Lake District Self Catering cottage, St Johns View, Keswick, sleeps 4

Perfect location and fantastic apartment
This was my fourth visit to Keswick and whilst I've previously stayed in a Bed and Breakfast or rented a cottage I will not be doing that again, I was very much impressed by this apartment. The rooms were bigger than they appear in the pictures and are tastefully decorated. If you are taking children they provide a Playstation 2 with plenty of games as well as a DVD player with a good choice of films. There's plenty of cooking utensils and a large fridge freezer for those staying for several days. The beds are comfortable and there's plenty of wardrobe space. Some other reviews have mentioned the awkwardness of eating in the kitchen which I would agree with as the eating space is quite small, there was only three of us and we managed. I'm not sure how four people could comfortably eat there though. Something to consider if you do not plan to eat out as we did most nights. The only other negative is the entry and stairwell which, again, is mentioned in other reviews. I must confess I entered through the doorway which is located at the back of a vestibule sandwiched between a shop and tattoo parlour and thought I'd accidentally entered a private part of the store and hesitated to go up. It is rough looking and makes you wonder what shape the apartment is going to be in but after going up one flight of stairs there is only this apartment and another one at the top of the stairs and once you get inside it's very different so please don't be put be off. One quick tip, the doorway is locked by the shop at 22:00 and the lock can be quite stiff and difficult to lock back up but persevere and it's fine. When the shop downstairs opens up of a morning the alarm system for the shop sounds quite loudly which on the first morning made me think our fire alarm was going off so gives you a bit of a scare but it's literally for seconds. We were there for an event in Keswick so didn't do any walking but for exploring Keswick itself and the restaurants and bars it's location is it's biggest plus. Thirty seconds walk from the front door and you're on the high street in Keswick, could not be better placed. In addition booking the apartment means you have an assigned car parking space in a car park behind the building, again, this is another big plus as places to park are like gold dust in Keswick. We were there from a Thursday to a Monday and didn't have any problems with noise off the street during the night or early mornings. For those that choose to stay I'd recommend Woodstone Pizza and Flamegrill which is directly opposite as well as The George pub both which is just a few doors down from the apartment. I will definitely stay here again.
JG_Trippa
2017-03-04

Don't be put off by the entrance hallway
The entrance hallway and communal area is disgusting and needs serious attention. We nearly turned around but we're glad we didn't as the apartment is very nice. It is well furnished and spacious. Excellent location but noisy due to old windows and being above a shop. We were woken every morning before 8am due to defeaning alarm of the shop below when staff opened up. The apartment was good value but could do with a little TLC. The car parking spot is down an alley way from station road and not easy to find. No instructions provided by agent and should be made clearer.
A Holiday Lettings verified reviewer
2016-10-02

EXCELLENT LOCATION
Stayed here with my friend and her dog the week commencing 9th May 2016. The apartment is lovely. It is spacious, well equipped, light and airy. The floors are wooden which was ideal for the dog due to the hot weather (had a glorious week of sunshine). The bedrooms were good sizes with extremely comfy beds and plenty of storage. The kitchen is modern and well equipped. The living room was spacious with large sash windows and large settees. The wi-fi was reliable and we always had a connection. The location is great (can be a bit noisy in the morning due to delivery vehicles) in the centre of Keswick. The car park space is a minute's walk away, situated behind the George pub. I have been visiting Keswick for many years and this is the best location I have stayed in. Everything is on the door step and of course Keswick is so dog friendly. Really enjoyed our week here and would definitely recommend to friends and family. Could not fault our stay.
Storm63
2016-05-21

Great Location
I stayed here with my husband and another couple for a short break. Upon arrival we were dissapointed, the entrance to the apartment was next to a shop, which made it difficult for us to enter with our bags as there was mountains of cardboard boxes and two bicycles blocking the doorway. The stair case leading to the apartment was filthy, dust and spider webs everywhere, with unsightly damp patches on the walls. At this point we were all complaining and then we went into the apartment itself. What a change! The apartment is lovely, spacious enough for two couples, had everything we needed if we choose to cater for ourselves, the beds were clean and comfy and the lounge roomy and airy. Each bedroom was bright and clean and had plenty of storage space for our clothes There was plenty of hot water for everyone to have showers and the bath was spotless. We tried to put a bulb in the lounge lamp and realised that it is in fact the lamp that is broken, this didn't really make a difference to our stay but the room would be better with a cosy lamp. As in a previous review, I was not impressed with being asked to strip the beds, I do that at home often enough and certainaly do not want to do it on my holidays. The best thing about the apartment is the location, yes there is a little noise sometimes from the shop below, but that is to be expected, however you are only a few steps away from the local pubs, cafes, market and shops. This review would have been better if only the entry way was cleaned and tidied. It gives the worst first impression possible.
lorna H
2015-10-11

More cons than pros
Location may be handy but it's also very very noisey, not just because it's centrally situated but becuase it's above an "open all hours" shop. Lorries pulled up as early as 5am with deliveries, you would have to be deaf to be able to sleep through this. There are no working lamps in the flat so it was relax with glaring ceiling lights or sit in darkness. This situation had not been sorted even though previous visitors had highlighted it as a problem in the visitors book. The bathroom is dated and desparately needs painting. One of the bedrooms had the worst matress we had ever encountered in a holiday rent, the other one was fine. A shared hallway makes a terible 1st impression, it's filthy. There's rubbish and dog hair everywhere, the paint is peeling off the wall and so is the plaster in some areas, it really smells too. Good points? The flat has plenty of space and was generally clean. However, we were not impressed by being left instructions to strip the beds of linen ourselves. Firstly, I am on holiday to get away from these domestic chores and secondly isn't that what we are paying for?
Jackie H
2015-08-09