By Is England’s Lake District the most beautiful region of the country? You won’t find any arguments here. From the largest national park to the highest mountain and the deepest and longest lakes, this area in the north west of England has long been prized by travelers for its stunning scenery.
Anyone who loves the outdoors, a good long walk, a challenging hike, bird watching, or fresh air will find themselves at home in England’s Lake District. More adventurous visitors will as well with rock climbing, windsurfing and sailing also available.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links that allow us to earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Things to do in the Lake District
Lake District National Park is the country’s largest national park (2,300+ square km) and, since 2017, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It contains all of the land in England higher than three thousand feet above sea level. Those attributes attract big crowds. Over 16 million people visited pre-COVID, the most for any national park in the United Kingdom.
Cycling has long been a preferred activity in the park. More recently stargazing.
Children’s author Beatrix Potter of “Peter Rabbit” fame had a retreat in the area. Visitors can tour the beautiful property and gardens.
Villages in the Lake District
Where is the Lake District situated? It’s a mountainous region in North West England famous for its lakes, forests and mountains. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017 and has famous associations with William Wordsworth and other Lake Poets, Beatrix Potter and John Ruskin. The Lake District National Park is home to all land over 3,000 feat above sea level in England.
Grange-over-Sands – Transformed from a small fishing village into a fashionable Victorian resort by the advent of the Furness Railway, the rail line still runs along the coast with Morecambe Bay.
Penrith – Penrith was once the capital of Cumbria and remains a regional centre for the eastern Lake District. Penrith Museum covers the local history and archaeology of the area, whilst high above the town, Penrith Beacon offers walkers spectacular views across Lakeland.
Keswick – This charming market town, with a charter dating back to 1276, was transformed by the discovery of various minerals – copper, and then black lead. Pencil-making is still a major industry in the area. The unique and fascinating Cumberland Pencil Museum shares this history.
A full-day, 10-lake tour via mini-coach featuring lunch in Keswick is a fantastic way to introduce yourself to highlights of the Lake District.
Coniston – The Old Man of Coniston has long been one of the most popular walks in the Lake District. Its position on the edge of five-mile long Coniston Water also makes it a popular destination, a restored 1859 Victorian steam yacht offering daily trips.
Ullswater – The second largest lake in the Lake District at 7.5 miles long, this is a strong contender for most beautiful lake in the country. You’ll see it on many of the guided coach tours of the Lake District.
Cockermouth – Just outside the boundary of the National Park, Cockermouth was the birthplace of Dorothy and William Wordsworth. Its history goes back much further than that, as the site of a Roman fort and a 13th century.
Admirers of Wordsworth will enjoy this half-day tour of places where Wordsworth lived and environments which inspired his poetry.
Ambleside – A centre for English rock-climbing, Ambleside presents a unique combination of galleries, museums and specialist shops, making it a popular centre for outdoor enthusiast and cultural travelers alike.
The Wordsworth Tour begins in Ambleside.
Gosforth –The village of Gosforth is the site of the tallest and oldest Viking Cross in England.
Where to Stay in the Lake District
Looking for a holiday cottage in Lake District National Park? We’ve rounded up some of the best
[wptb id=2525] destinationLake DistrictUnited Kingdom
What do you think?