{"id":7683,"date":"2025-12-02T10:06:54","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T10:06:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/?p=7683"},"modified":"2025-12-02T10:06:54","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T10:06:54","slug":"review-the-kings-arms-hawkshead-lake-district-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/?p=7683","title":{"rendered":"Review: The King’s Arms, Hawkshead, Lake District, UK"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A haven for locals and visitors for generations, The King\u2019s Arms takes centre stage in the Lake District village of Hawkshead. The whitewashed walls of this 17th-century coaching inn are a picture postcard scene, whatever the Cumbrian weather happens to throw at you. And, after an extensive, sympathetic renovation, the inn reopened its doors in August of this year, stepping into a new chapter that honours its past while making room for contemporary comfort.<\/p>\n

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The refurbishment is unapologetically local in spirit \u2014 led by Cumbrian tradespeople, respectful of oak beams, stone fireplaces and slate floors, and shepherded by owner Jo McGowan, it\u2019s given Hawkshead a pub that truly belongs to the community. The result is classic and calm: a place that looks traditional in photos but feels fresh in practice.<\/p>\n

The welcome<\/h2>\n

Part of Hawkshead\u2019s charm is that its centre has been largely car-free for over 50 years now. Most visitors make use of the pay-and-display car park on the edge of the village. We\u2019d learned in advance that parking permits are issued to guests staying at The King\u2019s Arms for the car park just opposite, so popped in to collect one before heading to the car park. We were warmly greeted on arrival at the bar, offered a permit and invited to leave our luggage while we parked. We were travelling lightly so that wasn\u2019t necessary but were kindly offered help once again when returning, before being personally shown to our room.<\/p>\n

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The room<\/h2>\n

The King\u2019s Arms now houses eight individually designed en suite bedrooms, each with a regal name and interiors that nod to traditional country style while delivering modern comfort. Three rooms \u2014 Charles, William and George \u2014 were available at the time of our stay, with the remaining five \u2013 Arthur, Edward, Henry, James and Richard \u2013 due to open around the busy Hawkshead Christmas Fair weekend. Crisp linen, Nespresso machines, Smart TVs and local toiletries are provided as standard \u2014 small attentions that make a difference after a day exploring the fells.<\/p>\n

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We stayed in Charles, swathed in colour and with tasteful period pieces, from the furniture to Vanity Fair-style caricatures on the walls. One of the highlights of the room is a generous window seat which looks out over the village square, where you can relax, read a book, check out a map for the day that lies ahead, or simply watch the world go by.<\/p>\n

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The bathroom<\/h2>\n

Compact and bright, the en-suite makes efficient use of the available space. There\u2019s a powerful drench shower with a water pressure that could easily outpace the wildest of Lake District storms, basin and WC. <\/p>\n

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The toiletries are locally sourced from Pure Lakes, a Far Sawrey maker of handmade, natural skincare that has made its way into most of the county\u2019s luxury hotels (see their soap-making course in our \u201810 things to do on a rainy day in the Lake District\u2018 post).<\/p>\n

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Everything you need to plan your trip in 2025<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The facilities<\/h2>\n

The rebooted King\u2019s Arms wears its local credentials proudly. It\u2019s not a tied house, which means the bar can showcase rotating brews from Cumbrian breweries \u2014 a particularly good decision for a pub in the heart of the Lakes. A regular pour is Loweswater Gold from Cumbrian Ales, a past winner of CAMRA\u2019s cask version of Champion Golden Ale of Britain, whilst other guest ales appear on rotational basis.<\/p>\n

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Food-wise, Head Chef Ross Bowman has created a menu built from the nearest ingredients, supporting farmers, butchers, dairies and producers within Cumbria. <\/p>\n

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Expect pub classics elevated by technique and quality. <\/p>\n

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We ate their both evenings, sampling a generous selection of dishes, including starters of poached smoked haddock with saffron velout\u00e9 and hand-baked focaccia, a perfectly seasoned Cumberland scotch egg with homemade brown sauce, and delicate king scallops with kashmiri sauce and chive oil. <\/p>\n

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Mains were precisely what you want in a country inn: a beef brisket pie with an Eden Sunset Cheddar crust, slow-cooked beef cheek with parsnip pur\u00e9e, and a chicken ballotine served with corn pur\u00e9e and chorizo relish. <\/p>\n

