Family fun and adventure in the heart of the English Lake District
Get the best out of your visit to the Lake District by planning ahead. We've pulled together the tools, tips and guidance to help you make the most out of your trip and help us look after the Lake District. Find a car park, understand where you can and cannot stay overnight and get tips for ways to stay safe in the Lakes.
Sitting on the northern tip of Lake Windermere, the town of Ambleside is surrounded by countryside. With fells, woodland, parks, the quirky little Bridge House and a Roman fort on offer, this part of the Lake District is great for families looking for fun in the great outdoors. In spring, Stagshaw Garden bursts into life, with colourful displays of azaleas and rhododendrons. Skelghyll Woods are home to Cumbria’s tallest trees, and Jenkyn’s Field is great for a lakeshore picnic and paddle. The lake itself is ripe for exploration, it has no fewer than 18 islands and is home to the Lake District’s largest population of Goldeneye Ducks.
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points.
Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you a clear choice between the Gift Aid Admission prices and the Standard Admission prices at the admission point. It's entirely up to you which ticket you choose.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below:
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid by visitor | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Tax refund from Government* | £2.75 | £0.00 |
| Total received by the National Trust | £13.75 | £10.00 |
*Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
