You are here: Home > Explore Cumbria > Areas of Cumbria > The Lake District
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
Stuck for things to do this May Half Term? Whether you are a thrill seeker looking for…
Keswick Mountain Festival is the UK's largest participatory, outdoors multi-sports event in the UK.…
Award winning crime writer Jonathan Whitelaw is flying in from Canada to launch his new book, The…
Join us for an incredible adventure on the Coniston Fells, a stone's throw from the historic…
Looking ahead to Friday 24th May, we'll be welcoming Jack Hartley to The Swan. An Avid player on…
On the 31st May we're looking forward to welcoming Rambling Rob Young – A singer-songwriter…
The Disabled Ramblers is a small national charity working to help those with limited mobility to…
Since 2019, The Native Cult has been radiating their musical sunshine across the North West of the…
In partnership with the Theatre by the Lake and part of the Fells for All festival, join in on a…
Join us for an incredible adventure in the Great Langdale Valley in the heart of the Lake District…
Brought to you by National Trust and Karen Whybrow Coaching, carry out a powerful releasing ritual…
Dr Anna Ploszajski is an award-winning materials scientist, author, presenter, comedian and…
Brought to you by the National Trust and Mobile Adventure, an opportunity to get out on the lake…
Develop your hand building techniques to create a range of pots that you will fire the following…
Brought to you by the National Trust and Experience Community for the Keswick Mountain Festival,…
Broadoaks is the fairytale Lake District wedding venue to host your special day. Steeped in…
Cockermouth Mechanics' Band is a community brass band based in Cockermouth and active throughout…
Join us for an epic day exploring the breathtaking Coniston fells with our expert guide, where…
Brought to you by the National Trust for Geo Week. Come and join us for a rare opportunity to visit…
The full Flower (or Hare) moon aligns with the colourful early summer flowers blooming and…
Take a guided tour supported by British Sign Language interpretation. Join us as we take you…
The Swan Hotel & Spa are excited to be bringing back summer spa-rties, and this time it's going to…
A National Park Volunteer-led guided walk along the Keswick to Threlkeld Trail
This week we'll be helping our special woods at Staveley Woodlands Nature Reserve. Try your hand at…
The Lake District Where modern tourism was born
Number of results: 494
, currently showing 441 to 460.
Cockermouth
Unspoiled traditional inn with every modern comfort in understated luxury.
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.
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.
Newby Bridge
Situated on the picturesque River Leven at the southern tip of Lake Windermere, this 17th-century coaching inn is full of character and charm, but also offers well-equipped rooms, first-class leisure facilities and a fabulous new Holte Spa. Enjoy…
Seascale
This two bedroom self catering holiday home located in the western Lake District is full of character, making it a perfect holiday home for families, couples and friends alike, with all amenities located on your doorstep.
Bowness-on-Windermere
Join us day or night for delicious American Soul Food oozing with flavour right in the heart of Bowness. Combining small plates and sharing dishes, as well as lighter options at lunch, means we have something for everyone.
Keswick
Rowling End Farm and The Mouse House Rowling End are located in the Newlands Valley, with private gardens and access straight on to the fells.
Ambleside
This contemporary bistro with beds is a stone’s throw from the idyllic village of Grasmere.
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
643 reviewsEskdale Valley, Boot
Experience the exhilaration of this wet and wild adventure in the remote Western Lake District. Ghyll Scrambling (or gorge walking) will see you climbing up waterfalls, jumping into pools and exploring caves.
Penrith
Family park set in magnificent scenery with access to lake Ullswater. Modern facilities for touring caravans and camping include bar, restaurant, takeaway, shop, pony trekking, bike hire, laundry and childrens playground.
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
1032 reviewsGrasmere
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.
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,…
Keswick
Set in Threlkeld, a quiet village just outside of Keswick with views of Blencathra and surrounding fells. Spacious, cosy and with an abundance of walks from the doorstep. Garden with patio, garden furniture and barbecue. Private parking for 3 cars.…
A591, Windermere
Adventure in the High trees! Treetop Nets offers an amazing new way to play high up in the tree canopy. Featuring over 1500m2 of bouncy trampolines, aerial walkways, tunnels and slides. A great family day out suitable for ages 3yrs+.
Grasmere
Tweedies Bar & Lodge with 2 restaurants and public bar serving guest ales, world beers, excellent selection of wines. Set in 3 acres of mature grounds. Newly refurbished throughout.
Coniston
Nestled in the scenic English Lake District, The Crown Inn in Coniston offers a charming retreat at the heart of this quaint village.
Ravenglass
Located at the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, Fellbites Café serves everything from hot and cold drinks, sandwiches and homebaked cakes, to full meals made to order.
The Turntable Café, located on Platform 1 serves a wide array of food from hearty…
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
1940 reviewsBowness-on-Windermere
Opened summer 2021 on a quiet side street one step up from the lake in Bowness-on-Windermere. This former grande dame Victorian hotel has just had an £8 million makeover, and has re-emerged dressed for a night out and sporting a chic, city-slicker…
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
457 reviewsAccessible Canoeing in the Lake District - Open to everyone - A Full Day with lunch.
Tranquilly paddle along a beautiful, tree-lined river with the steam train passing on the shoreline and the current tugging gently from below towards the sea…
Ambleside
Beautiful 19th Century Lakeland inn set in quiet balley with stunning scenery. Lovely rooms, excellent home cooked food and real ales.
Receive all the latest news, special offers and information from the Lake District, Cumbria
Cumbria Tourism, Windermere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9PL