Considering a first-time road trip from London to The Lake District UK? In this 5 day Lake District itinerary, discover where to stay in the region of Cumbria to maximize your time, discover beautiful passes, enjoy tasty Windermere restaurants, hire a boat, and experience the very best the Lake District offers.
If a UK road trip is what you’re seeking, this Lake District itinerary is for you. And even if you choose to take the train, this post covers what to do in the Lake District over the course of your visit. Read on to learn why everyone wants to go to the Lake District UK or save it for later when you have time to take notes!
Pin things to do in the Lake District for later!
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read the full disclosure policy.
Table of Contents
TLDR
This post contains a lot of detail about all the things to do in the Lake District over 5 days. If you don’t have the time to read it in full:
- The train takes 3.5 hours from London Euston to Windermere or 5 hours by car
- Rent a car to tour the Lake District so you can see the best of Cumbria
- Stay in Bowness-on Windermere at The Belsfield Laura Ashley Hotel
- Things to do in the Lake District:
- Day 1: Spend the day in Windermere
- Day 2: Explore things to do around Ullswater Lake
- Day 3: Go sightseeing around Derwent Water
- Day 4: Head north of Cumbria to Hadrian’s Wall
- Day 5: Visit Wray Castle before departing home or continue a road trip to Wales
- For the most quirky thing to do in the Lake District: see the world’s biggest colouring pencil at the Cumberland Pencil Museum in Keswick
- Book restaurant reservations in advance at Jackson’s Bistro and Positano
- For the best souvenirs from the Lake District, shop at Love The Lakes and Rebecca Cropper’s studio in Bowness-on-Windermere
Lake Windermere is a great location for your stay
How To Get To The Lake District From London
While you can get to the Lake District by train from various cities in England, the Lake District is an awesome destination for a UK road trip. There are so many things to do in the Lake District that to truly experience it requires having your own car or booking sightseeing tours with a bus company.
Getting to the Lake District from London takes approximately 5 hours, compared to 3.5 hours by train from London Euston Station to Windermere.
With small children under 10 and occasional motion sickness, there are many winding passes and roads in the Lake District to consider how you choose to get there.
A car makes a perfect choice to have the freedom to stop or pull over whenever you want to. And trust me, you’ll want to with Lake District places to visit like this.
Lake District Itinerary day 2 starts in Kirkstone Pass
Nevertheless, there are many tour operators ready and waiting to show you why 16 million visitors go to the Lake District of England every year.
Where To Stay In The Lake District: Windermere
You know you want to go to the Lake District but you’re not really sure which part of the Lake District to stay. Because there are so many choices of where to stay and types of accommodation, it can make planning a first time visit to the Lake District a bit overwhelming.
Deciding whether to stay in the south of Cumbria near Windermere or go north to Keswick for convenient Lake District places to see such as Bassenthwaite (the only ‘official’ lake in the Lake District; the others are called meres) – will really depend upon the type of accommodation, conveniences and overall holiday you seek.
Admittedly, after our first time visit to the Lake District region of Cumbria, I learned that there is so much beauty that you really can’t go wrong.
Pretty bluey grey stone cottages match the Lake District landscape
In the end, Bowness-on-Windermere is where we chose to stay for our first time visit. If (when) we go back, I would stay in Bowness again or in Ambleside. Here’s why to help you decide if Bowness-on-Windermere is the best town to stay for your first time Lake District visit, too:
Bowness-on-Windermere Highlights
- Quick arrival to the Lake District from London
- Easy arrival/departure town when combining the Lake District with Wales for a UK road trip
- Many restaurants and pubs all accessible by foot, including waterfront dining options
- Unique and abundant shopping options accessible by foot
- Lake Windermere boat hire options and lake cruises throughout the day
- Home to The World of Beatrix Potter
- The Belsfield Laura Ashley Hotel for a 5-star holiday
The downside to staying in Bowness-on-Windermere is the traffic driving through Ambleside to head north. Other than that, it’s hard to think of any other reason not to consider staying there.
