1938 Lake District Hotels Ad – Vintage Full-Page British Travel Ephemera

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Item ID: 297241173885
eBay Seller ID: britishfareasttraders
eBay Store Link: View this item
Category: Collectables:Paper & Ephemera:Ephemera:1901-1950
Condition: In decent condition. Please check our images.

1938 Lake District Hotels Ad – Vintage Full-Page British Travel Ephemera

Rare 1938 Overseas Daily Mail full-page feature on iconic Lake District hotels–ideal for collectors of vintage UK tourism and hotel history.

Measurements: approx. 11 1/4 x 15 1/2 inches
Dates: n/a
Condition: In decent condition, please see images. 
Internal notes: QC passed

March 26, 1938. The English Lake District stands serene and timeless–its still waters reflecting grand hotel façades, its valleys echoing with the soft tread of guests on morning walks. This original full-page travel advertisement from the Overseas Daily Mail captures that exact moment in time. You can almost hear the afternoon teas being poured at Storrs Hall, smell the rain on the fells outside the Vale View Hotel, and see the ballroom lights aglow at the Grand Hotel in Grange-over-Sands. It is not merely a listing of places to stay–it is an invitation into a golden era of English leisure.

Published as part of a 1938 colour supplement targeting overseas travellers, this full-page advert features a curated selection of distinguished Lake District hotels: Lodore Hotel in Keswick, Prince of Wales Lake Hotel in Grasmere, Levens Hotel near Kendal, Rigg’s Hotels in Windermere, and more. Each establishment is presented with pride–boasting central heating, hot and cold water, croquet lawns, and access to boating and mountain excursions. This piece serves as a vivid historical record of British regional hospitality and travel culture on the eve of World War II.

More than advertising, this is a preserved cultural artefact–a richly detailed glimpse into pre-war British tourism, hotel design, and social aspiration. Whether you’re a collector of Lake District memorabilia, British travel ephemera, or hotel history, this item is a rare and meaningful piece worthy of archival framing or careful preservation. To own it is to honour the charm and elegance of a truly unique time and place.