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.

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Waterfall cascading between green mossy rocks.

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.

The cream exterior of Allan Bank house on a sunny day

Place

Allan Bank and Grasmere

The loveliest spot that man hath ever found

A family walk along a gravel path at the bottom of a picture of a rock garden with the house visible behind

Place

Sizergh

Beautiful medieval house with rich gardens and estate

The castle lit by dramatic autumn light with autumn trees in front of it and autumn leaves on the ground

Place

Wray

Parkland and castle on the west shore of Windermere.

Fell Foot Park at the south end of Windermere, Cumbria, showing the National Trust boat hire business, tea shop and retail shop in restored boathouses built from local limestone.

Place

Fell Foot

Lakeshore park with stunning mountain views, Boathouse cafe, watersports hire and play area

View of the cliffs and the sea along the Whitehaven Coast, Cumbria

Place

Whitehaven Coast

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

A trio of people sit looking out on a view over a lake from a mountainside in the Lake District.

Place

Borrowdale and Derwent Water

Spectacular and varied lakeland landscape around Derwent Water

Looking across Ennerdale water to an outcropping of trees reflected in the water and the sun kissed mountains in the background

Place

Ennerdale

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

The exterior of Hill Top cottage surrounded by thick green shrubs and trees

Family-friendly places in 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.

Family in the garden at Sizergh with a pushchair, Cumbria

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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.

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.

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

Search volunteering opportunities in the Lake District

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.

Wasdale Campsite

A mile from Wastwater, close to challenging bike trails and Scafell Pike, England’s tallest mountain.

Volunteers sitting on a bench with Cat Bells in the background at Borrowdale and Derwentwater in Cumbria

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Romantic places to stay in the Lakes

A dog with a view of Wastwater at Wasdale in Cumbria

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Dog-friendly cottages in the Lake District

Eskdale Campsite

Low in the valley, with trails by the river and up through the fells to small mountain lakes. Village pubs are a short stroll away.

Low Wray Campsite

By Windermere, England’s largest lake, surrounded by things to do and places to visit.

See all events

Event

Other Everests: One Mountain, Many Worlds

Wray, Ambleside, Cumbria

Other Everests: One Mountain, Many Worlds, shares photographs and mountaineering artefacts from the Royal Geographical Society and the Mountain Heritage Trust in the centenary year of the 1924 Mount Everest expedition.

Event

Wildlife Encounters: An Exhibition of British Wildlife Photographs and the Tales behind them

Wordsworth House and Garden, Cockermouth, Cumbria

Come and wonder at the striking wildlife of the British Isles as portrayed by local photographers Rosamund and John Macfarlane.

Event

Ancient Trees exhibition

Sizergh, near Kendal, Cumbria

Standing proud on the estate for centuries, Sizergh’s ancient trees can tell fascinating stories about the landscape.

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Paddleboard, kayak and row boat sessions

Fell Foot, Windermere, Cumbria

Brought to you by the National Trust and Stoked Watersports, an opportunity to get out on the lake and maybe try something new.

Event

Bench Making

Windermere and Footprint, Windermere, Cumbria

Make a rustic greenwood bench in a day at the Footprint.

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Industrial heritage of the Whitehaven Coast guided walk

Whitehaven Coast, Whitehaven, Cumbria

Brought to you by the National Trust for Heritage Open Day. Take in the views and learn about the particular history of the area on a guided walk along the Whitehaven Coast trail.

Event

Guided walk: improving the health of Keswick's woodlands

Borrowdale and Derwent Water, near Keswick, Cumbria

Join ranger Ted on a guided walk exploring the beautiful woodlands that border Keswick and their role in the cultural landscape of the Lake District World Heritage Site.

Event

Letters from London

Townend, Windermere, Cumbria

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

Explore an area nearby

Visitors exploring the sand dunes and the woodland at Formby, Liverpool

Where will you visit next?

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

Plan a visit