Ambleside offers similar food and shopping benefits as staying in Bowness-on-Windermere. It’s super charming with a water mill in the center of town. The Waterhead Hotel is impressive and The Giggling Goose Cafe draws you in as you navigate your way through Ambleside.
Nevertheless, The Belsfield Windermere water views, 5-star service, and large family rooms outfitted in the prettiest Laura Ashley wallpapers you ever did see make this a win-win for the whole family. As of March 2024, The Belsfield Hotel is officially dog-friendly! The Belsfield may just be the best place to stay in Lake District England.
Stunning hotel for a Lake District visit: The Belsfield
More On The Belsfield As Your Place To Stay In The Lake District
Kendal Rd, Bowness-on-Windermere, Windermere LA23 3EL
We loved our first visit to the Lake District and stay at The Belsfield so much that we actually turned what was intentionally supposed to be a 4-day visit into a 5-day one.
The Belsfield Hotel staff is so accommodating that despite being sold out of family rooms, they were able to rearrange 2 side-by-side rooms for an extra night’s stay the day before our departure. And if that doesn’t sound convincing, here are a few more things about this Laura Ashley Lake District hotel.
- Car parking is free.
- A sticker that seals the door to prevent unwanted entry is added to each guest room by housekeeping letting you know it’s been deep cleaned and sanitized.
- Not all amenities were open during Covid, such as the indoor atrium-style swimming pool, but the hill and gardens overlooking the lake serve as a great place for the kids to roll (because it’s far too tempting not to!) and even play outdoor games.
- Yes, it’s kid-friendly – and respectably so by its guests (minus my kids rolling down the hill). 🤣
- Dog-friendly! As of March 2024, your pooch is welcome too.
- The Belsfield can arrange a restaurant booking for you at sold-out hotspot restaurants when you can’t get in yourself. I share more about restaurants later in this post.
- The hotel sits atop a hill overlooking Lake Windermere, making its terrace bar a prime location for enjoying gorgeous views both morning and night while wrapped up in a complimentary Laura Ashley blanket.
- A family favorite: complimentary water, treats, and chocolates in the guest room.
The Belsfield Laura Ashley Family Room
A 5 Day Lake District Itinerary
While the Lake District region of Cumbria is a destination for long walks, hikes, climbing, and all things nature, the intention of this visit is to cover as many must-see places in the Lake District as possible in essentially 4-5 days. As a result, this is a very active Lake District itinerary. While not everyone has that much time for a holiday or interest in non-stop activities for that matter, you can pick and choose or mix-and-match days with attractions of most interest to suit your Lake District visit.
A super fun resource for the whole family to use and understand the layout of Cumbria for organizing what to see when is Rachel Dixon’s Maps of The United Kingdom. It’s a book outlining all the counties of the UK in super fun and colorful illustrative ways – an essential book for UK road trips with kids. In fact, it’s how I discovered Hadrian’s Wall being far closer to where we were than we realized and added that to our itinerary over the course of our visit.
[adcode-api type=”asin” asin=”178603025X”]
Day 1 – Lake Windermere
Day 1 of your Lake District road trip is all about getting there and getting to know the best of your home base.
Afternoon – Lake Windermere
After traveling all morning, arrive at the Lake District around 2-3pm. Check into your hotel and have a look around at the place you’ll easily call home for the next 5 days.
Since you’ve been traveling all morning, plan on spending the late afternoon getting to know all that Bowness-on-Windermere has to offer. Take special attention to learning the hours of restaurants, shops, and even activity centers since many places are seasonal. This will help with planning dinner reservations and souvenir shopping later during your visit. I share the best shops later in this post.
A private boat hire or Lake Windermere Cruise is the perfect way to unwind after a long car or train ride. This is a hit with the whole family because you get to control your own boat, although the speed is capped for everyone’s safety. Nevertheless, boat hire is rated as the #1 Lake District thing to do during your visit.
Lake Windermere Boat Hire
Early Evening – The Belsfield Terrace
On the first night of your Lake District visit, relax and enjoy sunset water views from The Belsfield Terrace.
Although the waterfront is considered busy, with the exception of one night (which was more like a fun party scene from the Ozarks than the Lake District) it was incredibly quiet, peaceful, and absolutely stunning.
