Grasmere’s Wordsworth Hotel Reopens After 47 Week Refurbishment
The Wordsworth in Grasmere has reopened after a 47-week refurbishment, restoring a prominent Lake District hotel for visitors.
The inn welcomed its first guests back on Friday 6 November following an extensive redevelopment carried out by Newcastle-based hospitality operator The Inn Collection Group. The project has transformed several areas of the property while retaining features intended to preserve its character and connection with the village. The completed hotel now offers 56 bedrooms, providing accommodation for visitors staying in one of the Lake District’s best-known destinations.
One of the most significant changes involved converting the former swimming pool, spa and function room areas into new garden suites. The redesigned accommodation overlooks the hotel's garden and forms part of the wider effort to make better use of the existing building. The refurbishment has also increased the number of bedrooms from 38 to 56, giving guests a broader choice of room types and accommodation options.
The ground floor has been extended as part of the redevelopment, with materials selected to complement the surrounding architecture. Lakeland stone, Westmorland slate and render have been incorporated into the external design to help the enlarged building sit comfortably within Grasmere. The work has sought to balance modern hospitality facilities with the original features and traditional appearance associated with the property.
The refurbishment was delivered by The Inn Collection Group, with design and construction work involving Axis CLC and Focus Architecture + Surveying. Other specialists contributing to the project included Sine Consulting, Northpoint Consulting and Adelphi Consulting Engineers, while JGS Consulting provided project management. The range of companies involved reflects the scale of the redevelopment, which required changes to the building's layout, accommodation and public areas.
Michael Coulthard, head of projects at The Inn Collection Group, said the team was pleased to reveal the refurbished property. He said preserving the building's heritage and its place within Grasmere had remained central to the work. He also highlighted the memories shared by members of the public during the redevelopment, adding that the group wanted to respect the inn's established character while creating spaces for future guests.
The reopening is also expected to support employment in the area. The group's earlier announcement said the redevelopment would create approximately 45 jobs across a range of hospitality roles, including opportunities in front-of-house operations and the kitchen. Recruitment was planned to cover both experienced hospitality workers and people seeking to begin careers in the sector, providing additional employment opportunities linked to the expanded operation.
The Wordsworth is part of The Inn Collection Group, which operates venues across northern England and North Wales. The company said the Grasmere project forms part of its continued investment in Lake District destinations, with an emphasis on accommodation, food and drink in established visitor locations. The group had opened bookings ahead of the reopening, allowing guests to reserve stays at the refurbished property from November.
With the refurbishment complete, the inn is once again welcoming visitors to Grasmere, offering expanded accommodation and redesigned facilities. The reopening comes ahead of the winter visitor season, when the village attracts people exploring the surrounding fells and wider Lake District. The investment adds another refurbished hospitality venue to the area's tourism offer while retaining a building with a longstanding presence in the village.
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