27 Best things to see & do in Lake District

The Lake District’s many hills – or ‘fells’ as they’re known in Cumbria – offer some of the best hiking in England, from short walks to full-day multi-summit treks. There’s nowhere better to appreciate the best of the British landscape.

Wooded islands, beaches, lakeside mansions, craggy fells – you’ll see them all on a Lakeland cruise. The only question is which lake to choose.

Spectacular scenery and a tranquil waterside location combine on this 4.5-mile circular walk around Buttermere Lake. The best walk in the Lake District.

A 7-mile trip aboard a traditional steam locomotive that chugs along a scenic valley, offering stunning views of the western fells.

The most dramatic stone circle in all of England, standing on a lonely hilltop near Keswick for the last 3,000 years, and surrounded by a natural amphitheatre fells.

Climb up to the highest point in England for a memorable view of the Wasdale fells – and a special sense of achievement. But don’t expect to be on your own if the weather’s fine

Beatrix Potter’s cottage is every bit as pretty (and popular) as you’d expect – and, for fans of her books, offers the chance to see some of the places that inspired her illustrations.

Wordsworth’s grand family home between Ambleside and Grasmere is an essential stop: it’s full of memorabilia, and offers an intriguing glimpse of the Wordsworth family’s daily life in the Lakes.

William Wordsworth found inspiration for many of his most famous poems in the Lake District, and there are many sights associated with him.

Take a guided tour around Wordsworth’s charming cottage near Grasmere to get a fascinatingly personal insight into the poet’s life and times – and don’t miss the brilliant museum next door.