Car-Free Places to Stay in Cumbria | Near a Train Station

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Arriving by train changes how a Cumbria holiday feels. You skip the parking hunt and the narrow-lane reversing, and you start the break the moment you sit down. BritStays currently lists 286 places to stay in Cumbria that are near a train station. Here's how to pick the right one.

What's available

Most of the choice is self-catering. There are 162 cottages, 88 hotels, 24 caravanning options and 12 camping sites. So whether you want your own front door or someone else making breakfast, you have real options.

Some facilities matter more when you travel by rail, so it's worth checking for them:

EV charging nearby: 142 stays. Useful if one of you drives up separately or you hire a car for part of the trip.
Near a bus stop: 68 stays. This is the one to look for if you want to explore beyond the station without a car.
WiFi: 44 stays. That's fewer than you might expect, so check before you book if you need to work.
Parking: 41 stays.
Restaurant on site: 39 stays.
Pet friendly: 38 stays.
Disabled access: 34 stays.

Which area suits your trip

Windermere and Troutbeck Bridge has by far the most choice, with 49 stays. Another 14 are in Bowness-on-Windermere and 10 are listed simply as Windermere. If you want the classic lakes break with plenty of choice, start here.

The cottages show the range. Campbell Cottage and Slate Cottage both sleep 4, which suits couples or a small family. Alexandra Cottage sleeps 5. Helm View sleeps 7, so it works for a bigger family or two couples. All four list EV charging nearby as well as being near a train station.

Keswick has 13 stays, and Threlkeld and St Johns in the Vale has 12. These suit you if you'd rather be based in the northern lakes. Penrith appears twice in our listings, with 14 stays each time. St Bees has 16 stays and gives you a very different base from the central lakes. Our data doesn't tag sea views or beach access, so read individual listings if being by the water matters to you.

Couples, families and big groups

Couples: Clarence Cottage in Appleby sleeps 2 and lists EV charging nearby.

Families: Hazelrigg Farm in Cartmel sleeps 6. Families who like camping could look at Windermere Camping and Caravanning Club at Staveley, which has a bar, takeaway food and a playground.

Large groups: Riverside House in Carlisle sleeps 16. Box Tree Escapes - The Roeburn and Box Tree Escapes - The Wenning in Carnforth sleep 10 each.

Hotels: In Carlisle, Travelodge Carlisle Central has a restaurant, takeaway food and disabled access. Cumbria Park Hotel offers disabled access, WiFi and parking. The Swan Hotel in Grasmere has a bar, restaurant and takeaway food, which is handy if you don't want to cook.

Dog owners

Only 38 of the 286 stays are marked pet friendly, roughly one in eight. Filter for this first rather than falling for a cottage and finding out later. It's also worth asking the owner about any extra charges or limits on the number of dogs.

What to do once you're there

If you're based around Windermere, Lake Windermere is the obvious draw. Nearby you'll find Wray Castle, Beatrix Potter's former home at Hill Top, and the National Trust's Townend. For families, The Lakes Aqua Park adds something different.

From Keswick, Derwentwater is on the doorstep. Keswick also has the Keswick Museum & Art Gallery, Knox Wood Wildlife Centre and the West Cumberland Railway Museum, which rail fans will enjoy.

Other places worth a day include Ullswater, Levens Hall and Eskdale Mill. Check how you'll get to each one before you go, as not every sight is close to a station or bus stop.

When to book

Book early if you need something specific. There are only a handful of stays for very large groups or couples-only cottages, and the same goes for pet friendly places and stays with disabled access. These get snapped up first, especially in school holidays.

If you're flexible, Windermere and Troutbeck Bridge gives you the best chance of finding something closer to your dates.

Before you confirm, check three things:

How you'll get from the station to the door.
Whether there's a bus stop nearby for day trips.
Whether WiFi is included, if you need it.

Frequently asked questions

How many places to stay near a train station are there in Cumbria?

BritStays lists 286 stays in Cumbria near a train station. There are 162 cottages, 88 hotels, 24 caravanning options and 12 camping sites.

Which area of Cumbria has the most stays near a train station?

Windermere and Troutbeck Bridge has the most, with 49. St Bees has 16, and Penrith and Bowness-on-Windermere each have 14.

Are there dog-friendly stays near a train station in Cumbria?

Yes. 38 of the 286 stays are marked pet friendly. That's a fairly small share, so filter for it early and book ahead.

Is there anywhere suitable for a large group?

Yes. Riverside House in Carlisle sleeps 16. Box Tree Escapes - The Roeburn and Box Tree Escapes - The Wenning in Carnforth each sleep 10.

Will I be able to get around without a car?

68 of these stays are also near a bus stop, which makes car-free day trips easier. Check each listing to see if it has this.

What is there to do near Keswick?

Derwentwater is close by. Keswick also has the Keswick Museum & Art Gallery, Knox Wood Wildlife Centre and the West Cumberland Railway Museum.

Places to Stay Near a Train Station in Cumbria

Box Tree Escapes - The Lune

Littlecroft

Cedar Manor

Chartfield

April Cottage

18 In The Corner

Brent Cottage

The Edge Hotel

Nuthatch

Beech Cottage

Esthwaite

Stanley Cottage

Betsy Cottage

School Knott Cottage

Cobble Rigg

Swallows' Nest

Orrest Howe

Hall Park hotel

The Cumberland Hotel

Elleray Cottage

The Green Dragon Hotel

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More around Cumbria

What's available

Which area suits your trip

Couples, families and big groups

Dog owners

What to do once you're there

When to book

Frequently asked questions

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