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  • A stone house exterior with a gray door and windows a pathway and potted plants at The Sanctuary in Windermere
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A stone house exterior with a gray door and windows a pathway and potted plants at The Sanctuary in Windermere A living room with two brown leather chairs a small wooden mantel with a round mirror above a fireplace and a TV unit near a door leading to a patio at The Sanctuary in Windermere A sitting area with two brown leather chairs a table with a lamp a wall mirror and an open door leading to a patio with a table and chairs at The Sanctuary in Windermere An open plan living room and kitchen with brown leather sofa and chairs wooden floor and a small fireplace at The Sanctuary in Windermere A living room with brown leather chairs a brown sofa a wooden floor a small fireplace a round mirror above the fireplace and a TV on a stand at The Sanctuary in Windermere A living room and kitchen area with a brown sofa dining table with chairs and a kitchen island with stools at The Sanctuary in Windermere A dining area with a round wooden table and four chairs with black seats a vase of flowers on the table a black armchair with a pillow two framed pictures and a painting on the walls at The Sanctuary in Windermere A kitchen and dining area with wooden table and chairs a kitchen island with stools and hanging lights at The Sanctuary in Windermere A kitchen counter with a French press coffee maker two white cups and saucers and a plate of pastries in an open plan living and dining area at The Sanctuary in Windermere A kitchen counter with coffee cups and pastries leading to a living area with chairs and a sofa at The Sanctuary in Windermere A kitchen with wooden floors white cabinets a washing machine an oven a microwave and a counter with pastries and coffee at The Sanctuary in Windermere A kitchen with white cabinets wooden countertops an oven a stovetop a toaster a sink a washing machine and hanging pendant lights at The Sanctuary in Windermere A stairway with gray railings a wooden door and a pointed arched window with plants on the sill at The Sanctuary in Windermere A bedroom with a bed gray bedding two nightstands with lamps a wardrobe a chair a large mirror and a wooden door at The Sanctuary in Windermere A bedroom with a bed and bedside tables with lamps a wardrobe a window with curtains and a chair at The Sanctuary in Windermere A bedroom with a bed made with white and gray linens two pillows rolled towels a lamp a window with gray curtains and a white wardrobe at The Sanctuary in Windermere A bedroom with a bed towels on it a window with curtain a wardrobe a chest of drawers with a small tv and mirror at The Sanctuary in Windermere A bedroom with a bed, a full-length mirror, a wooden door, a dresser with a TV, and a gray cushioned storage bench at The Sanctuary in Windermere A bedroom with a bed with pillows and rolled towels on it two bedside tables with lamps a framed picture on the wall and a mirror at The Sanctuary in Windermere A bedroom with a bed with pillows and towels under a window with curtains at The Sanctuary in Windermere A bedroom with a bed pillows a dresser small TV and a window at The Sanctuary in Windermere A bathroom with a sink mirror and wall mounted toilet at The Sanctuary in Windermere A tiled bathroom shower area with a glass partition a rainfall showerhead and a black towel radiator at The Sanctuary in Windermere A bathroom with a toilet a sink a mirror a window and a framed map on the wall at The Sanctuary in Windermere A patio with a table and four chairs outside with a wooden gate and stone wall at The Sanctuary in Windermere An outdoor patio with a table and four chairs next to a stone house at The Sanctuary in Windermere An outdoor patio area with a square table and four chairs next to a stone wall with small plants at The Sanctuary in Windermere Stone house exterior with a pathway leading to a gray door and potted plants on stone ground at The Sanctuary in Windermere

The Sanctuary

(Ref. 1063198)

Windermere, Lake District Show on map

4.7

Tourist Board rating Tourist Board ratings icon Tourist Board ratings icon Tourist Board ratings icon Tourist Board ratings icon

  • 4 Guests

  • 2 Bedrooms

  • 1 Bathroom

  • Pets: No

Features

  • Off road parking
  • Garden / Patio
  • Pub/shop < 1 mile
  • Washing machine
  • Dishwasher
  • Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing
Cleanliness
Comfort
Facilities and Maintenance
  • All reviews
  • cottage (16)
  • lovely (14)
  • location (12)
  • sanctuary (8)
  • no (8)
  • windermere (8)

24 Customer Reviews

  • "We had a great week using the Sanctuary as a base."

