Best Time to Travel
The Lake District is busy all year, but it really comes alive in summer when thousands of visitors flock to lake-side villages to spend time sailing, sauntering and sightseeing. If you’d prefer to avoid the crowds, try visiting out of school holidays. Fancy snuggling up in a log-fired cottage? Then head to the Lakes in winter when you can stroll to the local pub for a hearty roast dinner or peruse literary landmarks, history museums, and art galleries. If you’re visiting over Christmas and New Year, be sure to book accommodation well in advance.
Not to Miss
A haven and inspiration for literary and artistic types, the Lake District has been called home by some of the country’s best-loved poets, authors and artists, including William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. You can visit various literary homes and museums, including Rydal Mount. It might be less famous than the poet’s chocolate-box Dove Cottage, but Wordsworth actually lived much longer in this grand house nestled among the rolling mist-laden hills between Grasmere and Ambleside. Inside you’ll discover portraits, personal items, and first editions, as well as Wordsworth’s attic study, where he worked when he was poet laureate.
Getting around
You can catch a direct train to Windermere and Barrow-in-Furness on the coast from Manchester, Preston and Lancaster. If travelling from London and the south, you might find coaches are a quicker alternative, as they arrive from many UK cities. It’s really easy to leave the car behind thanks to the exhaustive bus and rail network. Plus with heavy road traffic in summer, it’s often less stressful – and greener – to leave the car behind. Local buses jolly along between the Lake District’s towns and villages and are a particularly purse-friendly way to get around, especially if you buy day tickets.
Cuisine
The Lake District is a food lover’s haven. Michelin-starred restaurants, local bistros and traditional pubs all serve up tasty dishes, so no matter what your taste or budget, you’re bound to find a place to suit. A strong farming community provides produce to many restaurants, so during your stay you can try locally reared meat and game, Lake District cheeses, and even handmade artisan bread from the region. If you fancy a taste of the north, try a lamb hotpot, or a hearty steak pie. You’ll also find a vast selection of seafood on offer, caught from the lakes or the coast.
Customs and etiquette
The Lake District’s one of England’s top tourist destinations, and locals are a friendly chatty bunch. Despite the influx of visitors, it’s still a rural area, so rowdiness and over-the-top behaviour won’t be well received, especially at night in sleepy towns and villages. If you’re planning on adventuring into the wilderness make sure you have suitable gear and are equipped for changes in weather. It might start off sunny, but the rain and mist can come in quickly at times. Mobile signal can be sporadic, so it’s best to tell someone your plans before you head off.
Fast Facts• Population: 41600
• Spoken languages: English
• Electrical: The UK runs on 230V, 50 Hz current
• Phone Calling Code: +44 1539999