Terrace Bar View from The Belsfield
Day 2 – Sightseeing To & Around Ullswater Lake
The day 2 itinerary is centered around the best Lake District things to do around Ullswater Lake.
Morning – Kirkstone Pass & Glenridding
Lake District things to do on the way to Ullswater Lake start at Kirkstone Pass. Just be careful driving along the winding pass because there could be goats or sheep at any turn. There are areas to pull off to snap photos or have a closer look.
Being the highest pass in the Lake District, plan for all types of weather as you drive the Kirkstone Pass. You might start the journey with warm rays of sunshine and minutes later be in a rainy patch with fog. It’s incredibly mysterious and beautiful.
A great place to pull over safely and take a break is at the Kirkstone Pass Inn – the third highest public house in England. The car park is free.
Kirstone Pass, Lake District UK
Glenridding is where you can catch the Ullswater Steamer Boat. Be sure to book tickets in advance since the boat is running at limited capacity and dates/times during Covid.
Ullswater Steamer Dock, Glenridding
Take Ullswater Steamer Boat from Glenridding to Pooley Bridge. There are more options available to experience the boat if you prefer a shorter ride, but taking it from Glenridding to Pooley Bridge allows you to see the full extent of Ullswater Lake.
Dress warm because even on the sunniest of days, the wind off the lake can be quite cold and wet!
You’ll see paddleboarders, sailboats, possibly swimmers, amazing waterside hotels (one which claims the sticky toffee pudding invention), and Lady of the Lake which is believed to be the oldest working passenger vessel in the world dating back to 1877.
Ullswater Lake
Afternoon – Pooley Bridge & Aira Force Waterfall
Upon arrival in Pooley Bridge, enjoy a pub lunch at Pooley Bridge Inn but manage the time so that you can explore the countryside before boarding the boat again.
Before leaving the main street, be sure to show the kids the fish atop the monument in the center of the village and even atop St Paul’s Church.
While in Pooley, hike to Cockpit Stone Circle.
Cockpit Stone Circle
This is a 1.5-mile hike from the village to the circle which resembles a very small version of Stonehenge. The hike offers beautiful views of the lake and even horseback riders along the way. There is a moderate incline on the way there, but nothing too strenuous. Overall, Cockpit Stone Circle is a fairly easy hike.
Directions to Cockpit Stone Circle are a bit tricky because signs aren’t clearly marked, but Google Maps will send you in the right direction. If you feel lost, ask a fellow visitor along the trail.
If you want a more difficult hike or a leisure afternoon, Ullswater Steamer provides several different Pooley Bridge itineraries.
Cockpit Stone Circle
Aira Force Waterfall
Back in Glenridding, drive about 15 minutes north to Aira Force Waterfall in Penwith before returning to Bowness. This impressive 20-meter waterfall is one of the best Lake District things to do hands down. Totally unexpected and easy to get to after a long day of exploring. Parking is available near the trail for a fee so it doesn’t require hiking from a distance to enjoy this beauty.
Side view from the top of the Aira Force Waterfall
Day 3 – Sightseeing To & Around Derwent Water
The day 3 itinerary is centered around the best Lake District things to do near Derwent Water. Plan an early start because Lake District day 3 is packed. We started later than planned so had a late lunch and barely made it to Grasmere in time for gingerbread, which you won’t want to miss!
Lake District Day 3 Map – save this map to your phone
Morning – Castlerigg Stone Circle, Ashness Bridge & Surprise View
Castlerigg Stone Circle is a ring of 38 stones dating back to around 3000 BC. It’s considered mini Stonehenge offering panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. To see this via a helicopter would be amazing but the most practical way is to drive.
While Stonehenge is shockingly visible from the A303, Castlerigg Stone Circle has quite a dramatic entrance. We questioned the road to get there as more a walking path vs a road, but when in England!
If the short drive on Castle Lane to Castlerigg seems more adventurous than you desire, you can take Eleventrees off the A591.
