Suggestions: Post-hiking stay in Cumbria

Have you booked your train to London yet?- if so from which station?

Anywhere in the Central Lakes (like Windermere or Keswick) is going to be busy in July- which is peak season.

Also what is your budget?

So you want to be somewhere with easy access to the area, but a little bit away from things.

In the Keswick area one of the smaller villages such as Threlkeld would be good on a low to medium budget (still on the 1/2 hourly bus route to Keswick and Penrith). Back o' Bassenthwaite there are a number of nice hotels on the hourly X4 route to Keswick and Penrith. If you were in the splurge category I would suggest Armathwaite Hall . For less money- in a really nice historic town the Trout Hotel at Cockermouth would be nice.

In the Windermere area Staveley (several places to stay) or the Watermill Inn at Ings would be nice choices. Both are on the main 555 bus route. The quiet part of 'Windermere' is the area on the Barrow road just past Bowness steamer pier.- quite a few places down there.

In the splurge category, and a place with an interesting history, think about Storrs Hall (on the newly improved Barrow to Windermere bus route). Or another nice place with easy train and bus access is The Swan Hotel at Newby Bridge.

Another lovely place (at the south end of the Windermere 'steamer' route) would be the Lakeside Hotel, There are some nice gentle walks in that area, as well as the Bobbin Mill, the adjacent Aquarium, the Steam Railway, the Motor museum at Backbarrow.

Then start your journey to London in style- boat from outside the front door to Bowness, open top bus up the hill to Windermere station, then train.

Hi isn31c,
Thank you so much for your suggestions. Very helpful! After researching your recommendations, we decided on the area around Bowness. And I love your suggestion of a boat ride, then open air bus, to the train station! A perfect way to end our trip!