---
title: "Brathay Lodge vs Waterhead Hotel: which hotel is better?"
description: "Brathay Lodge or Waterhead Hotel in Ambleside? Compare guest ratings, location, amenities, rooms and prices side by side."
url: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/brathay-lodge-ambleside-vs-waterhead-hotel-ambleside/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-11-11
---

# Brathay Lodge vs Waterhead Hotel

Both are in Ambleside, 920 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger.

Guesthouse · Waterhead
## [Brathay Lodge](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/brathay-lodge-ambleside/)

- **Guest rating:** 8.8 ·  Excellent

- **Location score:** 6.0

- **Score by category:** 1 of 4

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/1225987/agoda/?lang=en)

Hotel · ★★★★ · Clappersgate
## [Waterhead Hotel](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/waterhead-hotel-ambleside/)

- **Guest rating:** 9.0 ·  Excellent

- **Location score:** 4.1

- **Score by category:** 2 of 4

[Check rates](https://stayversus.com/go/2310484/agoda/?lang=en)

The short answer

## Pick Waterhead Hotel

It leads in 2 of 4 categories. 920 m apart.

### Choose Brathay Lodge if you want

-   to walk to the sights (210 m / 1.1 km)
-   more restaurants on the doorstep (54 / 8)
-   a smaller, quieter hotel (Rooms: 20 / 41)

### Choose Waterhead Hotel if you want

-   a big hotel with more facilities (Rooms: 41 / 20)

### Why is Brathay Lodge better than Waterhead Hotel?

1.  910 m closer to the city centre (−910 m)
2.  46 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m (+46)
3.  More walkable surroundings (walk grade 67 vs 36) (+31)

### Why is Waterhead Hotel better than Brathay Lodge?

1.  Has a swimming pool
2.  More guest reviews (54 vs 21), so the rating is more reliable (×2.6)
3.  Has an on-site restaurant

## All compared facts

Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel.

 

|  | Brathay Lodge | Waterhead Hotel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Score by category |
| Guest rating | 8.8 | 9.0 |
| Location | 6.0  (+1.9) | 4.1 |
| Facilities | 4.2 | 5.8  (+1.6) |
| Spa & wellness | 3.0 | 4.5  (+1.5) |
| Ratings & reviews |
| StayVersus score | 8.9 | 9.0  (+0.1) |
| Guest rating | 8.8 | 9.0  (+0.2) |
| Number of reviews | 21 | 54  (+33) |
| Google rating | 4.6/5 | – |
| Google reviews | 281 | – |
| Rank in Ambleside | bottom 38% | top 45%  (+17%) |
| Location |
| Location score | 6.0  (+1.9) | 4.1 |
| Distance to the centre | 210 m  (−910 m) | 1.1 km |
| Restaurants within 500 m | 54  (+46) | 8 |
| To the nearest food shop | 270 m  (−590 m) | 860 m |
| Shops within 500 m | 5  (+5) | 0 |
| Sights within 1 km | 3  (+2) | 1 |
| Rooms & building |
| Star rating | – | ★★★★ |
| Rooms | 20 | 41 |
| Floors | 4 | – |
| Newest building or renovation | 2001 | – |
| Listed amenities | 13 | 14 |
| Policies |
| Check-in from | 15:00 | 15:00 |
| Check-out until | 10:30 | 11:00  (+1h) |
| Amenities |
| Free Wi-Fi | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free parking | ✓ | ✓ |
| EV charging | ✓ | – |
| Laundry | ✓ | ✓ |
| Luggage storage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Breakfast | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✓ |
| Terrace | ✓ | – |
| LGBTQ+ friendly | ✓ | – |
| Balcony | ✓ | – |
| Coffee or tea maker | ✓ | ✓ |
| Restaurant | – | ✓ |
| Bar | – | ✓ |
| Room service | – | ✓ |
| Swimming pool | – | ✓ |
| In-room safe | – | ✓ |
| Which hotel suits you |
| Sightseeing on foot | ✓ | – |
| Spa & relaxation | – | ✓ |

## Live prices around both hotels

Real nightly rates from booking partners for the dates you picked above. Tap a price for the offer.

## Location

920 m apart

Brathay Lodge: city centre: 210 m, 54 places to eat within 500 m, 3 sights within 1 km.

Waterhead Hotel: city centre: 1.1 km, 8 places to eat within 500 m, 1 sights within 1 km.

## Weather in Ambleside

[Ambleside weather: 15-day forecast](https://atlasofseasons.com/en/united-kingdom/england/ambleside/weather)

## Brathay Lodge or Waterhead Hotel: common questions

### Which is better, Brathay Lodge or Waterhead Hotel?

Waterhead Hotel leads in 2 of 4 categories, including facilities, spa & wellness. Brathay Lodge is stronger in location.

### Which is cheaper, Brathay Lodge or Waterhead Hotel?

Prices change by date. Pick your dates above to see both nightly prices side by side.

### Which hotel is closer to the centre?

Brathay Lodge is closer: 210 m from the centre, against 1.1 km for Waterhead Hotel.

### How far apart are Brathay Lodge and Waterhead Hotel?

The two hotels are 920 m apart in a straight line.

## Compare now

Updated 6 Oct 2026. Data: Agoda, Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports and hotels' own websites. We may earn a commission from partner links; it never changes the comparison. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/)

---
Source: https://stayversus.com/en/compare/brathay-lodge-ambleside-vs-waterhead-hotel-ambleside/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/