extremely clean. 3. Comfort: Warm, clean, and comfortable bed in the female dorm; power sockets by the beds and good curtains on the windows. 4. Amenities: Wardrobe in the room, large garden, terrace, guest kitchen, entertainment room, lounge with sofas and armchairs, and two dining rooms serving good food. 5. Service: Exceptionally helpful and friendly reception staff, full of positive energy and good humour. 6. Additional Information: Receptionists provided valuable tips on local attractions and sold a YHA book with a stamp from my stay. 7. Security: Access code required after reception hours and locks in dorm rooms ensure safety. 8. Parking: Plenty of parking spaces, always easy to find a spot. 9. Access: Simple, well-signposted route to the hostel. Cons: 1. Shower Pressure: The water pressure in the shower was very weak. 2. Drying Room: The drying room had a strong smell; it neede better ventilation and increased temperature. 3. Roommates: You might end up with a roommate who snores like they have a hidden grizzly bear inside them.

I stayed at this hotel for but a few nights, and even so I feel as if I was treated to an unforgettable experience that will stick with me for many of my days. Placed in the centre of the idyllic Lake District, the hostel provides a direct pathway to many glacial valleys and beautiful walks around the area. As is the nature with these hostels, the staff were few and far between, and on multiple occasions we served ourselves at mealtimes. However this made for great freedom when choosing our meals and contributed to the sense of calming isolation and self-reliance that we felt throughout the trip. The public room that we stayed in contained many bunk beds of a very satisfactory quality, with clean sheets and air freshener in the corners. A long walk to the facilities was necessary, but this was to be expected with such a place. I'd recommend to anyone looking for a calming and downright wonderful time in one of the Uk's most gorgeous parks.

Stayed with a group of runners mid October. Breakfast could easily have been from a 5 star hotel, frankly it was just that good. Room was cosy and warm, and staff very friendly. But, the best thing about this hostel would have to be the interior spaces, which were spectacular! I hope I will be back.

To quote the YHA "blurb" - "A magical place to stay - this sprawling Victorian mansion is steeped in history and perched above its own three tier arboretum that's managed by the National Trust. Its labyrinthine corridors and ornate grandeur captivate most guests. Langdale's enviable location is unmatched with stunning views including the Langdale Pikes, Loughrigg Fell and rolling views all the way down to Lake Windermere and Bowness." All of this is accurate, but doesn't convey the enjoyment all ages get from staying here. The dormitory rooms are perfect for families or for groups of friends, the kitchen facilities are excellent and the Great Hall and Sitting Rooms are breathtaking. We have now hired this hostel three times over the last fifteen years - our local residents' association has an annual weekend away together. Each time we come here the numbers increase as others hear how nice it is; there were 71 of us this time! The only minor disappointment we had was the lack of childrens' toys; in the past, there was a room with many things for the little ones to play with, this has now gone. Perhaps this is a part of the "getting away from it all" change. I remember a TV when we stayed previously - that has also gone, but no great loss in my opinion!