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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
Make memories, not just snapshots with a private photography experience in the Lake District…
Join us in the beautiful gardens of Muncaster Castle as The Three Inch Fools present an epic tale…
Windermere Ring – Walk the Fells and Valleys around Lake Windermere Full event details here:…
Experience two of Britain's most celebrated Arts & Crafts houses in one inspiring afternoon. Begin…
Open Garden Event, Sunday 21st June. Ticket £10, includes a cup of coffee or tea and a piece of…
Discover two striking new collections of original artworks that celebrate the creative potential of…
Come and make a print to take home at one of our drop-in printmaking sessions. Bring your lunch and…
Join us as we welcome Leon Knight to The Swan for a special performance from 6pm – 8pm on the 10th…
Soak up the magic of a summer evening on England's finest lake! Enjoy live music, a delicious…
Chillswim Ullswater 2026 will take place on Saturday 11th July at Parkfoot Holiday Park on the…
Skip the socks. Send him up a tree! Looking for things to do this Father's Day in the Lake…
Experience the best of the Lake District's community spirit, scenery and local flavour at the Royal…
Discover the art of craft distilling in the Gateway to the Lake District, with a guided tour of…
As seen on Britains got talent.. Got the blues? Well, step right up, because The Jive Aces are…
Play the traditional games croquet, quoits & skittles on Allan Bank's front lawn with glorious lake…
Join us for Wild Swim Club! Experience the incredible benefits of this exhilarating activity as our…
Discover the Tadpole Round Swim Hike—an unforgettable adventure at the heart of the Buttermere…
The Swim to Wild Cat Island is a classic Lake District swim right out of the pages of a storybook…
Busy Weekly Market with 80 stalls. Food, Crafts and Gifts.
Epic Lakes Swim Ullswater takes place from Park Foot Holiday Park, near Pooley Bridge, which…
Our Summer Sizzler will serve up the very best of summer grub, all while you relax by the shores of…
Susannah Clegg is a Lancaster-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for her…
Fundraisers of Alzheimer's Society will take on on an incredible 13 or 26 mile trek. The 26 mile…
Calling all local talent – and local music lovers! Join us for Muncaster Castle's monthly Open Mic…


The Lake District Where modern tourism was born
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Coniston
Spoon Hall Caravans is a quiet family run farm site with beautiful views over Coniston water. Nearly 1 mile from Coniston village in a good area for walking and touring the Lakes.
Lyth Valley
Let us take you on one of our favourite walks, an off-the-beaten-track route far from the crowds that flock to the Lake District National Park.
Ambleside
Just a short stroll from Ambleside’s bustling centre and only steps from the shores of Windermere, The Waterhead Inn is the perfect place to relax, refuel, and soak up the beauty of the Lake District. After a day exploring fells, lakes, and…
Cumbria
If you fancy staying somewhere different and fancy the thought of staying in a fabulously restored luxury Pullman railway coach, then this is for you.
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…
Elterwater, Ambleside
The Britannia is a traditional 500-year-old Lakeland Inn nestling in the village of Elterwater and the fells of the Langdale Valley. Real ales, traditional food and real log fires.
Ambleside
Zeffirellis hosts an award-winning vegetarian restaurant, a daytime café, a jazz bar on the second floor of the restaurant, and a cinema.
Zeffirellis restaurant offers an Italian themed pizza and pasta menu with daily specials freshly prepared by…
Bampton, Haweswater
A rugged Lake District landscape where nature restoration works alongside hill farming, to benefit wildlife, water and people.
Penrith
Home to the Hasell family since 1679, visitors to Dalemain will discover a fascinating combination of history, architecture and family which is both a Cumbrian and national story. Dalemain is an award-winning delight and is part of the UNESCO World…
Bowness-on-Windermere
The Macdonald Old England Hotel & Spa stands right on the shore of Windermere and boasts unrivalled views of England's largest lake.
Hawkshead, Lake Windermere
This experience combines two of our most popular activities. We’ve designed a 2-hour experience that combines one-hour of 4x4 off-road driving with a mini bushcraft session.
Ambleside
Swim the Lakes are the Lakes District's Open Water Swimming Specialists. Our friendly team provides inspirational adventure swimming for all abilities, from Short Wild Swims to 3-day Swim Breaks. Plus excellent swim gear in our Ambleside store.
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.
St John's in the Vale, Keswick
The Old Byre was converted from a grade II listed barn adjoining our 17th century farmhouse and sleeps up to four people (and up to two small-medium-sized and well behaved dogs).
Our Cycling Route’s guide of the Lake District provides a broad range of cycle routes for all levels of cycling. Whether you are an avid cyclist wanting to do some of the most challenging rides in the Lake District, or gentle leisure rides with…
Witherslack
Luxury yurt holidays in an idyllic and secluded location, a stone’s throw from Lake Windermere but a world away from anywhere.
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…
Grange-over-Sands
Ellenboro House offers cosy self-catering accommodation for two people in our modern self-catering apartment. Located in its own private building, the property sits in our orchard and features a private patio, compact kitchen, spacious bathroom with…
Ambleside, Windermere
British and continental menu served up in contemporary, colourful, and classy surroundings.
Coniston
• Sleeps up to 22
• 4 inter-linking cottages, can be booked individually sleeping 4-8 or together sleeping 22
• A total of 10 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms
• Each cottage comes with its own hot tub - 4 hot tubs in total
• Stunning mountain location with…
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Cumbria Tourism, Windermere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9PL