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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
Head to the Great Barn at Sizergh to see an exhibition from a creative collective of artists,…
Molly Warburton, a UK Indie Pop singer-songwriter from Lancaster, will be joining us at The Swan on…
Easter Little Engineers' Days at Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Bring curious minds, creative…
This is a memory. It's also a story. The story of a girl called Laura. Surrounded by golden fields…
Reconnect. Slow down. Breathe deeply. Step away from the rush of everyday life and join us for a…
Discover the art of craft distilling in the Gateway to the Lake District, with a guided tour of…
Celebrate 25 years of ceramic art by Edinburgh-based Frances Priest in Motif | Line | Colour. The…
Get ready for an adventure with a Totally Wild UK professional forager on our Forage and Cookery…
Join us for an all women's wellness festival based in the The Lake District this Spring. Enjoy two…
Sign up to take on this unique triathlon event, while raising funds for Turning Tides, a…
Discover two striking new collections of original artworks that celebrate the creative potential of…
We're looking forward to welcoming Rob Young to The Swan on the 3rd April for an evening of live…
Based in the heart of Whinlatter Forest, just inside Keswick, adventure awaits. Whether you're a…
Discover the work of acclaimed artist Julian Cooper at Theatre by the Lake in Keswick, Cumbria,…
Looking for a fun outdoor activity this Easter with your family? Take on Egg-venture, a 'cracking'…
Full Moon Women's Circle in the Lake District The Full Moon is a powerful time for reflection,…
Discover the history of the Wray estate on a 45‑minute Walk & Talk led by a knowledgeable member of…
Get ready for an adventure with a Totally Wild UK professional forager on our Forage and Cookery…
Join us for our children's Easter Sunday party at The Swan Hotel! Taking place on Sunday 5th April…
DISCOVER THE MYSTERY OF BOWNESSIE ✨ This Easter, step into the legend of Lake Windermere with…
The Mystery of the Pirate Lagoon A comic radio play presented live on stage. What is the mystery…
Celebrate the launch of our first All-You-Can-Eat Sunday Carvery at The Borrowdale Hotel. Enjoy…
The varied habitats of the Dalemain Estate parklands and gardens area provide a rich, year-round…
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad) and Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths) feature in a five-star,…


The Lake District Where modern tourism was born
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Borrowdale, Keswick
Adrenaline filled adventure inside the belly of a Lake District mountain, ‘Climb the Mine’ is the only one of its type in England.
Penrith
Our spacious plush glamping cabins can offer a comfortable glamping experience.
Cockermouth
Unspoiled traditional inn with every modern comfort in understated luxury.
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.
Borrowdale, KESWICK
Have you ever walked on thin air? Get your heart racing while experiencing breathtaking scenery with our Infinity Bridge… so named because you are often unable to see the other end! Strung across a breathtaking gorge high up on the mountain, 2,000…
Lake Road, Windermere
In an enviable position, perched on the shores of Windermere, The Waterbird Boathouse is an impressive lakefront apartment offering a truly memorable stay.
Grange-over-Sands
Unique, therapeutic & life-changing experiences for all animal lovers with the famous Black Horses of Cartmel.
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.
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.
Ambleside
Stay in a luxury Shepherd's Hut at the stunning Victorian House Hotel in Grasmere. Perfect for a relaxing stay after days exploring the Lake District with private riverbank views.
Windermere
Specialist bike hire for everyone from 3 great locations around Lake Windermere. Electric bikes. Mountain bikes. Kid's bikes. Kid's seats and trailers. We have planned routes for you available as maps and downloads.
Windermere
Park Cliffe is an award-winning holiday park set in 25 acres of beautiful, unspoilt countryside, right in the heart of the Lake District, only 3 miles from Bowness-on-Windermere. We have two camping areas.
Ravenglass
La'aL Ratty, the little Cumbrian railway, is an award-winning heritage visitor attraction and Lake District icon, living up to its “must do” reputation for all ages. There are lots of things to do including shopping facilities, a museum,…
Windermere
Our Langdale Club bar and lounge offers a relaxed, informal dining experience whilst surrounded by a chic interior that takes infomal dining to refreshing new heights, sleek and elegant and designed to impress. The Club lounge is the perfect place…
Keswick Road, Grasmere
Blending sleek contemporary interiors with breathtaking natural surroundings.
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…
Lakeside
A spectacularly located site on the quieter western shores of Windermere, England’s largest lake and with stunning views our Lakeside site has it all in spades. Each of our yurts here have stunning lake views and are a hop, skip and a splosh away…
Windermere
Delightful recently refurbished cottages in a quiet location, yet a stroll from Windermere & Bowness. Abbey Coach House Cottages are set within extensive gardens & ideally based for exploring the Lakes. Pets welcome & bike storage available
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.…
Newby Bridge
A full day's experience learning the key skills of bushcraft and survival with our expert instructors, such as firelighting, shelter building and more.
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Cumbria Tourism, Windermere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9PL