Lake District Travelers Recommend

With three days in the Lake District, a vast national park that covers much of England’s county of Cumbria, you can enjoy its crystal-clear lakes, craggy mountains, outdoor activities, stone-built villages, and literary heritage to the full. Here are a few ways to spend your 72 hours in this stunning region.

Day 1: Get an Overview

For a hassle-free introduction to the Lake District’s widely dispersed attractions, take a full- or half-day group or private overview tour. Choose a 10-lake foray into green valleys, high passes, and villages, seeing lakes such as Grasmere and Buttermere and highlights such as pretty Ambleside and Keswick. Prefer your three days planned out? Departing from Windermere, London, and Edinburgh, 3-day Lake District tours cover all the highlights. Alternatively, Beatrix Potter fans can choose a 3-day package focused on the life of the author and botanist, exploring Hill Top farmhouse, where she wrote books such as The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck.

Day 2: Delve Deeper

Day two is prime for in-depth exploration. Perhaps fix on a particular area such as the sometimes-overlooked Western Lakes, riding the Ravenglass and Eskdale railway and visiting the reputedly haunted Muncaster Castle. Or, make tracks for the South Lakes to admire Lake Coniston and the craggy Langdale Valley. Hikers, meanwhile, might relish the chance to summit Scafell Pike—England’s highest peak. If you haven’t already explored Beatrix Potter’s legacy, take an afternoon tour her former home and other places she frequented, such as Esthwaite Water. Or, explore the William Wordsworth country of Grasmere, where the English poet spent much of his life. Peeking into Dove Cottage, where he lived with his sister, Dorothy, and visit his later home of Rydal House.

Day 3: Day Trips and Pursuits

Spend your last day exploring outside the Lakes. In neighboring Yorkshire Dales National Park, wind through limestone valleys and emerald pastures and visit villages such as Wensleydale, famed for its cheese, and Bolton Castle, where Mary, Queen of Scots, was imprisoned. Alternatively, journey north to what was Roman Britain’s frontier—Hadrian’s Wall. Outdoor enthusiasts may prefer to climb a fell stream on a gill (stream) scramble or take a cruise on Ullswater, the region’s second-largest lake. This evening, enjoy dinner at one of the Lake District’s historical restaurants or inns, recalling your adventures over regional culinary delights.

The perfect jumping-off point for explorations in the Lake District—England’s largest and most-visited national park—the town of Windermere also abuts the country’s largest lake. Within easy reach of heritage villages and scenic attractions, Windermere (and the surrounding region) can be seen in just one day. Here’s how.

Morning: Follow in Wordsworth’s Footsteps

Billed as the most popular village in Cumbria, nearby Grasmere boasts riverside scenery, charming cottages, and a tranquil pace of living. But that’s not why it’s famous. Instead, the village is best-known as the former residence of Romantic poet William Wordsworth, who wandered lonely as a cloud and composed his odes to daffodils while living here. Get your morning off to a cultural start when you follow in the poet’s footsteps: You can visit several of his former abodes, and even see his final resting place, in the cemetery at St. Oswald’s Church.

Afternoon: Learn About the Life of Beatrix Potter

Wordsworth wasn’t the only writer who took inspiration from the Lake District’s extraordinary scenery: Beatrix Potter, known for her beloved children’s stories and watercolor illustrations, lived just a hop, skip, and a jump away, at a house called Hill Top in the village of Hawkshead. Pause at a country pub for a hearty lunch (or venture to a traditional tea room) en route to your next stop. Upon arrival at Hill Top, you can tour her rural farmstead, wander the gardens that inspired her work, and see her original artworks displayed in the on-site gallery.

Evening: Cruise on England’s Largest Lake

Wind down your day in Windermere with a particularly magical experience: a cruise on Lake Windermere. The glacier-carved lake is ringed with verdant hills, and sunset is a peaceful time to take in its glory. Alternatively, venture to the bustling market town of Kendal, which was mentioned in the Domesday Book. Watch the sun go down behind the ruins of 12th-century Kendal Castle, admire its heritage architecture, and dine in one of the rustic local inns.

Two days in the Lake District is enough to discover the highlights of England’s biggest national park—also a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and unpack its literary connections and history. From exploring its mirror-glass lakes and appealing villages to hiking fells and roaming historical houses, here are our ideas for a 2-day stay.

Day 1: See the Scenic Highlights

**Morning:**See as much as possible on a daylong excursion to 10 of the most beautiful lakes. View Windermere and Grasmere, and traverse the rugged Kirkstone Pass to Thirlmere, Bassenthwaite, Buttermere, and more. Choose a private tour with a customizable itinerary or a morning’s exploration of a specific area, such as Lake Coniston.

**Afternoon:**If you’re not on a day trip, zoom in on activities and places that interest you most. Go gill scrambling—climbing through the waterfalls of a mountain stream—or cruise Ullswater, the region’s second-biggest lake. Otherwise, chart the life of 19th-century poet William Wordsworth in his stomping grounds around Grasmere, touring his former homes of Dove Cottage and Rydal House and other sites.

