Holidays in Lake District

More around Lake District

The Lake District is one of those places where you can spend a week and still leave a list of things undone. The trick is not to chase everything. Pick a corner, work out what's nearby, and let the weather decide the order. What follows is a practical run through the days out worth building a trip around, grouped so you're not criss-crossing the map twice in one afternoon.

Days out that keep children happy

If you've got energetic company, put The Lakes Aqua Park near the top of the list — an inflatable assault course on open water is a good way to burn off a morning, and it turns a lake from scenery into something they can actually get into. Knox Wood Wildlife Centre in Keswick is the gentler option, and works well for younger children who'll only last so long on a footpath.

Over in Windermere, The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction is the obvious choice for smaller visitors, and it pairs neatly with Windermere Jetty if you want something with boats in it. The Lakeland Motor Museum is the one that keeps grown-ups interested too. In Keswick, The Retro Zone is worth an hour if anyone in the group remembers the games they'll find there.

Rainy day plans worth having ready

Rain isn't a setback here, it's a category of day out. Keep a short indoor list in your back pocket:

Tropical Cyclone in Kendal, if swimming beats sheltering
Keswick Museum & Art Gallery, an easy anchor for a town day
West Cumberland Railway Museum and Ravenglass Railway Museum for anyone with an interest in the lines
Eskdale Mill, small, atmospheric and properly old-fashioned
JB Banks Ironmongers, a working slice of the past rather than a polished exhibition

Further out, the Morecambe cluster gives you a full wet day without moving far: the Laurel and Hardy Museum, the Judges' Lodgings Museum, Lancaster Maritime Museum and Sir John Barrow Cottage can be strung together at a comfortable pace.

Outdoors, when the sky clears

Scafell Pike is the headline walk and needs treating as a full day with proper boots, layers and a forecast checked that morning — not something to squeeze in before lunch. Wast Water, in National Trust care, is the better call if you want the drama without the ascent; the screes across the water are worth the drive alone, and you can walk as much or as little of the shore as you fancy.

Pair Wast Water with Eskdale Mill and the Ravenglass Railway Museum and you've got a satisfying western day: one big view, two small indoor stops for when the rain blows through.

Heritage and houses

Muncaster Castle is the one to build a day around if you like a house with grounds to wander. Dalton Castle is a smaller, sharper stop, and sits sensibly alongside the Furness Abbey Visitor Centre for a southern heritage run. Allan Bank, also National Trust, is a relaxed sort of house — the kind where sitting in a room with a view is rather the point. Brantwood rewards a slower visit, so don't stack it with three other things.

Where to eat

You'll eat well without booking anywhere grand. Bench Cafe and Brew Brothers are both tea rooms and do the job for a mid-walk stop or a proper sit-down after a museum. Relish is the one for picnic-building — useful if you're heading to Wast Water or setting off for Scafell Pike, where there's nothing to buy once you're out. Greggs covers early starts when nothing else is open. For an evening meal after a long day on your feet, the Wheatsheaf Inn is the sort of pub that suits muddy boots and a big appetite. All five hold five-star hygiene ratings.

Turning it into a short break

Three nights is the sweet spot. Give day one to the water and the boats around Windermere, day two to the west — Wast Water, Eskdale Mill, Muncaster Castle — and day three to Keswick's museums and Knox Wood Wildlife Centre, or to Scafell Pike if the forecast is kind. Add a fourth night and the Morecambe museums or the Furness Abbey Visitor Centre and Dalton Castre become easy additions. There are 198 places to stay in the Lake District on BritStays, so it's worth choosing a base that sits near the half of the region you'll use most, rather than somewhere theoretically central.

Before you go

Check opening times directly with each attraction — several of the smaller museums keep seasonal hours, and Eskdale Mill and JB Banks Ironmongers are not places to turn up at on spec. Carry cash for small sites, take waterproofs even on a clear morning, and if Scafell Pike is on the list, start early and tell someone your route.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best rainy day option in the Lake District with children?

Tropical Cyclone in Kendal is the strongest choice if the children would rather swim than shelter. Otherwise, The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction in Windermere, The Retro Zone in Keswick and the Lakeland Motor Museum all keep everyone dry and occupied. Windermere Jetty is another good indoor-leaning option on a wet day.

Which Lake District attractions are National Trust properties?

Two of the landmarks listed here are in National Trust care: Allan Bank, a stately home, and Wast Water. Allan Bank is a relaxed house to sit and look out from, while Wast Water suits a shoreline walk and big views without a climb.

Can I walk Scafell Pike as part of a short break?

Yes, but treat it as a full day rather than a half day. Go with proper boots and layers, check the forecast that morning, start early and tell someone your route. Buy food beforehand — Relish is useful for making up a packed lunch, as there is nothing to buy once you are out on the mountain.

Where should I eat in the Lake District?

Bench Cafe and Brew Brothers are both tea rooms and suit a mid-walk or post-museum stop. Relish is a deli and local produce shop, handy for picnics. Greggs covers early starts. The Wheatsheaf Inn is a good evening option after a long day walking. All five hold five-star hygiene ratings.

How many days do I need in the Lake District?

Three nights works well: one day around Windermere for the boats and museums, one day in the west for Wast Water, Eskdale Mill and Muncaster Castle, and one day in Keswick for the museums and Knox Wood Wildlife Centre, or for Scafell Pike if the weather is good. A fourth night lets you add the Morecambe museums or Furness Abbey Visitor Centre and Dalton Castle.

What museums are worth visiting around Morecambe?

Morecambe has a useful cluster for a wet day: the Laurel and Hardy Museum, the Judges' Lodgings Museum, Lancaster Maritime Museum and Sir John Barrow Cottage. You can string them together at a comfortable pace without much moving about, which makes it a sensible plan when the weather closes in.