Brathay Lodge vs Waterhead Hotel
Both are in Ambleside, 920 m apart. Here is where each one is stronger.
GuesthouseWaterhead
Brathay Lodge
- Guest rating
- 8.8 Excellent
- Location score
- 6.0
- Score by category
- 1 of 4
Hotel★★★★Clappersgate
Waterhead Hotel
- Guest rating
- 9.0 Excellent
- Location score
- 4.1
- Score by category
- 2 of 4
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?
- 1910 m closer to the city centre−910 m
- 246 more restaurants and cafés within 500 m+46
- 3More walkable surroundings (walk grade 67 vs 36)+31
Why is Waterhead Hotel better than Brathay Lodge?
- 1Has a swimming pool
- 2More guest reviews (54 vs 21), so the rating is more reliable×2.6
- 3Has an on-site restaurant
All compared facts
Every category is scored from 0 to 10 with the same formula for every hotel.
| Brathay Lodge vs Waterhead Hotel: which hotel is better? | 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 | – | ✓ |
Price for your dates
Prices come from booking partners and can change. The final price is shown before you book.
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
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