Castle Green Hotel in Kendal, BW Premier Collection

This hotel offers a romantic experience with country touches and lovely English gardens. The entrance of the hotel -- with wood beams -- stands out against the unassuming exterior. It’s spacious and modern inside the lobby, with a large front desk and a lounge that offers lots of contemporary seating options. Walking paths weave through the property that includes an herb garden, large lawns, and picnic tables. Overall the atmosphere is serene and relaxed, a natural fit with the peaceful setting.

The hotel is located on the fringes of Kendal -- east of the River Kent. The Kendal Castle, overlooking the Lakeland Fells, is five minutes away by car. The castle is near lots of shops, restaurants, and bars. The Quaker Tapestry Museum and Kendal Museum are five minutes away by car. The Kendal TransPennine stop and K Village shopping outlet are both 18 minutes away on foot. The William Wordsworth Dove Cottage -- near Grasmere Gingerbread -- is a 35-minute drive. Windermere Lake Cruises is a 23-minute drive. Bikes can be rented at the Wheelbase at Staveley, a 12-minute drive away.

The hotel offers standard, balcony, family, and luxury executive rooms. Traditional wood furniture and pops of blue or purple furnishings fill all rooms. Features include writing desks, free bottled water, bathrobes, and tea/coffee makers. Balcony rooms have patio glass doors and views of the garden or the distant Lakeland Fells. Bathrooms are basic with modern fixtures and heated towel racks. Guests recommend requesting rooms with a bathtub. Executive rooms have wood canopy beds, large windows, living rooms, safes, and garden views from bay windows (in some). Family rooms offer seating areas with love seats. Some rooms have unattractive views of the parking lot.

Eight meetings rooms, fitting between 10 to 300 people, are available in the conference and training center. Some rooms have garden or Kendal Castle views. Audiovisual equipment is available on request.

The Greenhouse Restaurant is classically furnished and offers large windows that overlook the garden. A casual bar and lounge with traditional furniture and a fireplace is in the lobby. The Alexanders Pub has a charming country exterior, with picnic tables by the parking lot. The interior is casual with a skylight ceiling, stone accents, and a flat-screen TV. Cumbria afternoon tea is also available in the pub’s conservatory or gardens.

The Pulse Health and Fitness Club has a stylish indoor pool that features LED lighting and wooden lounge chairs on a tile deck. With four lanes, the pool is suitable for laps. There’s also a steam room and an Asian-themed massage room with a shower. The club offers two modern gyms with weights, cardio equipment, fresh towels, a water cooler, and windows that face the gardens and pool.