Bucket list destination:

Destination guide for Lake District

Cumbria, United Kingdom (UK)

beautiful landscape in the Lake District

Last updated: 02 March, 2023

Expert travel writer: Oliver Berry

The Lake District is a land of superlatives; the highest peaks in England, the deepest lakes, the most spectacular scenery. There is a wildness to the landscapes and a sense of nature on a grand scale, found in few other places in the British Isles.

It’s best-known as the heartland of British hiking, and it’s a brilliant place to go to explore the great outdoors, whether that means walking, climbing, boating or biking. Literary buffs will also find plenty to divert them: Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth were both inspired by the Lakeland landscape, and several of their former homes can be visited.

Orientation

The Lake District is split roughly in two halves. The eastern side is home to the largest lake, Windermere, and the busy tourist towns of Ambleside and Bowness-on-Windermere. The western half feels much wilder and emptier, and is home to the highest fells including Scafell Pike, England’s tallest peak at 978m. This is the place for serious walking and dramatic scenery, but there are fewer places to stay.

Northeast of Windermere lies Ullswater, the second-largest of Lakeland’s lakes. Further north still is Derwentwater, with the attractive market town of Keswick situated at its northern end.

Tours, tickets & transfers

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this destination, plus helpful tickets and transfers

Mountain Goat Full Day Tour: Ten Lakes Tour of the Lake District

Windermere

The English Lake District is one of the most recent additions to UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Admire the rolling countryside and craggy fells whilst listen to your guide about the Lake District's history, geology and the people that have shaped this much-loved region. Along the way, you will pass some of the region’s most spectacular sights, such as the Borrowdale Valley, Buttermere, Honister pass, Ullswater, and Grasmere. There are many stops on route; a highlight is the Castlerigg Stone Circle with its panoramic views. Our friendly driver/guide will provide an on-board commentary on this full day spectacular tour of lakes and mountains.

Price: £56

Min age: 5

Rating 4.81 / 5 [1199 ratings]

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Lake District Adventure Sightseeing Day Trip from Liverpool

Liverpool

Sightseeing Tours the way they should be. Fully narrated and escorted by driver guides who love their jobs almost as much as you will love your day with them. Our Lake District tour will take you to places not normally visited by the casual tourist, showing you the true essence of why this part of the country is so spectacular.. Fun and laughter all the way, all day.

Price: £59

Min age: 0

Rating 4.68 / 5 [129 ratings]

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Ultimate Full-Day Lake District Tour: 10 Lakes, Amazing Scenery & Lake Cruise

Windermere

Best full-day tour for scenery. This is a stress free, easy way to see a lot of the Lake District in a day without feeling rushed. You have time during the day to soak up the views and even paddle in a lake if you are brave enough. It is a great way for getting an overview of the Lake District, its culture, history and of course, its amazing scenery. If you come to the lakes, you should see it from a boat so you also have an included lake cruise, unique to this tour only. You will get plenty of variety, see magnificent scenery, eat gingerbread and get all the facts, figures and fascinating stories from our friendly, knowledgeable guides and drivers who know the area well. Travelling in a comfy mini-van with air con, Wi-Fi & phone charging ports as one of only 6/7 passengers you will find it is easy to ask questions and join in the conversation (if you want to). There are lots of stops for photos and fresh air. It is a great day out and we can't wait to share it with to you.

Price: £159

Min age: 0

Rating 4.96 / 5 [124 ratings]

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Windermere & Lake District Tour from Manchester Including Cruise

Manchester

Windermere Lake Cruise will be included in your tour price. The Lake District is where people go to rejuvenate their senses. The soaring mountains refresh your mind, the lakes calm your worries, and the quaint houses and little lanes make you yearn for a long-forgotten age. So on this tour, we take you on a day trip through the best locations of England’s most famous National Park. You learn the tales from Windermere, the largest lake in England and you admire Wordworth’s cosy Dove Cottage. Join this tour, enjoy the scenery, and let nature help you unwind.

Price: £62

Min age: 5

Rating 4.82 / 5 [119 ratings]

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Six Lakes Spectacular

Windermere

If you’re short on time in the Lake District then this half day tour is a fantastic way to see a lot in not much time. Not only will you see six different Lakes (also called Tarns, Meres and Waters) you go over Kirkstone pass, take in the views at Castlerigg Stone Circle and visit the Village of Grasmere.

Price: £35

Min age: 5

Rating 4.87 / 5 [55 ratings]

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Travel advice

When to go

If you can, avoid visiting the Lakes in July and August, when it gets unpleasantly crowded and prices are highest. Easter and bank holidays can also be very busy. Better to visit in the quieter shoulder seasons – try April or May, when the lake shores are dusted with Wordsworthian daffodils, or September or October, when the hills are alight with autumnal colour.

Getting there and away

The M6 skirts the eastern edge, with the main entry points being Kendal and Penrith. Trains from London Euston to Windermere take just under four hours, with a change at Preston or Oxenholme.

Getting around

Cars are the most practical way to get around, but in the summer months roads get horribly congested – and parking can be very expensive. Most of the major tourist hubs such as Keswick, Ambleside and Grasmere, have taxi services.

It is feasible to get around by bus, with regular services between the main towns. See the Lake District website for details.

Cycling is another option, although you won’t get away without tackling some hills; the 599 bus between Bowness and Grasmere has space to carry two bikes, and it’s also possible to take your bike on the Windermere Ferry. See the Lake District website for further details on cycling.

Where to stay

Many visitors choose to stay in one of the towns or villages around Lake Windermere, where hotels and B&Bs abound, especially around Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere Town and Ambleside.

Villages like Hawkshead, Coniston, Elterwater and the surrounding areas are much quieter, and have plenty of excellent pubs, country hotels and cottages to choose from.

In the northern part of the park, Keswick is the most practical base, with easy access to the beautiful valleys of Borrowdale and Buttermere nearby, and great mountain biking in nearby Whinlatter Forest.

In the western part of the park, there is a handful of places to stay around the remote valleys of Wasdale and Eskdale, including some classic inns and great campsites, but do be aware you’re a long way from anywhere.

Don’t overlook the outer edges of the park: accommodation is often easier to come by in Cockermouth, Kendal, Ulverston and Penrith, and nearly always a good deal cheaper too.