Explore the Lake District and Cumbria

The beauty of Cumbria is that every corner has a story to tell. From the well-visited South Lakes to the northwestern seaside towns, exploring Cumbria and the Lake District is itself part of the attraction. You never know what’s around the next corner: an unforgettable view, a moody fell, a translucent lake. And all of it is just a few hours from the major cities of England.

Cumbria’s biggest draw is its natural tapestry of mountains and lakes, which combine to make for one of the world’s most beautiful landscapes. Within this landscape is a rich human heritage of historic towns, traditional villages and vast tracts of farming land drawn with ancient dry-stone walls and populated by lonely barns and herds of Herdwick sheep. It is this combination of natural splendor and historic culture that first drew poets and painters to the shores of its lakes and the top of its mighty fells, keen to bask in the restorative power of its beauty. And it is also why the Lake District National Park was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 2017, cementing what Cumbrians have known for many centuries: this is one of the world’s most special destinations.

The county’s main draws are easily reached by public and private transport. England’s northwestern train line runs right through Cumbria’s spine, connecting London with Carlisle and the main towns of the Lake District. It runs parallel to the M6 motorway, which is the easiest way to reach Cumbria by car: get off the motorway and you’re on a spider’s web of minor roads that stretches into every valley and village of the county. Whether you’re in a private car or a public bus - or whether you choose to explore on foot or on two wheels - this landscape is waiting for you, ready to impress as it has done for millennia.