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Lake District

Home of Beatrix Potter, fascinating history, dramatic landscapes and – of course – plenty of lakes. Cycle, walk or sail through the unforgettable Lake District and discover its many delights.

Places to visit

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Top places to visit in the Lake District

People enjoying the shade on the rocks by the river at Aira Force & Gowbarrow Park
Place
Place

Aira Force and Gowbarrow Park 

Aira Force is a showcase for the power and beauty of nature; it’s a place to escape the ordinary.

Penrith, Cumbria

Fully open today
The cream exterior of Allan Bank house on a sunny day
Place
Place

Allan Bank and Grasmere 

The loveliest spot that man hath ever found

Ambleside, Cumbria

Fully open today
Visitors walking in the courtyard outside the house at Sizergh, Cumbria
Place
Place

Sizergh 

Beautiful medieval house with rich gardens and estate

near Kendal, Cumbria

Fully open today
View of Wray Castle in Cumbria
Place
Place

Wray 

Parkland and castle on the west shore of Windermere.

Ambleside, Cumbria

Fully open today
View of the Active Base and jetties from the lake, on an early morning in spring
Place
Place

Fell Foot 

Lakeshore park with stunning mountain views

Windermere, Cumbria

Fully open today
Daffodils in the foreground with views across to the candlestick and further out to the sea on a sunny spring day
Place
Place

Whitehaven Coast 

There are hidden gems of history and wildlife along this post-industrial coastline

Whitehaven, Cumbria

Fully open today
A view towards Derwent Water on a sunny day in early spring.
Place
Place

Borrowdale and Derwent Water 

Spectacular and varied lakeland landscape around Derwent Water

near Keswick, Cumbria

Fully open today
Group of walkers passing through a gateway with green mountains ahead
Place
Place

Ennerdale 

Home of the Wild Ennerdale project with 30 miles of traffic-free paths

Cleator Moor, Cumbria

Fully open today

Things to see and do with family

Looking for places to visit with the kids in the Lake District? Explore days out in nature, activities for all the family and places to spot wildlife all year round.

A family standing on the lakeshore at Aira Green in Ullswater

Family-friendly places in the Lake District 

Plan your next family day out in the Lake District – seek out natural play areas, scramble over rocks and spot wildlife on your way. As the days lengthen and the weather gets warmer, spring provides a great opportunity to make the most of your membership, explore the new season and visit somewhere new.

Two girls looking for nature in the woods at Allan Bank

Easter egg trails 

Make the most out of the Easter holidays this spring and step out on an egg hunt at Wray, Sizergh, Allan Bank, Acorn Bank or Wordsworth House & Garden. Take part in some fun outdoor activities and complete the trail to collect your prize. Each trail is different so make sure to try out more than one over the holidays.

Planning your visit to the Lake District

Walkers setting out from Seatoller car park in Borrowdale, Lake District
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Planning your visit to the Lake District 

Tools, tips and guidance to help you make the most out of your trip to the Lake District and help us look after it.

Two women walking a dog in the garden at Allan Bank in Grasmere
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Places you can visit in the Lake District without a car 

Whether you’re looking to travel by train, bus, bike or foot, there are many places in the Lake District that you can visit without a car - here's the info to help you plan a car-free day out.

A man sitting on the back of his car in a car park to put his walking boots on to go for a walk in Borrowdale, Cumbria
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Countryside car parks in the Lake District 

Discover the National Trust's countryside car parks in the Lake District.

Our work in the Lake District

Alongside our tenant farmers, the National Trust looks after 20% of the Lake District National Park, including England's deepest lake and highest mountain. We work to restore habitats for nature and to conserve the cultural heritage within a dozen historic buildings. Find out more about what the teams have been up to here.

Herdwick sheep grazing in fields next to Tarn Hows on a summer's day
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Farming in the Lake District 

Learn about the traditional farming practices in the Lake District and how the National Trust works with farm tenants to restore vital habitats, protect wildlife and support quality local produce.

A view of Watendlath Beck Borrowdale, Lake District

Riverlands projects 

Rivers are life forces. They’ve helped sustain ecosystems, cultures and communities for millennia, their quiet power steadily shaping everything from landscapes to place names. Find out more about the work the National Trust is doing with local partners, tenant farmers and other landowners in the area to help restore the Lake District's rivers and improve the water quality in lakes and tarns.

