In the Debatable Lands, just south of the Scottish border, Gerald and Margo Smith's stylish, Michelin-starred restaurant with rooms scored very highly with a trusted Guide reader – and no debate about that!

Refreshingly different from some more traditional Lake District offerings, this contemporary hotel is in a beautiful setting overlooking Grasmere.

The River Rothay runs past the back garden of this small country-house hotel with attractive, individually styled bedrooms and good food.

Overlooking the River Hodder in the Forest of Bowland, this sprawling 18th-century manor house is joyously traditional, with stone-flagged floors, open fires, bags of atmosphere and great food.

Despite its rustic-sounding name and rural situation by a bend in the River Wyre, this is no olde-worlde country pub but an exuberant creation whose bedrooms and riverside lodges are filled with modern art and retro touches, where you can dine on Franco-Lancastrian dishes in the restaurant, and where live music nights, game nights, ramen nights and even suet pudding nights add to the fun.

Hipping Hall will be closing permanently on the 24th July 2023. Between the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District – and just ten minutes from the M6 – Hipping Hall is a surprising foodie find with understated yet luxurious bedrooms, spacious gardens and a relaxed atmosphere.

Mark Birchall holds two Michelin stars and a Michelin Green star at this centuries-old hall with designer bedrooms, some with a lake view, where prospective guests must join a waiting list and expect to pay a high price for the meal of a lifetime.

'One of the finest dining experiences I've had' was enjoyed by our inspector at this restaurant with rooms in a touristy village on the River Eamont, at the head of Ullswater.

With a passion for locally sourced, seasonal and sustainable ingredients and great culinary flair, Simon Rogan has created a Michelin-starred foodie destination that is still on the side of fun, with rooms spread around a delightful village.