    The property is really nice, in a quiet setting but close to shops etc for what you need, We went during a heatwave and it stayed lovely and cool downstairs, but was very hot upstairs as there’s no way to block sun from stair window. We found it had everything we needed though the wooden floor downstairs made socks dirty, suggesting it hadn’t been mopped/thoroughly in a while. The beds were way too soft for us, and gave me back ache. Worth noting that due to the covenant on the land you aren’t allowed to dry your clothes outside if you do any washing- and clothes left to dry inside (couldn’t be tumbled dried) went smelly so not ideal- pack with that in mind. Being close to bus stop was a god send as we struggled to park in many places so we opted to use the bus- far less hassle.

    Reviewed by Helen4.1★Aug 2025

  • "Lovely cottage in a quiet setting but only a 5 minute walk to the centre of Windermere"

    Reviewed by Karen5.0★Jul 2025

  • "Nice cottage in a convenient area."

    The streets were busy so we took the bus most days. Had 2 trips on the lake and visited the surrounding area.Weather was mixed and when it rained heavy the back gutter was like a waterfall A welcome pack would have been nice most places provide them. Disappointed to find dirty dishes in the cupboard and covering greasy trays with tin foil wasn't good either. The frying pan was unusable .We found the beds uncomfortable but I suppose that's an individual taste. The cottage was fine but we wouldn't return.

    Thank you very much for your recent feedback about The Sanctuary. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts. We're delighted to hear that you found the location convenient and well-situated for exploring Windermere and the South Lakes. It's unfortunate that the weather wasn't on your side during your stay. Regarding the guttering issue, we'll investigate and check for any blockages—it's likely that leaves may have obstructed the downspout. We’ll also look into the other concerns you mentioned and ensure appropriate action is taken. Kind regards, The Team at Lakelovers Property Owner

    Reviewed by Catherine2.8★Jul 2025

  • "A lovely cottage fantastically situated 5 mins from the centre of Windermere."

    Peaceful and very relaxing. We used it as a base to visit all the local villages and towns. Our only comment is that the cottage was incredibly dusty with several large cobwebs in most of the rooms,other than that it was very clean and incredibly comfortable. Some instructions on rubbish etc would be useful in the welcome book also

    Reviewed by Laura4.4★Jun 2025

  • "About our 6th stay."

    . it's a lovely cottage and very peaceful, but close to amenities. Very clean and comfortable. Good parking. Thank you.

    Reviewed by Ailsa5.0★May 2025

  • "Our second stay at this lovely cottage."

    We enjoyed wonderful weather and the property was well situated for access to shops in Windemere and local walks to the lake and Orrest Head. Very clean and comfortable. The addition of the Stressless chairs was a real plus. All the furnishings were good quality and the cottage was a very high standard throughout. If you book this cottage you will not be disappointed.

    Reviewed by Cheryl5.0★Mar 2025

  • "Had a lovely stay at The Sanctuary at New Year."

    Everything was perfect. Would definitely stay again. Thank you for the complimentary Prosecco. Regards Sue

    Thank you Sue for your kind comments regarding your New Year stay at 'The Sanctuary'. We look forward to welcoming you back in the future. Property Owner

    Reviewed by Susan5.0★Dec 2024

  • "Lovely cottage really convenient for everything, car not required, will definitely stay here again."

    Thank you for your taking the time to leave your kind comments. We are pleased that you had an enjoyable stay. We hope to welcome you again. The Lakelovers Owner Relations Team Property Owner

    Reviewed by Susan3.8★Nov 2024

  • "We had a lovely week at the Sanctuary."

    The cottage was more spacious than the photos indicated and everything was immaculately clean. Location was great - a short stroll into Windermere and the bus station. We went most places on the bus and left our car in the parking spaces provided.

    Reviewed by Carole5.0★Aug 2024

  • "We stopped here last September really enjoyed it so decided to stay for four ..."

    We stopped here last September really enjoyed it so decided to stay for four nights for my birthday Again we had a lovely time, we even did things we didn't do before The sanctuary is very handy for the bus into Keswick Ambleside, and Grasmere and bowness but also a lovely walk into bowness It's handy for some lovely cafes, bars,restaurants and shops We wouldn't hesitate to book the sanctuary again sometime as it's a clean comfy and well equipped property and tastefully furnished

    Reviewed by Christine5.0★Jun 2024

  • "Arrived last Saturday, unable to get into property as key did not work."

    Had to phone up.Luckily just before office closed.Guy who was very helpful turned up,he couldn't get us in.Went to get another key from Windermere,that didn't work.We then left as we went for a coffee.Returned couple of hours later, assume locksmiths had come because different key-we hadn't been updated.Our first night ruined as 3 hours wasted and we had to change our plans.Hard to believe something like this can happen,were cleaners not in earlier?Rest of holiday enjoyable but no check on us or apology for what happened.Underwhelmed.Cottage very nice, great location but low scores reflect our first day problems.