Five people in coats and scarves walking beside placid lake with bare trees dotted around
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Windermere Gateway 

The Windermere Gateway programme is a unique opportunity for the National Trust to make a difference in Windermere and support the Lake District National Park Local Plan ambitions.

Get involved

There are plenty of opportunities to get involved in our work across the Lakes

Visitors on a volunteer-led guided tour around Wray Castle in Ambleside with the castle and blue sky in the background

Volunteering in the Lake District 

Find out more about volunteering for the National Trust in the Lake District. You could work indoors or outside, welcoming and guiding visitors, growing crops or managing woodland or building paths.

A ranger strimming grass at Rayleigh Mount, Essex, in the sunshine, with areas of deep shadow beneath the trees
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Supporter groups in the Lake District 

Join a supporter group in the Lake District to volunteer outdoors with other people and help us look after special places in the National Park.

Places to stay in the Lake District

The shore of Wastwater is just one mile from Wasdale Campsite, Lake District

Wasdale Campsite 

A peaceful campsite less than a mile from the shore of Wastwater, perfectly placed for challenging bike trails and Scafell Pike, England’s tallest mountain.

Campervan and motorhome pitches at Eskdale Campsite, Cumbria

Eskdale Campsite 

A tranquil base in the heart of the Lakes, for a holiday walking and exploring the region’s crags, woods and waterfalls.

An aerial view of one of the camping fields at Low Wray Campsite, Lake District

Low Wray Campsite 

Lakeside or mountain-view pitches for tents and campervans, along with pre-pitched tents and pods, on Windermere, England’s biggest lake.

Upcoming events

Event

Letters from London 

Townend, Windermere, Cumbria

Delve into the Townend archive collection through these fascinating personal letters.

Event summary

on
28 Mar to 1 Nov 2024
at
10:00 to 15:00
+ 125 other dates or times
Event

Spring Adventures in Nature 

Wray, Ambleside, Cumbria

Grab a Springo sheet and tick off the sights and sounds you see and hear in nature as you explore the Wray grounds.

Event summary

on
28 Mar to 15 Apr 2024
at
10:00 to 15:30
+ 18 other dates or times
Event

Brought to Light: The Lakeland Photographs of Herbert Bell and Rupert Potter 

Wray, Ambleside, Cumbria

Brought to Light contrasts the work of two of the Lake District’s great photographers: Herbert Bell, a chemist’s son from Ambleside, and Rupert Potter, father of the children’s author Beatrix Potter, in a never before seen way.

Event summary

on
28 Mar to 2 Jun 2024
at
10:00 to 16:00
+ 60 other dates or times
Event

Easter trail at Allan Bank 

Allan Bank and Grasmere, Ambleside, Cumbria

This spring, treat the family to a mini adventure on Allan Bank's Easter trail.

Event summary

on
28 Mar to 7 Apr 2024
at
10:00 to 16:00
+ 8 other dates or times
Event

Easter egg hunt at Wray 

Wray, Ambleside, Cumbria

This spring, treat the whole family to a world of adventure at Wray on an Easter trail.

Event summary

on
28 Mar to 7 Apr 2024
at
10:00 to 16:00
+ 10 other dates or times
Event

Flower time in the Oberland: The holiday watercolours of Eleanor Rawnsley  

Allan Bank and Grasmere, Ambleside, Cumbria

A snapshot of the Rawnsley's private lives and holidays in Europe displayed in the house where they lived.

Event summary

on
28 Mar to 22 Dec 2024
at
10:00 to 17:30
+ 41 other dates or times
Event

Easter Egg hunt at Acorn Bank 

Acorn Bank, near Penrith, Cumbria

This spring, treat the whole family to a world of adventure at Acorn Bank on an Easter trail.

Event summary

on
28 Mar to 14 Apr 2024
at
10:30 to 15:30
+ 17 other dates or times
Event

Conservation in Action: Queen’s Room Deep Clean 

Sizergh, near Kendal, Cumbria

Watch the House team undertake a deep clean of the Queen’s Room at Sizergh.

Event summary

on
28 Mar 2024
at
12:00 to 16:00
Visitors walking among daffodils at Dora's Field, Ambleside, Cumbria

Where will you visit next?

Discover lots of gardens, historic houses, days out at the coast and more.