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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.
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Journey into acrylics with this serene scene – a swan gracefully adrift on a tranquil autumn lake.
Enchanting evenings of music in the forest, with floor spots, special guests and an informal…
A 112 mile charity sportive around the English Lake District.
Our 1/2 day NaturesGems tours start at 9am and finish around 1pm. We will spend the morning…
Cockermouth Mechanics' Band is a community brass band based in Cockermouth and active throughout…
Spend a weekend learning how to sail our Canoes. They are specifically designed to Sail fast and…
Join us for a fun and relaxing day learning the art of mosaic. Create a colourful plaque, a trivet…
Enjoy a fish & chip supper and a return evening train ride up the Eskdale valley. Your ticket…
Join lots of proud classic vehicle owners as they bring their private vehicles to display at the…
Brought to you by the National Trust and Experience Community for the Keswick Mountain Festival,…
Linocut is a traditional relief printing technique where a print is taken from the surface of a…
If you don't quite fancy being an early bird for Dawn Chorus Day, then experience the magic of…
Friendship is certainly the finest balm for the pangs of any sort of… disappointed love. Catherine…
Brought to you by the National Trust and Experience Community for the Keswick Mountain Festival,…
A walking photography workshop around Ambleside and the nearby countryside with photographer Chris…
APPRAISAL by Tim Marriott An annual work review that goes horribly wrong. Head of Department…
Join us to welcome back the fantastic cast from After Dark for an evening of murderous…
Keswick Mountain Festival is the UK's largest participatory, outdoors multi-sports event in the UK.…
Often described as the friendliest and most beautiful UK marathon. This wonderful and undulating…
Join us for a splash of colour in this exciting and playful process. No experience needed, just…
As part of Lake District Music's spring series of concerts, London Central Brass Quintet perform at…
Dr Anna Ploszajski is an award-winning materials scientist, author, presenter, comedian and…
Ladies from West Cumbria - join Jo from JAG Outdoors for this special free Dark Skies Walk at…
Brought to you by the National Trust and Experience Community for the Keswick Mountain Festival,…
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.
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
1706 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.
Penrith
Home Farm House, now completely modernised, was built in the mid-nineteenth century and is set in its own private garden. It has 2 king size bedrooms and 1 super king (downstairs). There are 3 bath or shower rooms and a large open plan…
Keswick
Hiring a boat is the perfect way to get out & explore Derwent Water. Choose from our huge selection of crafts to hire - go Paddle Boarding, Kayaking, Canoeing, Rowing or a Pedalo.
Windermere
Discover 200 years of Windermere’s boating history and the stories of the people involved - from wealthy owners to boat builders, inspired writers to ordinary Lakeland folk - at the Lake District’s new all-weather museum.
Bowness-on-Windermere
Memories have never been easier! Freedom Boat Club takes care of everything – maintenance, cleaning, repairs and storage. All you have to do is book your boat, relax and revel in time spent with family and friends. We’ve taken every step to make…
Bowness-on-Windermere
The Peter Rabbit Garden has proved tremendously popular with visitors who have delighted in the beauty and attention to detail in the design and the way the garden evokes the atmosphere of the Peter Rabbit stories.
Great Langdale
These two traditional Lakeland cottages are beautifully situated in Great Langdale valley in the heart of the Lake District where there are numerous walks to suit all abilities and ambitions.
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.
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4503 reviewsKeswick
Laurel Bank B&B is a guest house in Keswick which prides itself on the high quality of its bed and breakfast holiday accommodation.
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956 reviewsReceive all the latest news, special offers and information from the Lake District, Cumbria
Cumbria Tourism, Windermere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9PL