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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
Join us on a exclusive guided tour of Hill Top Farm, Near Sawrey renowned as the first farm owned…
This is a memory. It's also a story. The story of a girl called Laura. Surrounded by golden fields…
Susannah Clegg is a Lancaster-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for her…
Get ready for an adventure with a Totally Wild UK professional forager on our Forage and Cookery…
Discover life on Windermere through the lens of award-winning artist Juliet Klottrup. This…
Experience adventure at Keswick Mountain Festival (15-17 May 2026) with trail runs, hikes,…
Discover documentary photographer Joanne Coates's powerful exhibition about women in agriculture in…
Get ready for an adventure with a Totally Wild UK professional forager on our Forage and Cookery…
Celebrate 50 Years of Northern Rock May 2nd – 4th, 2026 Join the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway…
Experience the magic of nature's music festival on this exclusive event, and be immersed in the…
Busy Weekly Market with 80 stalls. Food, Crafts and Gifts.
One of the UK's most revered and gruelling cycling sportives. Known as "The Daddy of them all" by…
String Zoo are a violin and guitar-based duo, who play in the tradition of Stephane Grappelli and…
Our Finsthwaite Wild Swim is an easy-paced swim walk taking us from the village of Finsthwaite,…
Discover the work of acclaimed artist Julian Cooper at Theatre by the Lake in Keswick, Cumbria,…
Our Rydal Islands and Caves Swim Walk is a perfect mix of easy-going hiking and wild swimming.…
Discover the art of craft distilling in the Gateway to the Lake District, with a guided tour of…
We're looking forward to welcoming Reuben Tighe to The Swan on the 8th May for an evening of live…
Start the day strolling through the pretty woodland surrounding Aira Beck as we admire the…
Join us for a relaxed early evening in our charming wine cellar — the perfect chance to take a…
Reconnect. Slow down. Breathe deeply. Step away from the rush of everyday life and join us for a…
Paddleboarding will be back in 2026 Try something new and have a splashing time! We've again…
The 25/26 series of canicross races has now launched! Held in England's only mountain forest, Dodd…
We're looking forward to welcoming Rob Young to The Swan on the 15th May for an evening of live…


The Lake District Where modern tourism was born
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Number of results: 470
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Nr Kendal
Sizergh boasts 800 years of family history, and is filled with thousands of fascinating items collected by 26 generations of the Strickland family.
Windermere
Discover Lakelovers – Your Trusted Local Experts in Lake District Holiday Letting
For over 40 years, Lakelovers has been a trusted name in Lake District holidays. With local offices in Windermere, Keswick, and Ambleside, we combine unrivalled…
Located at the tranquil southern end of Lake Windermere, Lakeside Pier offers a different pace of exploration in the Lake District. Board a Windermere Lake Cruise’s vessel and get treated to the finest views from the water.
Newby Bridge
A half day's experience learning the core skills of bushcraft and survival with our expert instructors, including fire, shelter, water sourcing and more.
Ambleside
Located in the heart of Ambleside, this traditional Lakeland slate building has been welcoming visitors for over 300 years and has a character befitting that long-standing heritage. Offering 29 comfortable rooms with all the essential amenities, if…
Keswick
At Keswick Bridge, you will find a mixture of 1-3 bed lodges. We can cater for up to 8 guests (sofa bed in every lodge). We are Self Catering, and you will find all the amenities you need in your lodge. Relax in your open plan living dining kitchen…
Newby Bridge, Backbarrow
At the heart of our hotel, you will find the Riverside restaurant. Our restaurant team will make your dining an experience to remember. The cuisine represents the best of modern British mixed along with classic cookery offering a fresh and modern…
Ambleside Rd, Windermere
With stylish decor overlooking the lake, Blue Smoke is the perfect place to catch up with friends and family.
Lakeside
Steam from the lake shore of Windermere along the heritage track to Haverthwaite Station, where you can visit the station tea room, gift shop, woodland playground, picnic area and engine shed. Steam trains running a seasonal daily service from…
Cumbria
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…
Newby Bridge
Discover a wide array of local freshwater and marine species including menacing pike, carp and rays. Plus discover creatures from around the world including piranha, otters and clownfish.
Windermere
Family Day Out – Walk the lakeshore, hop on a boat cruise, or enjoy a picnic by the water while the kids keep watch for the creature. It’s a magical way to make a family walk or boat trip even more exciting. A Lake District Character – Bownessie…
Manesty, Borrowdale
Stunning views of Borrowdale valley, Easy access to Keswick and Derwentwater, Luxury living in a rural location.
Torver Mill
• 5 Star Gold Rated Barn Conversion for 2
• Idyllic riverside location
• Secluded gardens
• Views of Coniston Old Man
• Fantastic walking and mountain biking from the doorstep
• Beautiful, luxury interior
• EV charger
• Secure bike storage
Every single one of our holiday cottages have been personally inspected by dedicated property managers to ensure a high standard of holiday accommodation. Our growing collection of well-kept properties in Cumbria and the Lake District make a perfect…
Penrith
Start your navigation journey with Hiking Highs, from the very beginning, the first time you have opened your paper map, to the technical contour only courses, our team are experienced navigation coaches... have fun, see the map with 3 dimensional…
Windermere
Nestled on the shores of Lake Windermere, in the heart of the National Park, with Wainwrights walks a stone’s throw away and the pretty Lakeland village of Ambleside a mile away, Low Wood Bay is the perfect base for relaxing and exploring the Lakes.
Nr Bassenthwaite Lake
The Bistro at the Distillery aims to embrace the spirit of the Lake District, which is achieved by using regional ingredients where possible and having a key focus on freshness, flavour and simplicity.
Newby Bridge
The River Room Brasserie restaurant at The Swan Hotel offers a sophisticated dining experience for those looking for something truly special. With its 3-course menu, crafted by the hotel’s talented head chef, each dish is a work of art, made with…
Lakeside
Relaxing with our afternoon tea experience, less than a stone's throw away from the water's edge of Lake Windermere.
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Cumbria Tourism, Windermere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9PL