Where to Go in the Lake District

If you're planning your first visit to the Lake District and you have no idea where to even start, you've come to the right place. Below we highlight our top picks, showing you brief snapshots of places to go in the Lake District with what there is to do there, nearby lakes, walks, and top attractions.  

Or, for a more complete directory, check out our list of popular towns in the Lake District, as well as the 16 major lakes

Bowness-on-Windermere

The most popularly visited areas are Bowness-on-Windermere & Windermere, which are two separate towns that share the same famous lake, which is the largest in the Lake District. The towns each have unique town centres with plenty of shopping, lake cruises, and great attractions, including the World of Beatrix Potter, and the famous Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway.

Keswick

Keswick is another popular Lake District destination with a charming town centre that features an iconic clock tower, some interesting museums, and cosy tea rooms that serve up delicious scones. The town also hosts a fair amount of festivals throughout the year, including a beer festival, mountain festival, jazz festival, film festival, a summer festival, an agricultural show, as well as a Christmas market. It is also located near the shores of the stunning Derwent Water. 

Coniston

If you're after that quaint, village Lake District experience, Coniston is an excellent choice. The Old Man of Coniston, the highest point in the Furness Fells, fell walk starts here and provides beautiful views from its summit. If you're in need of a beer after your long walk, head over to the Coniston Brewery, which is housed in a 400-year-old pub and features the award-winning Bluebird Bitter. There are also lake cruises available on Coniston Water, as well as a John Ruskin Museum.

Kendal

Kendal is a great place to base yourself in the Lake District if you'd rather have the comforts and amenities of a bigger city at your fingertips. Kendal is famous for its Mint Cake, the Kendal Museum, and Kendal Castle. There are also multiple festivals that take place throughout the year, including a music festival, a food festival, a film festival that features the great outdoors, a comic arts festival, a unique torchlight carnival, and, of course, a beer festival. 

Furness Peninsula

Whilst outside the border of the Lake District National Park, Furness Peninsula has plenty of attractions for those willing to travel a bit further afield. This includes Piel Island & the ruins of Piel Castle, the ruins of Furness Abbey, the South Lakes Safari Zoo, and the Ulverston Brewing Company. There is also a food festival in the spring, as well as a Charles Dickens themed Christmas festival in the winter.

Ravenglass

Located along the coast, Ravenglass is a small, quiet village with sandy beaches and stunning ocean views. In the summer months, you can take a stroll along the beach with an icecream in hand. There is also the famous Ravenglass & Eskdale Steam Railway where you can enjoy a 40-minute journey in a heritage train, and just outside of Ravenglass, is Muncaster Castle, where you can tour the castle and 70-acres of its impressive gardens.