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  1. Wild Boar Hotel
    Food & Drink In the Lake District, Cumbria
  2. Allium at Askham Hall
    Food & Drink In the Lake District, Cumbria
  3. Booths supermarket
    Food & Drink In the Lake District, Cumbria
  4. Grasmere Gingerbread
    Food & Drink In the Lake District, Cumbria
  5. The Lake Distillery
    Food & Drink In the Lake District, Cumbria
  6. Langdale Chase Hotel
    Food & Drink In the Lake District, Cumbria

You are here: Home > Food and Drink

Food and Drink in the Lake District and Cumbria

We’ll state it loud and clear: the Lake District, Cumbria has a food heritage with no equal anywhere in England. That’s right, without equal. The combination of locally sourced produce and culinary expertise has made eating out a truly outstanding experience – and if you like fine dining, we’ve 15 Michelin stars to prove it.

We’re proud of the numbers, but the proof of our success is in the eating. And you don’t need to dine in a Michelin-starred restaurant to have a memorable meal. What could be better than taking an afternoon tea beside one of the many famous Lakes. A Lake District afternoon tea is the perfect way to spend an afternoon eating delicious food and drink in a choice of fabulous locations.

And then there's our local produce, which enriches virtually every menu – from freshly made potted shrimp overlooking the sea in West Cumbria to a plate of slowly roasted Herdwick Hogget and roast potatoes in a country pub at the foot of a fell – the perfect winter warmer.

Served at any time of the year is the undisputed king of all English sausage – the long, curled Cumberland sausage that is chopped rather than minced. It’s one of the famous Cumbrian foods so treasured round these parts that a butcher’s reputation is made on the quality of their stock.
 
Local produce is also the key to the success of our top-rated restaurants, which offer an unparalleled choice when it comes to luxury dining. By all means we urge you to try those restaurants that have earned Michelin recognition – Simon Rogan’s two restaurants in Cartmel - L'enclume and Rogan & Co, have four stars between them and a national reputation – but their success is a reflection of an exceptionally high standard established by most fine dining restaurants. We've been talking to some of the best chefs around the county to find out why they think the Lake District, Cumbria is so special for food and drink. Check out our interviews with Lake District Chefs to find out more and download some of the  recipes from the Lake District Cumbria they have shared, so you can enjoy them at home.
 
Cumbrian chocolate and cheeses are superb, but no list of local produce would be complete without mention of Cumbria’s trio of sweet treats, each a legend in their own right: sticky toffee pudding, first invented at Sharrow Bay on Ullswater and today perfected in Cartmel; the world-famous Kendal Mint Cake, which is favoured by mountaineers and fell walkers for its high sugar content; and Grasmere Gingerbread, first created by Sarah Nelson in 1854 and still sold in the same shop by her ancestors today. You can read more about famous food and drink to come from Cumbria in our blog and then check out the local Cumbrian produce available to buy online and have it delivered directly to your door.
 
Alongside our world-class food are some outstanding breweries and distilleries, which make the Lake District, Cumbria a haven for real ale lovers – after a walk in the fells there’s nothing quite like sinking a pint of refreshing ale literally yards from where it was brewed. And if you’re looking for something a little stronger, the Lake District is home to an award-winning distillery that produces its own brand of handcrafted whiskies, gins and vodkas.

With locally brewed ales and locally produced food galore, the Lake District, Cumbria has a wealth of delights to make any foodie happy. Take your taste buds on holiday, go on they deserve it! Check out our blog for lots of food inspiration around the county.

When it comes to family-friendly places to eat in the Lake District, then look no further - we have taken the hard work out of it and produced a list of perfect places with family dining in mind and if you are looking for places to take your dog along with you, check out our list of dog-friendly places to eat in the Lake District, Cumbria.

Nature’s pantry is available to all, whether you’re a beginner learning about foraging and bushcraft on a fungi foray or a Michelin-starred chef looking to enhance a dish with the flavours of the forest.

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Tasty Ideas

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    Dog Friendly Places to Eat
    We love our dogs so much in the Lake District and Cumbria that we like to take them out for dinner. Four-legged diners and drinkers are welcome in many pubs and restaurants.
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    If you love great food and want to combine it with somewhere comfortable to stay, then this is for you.

The Lake District, Cumbria is foodie paradise

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Highlights

Signage at The Sawmill Café and Farm Shop in Nether Wasdale, Cumbria
The Sawmill Café and Farm Shop

Situated in arguably the most beautiful valley of Wasdale in the Lake District on the banks of the…

Stainton Wines in Kendal, Lake District
Stainton Wines

Feisty, independent, opinionated and honest are the best way to sum us up. For over thirty years,…

Beers from Keswick Brewery in Keswick, Lake District
Keswick Brewery Tours, Bar and Shop

Come and visit our brewery to find out more about us and the beers we make. Only a 2 minute walk…

Michelin Starred Food at The Cottage in the Wood near Braithwaite, Lake District
The Cottage in the Wood

Our Michelin Star restaurant offers a delicious tasting menu, created by Chef Jack Bond using the…

Afternoon Tea Stand with Food at Bassenthwaite Lake Station & Carriage Cafe in Bassenthwaite Lake, Lake District
Orient Express Afternoon Tea at Bassenthwaite Lake Station

The Orient Express Afternoon Tea at Bassenthwaite Lake Station and Carriage Cafe offers a unique…

Exterior Seating at Grasmere Gather in Grasmere, Lake District
The Kitchen at the Gather

A welcoming large, licensed cafe serving a fresh and informal menu, all made on site. Indoor and…

Packets and Tins of Grasmere Gingerbread at Grasmere Gingerbread in Grasmere, Lake District
Grasmere Gingerbread®

Church cottage originally built in 1630 as the village school. Established in 1854 as Sarah…

PrevPrev
  • 1The Sawmill Café and Farm Shop
  • 2Stainton Wines
  • 3Keswick Brewery Tours, Bar and Shop
  • 4The Cottage in the Wood
  • 5Orient Express Afternoon Tea at Bassenthwaite Lake Station
  • 6The Kitchen at the Gather
  • 7Grasmere Gingerbread®
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