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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 Finsthwaite Wild Swim is an easy-paced swim walk taking us from the village of Finsthwaite,…
Experience medieval magic where knights clash, stories unfold, and the past comes alive! Each…
Discover the art of craft distilling in the Gateway to the Lake District, with a guided tour of…
Looking for something creative to do with the kids this May half term? Join us at Blackwell – the…
To celebrate World Cucumber Day, Lake District Hotels are getting the party started early on Friday…
Our Rydal Islands and Caves Swim Walk is a perfect mix of easy-going hiking and wild swimming.…
Join photographer Steve Blake in our beautiful woodland environment. Full day workshops are…
Chillswim Coniston End to End Swim 2026 will take place on Saturday 20th June. Long distance…
Back by popular demand – and with even more flavour – Chef Bobby invites you to a night of…
Wild Sauna & Forest Plunge | Whinlatter Forest Step into the wild beauty of the Lake District and…
Open Garden Event, Sunday 21st June. Ticket £10, includes a cup of coffee or tea and a piece of…
Susannah Clegg is a Lancaster-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for her…
Inside just got interesting. Step off the trail and into a space where the Lake District is…
Epic Lakes Swim Coniston takes place at Monk Coniston, at the North end of the lake. You can choose…
Discover the history of the Wray estate on a 45‑minute Walk & Talk led by a knowledgeable member of…
Join us on a exclusive guided tour of Hill Top Farm, Near Sawrey renowned as the first farm owned…
BAFTA Award-winner Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread) joins Aidan Turner (Rivals) in a striking new…
Join us for Wild Swim Club! Experience the incredible benefits of this exhilarating activity as our…
The Buttermere Swimble – The Buttermere Valley is surely one of the most beautiful in the Lake…
Smoky barbecue, live music, and golden-hour views in the Lake District—with Someone's Something…
Embark on a multi-day hiking adventure through the breathtaking Lake District. With every detail -…
Discover life on Windermere through the lens of award-winning artist Juliet Klottrup. This…
Performing music from his second album Americana (released April 2025), Eddie Gripper tells the…
Experience two of Britain's most celebrated Arts & Crafts houses in one inspiring afternoon. Begin…


The Lake District Where modern tourism was born
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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…
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…
Keswick
Located next to Theatre By The Lake in Keswick, Lakeside Café Restaurant has perhaps some of the country's best views. Our locally-sourced produce helps us create delicious dishes to complement the fantastic views, making it truly an experience to…
Penrith
Our spacious plush glamping cabins can offer a comfortable glamping experience.
Windermere
If you can't decide which one of our kick ass experiences to choose, don't, and just do them all! This experience includes fire lighting using natural materials and sparks along with how to build a shelter with materials provided by nature in our…
Ambleside
This contemporary bistro with beds is a stone’s throw from the idyllic village of Grasmere. The 17th Century former farm has 7 plush en-suite bedrooms, sleeping 2, 3, or 4 people each - it's the ideal Grasmere hotel for individuals, couples,…
Keswick Road, Grasmere
Our first floor restaurant, The Dining Room, benefits from stunning views of Grasmere Lake from every window and the contemporary menu on offer provides the perfect Lake District dining experience with a modern twist.
Portinscale
Keepers Cottage was lovingly rebuilt in 2016 and now offers stylish four-bedroom accommodation with spectacular views of the surrounding fells, with the lake, playground, and squirrel hide just a short stroll away, it is perfectly placed for guests…
Ullswater, Penrith
5* Holiday Park offering touring, glamping pods and self-catering overlooking Ullswater. Perfect for walking and relaxing breaks.
Coniston
Nestled in the scenic English Lake District, The Crown Inn in Coniston offers a charming retreat at the heart of this quaint village.
Nether Wasdale, Wasdale
Situated in arguably the most beautiful valley of Wasdale in the Lake District on the banks of the river Irt, is The Sawmill Café and Farm Shop. The perfect place to relax, restore and indulge, we offer a delicious locally sourced menu to satisfy…
Windermere
Located in the pretty Troutbeck Valley, you'll discover a relaxed park within some of England’s most beautiful scenery at Limefitt Holiday Park. Perfect for walkers, it's a great base for exploring the towns and villages of the Lake District.
Ravenglass
Standing proudly in the center of the village of Ravenglass the Pennington Hotel has 22 well appointed and relaxing bedrooms, with quality bathrooms, smart TV’s, and comfy beds, all areas offer high speed internet which has been complete upscaled…
Lakeside
Relaxing with our afternoon tea experience, less than a stone's throw away from the water's edge of Lake Windermere.
Ambleside
This is closely related to Gorge scrambling only this time we are heading downsteam. More jumping into crystal clear pools of deep water, sliding into pools, wild swimming, and scrambling - all in the most beautiful of settings.
Bowness-on-Windermere
Take in the stunning views from our lakeside Restaurant whilst dining from our seasonal menu, we serve only the finest British cuisine in our restaurant.
Grasmere
Whatever the reason for your visit and whatever the weather outside, you can expect to sleep soundly within the walls of this 17thC coaching inn. Many of our bedrooms have views across the garden towards Helm Crag.
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
Nestled in the heart of the Lake District National Park, Bowness-on-Windermere is a picturesque village buzzing with tourism. The star attraction is undoubtedly Bowness Pier, the central hub for cruises on England's largest lake, Windermere.
Bassenthwaite
Get up close and personal with our Alpacas, for participants aged 16 years and over. Alpacas are friendly and inquisitive animals and just like us they enjoy a bit of fresh air and exercise. Meet our five boys Hugo, Hector, Herbie, Dougal and…
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Cumbria Tourism, Windermere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9PL