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England’s best-known and most popular national park is a postcard landscape of shimmering lakes, craggy hilltops and ancient forests that has enchanted poets and painters since the late 18th century, when the Romantics first had their imaginations stirred by the panoramas that have remained unchanged to this day.
And what panoramas they are. There’s the classic Lakeland setting of Windermere, England’s largest lake and the primary destination for millions of tourists since the railroad was first built in the middle of the 19th century. On it is busy Bowness and the charming villages of Grasmere and Hawkshead, surrounded on all sides by beautiful mountains.
The north lakes – Ullswater, Bassenthwaite, Derwentwater, Loweswater – are quieter and wilder, in the shadow of the rugged Skiddaw range and with handsome Keswick at the heart of it. The lush Borrowdale Valley leads to the dramatic Honister mountain pass and into the natural lakes of Buttermere & Crummock.
Adventure seekers go west, to the higher ground of Great Langdale and the region’s major summits of Bowfell, Crinkle Crags and the biggest mountain of all, Scafell Pike.
The Lake District is an outdoor activities paradise, but its literary connections draw as many visitors as its walks do. William Wordsworth lived virtually all of his life here, drawing inspiration from the surrounding countryside to write some of the English language’s most enduring poetry. The landscape also proved a creative spark for the likes of Sameul Taylor Coleridge, Arthur Ransome and Beatrix Potter – who dedicated much of her life to protecting the Lake District’s beauty and heritage.
In all its beauty and diversity the Lake District remains as it has been for millennia, which is one of the reasons why in 2017 the national park was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site – its river valleys, lakes and mountains home to an unique hill-farming culture and ancient heritage that has been carefully preserved. Here in the Lake District we know how to take good care of you; we’ve had plenty of practice.
Explore
Come and join our National Trust Rangers to get hands on building leaky dams and brash barriers to…
If you fancy a challenge, why not Canoe the length of Windermere with us? We do this over 2 days…
Hailing from The Lake District, Zac is primarily linked with Pop, Rock, Indie, and Folk genres. He…
The Wooden Boat Gathering is returning to the Windermere Jetty Museum from 28th-30th June 2024,…
The Railway welcomes a first visit from Bluey and Bingo. Personal appearances from Bluey and Bingo…
Take a wild dip in England's largest lake – Windermere – with experienced open water swimmers.…
Take inspiration from Windermere Jetty Museum's collection and build your own model boat from…
Come and join us for a day's Canoeing from Fell Foot. Fell Foot has amazing accessible facilities,…
Are you ready to embark on a transformative journey that combines the power of nature, ancient…
Curated and hosted by poet Kim Moore, our contemporary poetry reading series continues throughout…
Join us for a fun-filled artistic adventure as the sun sets over our serene river and bridge…
The longest day of the year is also very often a fine and sunny day here in the Lake District.…
This new display delves into the Townend archive collection, a treasure trove of four hundred years…
You can get involved with Great Big Green Week, the UK's biggest celebration of community events to…
Visitor Sketchbooks: fanciful flora Flowers and foliage appear in designs and decorations all over…
The popular event 'Music for a Summer Evening' returns to Hawkshead Parish Church in June and July…
The Wooden Boat Gathering is returning to the Windermere Jetty Museum this June, assembling skilled…
A one and a quarter-hour cruise to catch the sunset over Windermere. This relaxing cruise takes…
Make the most of summer with fun outdoor and indoor creative activities at Allan Bank in Grasmere…
Little Explorers story and nature walks for under 5s and their grown-ups. These fun interactive…
Join us on a special 'Spirit of the Lakes' journey as you take in the breathtaking scenery of the…
Our 26th Keswick Beer Festival will take place on the 7th and 8th June 2024.
We're excited to present our first ever Green Film Festival to celebrate the Big Green Week! Five…
Join us for a fun and relaxing day learning the art of mosaic. Create a colourful plaque, a trivet…
The Lake District Where modern tourism was born
Number of results: 495
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Ravenglass
Located at the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, Fellbites Café serves everything from hot and cold drinks, sandwiches and homebaked cakes, to full meals made to order.
The Turntable Café, located on Platform 1 serves a wide array of food from hearty…
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
1945 reviewsThe New Rd, Windermere
For accommodation, The Howbeck truly is a once discovered, never forgotten place to stay. A delightful Lake District retreat where the warmth and friendliness of staff is always apparent.
Penrith
We offer a selection of beautiful Lakeland self-catering cottages. Located both on Park Foot holiday park on the shores of Lake Ullswater and around the village of Pooley Bridge, they are suitable for families or couples looking for the convenience…
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
1037 reviewsGrasmere
Our elegant Signature Restaurant is famed for its excellent wine list and award-winning fine dining, awarded an AA rosette for culinary excellence.
Make time to drink in the beauty of Grasmere and the surrounding fells as you indulge in a…
Ambleside
Museum, art gallery and reference library covering the history life and arts of the Lakes. Collections include Kurt Schwitters, Beatrix Potter, photography, fine art and local history.
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
102 reviewsKeswick
A few minutes’ walk from the market town of Keswick and Derwentwater Lake, the Keswick Country House Hotel is set in four acres of landscaped gardens. The perfect base for a relaxing break exploring the town and further afield, the hotel offers…
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
2342 reviewsCumbria
At Contours Holidays, we think that the Bob Graham Round is simply too good a route to be restricted to elite fell runners, so we’ve turned it into an awesome walking holiday by extending the route slightly, so that each day ends in a village with…
Coniston
We are a small family run cottage letting business in Central Lakeland. Our five traditional cottages are in Langdale, Grasmere, Ambleside and Coniston.
Ambleside
The Ambleside Inn is located in the heart of the popular Lake District town of Ambleside and offers delicious, homecooked dining all day every day. Whether fuelling up for a day’s exploring with a hearty breakfast, stopping by for a smaller plate…
Ullswater
The Living Space is a place for eating, meeting and lounging on sofas. Its food is fresh, bold and distinctive. Expect lamb tagine, burgers and fries, meze plates, salads, sourdough pizza and doorstep sandwiches.
Ambleside
Situated in peaceful seclusion in the Rydal Valley, yet only 0.5 mile from Ambleside. This lovely Victorian house is ideal for walking/touring the Lake District. Unsuitable for children under 12 years of age.
Ravenglass
Welcome to Lakeland's oldest, longest and most scenic railway!
La'aL Ratty, the little Cumbrian railway, is an award-winning heritage visitor attraction and Lake District icon, living up to its “must do” reputation for all ages. Excellent…
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
1945 reviewsWindermere
This private 4×4 driving experience offers a wide variety of vantage points including, lakes, mountains, caves, waterfalls, rivers and streams. An ideal activity for those with an adventurous nature and passion for the outdoors. The tour is customer…
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
175 reviewsChurch St, Ambleside
Restaurant located in the former work place of William Wordsworth, serving food inspired by Cumbria, specialising in Cumbrian sourced produce.
Bowness-on-Windermere
Cafe treats – freshly baked & delicious!
Our café is open for you to enjoy delicious treats, freshly baked by our talented cafe team. Pop in for a morning coffee, lunch or an afternoon treat. Our signature afternoon tea is famous with our visitors,…
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Cumbria Tourism, Windermere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9PL