Location. Step out of the door and you are in the heart of Bowness. Free parking. Amazing Breakfast. Great team.

Nothing.

I’ve stayed at the Royal Oak a number of times over the years. It’s my first choice due to its central location, parking on site, excellent friendly staff and fabulous food. I stayed in room 2 this time and it was a fabulous room with a huge bed and great sized bathroom, with a bath. The photo is the view from my window. It also makes sense to me to stay somewhere that I can just head downstairs to have great food and a cheeky glass of wine if the weather isn’t great outdoors. I’d definitely recommend and I’ll certainly be back.

I can’t comment on breakfast as I’m not an early riser and the bed in room 2 was just too comfortable

The location of the Royal Oak in Bowness is superb! Our room was cosy and warm - just perfect after a days walking. However there are two things that make this place really special - the first is the service from every single member of the team. They were all so friendly and helpful even when they were super busy! The second thing is the food - just wow! Breakfast is great but the star of the show has to be their evening menu! We ate there all three nights and enjoyed lasagne, three bean chilli, scampi and chicken curry. We never had room for dessert!

There was nothing not to like!

The accommodation is in an excellent location in the middle of bowness, just a short walk from everything. On arrival the staff were very welcoming, checked in very efficiently at the very well stocked bar which had a good selection of local ales. I stayed in the single ensuite which to my pleasant surprise did not have a single bed, but a very comfortable double. Tea and coffee making facilities were provided, with extra available if needed. The room had a fixed radiator plus an extra plugged in radiator and extra blankets, just in case. The size of the ensuite bathroom was fine, and the electric shower worked well. The breakfast was excellent, with cereal, yogurts, juices, etc available and a full English with superb sausages and bacon, and a seemingly endless supply of tea or coffee if desired. Check out was seamless. This was I believe the cheapest room I could get in bowness at the time and therefore excellent value for money.

The accommodation is up a slight steep hill. This made the walk semi treacherous as there had been some snow. Something to consider if you are unsteady on your feet. The rooms numbers are in a strange order. I think the first three rooms you see are 10, 5 and 6. I found my room eventually. The single ensuite is a small room, enough room for a bed, chest of drawers, and bedside table but that is it, there is though a small built in wardrobe if needed. The window was a problem - it is an old window that does not shut properly and because it rained all of the first night the sound of heavy dripping water from a nearby leaky gutter was constant. The ensuite is a little tired in places and could do with a spruce up.

Location amazing, very central everything, was perfect for having walks about and exploring. Very good night life. Breakfast was very tasty and the team went above and beyond to ensure we had everything we needed. Beautiful building and amenities.

Our bathroom was very cramped. The toilet was fitted between the shower cubical and the wall. Very uncomfortable to go to the toilet. Parking- although parking was advised to be very tight, it was even tighter than we expected and not very well laid out. 2 spaces at the front of the building on a very steep hill leading up to the guest house, and the road surface had big holes all over it.

As a newcomer to the Lake District the Royal Oak proved to be an ideal first place to stay. It gave us the perfect base from which to explore Lake Windermere and the surrounding area. It is a couple of minutes walk down to the lake side pier from where you can gets cruises in all directions. A minute or two walking in the other direction and you are in the middle of Bowness and all the shops, galleries, cafes etc. From the room you could catch a glimpse of the lake in the distance and the fells rising above it. The room looks out directly onto the streets of Bowness, but despite this and it being above the main bar, it was always quiet by 10pm when you want to settle down for the night. The staff were particularly lovely and the food was delicious (breakfast provided with the room and we used them for our evening meals too). The Royal Oak is a really cosy, traditional inn which offers a warm welcome.

Nothing to not like. The ensuite bathroom was a little snug but this is dictated by the structure of such an old building. Similarly the parking was a little tight but space is limited and we were grateful to have on site parking!

The staff were incredibly nice and helpful and the location was amazing for hiking and visiting the lake. There were a lot of restaurants and shops nearby and the bus stop is only a minute away. I really liked my room, it was very cozy and clean, though quite small, which wasn't a problem. In the room you had tea and biscuits. The bed was probably the most comfortable bed I had ever slept in. The breakfast was very good and I loved that you could choose a vegetarian full English breakfast! I would definitely stay here again and can't recommend the Royal Oak Inn enough!!

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I stayed three nights in the en-suite single room which was absolutely spotless and cozy even when the night got chilly. The breakfast was exceptional and the staff went out of their way to be helpful and accommodating. I would return without a moments hesitation. The location is in the centre of Bowness which is perfect if you want everything on your doorstep. Also the pinot grigio blush was amazing.

There really wasn't anything wrong with it. If I had to struggle to say something then it wasn't the most glamourous room I've stayed in but I didn't need or want it to be. It was perfectly sized for one or two people and had plenty of storage.

My priorities for this stay were a comfortable bed, a hot shower and a hearty breakfast and The Royal Oak Inn delivered on all three. I didn’t spend much time at the property, as I was up in the Lake District for an event, but I really appreciated coming back to a decent shower and soft bedding to sink into! I missed breakfast on the day of my event but was there to enjoy it on the second morning and it didn't disappoint - I had the full English and it was delicious, and the breakfast room was lovely. The location was great, in the heart of the town and a short walk from the lake. As I was staying in a single room, there wasn't any parking available at the property, but I found a space easily nearby.

There were a few cobwebs in the room and bathroom, but everything else seemed clean and in good order.

Ideal location for exploring. 2 minute walk to being Lake side. Bedrooms equipped with everything you need for a mini break away. All staff had exceptional customer service skills, friendly, engaging and happy to have a conversation. Food was of great quality, plenty of choice. Breakfast was hot, cooked to order. Plenty of drink options in the bar. Rooms clean and tidy. Included tea/coffee, biscuits, toiletries, hair drying, radio, TV. Inside and outdoor spaces available for dinning and drinking. Very quiet in the bar after 10pm, so getting to sleep was easy enough. Help yourself to extra tea/coffee station. A nice touch. Excellent value for money. Having on site car parking a fabulous gift in the Lakes. Thank you so much.

There is not anything we didn’t like. We would/will happily recommend as a central location for great value for money. Below are points for consideration: En suite bathrooms was quite compact. May cause some people a challenge. Room kettle needs a longer plug. Future guests be aware of steps to the bedrooms. Bedroom ceiling has had a leak at some point, needs decoration. Suggest replacing the duvet, it has become clumpy.