Castlerigg Stone Circle
Ashness Bridge
The next adventurous Lake District thing to do on day 3 is Ashness Bridge. We nearly turned around after approaching this stone-built bridge but given it’s a single-track road, a fellow visitor helped us safely cross the bridge. Turning around wasn’t much of an option without crossing the bridge first! If we can cross in a Jaguar F-Pace SUV, you will be fine!
There is a car park at Ashness Bridge which makes it easy to have a breather after crossing the bridge in a wide car. Driving aside, it’s such a beautiful location and voted as a favorite Lake District thing to do by my son at the end of the trip.
Ashness Bridge is a popular picnic stop or even starting point for a 15-minute walk up the road to Surprise View. While it wasn’t overly busy while we were there, it’s certainly easy to see why it’s such a popular tourist attraction.
Ashness Bridge
Given our schedule, we parked, climbed the hills a bit, and explored the area before moving on to Surprise View.
Surprise View
Surprise View overlooks Derwent Water, which also happens to be a filming location for Star Wars The Force Awakens. It’s so impressive it’s understandable why.
There are benches and rocks large enough to enjoy a picnic or snack while taking in the view. Just make sure to supervise small children as there isn’t much separating the view from the steep cliff drop off.
Derwent Water
Afternoon – Honister Pass & Grasmere
Next up is Honister Pass and the Honister Pass Slate Mine. Even if you think seeing Kirkstone Pass was enough, wait until you come upon Honister Pass. The drive is simply gorgeous. You’ll want to stop at every opportunity for a photo. Of all the places in the Lake District to visit, this is one that exceeds expectations.
Honister Pass
Honister Pass Slate Mine
The Honister Pass Slate Mine is a great stop to explore and purchase a piece of slate to cherish your Lake District visit forever. The Slate Mine offers tours but if you’re pressed for time, as we were, go into the shop and talk with the staff. They are happy to answer any questions and give you super fun facts for the kids, such as:
- The Honister Pass Slate is what’s used to roof Buckingham Palace.
We were already planning to buy our house number in slate, but after learning it sources Buckingham Palace, we ordered an entire house sign to take to the USA. If that’s more than you can carry, there are small broken slate chips on the driveway that are fun for the kids to pick one and pocket as a memory.
Where to eat lunch on Lake District day 3
On the return drive, stop at Mary Mount in Borrowdale for lunch. This could be an option for before or after Honister Pass. We chose to wait till after Honister Pass to spread out the driving.
Mary Mount offers great indoor or outdoor dining overlooking the green fields and Derwent Water. Highly recommend the tomato bisque soup as seen here next to my slate memento.
Lunch at Mary Mount, Borrowdale
Grasmere
After lunch, make the village of Grasmere your final day 3 destination. Aside from it being a super cute English village to not miss, it also happens to be where gingerbread was invented.
While I was expecting the building to be the size of a typical bakery that holds at least a dozen patrons, this gingerbread shop is like no other. Adjacent to Grasmere Parish Church, Sarah Nelson’s Gingerbread Shop is the only place in the world where you’ll have gingerbread like this. Be sure to get your phone ready for a photo because the time allowed inside is quick!
Sarah Nelson’s Grasmere Gingerbread
Expect to wait in line for Sarah’s gingerbread, so plan to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to closing. While there, be sure to also buy Kendall mint cake. We bought more after our first round of it!
If you find to have the time and energy for more Lake District activities after visiting Grasmere, I highly suggest Ambleside:
- Rydal Caves for a fun hike to the water caves with the kids. It’s a 40-minute walk to the caves and back to the car park. Use LA22 9SD to get there.
- Ambleside town center for exploring the shops, water mill and pubs.
Day 4 – Bowness-on-Windermere & Hadrian’s Wall
The day 4 itinerary is split between shopping for unique Lake District one-of-a-kinds before leaving on day 5, and venturing to the furthest point on this Cumbria road trip: Hadrian’s Wall. This gives the family a chill morning before the drive to almost Scotland.
