One of Windermere's best-known buildings is getting a very different future. The historic Windermere Hotel beside the railway station is being transformed into Elysium Windermere, a 74-bedroom hotel with a major new focus on food, spa experiences and year-round stays.
The restoration and redevelopment is expected to involve more than £10 million of investment, with the team behind the project currently aiming to reopen in early 2027. The latest plans were discussed with local people at a community event in Windermere on 16 and 17 October 2026.
It is much more than a change of name. The team has been carrying out extensive repairs to the historic building while developing a new restaurant and substantial wellness facilities. For locals, there is another important part of the story: the operator expects the development to create around 80 to 100 full-time and part-time jobs.
When will Elysium Windermere open?
The official Elysium Windermere website currently says early 2027. The company has also referred to a spring 2027 opening in recruitment and community announcements.
There is no confirmed first night for guests yet. Exact room rates, bookable opening dates, restaurant reservations and spa packages have not been announced. If you are planning a specific Lake District break, wait for confirmed availability before building a trip around the hotel.
What will the £10m redevelopment include?
The hotel is being repositioned as part of the new British Elysium Collection. Plans described by the team include:
- 74 guest bedrooms, with room design themes inspired by the Lake District;
- a destination restaurant overseen by Stéphane Delourme, who previously worked as head chef for Rick Stein;
- a rooftop or upper-level spa experience, intended to make the most of the area's scenery;
- thermal bathing, hot tubs, sauna and steam facilities, cold plunges and treatment space;
- a health club and gym, with facilities intended to serve local members as well as overnight guests.
Some elements are still being developed, and precise facilities and access arrangements may change before launch. Earlier project publicity and newer reporting also give different numbers of individual treatment rooms, so the final configuration is best checked directly with the operator.
A major new spa for Windermere
The spa could be the part that attracts the most interest from both visitors and residents. The operator has described plans for a thermal pool, hot tubs, steam rooms, saunas and cold-water experiences, as well as areas designed for treatment and relaxation.
Its position high above parts of Windermere town is a selling point. The hotel is near Windermere railway station, not on the lakeshore, but elevated spa spaces are being planned to take advantage of the surrounding views.
At the community preview, the team said the restaurant, bar, gym and spa are intended to welcome local customers as well as hotel guests. That could make the development interesting even if you live in Cumbria and have no plans to book a room. Membership rates, day-spa prices and whether every facility will be available to non-residents have yet to be published.
What is happening to the original hotel building?
The Windermere Hotel first opened in 1847, closely linked with the arrival of the railway and the growth of tourism in the Lake District. Its prominent position has made it a familiar sight to anyone arriving by train.
Rather than pulling the old building down, the project is restoring it. According to details shared by the operator, work has included repairs to roofing and chimneys, renewed guttering, repointing and the repair or replacement of windows in a style sympathetic to the building.
Some works have already received planning consent. However, an additional proposal for a rear spa and health-club extension, a spa garden, swimming pool, hot tubs, sauna and four spa lodges was submitted separately to the Lake District National Park Authority. That wider application should not be confused with an approved, completed facility. The application references are 7/2026/5360 and 7/2026/5361, and their final decisions should be checked before describing those additional elements as definite.
Could it create 100 jobs in Windermere?
The operator's latest local comments point to approximately 80 to 100 new full-time and part-time roles across the hotel, restaurant, spa and health club. Earlier promotional material quoted a higher figure of up to 130 positions, so the final recruitment total is not yet fixed.
The team has spoken about running a year-round operation, rather than relying entirely on seasonal visitor demand. That could provide a useful range of hospitality opportunities in the South Lakes. Details of specific vacancies, salaries and deadlines should be checked through the Elysium Collection and its official recruitment announcements.
A community open weekend at the Marchesi Centre on 16 and 17 October 2026 gave local people the chance to meet the team, hear about the project and find out about possible jobs. Those dates have now passed, so the event should not be mistaken for an upcoming recruitment session.
Where is Elysium Windermere?
The address is Kendal Road, Windermere, LA23 1AL, immediately beside the town's railway station and bus connections. This is a convenient part of Windermere for visitors arriving without a car, with shops, cafés and the start of the walk to Orrest Head nearby.
Do not confuse Windermere town with Bowness-on-Windermere. The lakeside piers and cruise departures are further downhill in Bowness, rather than on the hotel's doorstep. Regular local buses connect the two, and walking is another option if you do not mind the hill on the return journey.
If you are exploring alternatives while the hotel is being restored, browse places to stay in Windermere or discover the area in our Lake Windermere guide.
Is Elysium Windermere taking bookings?
As of 21 October 2026, an exact opening date and published room rates were not available in the operator's public launch information. The company's website invites people to register for news. The right approach is to treat the hotel as coming soon, not as an accommodation option that is already trading.
We also have a dedicated Elysium Windermere Place listing covering its location, planned facilities and visitor information. That page will be updated as dates, prices and spa access become clearer.
What happens next?
The biggest things to watch are the confirmed opening date, the release of room and spa bookings, recruitment announcements and decisions on the additional planning applications. For a landmark that has welcomed visitors since the railway's early days, this is a sizeable new chapter.
Our take: the location beside the station and the ambition to welcome locals into the restaurant and wellness facilities make this one of the more interesting hotel developments in Windermere. There is plenty to look forward to, but the detailed visitor experience will only be clear once the property actually opens.
Sources and latest information
- Elysium Windermere: official coming-soon information
- Cumbria Crack: operator interview and October 2026 plans
- Elysium Collection project announcement, September 2026
- Lake District National Park planning notice: applications 7/2026/5360 and 7/2026/5361
Information checked on 21 October 2026. Opening dates, final facilities, booking arrangements and pending planning decisions may change.
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