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For dessert, try the Cranachan cheesecake, oaty snap biscuit, raspberry meringue and raspberry gelato.<\/p>\n

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Breakfast is ordered the evening before with options from a full cooked breakfast to Eggs Hemingway or lighter plates.<\/p>\n

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We had an interesting chat with a member of the front of house team who commented that extending breakfast beyond just residents was a sensitive issue, as they don\u2019t want to complete with the village\u2019s much-loved caf\u00e9s, because it\u2019s essential that all businesses are able to co-exist symbiotically, with each having their own role that supports Hawkshead\u2019s delicate ecosystem.<\/p>\n

The location<\/h2>\n

Hawkshead is one of those Lake District villages that seems to have been built from an illustrator\u2019s happiest idea of England: narrow lanes, whitewashed cottages, and a scattering of independent shops and tea rooms. The Wordsworth connections add a literary air; wander away from the square and you\u2019ll find tearooms, craft shops, the church, and, conveniently, the Hawkshead Relish Company practically next door and Ann Tyson\u2019s around the corner. <\/p>\n

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The King\u2019s Arms is perfectly placed for short riverside rambles, Tarn Hows, and longer fell walks. We had planned to walk Black Fell and revisit Tarn Hows, but the hills were grey, wet and visibility was poor \u2014 Lake District weather doing exactly what it\u2019s meant to. Plan B saw us head for Skelwith Bridge which we take a short riverside walk to Skelwith Force, which was showcasing the full force of nature\u2019s power.<\/p>\n

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We stopped at Chesters by the River, a vegetarian caf\u00e9, for a cauliflower bhaji sandwich with mint & coriander chutney and tamarind chutney, and a sticky carrot cake to follow \u2013 shared so that we could still enjoy another lovely meal at The King\u2019s Arms in the evening<\/p>\n

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Other nice touches<\/h2>\n

At the King\u2019s Arms, there are lots of small things that collectively show they care about creating a relaxed, informal atmosphere \u2013 from the tea and coffee welcome tray, complimentary water and homemade biscuits on arrival, or the selection of board games in the bar (chess, backgammon, Connect 4). <\/p>\n

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But there are other more structural elements that also make a difference \u2013 original features have been retained where it counts: exposed beams, a cosy stone fireplace and even an old well at the back door \u2014 details that ensure the inn keeps its sense of history.<\/p>\n

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The cost<\/h2>\n

Rooms start from \u00a3112 per night out of season to about \u00a3175 per night in high season.<\/p>\n

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The best bit<\/h2>\n

The King\u2019s Arms manages to find that happy middle ground of being both polished and unpretentious. Well-made food, considered interiors, and a bar that knows its ales \u2014 yet also a place where you can show up with muddy boots and still be made to feel entirely welcome. It\u2019s hospitality without airs and graces \u2013 comfort that doesn\u2019t feel too stuffy. That extraordinary balance is something the inn has seemingly achieved with ease, but has no doubt not been without a lot of hard work.<\/p>\n

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The final verdict<\/h2>\n

The King\u2019s Arms\u2019 reopening marks a tidy, well-crafted new chapter for an already beloved Hawkshead institution. The renovation is demonstrably respectful \u2014 original features retained, local craftspeople engaged, and sensible contemporary comforts introduced. Whether you\u2019re popping in for a pint, calling for dinner, or staying the night, this gem provides an authentically Lakeland experience: warm, local and very much part of the village\u2019s social fabric.<\/p>\n

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Dislcosure: Our stay was sponsored by The Kings Arms.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Paul Johnson<\/h3>\n

Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel \u2018Best Travel Influencer\u2019 Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted \u201cone of the world\u2019s best travel blogs\u201d and \u201cbest for luxury\u201d by The Telegraph.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Source: https:\/\/www.aluxurytravelblog.com\/2025\/11\/29\/review-the-kings-arms-hawkshead-lake-district-uk\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A haven for locals and visitors for generations, The King\u2019s Arms takes centre stage in the Lake District village of Hawkshead. The whitewashed walls of this 17th-century coaching inn are a picture postcard scene, whatever the Cumbrian weather happens to throw at you. And, after an extensive, sympathetic renovation, the inn reopened its doors in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7684,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7683","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7683","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7683"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7683\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7684"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7683"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7683"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.theblyde.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7683"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}