Lake District: The Wordsworth Hotel in Grasmere closes for renovation

The Wordsworth Hotel in Grasmere is preparing for an exciting new chapter and bosses said they were ‘thrilled’ to reveal the hotel will be undergoing a ‘major’ refurbishment.

The ‘beloved’ hotel was acquired by The Inn Collection Group a couple of years ago. The company have recently invested in renovation works to a number of their properties.

While they are still in the process of securing planning permissions, a ‘comprehensive’ programme of refurbishment is proposed.

A visual of the proposed expansion of the hotel (Image: Newsquest) The hotel closed after guests checked out on Monday October 14 and work to remove furniture and IT systems has already begun.

Timescales and budgets for the project are yet to be determined, however, it will be a multi-million-pound renovation, with reopening anticipated for the first quarter of 2026 at the earliest.

The Inn Collection Group confirmed that if planning permission is approved, the current pool, spa and conference facilities will be replaced with additional bedrooms, allowing more people to enjoy a stay at the heart of the village. 

This would increase the number of rooms available from 38 to 54, seven of which will be dedicated as “dog-friendly” rooms, benefiting from direct access to the outdoor spaces within the grounds.

Work to the restaurant and lounges will offer a more relaxed drinking and dining environment, providing a total of 196 covers as well as a newly renovated kitchen which will boast state of the art equipment.

They are also looking to ‘maximise the appeal of the glorious gardens’ and will be looking to add a total of 148 outdoor covers, including 40 seats on the front terrace.

Works to repair the existing facades and improve the energy efficiency of the building will be carried out alongside ‘extensive’ improvements to the on-site staff accommodation.

Throughout the project, the garden spaces will be maintained so that the Wordsworth remains as visually appealing as possible, this will include essential tree maintenance works and ensuring that the helicopter landing pad is in working order for the Air Ambulances to use.

Accessibility will also be improved with a new lift installed and two of the proposed new rooms will be fully accessible with wet room bathroom facilities.

Although the building is not listed, they will be taking care to retain the historic features throughout the property.

PR and Communications Manager from The Inn Collection Group Andrew Robson said: “After many years of welcoming guests to rest and be thankful, The Wordsworth Hotel is now set to undergo an extensive programme of renovations, subject to the granting of planning approval.

“The property became a welcome addition to The Inn Collection Group back in 2022 and has been a popular choice for our guests since and that we are hopeful of enhancing with a high-quality refurbishment.

“We are looking forward to creating a warm and welcoming property to be enjoyed equally by the people pf Grasmere and the surrounding area, day visitors to the village and those looking for an overnight stay.”