The perfect cosy escape with a baby?

Another Place, The Lake feels almost tailor-made for that slightly tricky first stage of travelling with a baby: you want somewhere beautiful enough to feel like a proper escape, but relaxed enough that you’re not worrying every time your smallest guest makes a noise.

We visited in November, when Ullswater and the surrounding Lake District were firmly in winter mode. Rather than detracting from the experience, it made the hotel feel even cosier — particularly when there was a warm swimming pool, an enormous bed and a very good breakfast waiting inside.

Most importantly, this was somewhere we felt completely comfortable having Jack with us.

Room & Sleep ★★★★★

Food & Mealtimes ★★★★★

Family Welcome ★★★★★

Getting Around ★★★☆☆

Play & Facilities ★★★★☆

Grown-Up Appeal ★★★★★

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Best for: A cosy Lake District break for parents who want somewhere genuinely family-friendly without sacrificing style or a sense of escape.

Think twice if: You want to explore everywhere with a pram. The setting isn’t particularly flat, and a baby carrier will make life considerably easier.

The best thing: How genuinely welcome we felt with a small baby — with the make-your-own waffles coming a very close second.

Would we return? Yes.

Room & Sleep ★★★★★

Our room was wonderfully spacious, which immediately made travelling with a baby easier. There was plenty of room for Jack’s cot and all the inevitable baby paraphernalia without feeling as though we’d sacrificed half of our bedroom to it.

The travel cot itself was excellent and the room had proper blackout curtains — two things that immediately score highly with us.

Our own bed was large and incredibly comfortable too.

It sounds simple, but a spacious room, good cot and genuine blackout is a pretty dreamy combination when you’re travelling with a baby.

Teeny tip: If sleep is a priority, this was one of the easiest hotel room set-ups we’ve experienced with a baby.

Food & Mealtimes ★★★★★

Breakfast was exceptional.

There was an incredible selection, but the detail we loved most was the make-your-own waffle station. The hotel provides the batter, waffle maker and toppings, so you can make your own fresh waffles at breakfast.

Jack was still very small when we visited, but it’s exactly the sort of thing we can imagine becoming a holiday highlight for toddlers and older children.

For dinner, we opted for the more relaxed dining option and it worked brilliantly with a baby. The atmosphere felt informal enough that we could actually enjoy our meal rather than worrying about whether Jack was disturbing anyone around us.

It was another example of something Another Place does particularly well: making family life feel normal rather than something that needs to be accommodated around everyone else.

Family Welcome ★★★★★

This was probably the standout for us.

Another Place felt genuinely family-orientated, not simply family-tolerant.

The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming throughout our stay, and we never once felt as though having a small baby with us was a nuisance.

There’s a huge difference between knowing that a hotel accepts babies and actually being able to relax when you have one with you. We never felt self-conscious arriving at breakfast with Jack, taking him for a swim or bringing him along to dinner.

Families simply felt like a natural part of the hotel.

That sense of ease is difficult to quantify, but it can completely change how enjoyable a trip with a baby feels.

Getting Around ★★★☆☆

This is the one area where we’d suggest coming prepared.

The hotel and its Lake District setting aren’t particularly flat, so getting around exclusively with a pram isn’t always the easiest option.

We managed, but for parents travelling with a small baby we’d definitely recommend packing a carrier as well. It gives you far more freedom to explore without having to think about whether a particular route will work with the buggy.

This is perhaps unsurprising given the beautiful Lake District location, but it’s worth knowing before you arrive.

Play & Facilities ★★★★☆

The pool was a real highlight for us — not least because it was where Jack had his first ever swim.

The facilities were excellent and, visiting in November, having somewhere warm and lovely to swim made a huge difference. It gave us something we could all do together without having to