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A family eating and drinking in the cafe at Fell Foot Park
Warm up in the cafe after a after a walk at Fell Foot | © National Trust Images / Shaun Barr

Places to eat in the Lake District

The Lake District is full of places to eat, whether you want to bring your own food and picnic against the backdrop of beautiful views, eat in somewhere with a great selection of food, or grab a takeaway drink to take with you on a winter walk. 

Places to eat in the Lake District

Here are some of the Lake District's best eating options for tucking into something tasty outdoors or enjoying a meal inside.

Eating at Fell Foot 

Looking for some refreshment? The Boathouse café offers drinks, freshly prepared hot and cold meals, snacks, cakes and bakes.

Apple and custard scone served with a cup of tea

Eating at Aira Force 

Stop for refreshments at Aira Force tea-room for a delightful selection of hot and cold drinks, cakes and sandwiches. Perfect for refuelling during your Ullswater Way walk or waterfall adventure.

Visitors in the tearoom at Aira Force, Ullswater, Cumbria

Eating and drinking at Claife Viewing Station 

Joey’s Café at Claife Viewing Station serves as a cosy pit-stop for those walking up to the station or setting out along the west shore. Will it be a slice of freshly baked cake or a frothy coffee?

White single storey building with large chimneys and courtyard with castellated archway in the background

Eating and shopping at Sizergh 

Can we tempt you to afternoon tea in the café, a new pair of gardening gloves from the shop or a pre-loved book during your visit to Sizergh?

Visitors in the cafe at Sizergh, Cumbria

Eating at Wray 

Need some refreshment during your visit to Wray? Our partners at JOEY's Café offer a wide range of snacks and drinks to help you refuel before or after your adventures.

Oreo cake JOEYS cafe, Wray

Perfect picnic spots in the Lake District

Bring along some goodies to enjoy your lunch in the fresh air amidst the Lake District's iconic landscape.

Wray 

Bring your picnic and enjoy lake views of Windermere against the backdrop of Wray Castle. Grab a bench on the terrace or lay down your mat on the West Lawn or Shingle Beach.

Ambleside, Cumbria

Fully open today
View of the castle at Wray from the west showing the panoramic mountain views

Fell Foot 

Unroll your blanket on the grassy lawns and enjoy a picnic on the shores of Windermere at Fell Foot.

Windermere, Cumbria

Fully open today
View of a calm lake with boats on it and an autumn tree to the right

Sizergh 

Head to one of Sizergh's picnic tables dotted around the gardens and take in the seasonal sounds around you. The café sells hot drinks, fresh cakes and pastries if you want to top up your supplies.

near Kendal, Cumbria

Fully open today
Historic stone castle at Sizergh reflected in a calm pond, surrounded by greenery under a cloudy sky.

Allan Bank and Grasmere 

The lawns are ideal for spreading out a blanket to eat your lunch especially in the spring and summer, plus there is a picnic bench in the garden. If it’s raining, picnic indoors in one of the comfy armchairs next to a bay window.

Ambleside, Cumbria

Closed now
Autumnal view of Allan Bank, Grasmere, Lake District, Cumbria: with a close-to-the-ground view of fallen leaves on the grass and the white house on the slope above

Borrowdale and Derwent Water 

Crack open your Thermos and enjoy a coffee sat on top of the Bowder Stone, or take a packed lunch on a walk along Derwent Water’s lakeshore, where there’s a perfectly placed bench at Friar’s Crag to enjoy the view as you tuck into your sandwiches.

near Keswick, Cumbria

Fully open today
A trio of people sit looking out on a view over a lake from a mountainside in the Lake District.
View over Watendlath Tarn in autumn, surrounded by mountains, Borrowdale, the Lake District

Discover more in the Lake District

Home of Beatrix Potter, dramatic landscapes and fascinating history.