Planning a 40th birthday weekend in the Lake District? Our five Terrace houses in Windermere village sleep 12 to 16 each, or up to 71 together, and every one has a private 7-seat hot tub and a cellar cinema. Weekends run Friday to Monday, the village pubs are a couple of minutes’ walk away, and there are no booking fees when you book direct.
Forty is the birthday where nobody wants a nightclub, but everybody still wants a party. A big house gives you both: the whole crew under one roof, a long dinner, a late one in the cinema, and nobody booking a taxi home.
Pick your house
- Bannerrigg: the friends’ house. Sleeps 16, every bed a single, so nobody shares unless they want to. An 18-seat cellar cinema, the biggest we have, and a hot tub in its own stone building.
- Number One: the dinner party. Sleeps 14, with a dining table for 20, a private bar in the hallway and a 15-seat cinema.
- Alice Howe or Boston House: the couples’ choice. Each has 7 bedrooms with 7 bathrooms, so nobody queues on the landing. Alice Howe sleeps 14, Boston House 15.
- White Moss: the smaller party. Sleeps 12, with an AGA kitchen, hot tub and cinema.
More of you? The houses sit side by side, so book two and keep everyone together. See houses that sleep 20 or more.
Friday: arrive and settle in
Check-in is 4pm, and we can usually get you in at 3:30pm once the house has been checked. Order your wine ahead from Windermere Wine Stores, a few minutes’ walk away: our guests get 10% off pre-orders and they deliver to the house. Keep the first night easy, then christen the hot tub.
Saturday: get out, then eat well
Forty-somethings still like a bit of adventure. Pick your level:
- Easy: the Orrest Head walk, about 20 minutes to the top, starting across the road from the Terrace.
- Wet: a swim at Miller Ground, or kayaks with Windermere Canoe Kayak.
- Brave: Go Ape at Grizedale, or Total Adventure, about 100m from the Terrace.
- On wheels: bikes from Country Lanes at Windermere station.
Then bring the restaurant to you. A Yhangry private chef will cook the birthday dinner at the house (code THETERRACEW gives £50 off), or Lucy’s Inside Out can do drop-off catering. Speeches at the table, the hot tub until 10pm, then the cinema for as long as you like.
Sunday: the slow one
Stay the third night. Adding the Sunday usually costs only about £150–200 for the whole house, and it means Sunday is breakfast, a walk, a long lunch and one more film, rather than packing and driving. Check-out is 10am Monday.
The practical bits
- Decorations are welcome. Just no Sellotape on the walls.
- No curfew, but please keep the noise down outside after 10pm.
- Dogs welcome: up to four per house, at £30 each.
- All bed linen and towels are included.
- Windermere station is a couple of minutes’ walk away, so nobody has to drive.
Your 40th birthday questions, answered
Which house is best for a 40th birthday in the Lake District?
For a group of friends who don’t mind single beds, Bannerrigg: it sleeps 16 with an 18-seat cellar cinema and a hot tub in its own stone building. For a big birthday dinner, Number One, with a table for 20 and a bar in the hallway. For couples, Alice Howe or Boston House, each with 7 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms.
How many people can come?
One house sleeps 12 to 16, plus two infants. Book neighbouring Terrace houses for more: two houses sleep 26 to 31, and all five sleep 71.
Do all the houses have hot tubs?
All five Terrace houses have a private 7-seat hot tub and a cellar cinema. The hot tubs close at 10pm.
Is there a curfew?
No. We just ask you to keep the noise down outside after 10pm. Inside, carry on at a sensible level.
Can we decorate the house?
Yes. Bring banners and balloons, but please don’t use Sellotape on the walls.
Can we get a private chef?
Yes. Yhangry private chefs cook at the house (code THETERRACEW gives £50 off), and Lucy’s Inside Out does drop-off meals. You book them direct.
What is there to do for an active group?
Total Adventure is about 100m from the Terrace. You can also hire bikes from Country Lanes at Windermere station, get on the water with Windermere Canoe Kayak, try Go Ape at Grizedale, swim at Miller Ground, or walk up Orrest Head from across the road.
Should we stay two or three nights?
Three if you can. Adding the Sunday night usually costs only about £150–200 more for the whole house, and it turns Sunday into a slow day instead of a packing day.
How do we book?
Book direct at theterracewindermere.co.uk or call 0330 088 4086. There are no booking fees. A 25% non-refundable deposit secures the house, and the balance is due eight weeks before you arrive.
Forty only happens once. Enjoy the Lakes.
Andy and Barbara
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