**Evening:**Most visitors spend their Lake District evenings on predinner lakeside or village strolls. Head for a lakefront eatery for supper with a view, making sure to prebook in summer—the top restaurants fill up quickly.

Day 2: Focus on Your Interests

**Morning:**Today, trace the trail of the Lake District’s children’s author and botanist Beatrix Potter, who lived here from 1906 until 1943. Delve into Hill Top, her home turned museum, and visit other locations she loved, such as Hawkshead village and Yewdale. Alternatively, muster your energy to hike up Scafell Pike—England’s tallest mountain—or explore the Lakes’ mountain passes, including Hardknott with its ruined Roman fort, for spectacular views.

**Afternoon:**Board the miniature Ravenglass and Eskdale railway to explore the beautiful Western Lakes, and visit Muncaster Castle to enjoy its gardens and birds-of-prey displays. Alternatively, cover other highlights such as Tarn Hows, a pine-fringed lake that’s one of the area’s most photographed spots.

**Evening:**Start your final evening on a sundown cruise on Lake Windermere to admire the twilit views. Then, enjoy dinner at one of the Lakes’ top-quality restaurants and inns, savoring the region’s acclaimed cuisine.

England’s Lake District—a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site—has something for all: magnificent mountain-and-lake scenery, historical sights, walking trails, picture-perfect towns, and adventurous outdoor activities. With so much to see and do, read our tips for experiencing its treasures in just one day. 

Morning: Admire the Scenery

A full-day tour that provides an overview of the region’s stunning scenery is ideal when time is limited. Book a day trip around 10 lakes: roaming lush valleys and high passes to admire picture-perfect Grasmere, Thirlmere, Buttermere, and other gems. In winter, choose a half-day foray around Lake Windermere, Tarn Hows, and other highlights to see them at their most atmospheric—framed in mist and snow-tipped peaks. Otherwise, set your sights on a particular area of the Lakes, perhaps with a morning tour of Lake Coniston and the craggy-peaked Langdale valleys. Other options include private tours with customizable itineraries and, for those based in London, a whistle-stop look at the region with convenient return transport by rail from the capital.

Afternoon: Explore Further

Continue any day trips this afternoon, perhaps exploring the market town of Keswick and ancient Castlerigg Stone Circle with a guide for insight. Alternatively, follow in the footsteps of early 20th-century botanist and children’s author Beatrix Potter, who lived in, and loved, the Lakes. Visit Hill Top, her onetime home, now a museum, along with other Potter-inspired experiences such as a Lake Windermere cruise and time at Esthwaite Water, where she fished from her boat and penned botanical drawings. For something outdoorsy, enjoy a cruise on Ullswater or a gill-scrambling adventure—ascending rocks through waterfalls and natural pools. Railway buffs and walkers will love riding the Ravenglass and Eskdale train through the spectacular Western Lakes, hopping off at various stations to hike and explore.

Evening: Slow the Pace

Make the most of the glorious scenery this evening with a relaxing stroll along the shores of Lake Windermere, Coniston, or Grasmere. Or, book an early evening cruise on Lake Windermere to admire the sunset from the water before finishing with dinner at one of the many inviting restaurants, wine bars, or pubs in Bowness. 

Home to rolling glens and emerald-blue lakes, the romantic Lake District has inspired some of England’s most renowned storytellers. Here are a few ways to follow in the footsteps of Beatrix Potter, William Wordsworth, and John Ruskin in Cumbria.

Lake Windermere

Beatrix Potter was an English conservationist, illustrator, and writer—most famous for penning The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Visitors come from across the world to Lake Windermere, Coniston Water, and surrounds to see for themselves the landscapes and locations that so inspired her. Local attractions for fans of Peter Rabbit and friends include Hill Top farm—where Potter once lived—and the Beatrix Potter Gallery in Hawkshead.

Tarn Hows

Tarn Hows is an area of wilderness nestled in the Lake District National Park and once owned by Beatrix Potter herself. According to Potter’s diaries, she spent many hours walking along the shoreline, and—when the land came up for sale in 1930—she raised the money to buy it to ensure it remained protected. It’s now owned and cared for by the National Trust.

Cockermouth

Widely considered among the most famous of Britain’s 18th-century Romantic poets, William Wordsworth drew enormous inspiration from the Lake District. His house in the small market town of Cockermouth is a popular attraction, and visitors can step back to the 1770s and see the property as Wordsworth himself did.

Grasmere

Dove Cottage in Grasmere is another of Wordsworth’s homes, and today it is a top pilgrimage site for poetry lovers. No visit is complete without a trip to Grasmere Lake and Rydal Water, beautiful expanses of clear water and open skies believed to have inspired his works. You can also visit the pretty village of Hawkshead, where William Wordsworth went to school.