Is the Lake District Worth Visiting? BEST Places and Things To Do
Is the Lake District really worth visiting? Read on to find out!
A lot of people rate the Lake District as the most beautiful area in all of England, but is it honestly worth visiting?
Located in the northwest of England, it’s a couple of hours drive north of Manchester and boasts the most stunning views you’re ever likely to see. It’s England’s biggest national park and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
As a native Brit who has visited a lot of places in the country, in my experience the Lake District is without a doubt the best nature location in the whole island of the United Kingdom.
So I’m the ideal travel blogger to give you all the best advice on places to visit and things to do in the Lake District.
Is the Lake District Worth Visiting?
I would say absolutely yes, the Lake District is definitely worth visiting. It is in my opinion the most beautiful place in the whole of England, and possibly the UK too.
I’ve been fortunate enough to visit a lot of amazing places around the world, but I would honestly rank the Lake District as one of the most beautiful natural places I have ever seen.
Upon my first hike here I was honestly awe struck with just how stunning the scenery is, and couldn’t believe this was on my doorstep in England.
The landscapes here are stunningly gorgeous, with several hundred rolling hills, mountains and lovely lakes – if you’re a nature lover then you can’t miss a visit to the Lake District when in the UK!
Some people may say that the Lake District has become too touristy, and while accommodation can be pricey during peak season, it is not overrated at all.
As long as you know what to expect, then you won’t be disappointed. The Lake District really is a hiker’s paradise and a perfect camper’s getaway.
You’re literally spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding which peak you want to climb. It is ideal for hikers, climbers and anyone who just needs a break from busy, hectic city life.
BEST Things To Do At The Lake District
There are lots of activities to do at the Lake District, especially outdoor water activities like canoeing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, paddle boarding and more. Let’s take a look at what the best things to do are:
Hiking 🥾
It almost goes without saying, but the Lake District is the place to be if you’re looking to do some hiking for a few days in England.
There are literally hundreds of hiking trails you can choose from at the Lake District, from quite easy hikes ideal for beginners such as Cat Bells, to more difficult climbs for advanced hikers like Scafell Pike.
I’ve hiked both of these popular peaks and thoroughly recommend them if you’re looking for an adventurous walk with extraordinarily beautiful scenery.
As long as you have a good fitness level then you’ll be fine completing these hiking trails. Just make sure you give yourself plenty of time to complete each trail, take plenty of water and snacks with you and use good hiking equipment.
Tour the Lakes ⛴️
There are a total of 16 bodies of water within the Lake District and finding the time to visit all of them is not really viable unless you plan on a long visit to the lakes.
Instead, why not go on a day tour of the best lakes with a professional guide and learn about the geological and historical importance of the lakes.
This is an ideal way to visit the best lakes, waterfalls, valleys and more within the whole of the Lake District.
White Water Rafting
If you’re feeling adventurous when visiting the Lake District, then why not try some white water rafting.
This is a brilliant extreme sport that is ideal for adrenaline junkies! It is a perfect activity for a family or a large group to experience.
As long as you’re fit with no medical conditions then this is a suitable, fun activity for most travellers. Wetsuits, helmets, life jackets and other equipment is provided.
Visit Beatrix Potter’s House 🐰
If you’re a book nerd then when in the Lake District you may be interested in visiting Beatrix Potter’s house, which is located in Keswick in the Lakes.
Author of the Peter Rabbit books and many other children’s books, Beatrix Potter lived at Hill Top Farm, which inspired many of her creations. There are tour options to visit the property which features a pretty garden and a café too.
And if you fancy another Beatrix Potter experience, then in Windermere there is the World of Beatrix Potter. This is an interactive exhibition attraction with various models of her characters on display as well as a short film.
Go Sailing ⛵
With there being so many bodies of water and lakes at the Lake District, there should be little surprise that sailing is a popular option at the park.
It’s possible to hire motor boats and rowing boats at the lakes at different prices depending on how long and for how many people. There are also sailing courses available too at Glenridding Sailing Centre.
Windermere, Lake Derwent and Ullswater are the most popular and best lakes if you do decide to go sailing.
Cycling/Mountain Biking 🚲
If you prefer cycling rather than hiking, then it’s possible to hire bikes at the Lake District from multiple places, such as Lake District Bikes.
The Lake District is actually known to be one the best locations in the whole of the UK when it comes to mountain biking.
You can cycle around most of the main lakes, and you will find some of the best routes at Whinlatter Forest, Grizedale and the Grasmere trail.
BEST Places To Visit At The Lake District
Now that we’ve looked at the best things to do at the Lake District, where exactly should you visit there?
There are many beautiful quaint towns and villages, some more popular than others. Let’s take a look at the best places to visit at the Lake District:
📍 Windermere
Windermere is the most popular place to visit at the Lake District. It is England’s largest lake at over 11 miles long and is surrounded by very picturesque mountains, hills and towns.
As it is such a big tourist attraction, Windermere gets very busy during the summer months in particular, so make sure to book up accommodation quite a while in advance.
There are plenty of shops, cafes and restaurants in the towns nearby, such as Ambleside.
📍 Keswick
Keswick is a charming small market town full of authentic old shops, restaurants and traditional pubs. It’s less touristy than Windermere, so if you’re looking for a quieter, more authentic place to stay then Keswick is ideal.
It is just a 10 minute walk away from Lake Derwent, another large lake surrounded by peaks such as Cat Bells and Skiddaw. In the town itself there is a pencil museum and also the Keswick Museum and Art Gallery.
I’ve stayed at Keswick several times and definitely recommend it; it’s a lovely, quaint place. I loved the fact that at night time the pubs come to life with live music and the place has a very friendly atmosphere.
