Shap Wells Hotel

Hotels
7.9 (1431 reviews)
Shap , Shap , GB

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Fitness center
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Room service
Heating
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly, helpful staff
Excellent location for walks and Red Squirrels
Strong food and breakfast / talented chef
Good value for money
Characterful historic/Edwardian atmosphere
Comfortable beds and ample parking
Cons:
Occasional staffing shortages and slow service
Dated bathrooms / need for improvements
No in-room cooling (fan/AC) during heat
Pot-holed driveway / entrance condition
Limited evening menu at times / expectations mismatch

Categories

Cleanliness
7.2
Mixed comments: several guests praised clean rooms and public areas, but a few reviews noted cleanliness issues (e.g. 'a bit to improve', no toilet brush) and a slightly tired bathroom.
Service
8.4
Generally praised: multiple reviews note very friendly, helpful and attentive staff; however a notable stay reported a staffing shortage with slow service and room changes, producing some inconsistency.
Location
9
Strong positive: repeatedly highlighted as excellent for walks, near woodland and Red Squirrels, convenient for M6 and attractive surroundings.
Room Quality
7.4
Mostly positive: rooms described as comfortable, clean and characterful; some comments mention dated bathrooms and lack of cooling (no fan/AC) during heat spells.
Amenities
7.2
Decent basic amenities: lift, plenty of parking and bar noted positively, but guests missed cooling in rooms and reported a pot-holed driveway and dated bathroom fittings.
Value for Money
8.6
Frequently praised as good value: several guests said the hotel represented great value compared with other Lake District options and food was good value.
Food and Beverage
7.5
Generally strong: many compliments to the chef, excellent breakfasts and tasty evening meals; isolated notes about limited evening menu choices and some buffet/self-service arrangements.
Overall Experience
7.9
Overall view is positive but mixed: most stays were enjoyable with charming character, friendly staff and good food, while occasional poor staffing/service incidents led to notably worse individual experiences.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-08-13 06:49

Property Description

Spacious Rooms with Countryside Views:
Experience the tranquility of the Lake District from our spacious rooms at Shap Wells, each offering free Wi-Fi and picturesque countryside views.

Diverse Dining Options:
Indulge in light meals at the Riverside Lounge and Bar, or enjoy river views while dining at the Birkbeck Restaurant. For a cozy evening, head to the Fell Lounge with a 50-inch flat-screen TV and log fires.

Surrounded by Nature:
Nestled between Penrith and Kendal, our hotel is enveloped by 30 acres of woodland and wildlife. Conveniently located just 5 minutes from the M6 motorway, Shap Wells Hotel offers the perfect blend of serenity and accessibility.

Book your stay at Shap Wells Hotel now to immerse yourself in nature's beauty and enjoy a relaxing getaway.

Important information:

Maximum capacity of extra beds is 2 and some rooms cannot accommodate any.
A deposit may be required at the property.

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

Location

Guest Reviews

7.9
Based on 1431 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.2
Service: 8.4
Location: 9
Room Quality: 7.4
Amenities: 7.2
Value for Money: 8.6
Food and Beverage: 7.5
Overall Experience: 7.9
H
Hilar • extended_group • gb
8
Amazing hotel in exceptional setting - wish the weather had been better to enjoy it more
Pros:

Staff provided a separate room for the 6 of us and dog for dinner as the hotel was very busy that night

Cons:

As they were so busy it took a long time to get dinner and some of the menu was sold out so choice was limited

2026-10-16 • via Nuitee
H
Harvey • family_with_children • gb
8
Would we go to the Shap Wells hotel again? Yes.
Pros:

The staff. The decor. The size of the room. The evening quiz. The warmth!

Cons:

Very limited menu in the restaurant and rather overpriced. No cask ales.