    We are sorry to hear the lock did not work on your arrival at The Sanctuary. The cleaner had been in earlier and all appeared to be ok. We believe Lakelovers dealt with it as quickly as they were able. Lakelovers informed us later that week. We are as surprised as you regarding the faulty lock, as the new door was only fitted 2 years ago. We hope this won"t put you off visiting our beautiful cottage in the future. Property Owner

    Reviewed by Mark3.1★May 2024

  • "Lovely comfortable cottage."

    .

    Reviewed by Ailsa5.0★May 2024

  • "Impressed with standard of accommodation, photos don't do it justice."

    Open plan downstairs so does take a while to warm up, complete opposite upstairs. Location great, shops and restaurants short walk around the corner but nice and quiet at the cottage. We also walked down to Bowness and back, took about 25 mins each way. We went bank holiday weekend, very busy and car parks rammed everywhere. Would recommend The Sanctuary.

    Reviewed by Louise5.0★Mar 2024

  • "All very good"

    Reviewed by Tom4.7★Mar 2024

  • "Great property good location ml"

    Reviewed by Tom5.0★Feb 2024

  • "Arrived to find heating not working and radiator valves turned off."

    Tried to contact Sykes (the only number available) but no answer. Eventually contacted Lakelovers on Sunday morning with prompt response by engineer. Fault was low water pressure. Suggest heating should have been checked prior to arrival.

    hank you for taking the time to leave a review after your recent stay at our property. We appreciate your feedback, We're sincerely sorry to hear that you arrived to find the heating not working and the radiator valves turned off. We understand the frustration and inconvenience this must have caused, while we have a 24/7 emergency contact number available to guests who have logged into their booking portal, we acknowledge that this information may not have been readily accessible. While previous guests in good faith turned off the radiators to save energy, we understand that this can inadvertently impact the experience for arriving guests. We're implementing additional checks within our housekeeping procedures to ensure the heating system is fully functional before each new arrival. We're glad Lakelovers responded promptly to your request on Sunday morning and fixed the low water pressure issue. We value your feedback and hope to welcome you back in the future. Please know that we are committed to providing a comfortable and enjoyable experience for all our guests. Property Owner

    Reviewed by Will4.7★Sep 2023

  • "Our second stay at the Sanctuary, in our opinion the best location in Windermere, just round the corner from Windermere village and a mile or so from Bowness and in a quiet spot The cottage is lovely and really is a home from home, the new bathroom is fantastic!"

    The recliner chairs also a big hit after a long day walking, the private parking spot is amazing to get at the lakes, makes such a difference, thanks for another great stay

    Reviewed by Samantha5.0★Aug 2023

  • "Excellent cottage in a good location."

    Thank you for your kind comments, we are pleased to hear that you enjoyed your stay. We hope to welcome you back. The Lakelovers Owner Relations Team. Property Owner

    Reviewed by Ailsa5.0★May 2023

  • "Wonderful Cottage in a perfect location."

    Luckily for us The Sanctuary was available for the only week we had off in June. Situated in a quiet area of Windermere Village but only two minute walk into the center. The cottage has everything you could possible need to make it your home for the duration of your stay. Would definitely re-book if we ever come back to the lakes.

    Reviewed by Susan4.7★Jun 2022

  • "Lovely clean comfortable cottage."

    Good location.

    Reviewed by Ailsa5.0★May 2022

  • "Superb cottage."

    Excellent location and wonderfully quiet. This was our second visit to the Sanctuary and we hope to return. Very Minor point: some smaller glasses/ tumblers would be useful.

    Thank you for your feedback and positive comments. Some smaller glasses have now been purchased. We hope you will visit again. Property Owner

    Reviewed by Julia5.0★Apr 2022

  • "Quite a narrow driveway for large cars/SUV’s but manageable with care, the luxury of 2 parking spaces is a real bonus."

    Set back in a quiet residential area and just a short walk into Windermere - a lovely location and a well equipped, comfortable and spacious property.

    Reviewed by Paul5.0★Jun 2021

  • "This is an excellent property."

    It has everything needed for a comfortable self catering holiday. The cooking facillities fulfilled everything that we needed. The property is well decorated in neutral colours and the tv, dvd, wifi are all a good standard. Lovely large shower - no bath but we do not use one. The patio at the rear is perfectly adequate for relaxation, with a dining table and four chairs. Our weather was a bit cool but we could imagine eating out there on a warm evening. The location is good, being only a 10-15 minutes walk to Windermere town, where there is a Sainsburys, Co-op as well as Booths which has a large car park. Due to Covid we were not able to eat out at the time that we were there but restaurants/cafes a short walk away. Highly recommended

    Reviewed by Alan5.0★May 2021

  • "Super cottage, clean and well appointed."

