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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
Inside just got interesting. Step off the trail and into a space where the Lake District is…
Join Magician Chris Frostie Frost, for an afternoon of magical mayhem, comedy and nonsense. Be…
Celebrate 25 years of ceramic art by Edinburgh-based Frances Priest in Motif | Line | Colour. The…
Get Crafty! Drop in and join our team in the Visitor Centre for free craft activities. A great…
*WORLD PREMIERE From Tom MacRae, the writer of Everybody's Talking About Jamie, comes a brand-new…
Busy Weekly Market with 80 stalls. Food, Crafts and Gifts.
Celebrate the launch of our first All-You-Can-Eat Sunday Carvery at The Borrowdale Hotel. Enjoy…
Experience the magic of nature's music festival on this exclusive event, and be immersed in the…
Get ready for an adventure with a Totally Wild UK professional forager on our Forage and Cookery…
A performance of Faure's celebrated Requiem and the wonderfully uplifting Magnificat by John Rutter…
Join me - local guide Emma Seery - and some fellow explorers, for a group walk in the beautiful…
A one day map reading course for beginners based in the Lake District. If you have never looked at…
Welcome to a Spring evening Earth Day forest therapy walk--a restorative way to immerse yourself in…
This interactive exhibition celebrates the treasures of the Wordsworth Grasmere trove. Discover…
A guided creative writing workshop that explores the ways in which poetry can be used to advocate…
Paddleboarding will be back in 2026 Try something new and have a splashing time! We've again…
Vintage acoustic jazz music from 1920's New York and sophisticated 1930's Swing. Plus the sound of…
DISCOVER THE MYSTERY OF BOWNESSIE ✨ This Easter, step into the legend of Lake Windermere with…
The Lake District is England's only true mountain area. It has the most beautiful scenery in the…
Join us for our children's Easter Sunday party at The Swan Hotel! Taking place on Sunday 5th April…
Discover the art of craft distilling in the Gateway to the Lake District, with a guided tour of…
Reconnect. Slow down. Breathe deeply. Step away from the rush of everyday life and join us for a…
Celebrate 50 Years of Northern Rock May 2nd – 4th, 2026 Join the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway…
Explore the Garden-Orchard and Woodland on the Georgian Tea Party themed Easter Egg Trail at…


The Lake District Where modern tourism was born
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Number of results: 469
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Ambleside
The perfect way to keep the kids (and adults) entertained all day whilst on a Lakeland holiday! These days aim to blend rock climbing, rock scrambling and abseiling to give a varied and always fun experience in beautiful locations.
Kendal
Discover the epitome of luxury with ‘Posh Scran’ afternoon tea at Gilpin Lake House. Enjoy freshly made delicacies in a serene setting, complemented by fine teas, coffee or Champagne, with breathtaking views of Knipe Tarn.
St John's in the Vale, Keswick
Rigg Barn was converted from a detached bank barn and sleeps up to six people.
Windermere
Low Wood Watersports and Activity Centre, with it's large lake frontage and extensive range of equipment, is a great location for waterskiing, wakeboarding, sailing, kayaking/canoeing and boat hire.
Keswick Road, Grasmere
Blending sleek contemporary interiors with breathtaking natural surroundings.
Bowness-on-Windermere
Visit BAHA and enjoy LIVE MUSIC on Fridays & Saturdays all year round!
Keswick
Have you ever wanted to go down a naturally formed waterpark? Are you brave enough to jump off the Corkscrew? Do you want to get soaked from head to toe? Then Ghyll Scrambling is the activity for you!
Seascale
For many, Scafell Pike is the ultimate mountain day and presides high on the bucket list. We can help you plan the perfect route to the summit based on where you’re staying and your previous experience.
Keswick
Situated in the heart of Newlands Valley Keswick, opposite Catbells, Rowling End Farm Holiday Cottages have outstanding views of the entire valley.
Penrith
A short stroll from the main Aira Force car park is the Aira Force Coffee Shop, a place to relax and refuel ready for your next adventure. It’s open daily from 10am – 4.30pm, with outdoor seating, serving some tasty treats and refreshing cold drinks.
Keswick
Our restaurant has a warm and modern appeal, for either a romantic meal for two, or a family meal. if you are hosting a special occasion, private dining can also be arranged in one our of our function rooms. Set beneath some of England's highest…
Windermere
Our relaxed 2 AA Rosette restaurant, Gilpin Spice has an open kitchen serving a pan-Asian menu inspired by countries along the spice trail and guided by fantastic Cumbrian and British ingredients. Dishes are fun and flavourful with a story behind…
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…
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.
Manesty, Borrowdale
Stunning views of Borrowdale valley, Easy access to Keswick and Derwentwater, Luxury living in a rural location.
Ravenglass
Discover the captivating charm of Muncaster Castle, a historic gem nestled on the stunning Lake District coast where mountains meet the sea. With over 800 years of history, Muncaster is still cherished by the Pennington family, who warmly welcome…
Coniston
Grab your tent and get ready to set off on your next adventure. At our Coniston Park Coppice site we welcome tent campers and can accommodate tents of up to 3mx3m (approximately a 4-person tent). Dogs are welcome too.
Ambleside
Ambleside Manor Vegetarian Country Guest House situated in over 2 acres of privates with plenty of free parking in the lovely village of Ambleside where we have two award winning vegetarian restaurants within a short walking distance.
Ambleside
Rowan Restaurant at Rothay Manor Hotel offers refined seasonal British dining in elegant surroundings, showcasing local Lake District produce with warm hospitality and Michelin-recognised quality.
Keswick
Grange Bridge Cottage occupies one of the most iconic settings within the Lake District National Park. Situated at the entrance to the picturesque village of Grange in Borrowdale by the double humpback bridges, the cottage and her backdrop have been…
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Cumbria Tourism, Windermere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9PL