Langdale Chase, part of Daniel Thwaites, has been awarded AA Inspectors’ Choice 5 Red Stars for 2026–2027, which is the AA’s supreme accolade for hotels and is regarded as the highest distinction in British hospitality. The Red Star award identifies the highest-performing hotels in Britain and Ireland, recognising properties that stand out as the very best regardless of their size or style.
Langdale Chase, which was originally awarded five stars by the AA in 2024, has now been crowned with the higher tier 5 Red Star accolade following assessment by the AA’s experienced hotel inspectors, and was recognised for delivering an exceptional overall guest experience.
The award marks another major milestone for Langdale Chase following its extensive multi-million-pound restoration and reopening in November 2023. Occupying a position on the shores of Lake Windermere, the Grade II listed Victorian house has quickly re-established itself as one of the Lake District’s most distinctive luxury hotels, combining its historic character and lakeside setting with warm hospitality, food and a strong sense of place.
Rick Bailey, Executive Chairman of Thwaites, said, “The word pleased doesn’t quite do this feeling justice. We have worked incredibly hard over the past three years carefully and sensitively bringing Langdale Chase back to life, and that hard work has now been recognised by one of the highest distinctions a hotel can possibly attain.
“What makes Langdale Chase particularly special is the way all of the individual elements come together – the remarkable Victorian house, rooms and suites, its history and interiors, the Thomas Mawson gardens running down to the lake, the food and wine, the adventures on the water and, importantly, the warm and intuitive service from our team that makes it all feel effortless.
“We wanted to create somewhere that could only exist here, on this particular stretch of Lake Windermere, and I think that is exactly what Langdale Chase has become… completely and utterly unique. To have the AA recognise it among the very best hotels in Britain and Ireland is something we are immensely proud of.”
Set within six acres of landscaped gardens stretching down to the shores of England’s largest natural lake, Langdale Chase has just 30 bedrooms and suites, allowing it to retain the atmosphere and intimacy of a country house. Once acquired by Daniel Thwaites, the property underwent a 12-month restoration before reopening, with interiors inspired by the glamour and character of the Lake District’s 1920s and 1930s heyday, complemented by contemporary yet traditional amenities and finishings.
The hotel features seven spacious suites with reading nooks overlooking the lake, five dog-friendly rooms, a two AA Rosette restaurant, an Art Deco-style bar, a Swallows and Amazons-inspired afternoon tea and a private cinema room. Guests are encouraged to make the most of the surrounding landscape through paddleboarding, guided hiking and guided wild swimming, while one of its most memorable experiences is sailing Windermere aboard Albatros, the hotel’s restored 1920s mahogany motor yacht.
The AA Inspectors’ Choice 5 Red Star award further strengthens Langdale Chase’s growing reputation among the UK’s leading hotels, following its recent recognition as one of The Times’ 50 Best Places to Stay in the UK and The Telegraph’s 18 Regional Star properties nationwide in the 250 Best Hotels in the UK award.
Rick added, “There are very few places where you can wake up overlooking the lake in a historic boathouse – complete with your own private jetty – and continue your day cruising on our motor yacht, wandering the lush gardens, and finish by dining by the lake as the sun sets over the water. This is no chapter from a fairytale story, this is Langdale Chase, and we’re so incredibly proud to be home to this breath-taking greatness.”
The award was presented at the AA Hospitality Awards at JW Marriott Grosvenor House London on Monday 21 September 2026, attended by around 1,000 guests from across the hospitality industry.
For more information on Daniel Thwaites, click here.