    Excellent location. I think the booking fee charged is excessive. Humans do very little when booking online. You already make money from the owners.

    Reviewed by Julia5.0★Apr 2021

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This property is part of the Lakelovers collection.
We have properties to suit every occasion throughout the southern and central Lake District including; Ambleside Cottages, Bowness Cottages, Coniston Cottages, Grasmere Cottages, Hawkshead Cottages, Lakeside Cottages, Langdale Cottages, Troutbeck Cottages, Ulswater Cottages, Windermere Cottages and smaller hamlets between, which although seldom heard of are none the less equally wonderful. With hundreds of properties available, Lakelovers are sure to have a property to meet your needs.

Summary

  • Highly Commended 4 Star property
  • Two bedrooms: 1 x king size bedroom, 1 x double bedroom
  • Shower room with walk-in shower, basin and WC
  • Cloakroom with basin and WC
  • Kitchen
  • Living/dining room
  • Electric central heating
  • Electric oven with halogen hob, microwave, fridge, freezer, dishwasher, washer/dryer
  • Smart TV and DVD, WiFi
  • Fuel, power, bed linen and towels inc. in rent
  • Private parking for 2 cars
  • Small patio with furniture
  • Sorry, no pets and no smoking
  • Windermere village centre within 0.3 miles

The property

The Sanctuary is a quintessential, Cumbrian slate cottage, converted from an old church school building, located at the end of a private driveway off Ambleside Rd, with the added luxury of two designated car parking spaces.

Having undergone the installation of a contemporary bathroom with Villeroy & Boch sanitary ware, oak internal doors and other decorative changes, whilst being within a moment’ stroll of Windermere’s amenities, this is a superb holiday home for couples and families.

Guests will be charmed by the tasteful decor, stylish interior and well-presented bedrooms.

The lounge area is beautifully furnished with two stressless chairs, sofa and a fire with new wooden surround.

There is a Smart TV/DVD and patio doors leading onto the sunny patio, (the sun does shine in the Lakes) perfect for alfresco dining, along with that pre-dinner drink or coffee!

A stylish breakfast bar separates the William Ball kitchen from the dining area.

The kitchen has everything you will need, dishwasher, washer-dryer, electric oven, Halogen hob and fridge freezer.

A downstairs cloakroom is a handy addition providing adequate hanging space for your coats, and toilet/washbasin.

Stairs lead you past the stunning Gothic window to two lovely good size bedrooms.

Each bedroom has been lovingly coordinated with plenty of storage.

The bedrooms include a king-size and a double, situated upstairs.

A fitted light airy bathroom with a spacious walk-in shower and Villeroy Boch fitting provide your washing facilities.

Windermere village is a popular destination for visitors; brim full of restaurants, interesting shops, and cosy pubs.

Foodies will love Booths supermarket and cooks will adore the flagship Lakeland store nearby.

The village of Bowness and the shores of Lake Windermere are just down the road, with cruises, rowing boats and a whole array of water based activities on offer, and of course, there is the wonderful Lake District countryside to admire and explore.

Choose The Sanctuary for a wonderful escape to Cumbria.

Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £200.

Where you’ll be staying

View on map

WINDERMERE

  • Ambleside 5 miles
  • Kendal 8.7 miles

The twin towns of Bowness and Windermere are both vibrant, fun-filled places set within the splendid scenery of the Lake District. Both towns provide a range of amenities, shops and restaurants to suit all tastes whilst Ambleside offers the additional attraction of a boat ride to Bowness, the Lakeside Aquarium and Beatrix Potter's 'Hill Top House' at Sawrey. Grizedale Forest Park is within easy driving distance and is home to a range of activities including many good walks, mountain biking and the 'Go Ape' adventure park. The region also boasts many National Trust properties as well as a variety of water sports for those who prefer a more adrenaline-fuelled trip. Children will enjoy a trip to the 'World of Beatrix Potter' in Bowness whilst the villages of Grasmere, Coniston Water, Kendal, Keswick and the Lakeland Mountains are all within easy reach.

View more holiday cottages in Windermere

This property offers the following short breaks:

  • Off-season
  • Last minute
  • Christmas
Flexible cancellation terms

If you cancel before 12 noon , get all of your money back:

  • Rent
  • Extras
  • Fees

excluding the Flexible Cancellation fee and any insurance premium.

There are a small number of circumstances where you can’t use Flexible Cancellation. See the Flexible Cancellation Terms that apply.