Looking for a midweek Lake District break for a group of older friends? Alice Howe in Windermere has seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms, and midweek breaks (Monday to Friday) start from £1,100, about £157 each for seven people. Windermere station is 400 metres away, so nobody needs to drive.
Let’s be honest. Weekends in the Lake District are brilliant. They’re also expensive, busy, and full of people who’ve just arrived and have nowhere to park.
Mid-week is different. The roads are quieter. The restaurants have tables. Booths supermarket isn’t a contact sport. And the fells? They’re practically yours.
Here’s the thing. The Lakes don’t care what day of the week you arrive. The views are the same on a Tuesday.
The Maths That Made Us Smile
Alice Howe sleeps 14. It has 7 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms. Every. Single. Bedroom. Has its own bathroom.
A mid-week break — Monday to Friday, four nights — starts from £1,100.
Now do the maths. Seven friends. Seven bedrooms. Seven bathrooms. Four nights in the Lake District.
That’s around £157 each. Your own bedroom. Your own bathroom. No sharing. No compromises. No awkward conversations about who’s taking the sofa.
£157 for four nights in a Grade II listed house designed by the same architect who did the interior of the House of Lords.
We’re not saying it’s cheaper than staying at home. But it’s closer than you’d think.
Alice Howe. A Bit of Background.
It’s on The Terrace in Windermere village. A row of five big historic houses. Alice Howe is one of them.
It was designed by AWN Pugin. You’ll know his work — he did the interiors at the Houses of Parliament. The man had taste. It shows.
Inside, there are two king-size four-poster beds, leather Chesterfield sofas, an open fire, a wood-burning stove, and a kitchen big enough to actually cook in. Two fridge-freezers. Two dishwashers. A range cooker.
Nobody goes hungry. Nobody argues about the washing up.
The Bit You Weren’t Expecting
Downstairs — and we mean properly downstairs, in the cellar — there’s a 15-seat cinema. 75-inch Smart TV. Netflix and Prime Video. A proper soundbar.
You don’t need to be 25 to enjoy watching a film on a screen that size with a glass of something good.
Outside, there’s a private hot tub for seven in its own little building in the courtyard. It’s covered. Because this is Cumbria and we’re realists.
Seven Friends. Seven Rooms. One Front Door.
This is the bit we love most about the mid-week silver surfer angle.
You know those weekends away where three people share a room and someone ends up on the sofa and it’s fine but it’s also slightly not fine?
Not here. Seven bedrooms. Seven bathrooms. Everyone gets their own space. Everyone sleeps well. Everyone’s in a better mood at breakfast.
And breakfast, by the way — pop round to Homeground in Windermere village. Just a stroll down the hill. One of the best breakfasts in the Lakes. Order the coffee first.
What’s On the Doorstep
Windermere village is 500 metres away. Booths supermarket — the best supermarket in the North of England, fight us on it — is five minutes’ walk. There are pubs. Restaurants. Cafés. The train station is 400 metres away, so nobody even needs to drive if they don’t want to.
The Lake District is the UK’s adventure playground. But it’s also perfectly happy to be walked gently, eaten in, and admired from a comfortable chair. You get to choose.
Fancy a swim? Miller Ground is a beautiful spot to get into Lake Windermere. The water’s cold but the feeling afterwards is worth it. Or just watch someone else do it and have a coffee.
Changeovers Are Mondays and Fridays
Mid-week breaks run Monday to Friday. Four nights. In, unpacked and settled before the weekend crowd even thinks about arriving. Out before the rush. The Lake District, briefly, on your terms.
One Last Thing
We’ve had guests who booked Alice Howe for a birthday. Who booked it for a reunion. Who’ve been coming back for years.
We’ve had guests in their 30s. Guests in their 70s. Groups of couples. Groups of old friends who just needed an excuse.
Long dinners around that big table. A film in the cinema. A soak in the hot tub after a day on the fells. Those are the bits people talk about for years.
That’s what a good break does.
Alice Howe is ready when you are.
Book direct at theterracewindermere.co.uk — no booking fees, best price guaranteed.
Andy and Barbara (owners)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a mid-week break at Alice Howe?
Mid-week breaks at Alice Howe start from £1,100 for four nights, Monday to Friday, for the whole house. Split between seven friends, that’s around £157 each, and everyone gets their own bedroom and bathroom.
Why choose a mid-week break in the Lake District?
Mid-week is quieter, the roads and footpaths are calmer, restaurants have tables, and prices are lower than at weekends. You get the Lakes at your own pace.
How many people does Alice Howe sleep?
Alice Howe sleeps up to 14 guests in seven bedrooms with seven bathrooms. There are two king-size four-poster beds, and the rest of the beds are singles, which suits groups of friends or couples travelling together.
Is Alice Howe suitable for guests who find stairs difficult?
There are just two steps up to the front door, but all the bedrooms are upstairs. If anyone in your group has limited mobility, give us a call on 0330 088 4086 and we’ll talk you through the layout.
Can we get there without driving?
Yes. Windermere station is 400 metres from the house, and trains connect to the West Coast main line at Oxenholme. The village, the shops and Booths supermarket are all an easy stroll away.
Is there parking?
Yes. Alice Howe has off-road parking for 6 cars, plus a shared EV charger.
Is Alice Howe warm and comfortable out of season?
Yes. There’s central heating, an open fire in the lounge and a wood-burning stove in the kitchen. We leave a basket of logs between October and April, and there are heated towel rails in the bathrooms.
What is there to do nearby that isn’t too strenuous?
The Orrest Head walk starts just across the road. It’s a gentle climb to one of the best views in the Lake District. Windermere village has cafés, pubs and restaurants on the doorstep, and Miller Ground is a lovely spot on the lake, whether you swim or just watch.
Can we bring our dog?
Yes. Alice Howe welcomes up to four dogs, at £30 per dog.
Can I book by phone rather than online?
Yes. Call us on 0330 088 4086 and speak to us directly. A 25% non-refundable deposit is paid when you book, and the balance is due eight weeks before you arrive.
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