📍 Ullswater
Ullswater is the second largest lake at the Lake District and is surrounded by stunning mountain scenery and rolling hills.
It’s a lot quieter lake in terms of tourists and there are lovely small villages like Glenridding and many campsites close to the lake as well.
You can take a cruise on the Ullswater Steamer, which stops off at four different piers around the lake. And of course there are plenty of great hiking and biking trails around Ullswater lake as well.
📍 Scafell Pike
Scafell Pike is England’s highest mountain, making it a popular climb for visitors to the lake. There are different routes to the peak and overall you can expect the hike to take anywhere from 3 hours to 8 hours to climb the summit and return.
This all depends on your fitness level and which route and how many breaks you take. It’s not an easy climb and should only be attempted if you’re in a good physical condition and prepared for a long day of hiking.
I have hiked Scafell Pike on a very hot summer’s day and found it to be such a rewarding experience. However I didn’t quite make it to the peak as it was just too exhausting – so be prepared for for a tough challenge!
But it’s a very rewarding climb; the views along the way and at the top are absolutely breath taking.
📍 Cat bells
Cat bells is one of the most popular fells at the Lake District region and is suitable for hikers without much experience.
Although the peak is relatively not all that high, it can still be quite a challenging climb to reach the summit, especially if weather conditions aren’t too great (which was the case during my hike).
The climb took me around a couple of hours to reach the summit and then descend back down again; it all depends on your speed and how long you want to stay at the top.
During my climb of Cat Bells, I was quite surprised at how steep the climb is at times – it does require some scrambling up slate rocks which can be slippery and dangerous.
But overall it is a relatively easy hike compared to the likes of higher climbs in the region. It’s easy to reach the start of Cat Bells from Keswick, you can catch a cruise boat and exit at Hawes End pier.
From Hawes End it is about a mile walk to the start of Cat Bells and there are signposts directing the way.
The views at the top Cat Bells are amazing and well worth the effort! I found coming back down to be quite a tricky challenge as well, especially as I was hiking in harsh weather conditions.
📍 Grasmere
Grasmere is a popular village at the Lake District and a very pleasant place to stay at the lakes. It’s a relatively small place but there are plenty of shops, cafes and restaurants there.
Grasmere, which was once a civil parish, also has a lot of historical sites worth visiting. It was once the home of famous poet William Wordsworth and the Chocolate Cottage shop is a must visit if you’re a chocoholic!
Map of the Lake District
Check out this interactive map of the Lake District, with markers for each location mentioned in this blog post:
Lake District FAQ’s
Still not sure if the Lake District is worth visiting? Let’s answer some of the most commonly asked questions about visiting the Lake District:
How many days should you spend in the Lake District?
This all depends on how much you want to see and do when visiting the Lake District. 2 days in the Lake District might be a bit short, but you can still visit a few of the main lakes, villages and get a feel for the place.
Ideally, I would recommend around 3-5 days at the Lake District. This will allow you to do a variety of activities in several different areas of the park.
Is the Lake District expensive to visit?
This all depends on your accommodation when visiting the Lake District. There are many B&Bs (bed and breakfasts) all throughout the Lake District which are reasonably priced and affordable.
If you visit the Lake District during the summer season then accommodation will cost more as this is the peak season and a hugely popular time of year to visit. A lot of B&Bs are booked months in advance here.
There are also more luxurious hotels at places such as Windermere and Keswick. It is possible to camp at the Lake District as well, which will of course save you a lot of money, and it’s a good option for people with mobile homes.
Restaurants in the Lake District are quite reasonably priced as well, with many traditional pubs offering pub food which isn’t all that expensive compared to London prices.
How to get to the Lake District?
If you’re reliant on public transport and travelling from London, then the good news is that there are regular trains from London Euston to Oxenholme Lake District train station in Kendall.
From the station there is a good bus service to all the main areas in the Lake District. Penrith North Lakes is the other main train station in the Lakes, so it all depends on which area you want to visit.
Driving to the Lake District is definitely the best option in terms of getting around the whole area easily rather than relying on buses which is time consuming and quite a hassle.
You could break up your visit to the Lake District by visiting some other major places in the north of England, like Manchester, Liverpool or the quirky seaside resort of Blackpool.
When is the best time to visit the Lake District?
Any time during the summer months is the best time to visit the Lake District in terms of weather. This is when there are good temperatures, less rain and hopefully a few sunny days, though you can’t really rely on British weather!
But, accommodation will be pricey as this is the peak season and when the Lake District is packed with tourists.
The spring or autumn months are good choices too, though expect lower temperatures and wetter weather during these periods.
Wintertime is best avoided, temperatures will likely be in the single digits and expect stormy, chilly weather.
Conclusion: Is the Lake District Worth Visiting?
Just in case I haven’t made it clear enough, I wholeheartedly recommend the Lake District, it is definitely worth visiting!
It is in my opinion one of the best places to visit in England and I strongly recommend it to you – especially if you love peaceful nature walks and outstanding natural beauty.
England does have a few negative aspects when visiting, but the Lake District is the country’s best tourist attraction, better than hectic London and less crowded than Edinburgh.
It might seem a bit too far away from London, but in reality it’s only a couple of hours away by train and makes for a great break from city life.
If you want to see the best of the English countryside then there is simply nowhere better than the Lake District. So now that you know that the Lake District is 100% worth visiting, get your hiking boots on!
➡️ Planning your trip? Here are my favourite resources:
🏨 Accommodation: I recommend using Booking.com
🚙 Rental Car: Use Discover Cars for the best car rental prices
❤️ Travel Insurance: I recommend using Visitors Coverage
✈️ Flights: Use Kiwi.com for the best prices on flights