Morning – Bowness-on-Windermere
Although only planned for a half day, you could easily spend more time exploring all the boutiques and galleries in Bowness-on-Windermere, not to mention the World of Beatrix Potter. During our Lake District visit, the attraction was closed but the Petter Rabbit & Friends store was open. The store is a great alternative for your child to not feel disappointed if they have their heart set on the World of Beatrix Potter. Although being in the Lake District makes you feel like you’re about to run into Mr. McGregor at any time.
Can you imagine Peter Rabbit here?
In addition to letting your littles pick out their favorite Peter Rabbit stuffy and Peter Rabbit book, Bowness has a few boutiques you absolutely must shop.
My top 3 favorite Lake District shops
Rebecca Cropper
Lake Rd, Bowness-on-Windermere LA23 3AP, United Kingdom
Rebecca Cropper, Bowness-on-Windermere
I loved this store from the outside so much I went back 3 times until I could catch it during open hours. With a busy itinerary and its limited hours, be sure to find time to visit this one-of-a-kind place.
Rebecca is lovely and her prints are individually hand-painted so no two pieces are identical. She does her painting in the gallery, so you can catch a sneak peek of what she’s currently working on. My kids were utterly impressed with her drawing in-progress and how sweet she is.
Artwork that is focused entirely on the surrounding nature, her collection is the perfect gift or reminder of your first time visit to the Lake District. I left with a butterfly pillow, a butterfly tea towel and a butterfly double-oven mitt. Rebecca Cropper also ships to the USA.
Love The Lakes
Ash Street, Bowness on Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 3EB
Whether you’re looking for pretty wool fabric gifts or Lakes gin unique to this area, I swear this shop covers all genres and interests.
My husband and children aren’t necessarily interested in souvenir shopping, but this is one Lake District store that we couldn’t get enough of.
From vintage lake prints to gin, to a wood doorstopper, it would be impossible to not find something you love in this store. There is also one in Keswick.
Christmas On The Lakes
Unit 59, Quarry Rigg, Bowness-on-Windermere, LA23 3DU
While our Christmas tree is getting a bit heavy with all the ornaments collected over the years, Christmas On The Lakes sells a hand-painted Lakes District Christmas bulb that’s really hard to say no to.
It’s hand-painted by a local woman wrapped in a beautiful box to protect it year after year. If collecting Christmas ornaments from your travels is a hobby, this is the one you want.
Christmas On The Lakes
Afternoon – Hadrian’s Wall
To save some time either in the morning or the afternoon, grab takeaway lunch for your journey to Hadrian’s Wall. We chose Cornish-style pasties from Bryson’s Tea Room and Bakery.
The M6 drive to Hadrian’s Wall is far less curvy, narrow, and winding as compared to day 1 through day 3. It’s an impressive drive, arriving in an easy 1.5 hours from Bowness-on-Windermere. Given how close Hadrian’s Wall is to Windermere relative to London, it felt silly to not include a visit as part of our Lake District road trip.
Book tickets in advance to Birdoswald Roman Fort and save 10%. The English Heritage Roman Fort borders the edge of where Hadrian’s Wall begins in northwest England – at least what you can see of what remains today.
Hadrian’s Wall or Western Wall
While driving towards Birdoswald Roman Fort, you believe the wall on both sides is in fact Hadrian’s Wall, but as you come upon the Fort, Hadrian’s Wall becomes far more clear and more impressive. It is truly distinguished from the wall leading up to it and appears to go on forever.
Unbeknownst prior to climbing the wall for a photo opportunity, it’s requested to NOT actually do this. The sign to not climb isn’t visible from the car park walk to the fort. Others were doing it so I assumed it was ok. Otherwise, I would have followed the rules since I’m a total rule follower.
Nevertheless, this photo conveys the magnitude and significance Hadrian’s Wall played in separating Scotland from England 1900 years ago. The Western Wall is the longest continuous remaining stretch built by the Romans in 120AD.
Hadrian’s Wall Cumbria
Don’t worry about a shortage of photo opportunities here. The Roman Fort offers glorious views of Irthing Valley.
Birdoswald Roman Fort
Birdoswald Roman Fort
But if you’re interested in far more than the Western Wall and valley views after a 1.5 hour drive, the Roman Fort offers historical insights into its purpose, how the Romans protected England from Scotland, and an entire timeline of history dating back to when the idea for the wall came about. There are sensory tables, a gift shop, and a snack shop for guests.
