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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
A summer of fun awaits at Whinlatter Forest! Let your little one go wild in the summer holidays…
Join us for an arty day at Whinlatter. Let the forest inspire your little ones to create your own…
A traditional Lakeland show, now in its 141st year, in a beautiful valley in the South Lakes. Fell…
Discover the art of craft distilling in the Gateway to the Lake District, with a guided tour of…
Walk with our ranger with your little ones and help to fill the squirrel feeders in the…
Take your seats and join the fun as Peter Rabbit and his friends hop from page to stage in a…
Part of the Lake District Music Summer Festival Schumann Kinderszenen Op.15 Čiurlionis Four…
Explore the enchanted woods with William and Dorothy Wordsworth and get involved with crafts,…
Join us on a exclusive guided tour of Hill Top Farm, Near Sawrey renowned as the first farm owned…
A firm favourite, it's the return of our fish and chip supper evening cruise, featuring musical…
Iggety Ziggety Zaggety Zoom! Walk with a witch and her cauldron and broom Help collect the…
We're looking forward to welcoming Rob Young to The Swan on the 31st July for an evening of live…
When tragedy strikes, courage blossoms. The death of a much-loved husband prompts a group of…
Part of the Lake District Music Summer Festival Nadejda String Quarter | Resol String…
Drop into our Learning Space for summer holiday Make and Play activities. Come and celebrate a…
Experience two of Britain's most celebrated Arts & Crafts houses in one inspiring afternoon. Begin…
Part of the Lake District Music Summer Festival Lady Milena Grenfell-Baines arrived in the UK on…
Woodland Reset ~ The Conscious Self's Signature Nature Day Come and join The Conscious Self for a…
The annual Keswick Convention has been taking place since 1875. A completely free event offering…
Calling Pokémon fans new and old from 23 May, get active outdoors on our Pokémon Trading Card Game…
Part of the Lake District Music Summer Festival Haydn String Quartet in F Op.50, No.5…
Head to the Great Barn at Sizergh to see an exhibition from a creative collective of artists,…
Windermere Art Society Annual Exhibition
Our Finsthwaite Wild Swim is an easy-paced swim walk taking us from the village of Finsthwaite,…


The Lake District Where modern tourism was born
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Ambleside
Wray Pier offers a peaceful escape on Windermere’s western shore, giving visitors the chance to explore this tranquil corner of the lake by boat.
Windermere Lake Cruises offers sight-seeing tours every day except Christmas Day.
Bowness-on-Windermere
The Fizzy Tarté serves a luxurious range of Champagne, Afternoon Teas & Cocktails in the Heart of Bowness on Windermere, in the Lake District.
Windermere
Lakelovers is the self-catering company of choice for tens of thousands of holiday makers each year and with lots of luxury properties, pets staying for free, exclusive discounts when you are here.
Ambleside
The Lakelands offer a selection of quality self-catering holiday apartments, situated in a unique position, overlooking the popular town of Ambleside. The Lakelands offer superb, unspoilt views of the town, Lakeland countryside, and the fells beyond…
Coniston
SUP Paddleboarding by Genuine Adventures offers a serene glide across Lake District waters, guided by experts for all ages, with gear provided for a tailored, scenic adventure.
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.
Windermere
Green Man Survival provides survival and bushcraft training and experiences in the Lake District National Park. Our experiences are suitable for all including families, couples and friends, and we also offer group training courses that are suitable…
The English, Buttermere
A 17thC building, owned and run by family for 30 years. First licensed in 1735 as coaching inn. Apartments built in grounds 17 years ago and continually upgraded.
Grasmere
Situated at the northern end of Grasmere, yet just 5 minutes walk into the village centre, Raise View House has uninterrupted views of Easedale and the surrounding fells, including the famed Lion and the Lamb.
Coniston
Our range of glamping pods can be found in the heart of the Lake District at our Coniston Park Coppice site.
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…
Ambleside
Beatrix Potter's iconic house, full of her personal possessions, with traditional cottage garden. Her paintings of the House and garden were used to illustrate many of her tales.
Windermere
The family run Lamplighter Dining Rooms offers the very best in accommodation in the Lake District.
Penrith
Start your navigation journey with Hiking Highs, from the very beginning, the first time you have opened your paper map, to the technical contour only courses, our team are experienced navigation coaches... have fun, see the map with 3 dimensional…
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.
Cumbria
Contours Holidays designed the Derwentwater Round as a gentle, relaxing two-day meander around the fabulous Derwentwater lake, ideal for first timers and young families. Beginning and ending in Keswick, this 12-mile route utilises easy,…
Penrith
Our spacious plush glamping cabins can offer a comfortable glamping experience.
Newby Bridge
The River Room Brasserie restaurant at The Swan Hotel offers a sophisticated dining experience for those looking for something truly special. With its 3-course menu, crafted by the hotel’s talented head chef, each dish is a work of art, made with…
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…
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