The Riverside

Hotels
8 (2288 reviews)
Stramongate Bridge , Kendal , gb

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

Fitness facilities
WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Fitness center
Swimming pool
Restaurant
Room service
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Excellent location by the river / central
Very friendly and helpful staff
Good restaurant / food
Lovely views from rooms
Underground parking available for some guests
Cons:
No air conditioning in rooms — very hot for some stays
Room cleanliness issues (dust, mould, unclean sheets, spiders)
Hotel and rooms feel tired / in need of refurbishment
Parking limited or unreliable for a hotel of this size
Value for money concerns relative to room condition
Small beds and some maintenance issues (noisy doors, broken fans)

Categories

Cleanliness
6
Multiple guests reported poor cleanliness: dust, mouldy silicone around baths, paint peeling, sheets not fully clean and spiders in rooms. Cleanliness is a clear weak point.
Service
10
Staff repeatedly described as very friendly, helpful and attentive (help removing spiders, upgrades provided, warm welcomes) — service is a major strength.
Location
10
Consistently praised: central, next to the river, close to the train station and town — location is an outstanding asset.
Room Quality
6.5
Mixed to negative: several reports of tired, dated rooms, noisy doors, funny smells, small beds and maintenance issues (bath fan not working, spray beyond shower screen). Some rooms were spacious or upgraded, but inconsistencies lower this score.
Amenities
6.5
Amenities are mixed: gym and (unused) pool were acceptable, but recurrent lack of air conditioning, limited/frustrating parking and absence of refrigerators in some rooms reduce the score.
Value for Money
6.5
Guests were divided: some called it good value, others felt it was poor value given dated rooms and extra issues — overall value leans below target.
Food and Beverage
9
Food and restaurant received many positive mentions (excellent restaurant, delicious meals); breakfast opinions were mixed (adequate to good, with a few complaints about tinned fruit).
Overall Experience
9.5
Overall sentiment is positive due to excellent location, strong service and good food; several guests said they'd stay again despite some room/cleanliness issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-08-12 22:17

Property Description

Riverside Hotel in Kendal town centre
Most of the rooms offer stunning views of the River Kent, equipped with satellite TV, tea/coffee facilities, and free Wi-Fi. Guests can enjoy local produce at the Riverview Restaurant sourced from the hotel's Victorian kitchen garden.

State-of-the-art Leisure Club
The hotel boasts a leisure club with a heated swimming pool, sauna, steam room, hot tub, gym, and exercise studio for guests to unwind and stay active during their stay.

Convenient Location
Located just 250 metres from Kendal Railway Station and a 10-minute drive from the M6 motorway, the Riverside Hotel offers easy access to explore Windermere, the Yorkshire Dales, and other nearby attractions.

Ready to experience a blend of historic charm and modern amenities? Book your stay at Riverside Hotel now!

Important information:

Guests under the age of 18 can only check in with a parent or official guardian.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: MAN

Location

Guest Reviews

8
Based on 2288 reviews
Cleanliness: 6
Service: 10
Location: 10
Room Quality: 6.5
Amenities: 6.5
Value for Money: 6.5
Food and Beverage: 9
Overall Experience: 9.5
S
stevetamsett • solo_traveller • gb
8
Good value hotel but no air conditioning
Pros:

Good value and very friendly staff.

Cons:

Very hot in the room with poor ventilation and no air conditioning.

2026-08-07 • via Nuitee
A
Aris • couple • gb
7
A good experience, which could have been a bit better.
Pros:

The location was good, next to the river, and very close to the train station. The gym was good. I didn't get to use the pool, but it looked fine. I didn't have breakfast at the property but there were interesting cafes for breakfast nearby.

Cons:

The room could have been cleaner. The building is old and the bathtub was a bit mouldy. The sheets were not super clean either. There were multiple spiders in the room - this is expected since it's right next to the river and close to nature and the staff was helpful in removing a big one.

I chose to stay at Kendal because it's convenient, but Kendal itself is not the most pretty town. If I had to choose again, I would stay in Windermere.

2026-08-06 • via Nuitee
A
andrew • couple • gb
10
2026-08-06 • via Nuitee
L
Lee • extended_group • gb
10
2026-08-05 • via Nuitee
K
Karen • couple • gb
8
2026-08-04 • via Nuitee
S
Sarah • family_with_children • gb
8
2026-08-04 • via Nuitee
C
Chris • couple • gb
7
2026-08-04 • via Nuitee
B
Brian • solo_traveller • gb
8
2026-08-03 • via Nuitee
R
Richard • solo_traveller • gb
10
Pros:

friendly welcome, even though the reception was quite busy. great view from my room and good breakfast.

Cons:

no air con

2026-08-03 • via Nuitee
B
Bernie • family_with_children • gb
9
Would stay again for the location
Pros:

Fantastic location. Excellent staff who were so helpful.

Cons:

Food was ok

2026-08-03 • via Nuitee
A
andrew • couple • gb
10
They couldn’t do enough to make out stay wonderful
Pros:

Everything

2026-08-02 • via Nuitee
H
Helen • solo_traveller • gb
5
Pros:

Location to where I needed to be

Cons:

The parking wasn't adequate enough for the size of the hotel.
The room had a funny smell
The doors were very noisy when being closed by other residents

2026-08-02 • via Nuitee
R
Richard • solo_traveller • gb
9
Pros:

Location is brilliant, the restaurant food was excellent. Staff was friendly, welcoming and helpful.

Cons:

Off road parking was hit or miss if there was space available, access to lift was down a couple of steps. Would of been lovely to have Aircon but a fan was supplied

2026-08-02 • via Nuitee
J
Jane • solo_traveller • gb
8
Tired hotel but nice staff
Pros:

Good location as going to a wedding at the Golf Club about 7 minutes away. Underground parking handy. Nice staff.

Cons:

Hotel very tired, needs complete overhaul. Fan in bathroom not working. Generally clean but edges and corners not hoovered or dusted. Breakfast was ok though disappointed the fruit was tinned and tasteless. Overall ok for one night stay.

2026-08-02 • via Nuitee
H
Hayley • couple • gb
4
Good location but poor value for money and a very dirty and dated room.
Pros:

it was in a nice location, close to town.

Cons:

The room was very dirty, dust everywhere, paint peeling in the bathroom and mouldy silicone around the bath.

2026-08-02 • via Nuitee
L
Lisa • couple • gb
10
Fab location, lovely staff and great food, would definitely recommend
Pros:

Great location and lovely staff. Small issue with our room so upgraded to the Bellingham Suite which absolutely made our day! It was stunning

Cons:

Nothing

2026-08-02 • via Nuitee
M
Mark • solo_traveller • nl
8
2026-07-25 • via Nuitee
S
Sheila • family_with_children • gb
6
Pros:

Good location. Friendly receptionist.

Cons:

Would have liked a refrigerator and fan.

2026-07-25 • via Nuitee
P
Patsy • solo_traveller • gb
9
Great central hotel
Pros:

Central location. Lovely view from room .Relaxed feeling. Helpful staff.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-07-24 • via Nuitee
A
Albert John • extended_group • gb
7
It was ok
Pros:

Breakfast was adequate… nothing special

Cons:

Room cleanliness improvements

2026-07-24 • via Nuitee