A Dog Friendly Stay At The King’s Arms, Keswick
Keswick is somewhere I’ve visited multiple times a year since being a child over many school holidays, trips that have now turned into long weekends away with Arthur. Surprisingly, I’ve not actually stayed in Keswick very often, and I don’t know why as it’s the main town in the Lakes, and has loads to do. I was invited to stay at The King’s Arms recently, part of the Lake District Hotels group, and so I jumped at the chance for a central Keswick stay, and one where I could take Arthur too.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary one night stay at the Kings Arms for the purposes of this review.
The Kings Arm’s, Keswick dates back centuries, and it has recently undergone a big refurbishment inside. It’s been modernised, yet has still retained the traditional look and feel of the coaching inn it once was. Being family-owned for 40 years by a family that own 5 other properties across the Lakes, they’ve got it exactly right for a Lakeland bar, restaurant and place to stay.
Checking in at The King’s Arms Keswick
By the time we came to check in at the King’s Arms, we had spent the day in Keswick including a walk along to the lake for a coffee, and been to Grasmere for lunch and a walk around the village there too.
Check in is from 3pm and we arrived not much after, like most Keswick hotels there isn’t allocated parking but the hotel literally backs onto Keswick Central Car park, which you can pay for by cash or by a phone app. If you’re staying at the King’s Arms you can get a discount for the duration of your stay. It’s a two minute walk from here to the main square, and that’s where you’ll find the entrance.
It was a nice sunny day and there were people sitting outside the front with a drink, and the bar was packed full of walkers and families enjoying a Sunday afternoon pint and some food. You check in here, and you can also reserve a table in the bar or restaurant for later in the evening. They recommend booking as it can get busy.
Our room was a Superior Double up the stairs, note there is no lift, it’s very traditional and was much bigger than I expected it would be.
A Superior Double, Dog Friendly Room
The first thing you see is the enormous big bed, which is so welcome to flop onto after a day in the Lakes, whether you’ve been walking around the towns or done a bigger hike. There was also a desk/dressing table with coffee making facilities, information on wifi and the local area.
On the far side of the room there was a seating area, and the room also came with clothes storage – drawers and a wardrobe, a TV, and bathrobes. The en suite bathroom was up a step, and had a big modern shower.
Thanks to a combination of a busy day out, good food and a massive comfortable bed I had such a good nights sleep. Being central Keswick I wondered if there might be any noise from the square outside, or the courtyard out the back which had been packed but there wasn’t any, and they do provide earplugs in case.
All 13 of the rooms here are slightly different, are across two floors accessible via stairs, and they range in size depending on what you’re looking for. Take a look at all of them here.
The majority of the rooms at The King’s Arms are dog friendly, so you don’t need to leave them behind for your Lake District trip. And why would you, it’s an ideal place for dogs and I love that more and more places are accommodating it.
The King’s Arms did more than just accommodate, especially for a hotel, they provided a big dog bed for Arthur, a blanket and two bowls. This makes such a difference for what you need to bring with you, I literally just took his food with me. He loved the bed, and the blanket was ideal for taking down to the bar area too.
The Bar & Restaurant
As you’d imagine the bar of the King’s Arms in the heart of Keswick was a bustling affair, with people coming and going after their walk and afternoon out. There were a total range of people, from families, to solo hikers, dog walkers and couples playing cards.
There’s space for everyone and the bar is well stocked whatever your tipple. I ate in the bar area in the evening, as it’s all dog friendly, whereas the restaurant isn’t. You can choose to leave your well behaved dog in your room while you eat in here, but I prefer to be in the bar area anyway.
As you’d expect from a family run Lakeland pub, there’s a choice of local ales, spirits and home made pub food to enjoy. The food menus are typically British and Cumbrian, serving breakfast, lunch and evening meals. They pride themselves on their beef and Jennings Ale pie, but I’d had far too many chocolates from Ye Olde Friar’s sweetshop so I had the scampi. Served with fat chips and peas it was beaut.
The menu was really big, so there’s something for everyone, and they also have specials available too. The courtyard outside the back of the King’s Arms was quite lively on the sunny Sunday afternoon I was there, so there is outside seating in addition to the couple of tables out the front, and if you’re into sports Casas Sports Bar is also out there showing Sky Sports and BT.
My stay included breakfast, and this is always my favourite part of staying at hotels. I of course went for the Full Cumbrian off the cooked menu, but there was a big selection with plenty of options for every taste. There is also a Continental cold buffet that serves juices, cereals etc too.
What To Do Nearby the King’s Arms Keswick
Being in the perfect spot, right on the main square of Keswick there is so much to do within walking distance, you could choose to park up and stay there for the whole duration of your stay. If you’re fairly new to visiting the Lakes this is an ideal place to start, and if you’re a seasoned visitor it’s just as good for after your adventures.
Keswick town centre itself offers plenty to do, browse the mountaineering and outdoor adventure shops, visit some of the independent cafes and of course the sweetshop across the road. There’s also some good art and homeware shops further round near George Fisher’s too. These are on the way to the lakeside walk you could do.
Heading towards Derwentwater there is a Lakeside path, plenty of opportunities for a coffee or ice cream along the way, mini golf, the gardens to enjoy, and of course the tribute to Max the Miracle dog too. By the lake you could choose to feed the ducks, hire a rowing boat, or if the weather’s good just sit and enjoy the view across to Catbells.
I paid a visit to the Lakeside Cafe which was lovely, and it’s right next to the theatre which often host performances.
From Keswick you have the whole of the Lakes to enjoy, with nearby towns including Grasmere at a 20 minute drive, and Ambleside or Buttermere both half an hour away.
The King’s Arms in Keswick couldn’t be in a better spot, and with the new refurbishments, a great bar and food, as well as being dog friendly it makes for an ideal Lake District hotel stay. Find out more information, as well as up to date rates on the King’s Arms Keswick website here.
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