Planning a family reunion in the Lake District? Our large holiday houses in Windermere sleep 14 to 16 each, so everyone stays under one roof. Book neighbouring houses on the Terrace and you can host 26, or up to 71 across the whole row. Travel cots, high chairs, dogs and EV charging are all catered for, and there are no booking fees when you book direct.
When did the whole family last spend more than an afternoon together? Not a wedding. Not a funeral. Just time, with nowhere to be.
For most families, the answer is “too long ago”. Everyone lives in a different town, the cousins have grown up, and there’s never a house big enough to hold them all. That last bit, at least, we can fix.
Why one house beats three hotels
Spread a family across hotels and you get a reunion in shifts. Breakfast in one place, dinner somewhere else, and the good conversations end when the taxi comes.
Put everyone in one house and the best bits happen by accident. The late chat in the kitchen. The cousins who vanish to the cinema room. The uncle who finally tells that story properly. You can’t book those. You just have to be in the same place.
Count households, not heads
The mistake people make is counting guests. Count families instead. Each household usually wants its own room, and parents of small children want a door they can close.
Alice Howe and Boston House both have seven bedrooms, which suits a reunion of lots of small households. Alice Howe sleeps 14 and Boston House 15. Each has seven bathrooms too, and both have two kitchen areas with two full-size dishwashers. That matters more than you think when you’re feeding 15 people three times a day.
Orrest Head House sleeps 14 in six bedrooms, every one en-suite. It sits in two acres of grounds with a gated area for children, and a snug off the kitchen for the younger ones.
Bannerrigg sleeps 16 in five bedrooms of single beds. Good for families with older children and teenagers.
Bigger family? Book next door
The five Terrace houses stand side by side in one Grade II listed row. Number One and White Moss together sleep 26, and you can all eat together round Number One’s dining table: 20 comfortably, 22 at a squeeze with chairs from next door. Everyone has their own house to retreat to, and the party is one front door away. The whole row sleeps 71.
Make the practical stuff easy
- Cooking rota. One family per night. It shares the work and turns dinner into a friendly competition.
- Food delivery. Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Tesco and Asda all deliver to the houses. Book the slot for after 4pm check-in. Booths is about 300m from the Terrace.
- Driving up. Every house has access to an EV charger, at 50p per kWh through the EVpro app. Camper vans are fine to park, though everyone sleeps in the house.
- Dogs. Up to four per house, at £30 each. Tell us their names.
- Babies. Two travel cots and two high chairs per house. Bring infant bedding.
Something for every age
The Lake District is the UK’s adventure playground, and plenty of it is on the doorstep:
- Total Adventure is about 100m from the Terrace.
- Country Lanes hires bikes at Windermere station.
- Windermere Canoe Kayak gets everyone on the water.
- Go Ape and mountain biking at Grizedale, for the brave.
- Orrest Head, a 20-minute walk to the top, starting across the road from the Terrace.
In the evening, the Terrace houses have cellar cinemas and a 7-seat hot tub each. Hot tubs close at 10pm, and children must be supervised at all times.
Your family reunion questions, answered
What’s the biggest family you can host?
One house sleeps up to 16 (Bannerrigg). Number One and White Moss together sleep 26. All five Terrace houses sleep 71 in 30 bedrooms.
Can we all eat together?
Yes. Number One and Bannerrigg each seat 20 in the dining room. Orrest Head House seats 18.
When can we arrive?
Check-in is 4pm, and we can usually get you in at 3:30pm once the house has been checked. Stays start on a Monday or a Friday.
Can we bring our dogs?
Yes, up to four per house.
Do the houses have hot tubs?
Each of the five Terrace houses has a private 7-seat hot tub. Children must be supervised at all times. Orrest Head House has no hot tub.
Are bedding and towels provided?
Yes: all bed linen, one bath towel per person and hand towels. Bring your own shampoo, conditioner and toiletries.
Can we charge an electric car?
Yes. Every house has access to an EV charger, at 50p per kWh through the EVpro app.
Can we bring a camper van?
You’re welcome to park one, but everyone sleeps in the house.
Is there a supermarket nearby?
Booths is about 300m from the Terrace and 400m from Orrest Head House. Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Tesco and Asda all deliver.
Which house is best for a family reunion?
For lots of small households, Alice Howe (sleeps 14) or Boston House (sleeps 15), each with seven bedrooms, seven bathrooms and two kitchen areas. For young children, Orrest Head House, with two acres of grounds and a gated children’s area. For bigger families, book Number One and White Moss next door to each other to sleep 26.
Is it suitable for babies and toddlers?
Yes. Every house has two travel cots and two high chairs. Just bring infant bedding.
How much does a family reunion break cost?
It depends on the house and the dates, as our prices move with demand. Mid-week breaks (Monday to Friday) start from £1,100 for the whole house, and adding the Sunday night to a weekend usually costs only about £150–200 more.
What if someone in our group finds stairs difficult?
Call us on 0330 088 4086 before you book and we’ll talk you through each house’s layout, so you can pick the best fit for grandparents or anyone with limited mobility.
Can family come by train?
Yes. Windermere station is a couple of minutes’ walk from the Terrace, and trains connect to the West Coast main line at Oxenholme.
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.
Get them all together. Enjoy the Lakes.
Andy and Barbara (owners)
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