Booking your visit

Arriving by car

If you are planning a visit to Hill Top by car, you must pre-book your ticket (applicable to all visitors, non-members and National Trust members) Hill Top is a traditional Lake District cottage, and the car parking facilities are small with limited capacity. Sorry but we cannot accept camper vans or motorhomes in the car park due to capacity.

When you book, you will choose a timed slot for arrival. Please don’t arrive before your booked visit time as we may not be able to accommodate you in the car park and you will be required to come back at the allotted time.

Tickets

You can pre-book tickets online up to a few minutes before each timeslot and up to two weeks in advance. Select your time slot and number of tickets and follow the instructions online. Entry and parking are free for members, but please do remember to bring your National Trust membership card with you. There is an entry ticket charge for non-National Trust members.

Please book one ticket per person except for children aged 5 or under as they don’t need a ticket. Tickets are for your use only and are not available for resale.

Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome everywhere but not in the house.

We will send your booking confirmation by email. Please make sure you fill in your correct email address when you book to ensure you receive your confirmation email.

Please contact 0344 249 1895 for booking enquiries.

Other ways to get here – no pre-booking required

We encourage sustainable travel options and support a shuttle bus service to Hill Top and Hawkshead with our partners Mountain Goat. If travelling to Hill Top by bus or arriving on foot or bike there is no need to pre-book tickets, you are guaranteed entry.

Consider parking in Hawkshead and catching the 525 Mountain Goat bus service from opposite the Tourist Information centre. That way you can combine a visit to Hill Top with a visit to the beautiful village of Hawkshead.

You can leave the car behind and catch the Westmoreland and Furness Council operated ferry from Bowness as a foot passenger then either walk or catch the 525 Mountain Goat bus to Hill Top. Again, if travelling to Hill Top by bus or on foot from the ferry there is no need to pre-book tickets, you are guaranteed entry. If walking, it’s a 2-mile path requiring a basic level of fitness, but an ideal way to catch a glimpse of the countryside that inspired Beatrix. Part of the route is on the road so it may not be suitable for all.

Hop across the lake with your bike then cycle, following the signs to Hill Top and Far Sawrey. It’s a 2-mile journey from the ferry.

Combined bus, boat and Hill Top ticket

For the ultimate experience, travel by boat with Windermere Lake Cruises from Bowness direct to Ash Landing jetty which links with the 525 Mountain Goat bus service. You can buy a combined boat, bus and Hill Top ticket. Book this via Windermere Lake Cruises – see more information here on Windermere Lake Cruises website