Getting to the Berkeley Guest House was not as easy as the staff made it sound on the phone. It was a confusing walk from the bus stop. I got there in the evening, so I had to go to the Crow Park Hotel (a few doors down from the Berkeley) to get my key - I wondered if it would have been easier to have booked a room at the Crow Park. There were a lot of steps from the street up to the house, so wrangling my bag was frustrating, probably more so since I was already tired. There weren't many stairs up to my room, but they were narrow. The room was large, with a large wardrobe for hanging clothes, a dressing table, and an en-suite bath (I requested that - not all of the rooms have one). The best part of the room wasn't obvious until the next morning when I could look out the window onto the park across the street and to the hills beyond - very beautiful! Breakfast was average - nothing outside the basic good English breakfast. I travelled by bus through Ambleside and Windemere to Grasmere. Keswick is a very nice town: the laundromat is centrally located, and its staff is wonderful, there are computers at a shop in town, the TI is very helpful with area attractions. After seeing Ambleside and Windemere, though, I think I would stay in one of those villages - probably Ambleside - if I get to the Lake District again. The beauty of the Lake District itself is beyond words. It almost wouldn't matter where I stayed - just being there would make up for any lack in accommodation! One disadvantage of the Berkeley is that there is no one "on premises" at all times; that's why I had to pick up my key at another location. I prefer staying at a place where the owner or a manager is in residence.

The Berkeley benefits from its position on the Heads, overlooking Hope Park and the hills beyond. The view is worth a lot - you are staying in a beautiful place, so why not see it from your room?

Rooms are clean and comfortable, and breakfasts include the option of a (large!) fresh fruit salad.

In short, excellent accommodation in a superb position (and I have stayed in a lot of different places in Keswick).