2026-10-13 • via Nuitee
R
Rebecca • solo_traveller • gb
10
A good value way to stay in the lakes
Pros:

Isolation, amazing surroundings

Cons:

Slightly tired looking but did not affect my stay in any way

2026-10-11 • via Nuitee
S
Sharon • solo_traveller • gb
3
Awful. I couldn’t wait to leave there this morning
Pros:

Nice staff
Breakfast was good

Cons:

I did not like being on my own away from the hotel in a separate house, just because I had two little very well behaved dogs. I also had to eat dinner and breakfast in a room all on my own. I do not call that dog friendly.
Dinner was awful, inedible. For instance, I ordered a cheese and pate ploughman’s and the chef had put salad dressing all over everything. Dinner was included in the price of my stay. It wasn’t clear when I booked that I would have to pay £15 each for my two dogs?
The TV had no reception. The beds were awfully old, I could feel every spring. The lighting in the room was inadequate. The outside of the building away from the hotel where I stayed needed painting badly. It looked like a prison from the outside.

2026-10-11 • via Nuitee
B
Bronwen • solo_traveller • gb
9
Pros:

Excellent location. Always stay here to break my journey north.

2026-10-09 • via Nuitee
N
Nicolas • family_with_children • gb
10
2026-10-09 • via Nuitee
S
sue • couple • gb
10
Wasn't long enough
Pros:

Perfect hotel to stopover on route to Scotland. However, would like to stay for a longer visit next time. Very dog friendly and super helpful, efficient staff. We will be back.

Cons:

Nothing

2026-10-09 • via Nuitee
A
Anja • extended_group • nl
8
Geweldig verbli
Pros:

Prachtig landschap. Mooi oude Engelse stijl hotel. Personeel was ontzettend netjes, gezellig en beleefd.

2026-10-09 • via Nuitee
D
Dazzlerhall • solo_traveller • gb
2
Faulty towers meet the shining
Pros:

Not much

Cons:

Dirty, old food is terrible bed did not fit the mattress, the toilet seat was broken and took 5 hours for someone to replace it. Windows looked like they had not been cleaned for some time

2026-10-07 • via Nuitee
D
Debbie • couple • gb
9
Just off the M6 but a Quiet countryside sanctuary
Pros:

This is a return visit, a quiet location off the M6 to stop on a long journey. Great bar area, lounge areas and restaurant.

Cons:

Liked everything!

2026-10-07 • via Nuitee
E
edward • solo_traveller • gb
9
Great place, well managed
Pros:

Charming location

Cons:

Need to fix the potholes in the road

2026-09-19 • via Nuitee
R
Roger • couple • gb
9
Close to Threave gardens
Pros:

Nice food

Cons:

Breakfast could have some fresh fruit and yoghurt

2026-09-19 • via Nuitee
P
Paul • solo_traveller • gb
7
2026-09-16 • via Nuitee
D
Diane • solo_traveller • gb
7
Dated hotel, fantastic location, very comfy bed
Pros:

Location- superb

Cons:

Very limited evening meal menu.

2026-09-14 • via Nuitee
J
John • couple • gb
8
A comfortable overnight stop, close to the M6
Pros:

A comfortable quiet room. We were given a room with the walk in shower we requested. Fresh fruit and choice for breakfast appreciated.

Cons:

We travelled from junction 39 on M6 and missed the turning off the A6 as the sign from that direction was damaged.

2026-09-14 • via Nuitee
C
Christopher • solo_traveller • gb
8
Shap Wells hotel
Pros:

A lovely old hotel full of character and charm.

Cons:

Could do with a redecorating.

2026-09-13 • via Nuitee
C
Chloe • couple • gb
7
2026-09-13 • via Nuitee
R
RWP • couple • nl
8
Fijn hotel met aparte gechiedenis.
Pros:

Zeer vriendelijk en behulpzaam personeel.

Cons:

Ligt erg afgelegen. Je hebt een auto nodig om hier te komen, geen openbaar vervoer aanwezig. Wel shuttle service van hotel aanwezig!

2026-09-13 • via Nuitee
R
Robert • couple • gb
6
Ok place for stopover
Pros:

.

Cons:

.

2026-09-11 • via Nuitee
O
Odin1123 • couple • gb
7
We have stayed here before and find it a very pleasant place to stay over night on our journey north
Pros:

Friendly staff
Lift to floor for room so no stairs to climb.
Beautiful area to stay and they support a colony of red squirrels.
Very good buffet breakfast.

Cons:

The Sat Nav took us on a road that was more potholes than road. The staff told us that the road was owned by the railway and that the main entrance was from the A6.
The bed was not comfortable with any movement by one partner affecting the other.
The dinner menu was limited but the food was good.

2026-09-11 • via Nuitee