Top 10 things to do in the Lake District

1. Lake Windermere and Lake Buttermere

2. The Lake District National Park

The Lake District National Park is one of the largest and most visited UK national parks. Over 16 million park visitors per year enjoy boat cruises, guided walking tours, bike riding, picnics, paddle boarding, swimming and more inside the park. The Lake District National Park is home to England’s highest mountain (Scafell Pike) and its deepest lake (Wastwater), so there are plenty of things to explore during your next visit.

3. Scafell Pike

Standing at about 978 metres, Scafell Pike has the distinction of being England’s highest mountain and war memorial honouring those who died in WWI. A journey to its top rewards you with a gorgeous view and a sense of accomplishment. If you aren’t ready to conquer the tallest mountain, the Lake District has many fells for beginners. You might want to start with Orrest Head, just above Lake Windermere. For your safety, be sure to check current weather conditions before setting out for the fells.

4. Muncaster Castle

Do you love haunted history? Spend the day exploring the UK’s most haunted castle – Muncaster Castle! The most haunted room is said to be the Tapestry Room. The brave at heart can even book an overnight Ghost Vigil to see if there’s any truth to the reported ghostly happenings. Occupying 77 acres, this castle is also home to beautiful Himalayan gardens, with many rare specimens not often seen in the West. The onsite Hawk & Owl Centre is also a favourite for visiting families with young children.

5. The World of Beatrix Potter

Beloved children’s author Beatrix Potter spent many holidays in the Lake District, eventually purchasing a farm and becoming a Cumbrian sheep farmer. Upon her death in 1943, her home was bequeathed to the National Trust. Today, you can visit the Beatrix Potter Gallery in Hawkshead for changing exhibits, including many of Potter’s original drawings and illustrations. You can also download the Beatrix Potter Trail to explore various places around the Lake District that inspired her cherished creations.

6. Rydal Mount and Dove Cottage

Literary lovers will fancy a visit to Rydal Mount, poet William Wordsworth’s family home from 1813 until his death in 1850. The grounds overlook Rydal Water, Windermere and the surrounding fells. Get a glimpse of the poet’s life by viewing his writing hut, attic study, library and the picturesque gardens that he landscaped himself. Also of interest is Dove Cottage, which was Wordsworth’s home from 1799 to 1808. Both historic homes display original Wordsworth manuscripts and memorabilia.

7. Levens Hall & Gardens

Featuring one of the world’s largest and oldest topiary gardens, Levens Hall looks like something straight out of the pages of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Visitors love the wonderment of colours found in the gardens, while the grounds’ Elizabethan house showcases an intriguing history with links to the Duke of Wellington. An onsite gift shop offers products made by local artisans and a selection of plants available for sale. Levens Kitchen provides locally sourced seasonal menus worthy of the several food and drink awards bestowed upon it in recent years.

8. Kendal Castle

Built in the early 1200s, Kendal Castle offers a spectacular view over the town of Kendal. Home to various barons, one of the most famous families who lived there was the Parrs. Katherine Parr was the sixth and final Queen of Henry VIII. Displays showcase medieval history inside the ruins of this castle that sits atop a glacial drumlin. Learn more about medieval life and activities such as coin rubbing during your day trip. Enjoy a leisurely picnic or stroll along Castle Hill, which boasts stunning views in all directions.

9. Grasmere Gingerbread

Invented by Sarah Nelson in 1854, Grasmere gingerbread is famous the world over for its gooey inside and crumbly outside. Today visitors can pay respects to Sarah’s original home, a tiny cottage between the Wordsworth Hotel and St. Oswald’s Churchyard. The intoxicating smells of gingerbread fill the Grasmere Gingerbread Shop, much to the delight of visitors of all ages. Come see for yourself why Grasmere gingerbread has been called the best gingerbread in the world!

10. The Laurel and Hardy Museum

Being the birthplace of Stan Laurel, one-half of the most iconic British comedy duos of all time, puts Ulverston on the map. Laurel and Hardy may have had their heyday from the 1920s to the 1940s but their spirit is still going strong in the Lake District. Slapstick and comedy lovers of all ages flock to the Laurel and Hardy Museum in Ulverston to see Laurel and Hardy memorabilia, their films on the big screen and a special commemorative statue in the town centre.