The Lake District: England's lakes and fells

Why go

Few places in England feel so peaceful. Steamers glide across **Windermere**, sheep graze on green fells, and stone pubs serve hearty food by the fire after a day outdoors. It suits families, couples and walkers of every level, and the scenery shifts beautifully with the weather.

Windermere and Bowness

**Windermere**, England's largest natural lake, is the easiest place to start, with a railway station in Windermere town. **Bowness-on-Windermere** is the busy lakeside town where **Windermere Lake Cruises** depart for Ambleside and Lakeside. **The World of Beatrix Potter** is a hit with children, and **Blackwell**, an Arts and Crafts house, is a quieter treat.

Grasmere and Ambleside

**Ambleside** is a lively walking town with gear shops and cafés. **Grasmere** is the village of William Wordsworth, whose home **Dove Cottage** is open with the **Wordsworth Museum** beside it. Do not leave without the famous **Grasmere Gingerbread**. Walks around **Rydal Water** and up **Loughrigg Fell** are short and rewarding.

Keswick and the north

**Keswick** sits on **Derwentwater**, perhaps the prettiest lake, with a launch service around its shore. The **Castlerigg Stone Circle** stands on a hill just outside town with a ring of mountains around it. **Catbells** is a classic family friendly fell walk with huge views. Further on, **Buttermere** and the **Honister Pass** feel wild and remote.

Walking

The Lakes have walks for everyone: flat lakeshore paths, mid level fells like Catbells and Loughrigg, and serious days on **Helvellyn** and **Scafell Pike**, England's highest mountain. Check the **Lake District Weatherline** before going high, wear proper boots and carry waterproofs, a map and food. Fell rescue teams are volunteers, so walk within your ability.

Food and drink

Try Cumberland sausage, sticky toffee pudding, which was popularised at Cartmel, and local ales from breweries like **Jennings** and **Hawkshead**. Village pubs serve generous meals, and tea rooms are everywhere.

Getting there and around

Trains on the West Coast Main Line stop at **Oxenholme** and **Penrith**; change at Oxenholme for the branch line to Windermere. From Penrith, buses run to Keswick. Local **Stagecoach** buses connect the main villages, including the open top service along Windermere in summer, and lake boats double as transport.

Where to stay

Windermere and Bowness have the most choice. **Ambleside** and **Grasmere** suit walkers, and **Keswick** is the best base for the north. Book early for summer weekends and school holidays, when traffic and parking get very busy.

Tips

Visit midweek, start walks early and plan rainy day options such as museums and pubs. Use our free trip planner to fit the Lakes between York and Edinburgh.

Rainy day ideas

When the clouds come down, the Lakes still have plenty to offer. **Keswick's Derwent Pencil Museum** is a quirky favourite, **Honister Slate Mine** runs underground tours, and **Hill Top**, Beatrix Potter's farmhouse near Hawkshead, is magical in soft rain. **Brockhole** visitor centre on Windermere has adventure play for children, and the **Lakeland Motor Museum** suits families. A long lunch in a village pub by the fire is also very much part of the local tradition. Find more cafés, pubs and walks across the park on our places to visit page.