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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
Our thoughtfully curated three day retreat combines yoga, mindful movement, outdoor experiences and…
Make memories, not just snapshots with a private photography experience in the Lake District…
BAFTA Award-winner Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread) joins Aidan Turner (Rivals) in a striking new…
Chillswim Coniston End to End Swim 2026 will take place on Saturday 20th June. Long distance…
Join photographer Steve Blake in our beautiful woodland environment. Full day workshops are…
Experience the best of the Lake District's community spirit, scenery and local flavour at the Royal…
Try wild swimming in the Lake District. All you need to do is book, bring your swimming costume and…
Join us for Wild Swim Club! Experience the incredible benefits of this exhilarating activity as our…
Experience two of Britain's most celebrated Arts & Crafts houses in one inspiring afternoon. Begin…
We are celebrating our new exhibition in style – with a Gothic summer garden party! Step into a…
Join our spectator cruise for the Ullswater Yacht Club's biggest event of the year, the Lord…
Molly Warburton, a UK Indie Pop singer-songwriter from Lancaster, will be joining us at The Swan on…
Woodland Reset ~ The Conscious Self's Signature Nature Day Come and join The Conscious Self for a…
We're looking forward to welcoming Tom Woods to The Swan on the 26th June for an evening of live…
Calling all local talent – and local music lovers! Join us for Muncaster Castle's monthly Open Mic…
Our Summer Sizzler will serve up the very best of summer grub, all while you relax by the shores of…
London, 1660. The theatres are alive, the monarchy's restored, and women are finally allowed on…
Guess who's back… and feeling 22? ✨ Our Summer Spa-rtys are returning — and this time we're…
Discover the art of craft distilling in the Gateway to the Lake District, with a guided tour of…
Full Moon Women's Circle in the Lake District The Full Moon is a powerful time for reflection,…
Join us for Wild Swim Club! Experience the incredible benefits of this exhilarating activity as our…
Discover the tales of Townend on our daily 45-minute guided tour at 3pm. Led by knowledgeable…
Swap the frenzy of Henman Hill for the sweep of Ullswater's fells this July as Another Place, The…
Join us as we welcome Leon Knight to The Swan for a special performance from 6pm – 8pm on the 10th…


The Lake District Where modern tourism was born
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Number of results: 468
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Windermere
The brand-new way to enjoy the very best of Blue Smoke on the Bay, the wood-fired Afternoon Tea comprises 4 tiers of delicious, mouth watering Blue Smoke on the Bay goodness.
Bowness-on-Windermere
Brunch, Lunch & Afternoon Teas in Bowness-on-Windermere. Located just opposite the World of Beatrix Potter Attraction, the Peter Rabbit™ Café is a perfectly themed, memorable & completely unique Peter Rabbit™ dining experience with a good dose of…
Penrith
A traditional tearoom set in a historic barn with homemade food and freshly brewed coffee, alongside Dalemain’s marmalade gift shop.
Troutbeck, Windermere
Cumbrian produce with a French Twist. Set within 7 acres of landscaped gardens, with our expertise in bespoke dining, quality of service and attention to detail ensures we are simply somewhere special.
Penrith
Our spacious plush glamping cabins can offer a comfortable glamping experience.
Ambleside
Zeffirellis is an independent cinema that supports new and emerging talents within the world of cinema and the arts. We offer the complete evening out, you can wine and dine and see a film.
Broughton-in-Furness
Thornthwaite Farm is set amidst the beautiful scenery of the Woodland Valley. We have four cottages including our 4 star VisitEngland Gold Award barn conversion and a handbuilt Log Cabin all with stunning views of the Lakeland fells.
Coniston
Explore Coniston Water - one of the Lake District's famous lakes and see the magnificent scenery from a Canadian Canoe. We'll tailor the day to suit your group - whether it’s a fun day of games, exploring the lake and splashing with the whole family…
Coniston Water, Water Yeat
An exceptional, luxurious 5 bedroom lake house with beautiful and stylish interior, private lake frontage on Coniston Water, 2 private jetties and jaw-dropping views throughout.
Millom
The Wayside and Whisky Barn offers a peaceful escape in the Western Lake District with beautiful en-suite rooms, local homemade meals, stunning views, and a whisky bar. Ideal for relaxation and exploring the Lakes and coast.
Nr Kendal
Contemporary licensed café serving a selection of hot and cold drinks, meals and snacks. Shop selling local products, home accessories, gifts, toys and plants.
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.
Windermere
Arboreal is our Two AA Rosette fine dining restaurant, offering an unforgettable seven-course tasting menu. Inspired by Head Chef Ambrus' philosophy of using the finest seasonal, fresh produce, each dish is designed to let the ingredients shine.…
Portinscale
Catbells Cottage has been thoughtfully restored to create a stunning five-bedroom home, offering comfortable and versatile accommodation for families or groups that's perfectly positioned to enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding fells.
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…
Keswick Road, Grasmere
Enjoy an Afternoon Tea at The Daffodil in the heart of the Lake District and prepare to indulge, not only in the delectable treats we have waiting for you, but also in the stunning views of Lake Grasmere.
St John's St, Keswick
Keswick Film Festival is Cumbria’s premiere cinematic event bringing the best of international and independent cinema from across the world for those who love films and the beautiful setting of the Lake District.
Grasmere
Tweedies Bar & Lodge with 2 restaurants and public bar serving guest ales, world beers, excellent selection of wines. Set in 3 acres of mature grounds. Newly refurbished throughout.
Ullswater
The six new shepherd huts have been expertly crafted by Blackdown Shepherd Huts using sustainable French oak cladding. The double-braced huts have stargazing roofs, free-standing baths, and a lounge area with a log burner.
Penrith
The Quiet Site is a family-run site situated in a secluded position amongst the stunning fells that overlook Lake Ullswater. This is a superbly maintained and very picturesque site, and there are many beautiful walks that you can start from right…
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Cumbria Tourism, Windermere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9PL