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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
Discover two striking new collections of original artworks that celebrate the creative potential of…
Performing music from his second album Americana (released April 2025), Eddie Gripper tells the…
The Montane Ullswater Way Trail Ultra, 20 & 10 starts and finishes at Jenkins Field in Glenridding.…
We're bringing back the summer Sisters In The Wild vibe to the Lake District for our 6th annual…
Join us for Wild Swim Club! Experience the incredible benefits of this exhilarating activity as our…
Franck - Chorale No.2 in B minor M. 39 (arr. Corbett) Bach - Prelude & Fugue in C sharp BWV 848…
This is a high quality workshop where participants will be taught how to create a small stone…
Chillswim Coniston End to End Swim 2026 will take place on Saturday 20th June. Long distance…
Chillswim Coniston End to End Swim 2026 will take place on Saturday 20th June. Long distance…
Susannah Clegg is a Lancaster-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for her…
Recce run for the 2026 Lakeland 50 & 100 from Pooley Bridge to Ambleside. This run is only open for…
Meet at the Swan Inn in Grasmere to meet your guide, Matt, and the group, get an overview of the…
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…
Join our experienced, knowledgeable ranger as they lead you around our amazing forest and show you…
BAFTA Award-winner Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread) joins Aidan Turner (Rivals) in a striking new…
Discover the art of craft distilling in the Gateway to the Lake District, with a guided tour of…
A curated selection of independent growers and specialist nurseries gather at Dalemain along with…
Discover documentary photographer Joanne Coates's powerful exhibition about women in agriculture in…
Smoky barbecue, live music, and golden-hour views in the Lake District—with Someone's Something…
Calling Pokémon fans new and old from 23 May, get active outdoors on our Pokémon Trading Card Game…
Join us in the Learning Centre this May half term for free, hands-on activities designed to spark…
Discover the tales of Townend on our daily 45-minute guided tour at 3pm. Led by knowledgeable…
Head to the Great Barn at Sizergh to see an exhibition from a creative collective of artists,…


The Lake District Where modern tourism was born
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Number of results: 468
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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…
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…
Coniston
The myriad of slate quarries, including the famous Cathedral Cavern close to Coniston provide a great venue to experience the thrill of abseiling. More Than Mountains only uses highly qualified and knowledgeable instructors who are incredibly…
Bassenthwaite Lake, Bassenthwaite
Connoisseurs of fine cuisine will find much to appreciate at Armathwaite Hall Hotel and Spa. Chef takes full advantage of a wealth of local seasonal produce and Cumbrian specialities to create a variety of gastronomic delights.
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.
Ambleside, Windermere
British and continental menu served up in contemporary, colourful, and classy surroundings.
Penrith
The Honeybee and Kingfisher pods are our Glamping Cabins here at Ullswater Holiday Park, each complete with an equipped kitchenette, dining area, and private bathroom with shower, sink, and toilet.
Newby Bridge
Upon issue of your survival kit you will be dropped into one of the densest most remote parts of our woodland. No phone signal, no comfortable fixed camp and no tarp or tent. You must source all your water, food, firewood and shelter and survive a…
Bassenthwaite
Go wild & experience a world of wildlife! There's over 100 species from Anaconda to Zebra. Rare and endangered species like Gibbons and Asian Fishing Cats, plus family favourites like lemurs and Meerkats. A great day out for all the family.
Windermere
Southview Spa in Windermere offers luxury with a private chlorine-free spa, heated pool, cinema, and more. Just minutes from shops and a short walk to Lake Windermere, it’s the perfect blend of comfort and tranquillity.
Hawkshead, Ambleside
Situated in the quaint Lake District Village of Hawkshead, the boys Grammar School gives insight into school life ever since it opened in 1585. William Wordsworth also attended the school from age 9 to 17 with his brothers.
Bowness-on-Windermere
Whether you’re keen to try outdoor activities or just want to relax and unwind in a stunning location, you'll enjoy every moment spent on a holiday at Fallbarrow Holiday Park.
Glenridding, Penrith
Welcome to The Patterdale Estate, where your holiday adventure awaits amidst the breathtaking beauty of the Ullswater Valley. Set against a backdrop of majestic mountains and serene lakes, our charming retreat offers a perfect blend of nature,…
Keswick
Paddleboarding is quickly gaining popularity as a new paddle sport in the UK, and there’s no better place to try it out than the stunning mountain scenery of the Lake District.
Keswick
Stay at the refurbished Royal Oak in Borrowdale, beautiful bedrooms with dreamy beds and gleaming bathrooms, hearty breakfast, delicious evening dinner and charmful lounges.
We’ve even got a drying room with boot warmers and a car park with an…
Newby Bridge
We developed our bespoke canoe sailing boats to make an easily accessible boat for people with mobility difficulties - but everyone loves them. Fast light and you are a solo sailor from the very start. If you want a friend or carer in the boat to…
Keswick
Our restaurant full of eager diners, a non-fussy, relaxed atmosphere, staff who take pride in serving Executive Chef David’s delectable dishes and where the food and service speak for itself. Hopefully our guests agree, it’s called real Cumbrian…
Eskdale
There is gorge scrambling, there is canyoning, then there is The Esk Gorge. A mega place with massive jumps into crystal clear waters. The pools are deep and big offering lots of swimming and scrambling along the rocky edges too.
Windermere
Windermere Jetty Museum is a vibrant, family-friendly visitor attraction dedicated to the boats, people and the rich history of Windermere, England’s largest natural lake.
Penrith
We are delighted to announce that we are now offering Cycle Hire from the beautiful surroundings of Lowther Castle. The venture coincides with the launch on the Lowther Estate of a network of dedicated cycling and walking trails. This will enable…
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Cumbria Tourism, Windermere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9PL