Whole-house hire and weddings
The whole house, just for your group
Take all 13 apartments at Lonsdale House for a weekend or a few days, with the walled garden to yourselves. Everyone gets their own front door and their own kitchenette, and the whole group stays together in the heart of Ulverston.
Lonsdale House provides the venue (the garden and the apartments) and the accommodation. We do not organise bands, marquees, caterers or other suppliers. You arrange and insure your own.
Who it suits
Wedding parties and wedding guests. Family reunions. Birthdays and anniversaries. Friends' weekends and hen or stag weekends. Retreats and walking groups. Corporate away days and team weekends.
About the house
Lonsdale House is a Grade II listed Georgian townhouse with parts dating back to the 1600s, completely renovated in a multi-million-pound project. New mattresses went into every apartment in September 2026, and we have upgraded the tea and coffee facilities and crockery.
The 13 apartments and how many they sleep
Together the 13 apartments sleep up to 42 guests, including sofa beds.
- Helvellyn: sleeps up to 5 (a family apartment)
- Windermere: sleeps up to 4 (a family apartment, on the ground floor with a step-free entrance to the door)
- The other 11 apartments: sleep up to 3 each (Cartmel, our Suite, Langdale, Borrowdale, Keswick, Hawkshead, Coniston, Ambleside, Grasmere, Ullswater, Thirlmere and Derwent)
Every apartment has a kitchenette, a private bathroom with a walk-in shower, a Smart TV and high-speed WiFi. Coniston, Ambleside and Grasmere are on the ground floor, with internal stairs. Four of the apartments welcome dogs, at £10 per dog per night, with a small welcome pack waiting.
What is included
- All 13 apartments for the whole of your stay, with the house to yourselves
- Fresh linen, towels, and a departure clean of every apartment
- Kitchenettes, plus new crockery and upgraded tea and coffee facilities
- High-speed WiFi throughout
- Use of the walled garden
- A boot room for bikes and wet clothes, free for guests
- A mid-stay clean, free on request for stays of 5 nights or more (just ask)
- Self check-in
- Our phone number, which alerts the team straight away if you need us
Our management team is on site daily during the day, and our admin team is available 7 days a week. There is no front desk.
We are self-catering, so breakfast is not offered. Each apartment has a kitchenette, so you can make your own.
The walled garden
The garden is the heart of the house. It is private, enclosed by old walls and good for group photographs or a summer drinks party.
A marquee for your wedding or celebration
If you want a wedding breakfast or an evening party, you can bring a marquee into the garden. You book and pay for your own marquee supplier, and we agree the position with you beforehand. Bands, DJs, caterers, alcohol licences and insurance are for you to arrange with your own suppliers, and we will talk you through what to think about. There are no legal ceremonies on site: weddings take place at a licensed venue or church, and your celebration can follow here.
Wedding guests who need rooms
Many couples marrying nearby need rooms for their guests. If your venue sleeps only part of your guest list, ask us about holding a block of apartments for your guests at our normal rates, with any that are not booked released ahead of the date.
Getting here
Public car parks are opposite the house, 90 seconds away. They are paid during the day and free in the evenings from 18:00 to 08:00.
Ask us for a quote
Tell us your dates, how many of you there are, and what you have in mind. Call 01229 265217, email [email protected] or use our contact page. A deposit secures your dates, and full terms are confirmed with your quote.
Frequently asked questions
How many people can stay? Up to 42 across the 13 apartments, including sofa beds.
Can we have the whole house to ourselves? Yes. Whole-house hire is exclusive for your group, and other guests do not stay.
Can we book only some of the apartments? Yes. Ask us about a block for your guests. Other guests may be staying in the remaining apartments, so it is a quiet stay, not a party house.
Can we hold our ceremony at Lonsdale House? No. There are no legal ceremonies on site. We offer accommodation, the garden and space for a marquee for your reception.
Can we have a marquee, a band or a caterer? You can bring your own, arranged and insured by you. We do not organise or book suppliers.
Do you serve breakfast? No. Each apartment has its own kitchenette.
Is there parking? There are public car parks opposite, 90 seconds away. They are paid during the day and free in the evenings from 18:00 to 08:00.
Is anyone on site? Our management team is on site daily during the day, and our admin team is available 7 days a week. There is no front desk. For anything urgent, our phone number will alert us straight away.
What does it cost? It depends on the season and the number of nights. Ask us for a quote.
Are dogs allowed? In four apartments, at £10 per dog per night.