WITH SCENIC VIEWS, historic monuments and the Lake District on the doorstep, it’s unsurprising that so many famous faces flock to Cumbria.

You might already be aware of the celebrities who have holidayed here- but have you ever wondered where they stayed on their trip?

From historic halls to much more intimate places, numerous hotels across Cumbria have housed celebrity guests over the years.

Here are just eight hotels in Cumbria that celebrity guests have stayed in:

Armathwaite Hall, Bassenthwaite Lake, Keswick

The Mail:

(Photo: Armathwaite Hall Hotel
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Michael King - geograph.org.uk/p/505581)

If you have ever spent a weekend at The Lake District, you might have stayed at Armathwaite Hall.

If so, you could have stayed in the same bed as some iconic celebrity.

According to the hotel, the musical group Bee Gees and Doctor Foster actress, Suranne Jones, have stayed at this hotel.

The Mail: Tony Blair(Stefan Rousseau/PA)Tony Blair(Stefan Rousseau/PA)

And the celebrity list doesn’t end there as former Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown also stayed at the hall during their visit.

Brown stayed at the hotel back in 2009.

After his visit, he said: "Myself, Sarah and the boys want to thank all the people we met in the Lake District for showing us the generous welcome for which they are famous.

"We have had a fantastic few days relaxing in such a beautiful and inspiring place and have enjoyed walks around Buttermere and Bassenthwaite Lakes and an excellent boat trip on Derwent Water.

"It is easy to see why The Lakes - with their stunning scenery and breath-taking landscapes - are such an attraction.

“We look forward to visiting the area again and strongly recommend the Lake District as a great place for a family holiday."


Holbeck Ghyll, Windermere

 

 

‘The Hoff’ stayed at this hotel back in 2016,

To promote tourism in the area back in 2020, Hasselhoff posted this to the Lake District website:

“The lake, the hotel, Holbeck Ghyll… the time we spent in Cumbria was magical. Almost like being far far away in a calm serene place of beauty - Aaplace to sigh and look into a lover’s eyes”

The Mail: (Ian West/PA)(Ian West/PA) David Hasselhoff rose to fame in the 1980s when he played the role of Michael Knight in Knight Rider.

He is also most famously remembered for his performance in hit television series, Baywatch , which ran in the 1990s.

The Hoff isn’t the only notable face to have stayed at this hotel either- Girls Aloud’s Cheryl Cole and actor, Ray Winston are also fans.

The Ambleside Salutation Hotel and Spa, Lake Road, Ambleside

(Facebook/ @AmblesideSalutationHotel)

Not every celebrity guest was born in this century.

The Ambleside Salutation dates back to the 17th century and is reputed to have been a popular haunt for romantic poets.

John Keats is said to have stayed here in 1818 and Alfred Lord Tennyson and Edward Fitzgerald made it their overnight home in 1835.

Tennyson was said to be composing Morte d’Arthur during his stay.

The Wordsworth Hotel and Spa, Grasmere, Ambleside

(Facebook/ @thewordsworth)

Former American President, Woodrow Wilson, visited the Lake District on several occasions.

He even took a trip to Carlisle in 1918 where he visited the Crown and Mitre Hotel in Carlisle to sign the Freeman Roll.

However, before that he visited The Rothay Garden

Wilson returned for a fifth time in 1908, staying at the Rothay (now the Wordsworth) Hotel in Grasmere.

There is even a room named after him in the hotel which boast scenic mountainside views.

The Crown Hotel, Wetheral

While it is a small place, this hotel is loved by many celebrities- all of which have been incredibly varied.

John Prescott and Ronan Keating, Paul Weller and the members of JLS have stayed.


The Mail: Ronan Keating (Ian West/PA)Ronan Keating (Ian West/PA)
David Dimbleby, Tony Benn and Claire Rayner stayed when they appeared together on Question Time and Status Quo.

Vince Cable once called in for lunch and Rick Stein conducted a taste test there, comparing free-range turkey to battery turkey.

The Samling Hotel, Ambleside, Widermere

This small but luxurious hotel has been visited by some A-list celebrities over the years.

Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Stella McCartney and the Beckhams have all stayed here.

The Mail: Tom Cruise (Ian West/PA)Tom Cruise (Ian West/PA)

However, once you take a look inside it’s clear to see why it has attracted so many famous faces. It’s situated a few hundred feet above Lake Windermere and has its own Micheli-starred restaurant on site.

Sharrow Bay Hotel, Ullswater, Penrith

McCartney proposed to Heather Mills in the at this hotel back in 2001.


(Instagram/paulmccartney)

After lunch at the hotel, he pulled out a sapphire ring and popped the question.

Speaking to a national paper at the time, McCartney said: “When I proposed I was a bit nervous but I managed. We've had a good reception from relatives and friends and from the media.”

The baby grand piano at the hotel was once famously played by McCartney as he wooed Heather.

Sadly, the Sharrow Bay Hotel was forced to close its doors last September as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Staffield Hall Country Retreats, Staffeld, Penrith

Staffield Hall guests include the BBC Radio 1 team, who stayed at the hotel for a week in 2011.

They used Staffield Hall as a luxury holiday apartment in the Lake district as part of the ‘Secret Cumbrian Country House’ segment of the Cumbria BIG WEEKEND’ which took place in Carlisle.

Chris Moyles and Greg James broadcast live every day for a week from the Lounge in Manor Hall.

(YouTube/BBC Radio 1)

Chris Moyles even gave people a tour of the hotel, showcasing the stunning view from his window.

Have you ever stayed at any of these hotels?