For walkers and hikers, the Hadrian’s Wall Path is an 84-mile coast-to-coast trail across northern England. You can purchase a trail map from the Birdoswald gift shop.
Day 5 – Wray Castle & Departure
The day 5 itinerary covers the final place to see in the Lake District before departing onto Wales (or wherever your Lake District road trip leads you to next).
Morning – Wray Castle
Whether or not Wray Castle is open for tours inside, experiencing the Castle from the outside is a must-do on your holiday. The grounds are open with paths in various directions. There is a short walk to the beach that is a local favorite and there are signs on the property letting you know how to get there.
In fact, Wray Castle is recommended by locals as the best place in the Lake District for a sunset view. Since we didn’t learn about the beach sunsets until day 2, a morning visit best suited our family.
However, depending upon how tired the family is on day 1, enjoying the sunset from the beach at Wray Castle could be a fabulous way to kickstart your Lake District visit. Weather permitting. 😉
Wray Castle
Afternoon – Departure
After a picnic at Wray Castle, plan your departure home or wherever your travel takes you next. For us, Wales was next but it very easily could have been Scotland…more about that in another post. 😉
Lake District Restaurants for Bowness-On-Windermere
While Bowness-on-Windermere offers many dining options that don’t require reservations, it’s nice looking forward to a meal without having to sort it out after a long day of mind-blowing scenery. If you’re a planner or simply want to play a game of chance getting into some of these finer dining establishments, this is where to book:
Unique & Cosy Restaurants
- Positano – You think you’re in the Lake District but then you dine here and feel the Amalfi Coast. Family-owned and super nice, this charming restaurant with only a few tables is very hard to get into. Ask your hotel to help squeeze you in if you forget to book Positano in advance.
- Jackson’s Bistro – While not overly impressive on the outside, the menu will make you hungry even if you’re not. And they have sticky toffee pudding. Enough said, right? You need to make reservations if you really want to eat at Jackson’s Bistro. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to dine here and they don’t offer takeaway (at least no takeaway during the pandemic). This restaurant will be first on our list on our next Lake District visit.
Pub Style
- The Angel Inn – This is a lovely garden pub atop a hill with an extensive patio dining area. We had our own table in our own little garden secluded to the side from everyone. The Angel Inn is perfect for a casual meal or just to enjoy a glass of wine.
- The Albert – This pub in the center of town is impossible to miss. The pub garden is lively and the salmon is incredibly good here. Salmon isn’t something we typically order over fish and chips but would absolutely do it again…and again. Get the salmon.
The Angel Inn has the best pub garden & amazing views of Windermere
Luxury
- The Belsfield – As referenced above, the Terrace Bar is where to request dinner, weather permitting, so that the kids can play outside and you can enjoy the activity and Lake Windermere views. They also serve sticky toffee pudding.
Fun & Quirky Lake District Things To Do If You Have More Time
Aside from hiking, kayaking, boating, and outdoor activities that draw visitors to the Lake District year-over-year consider these other kid-friendly options to add to your list:
- Whinlatter Pass (Keswick) –
- We didn’t have time to see Whinlatter Pass but there is a Go Ape Course which is a great option if you need to break up sightseeing with a more kid-friendly option.
- Whinlatter Pass is covered in more forest than the other passes and offers the Whinlatter Forest Visitor Centre at the top. At the Visitor Center you can find a cafe, forest walks, and other year-round activities.
- Cumberland Pencil Museum (Keswick) is home to the world’s biggest colouring pencil. Keswick is where the first pencil factory opened in 1832. We threatened our kids that we were going to take them. Secretly, I wish we had because not only did I really want to see it, I have no doubt it would be one of those silly sightseeing stops the kids would never forget…like seeing the world’s largest frying pan in Illinois.
Final Thoughts To Make Your Lake District Visit Perfect
The Lake District weather is notorious for yucky weather. In fact, Seathwaite is the wettest place in England and happens to be here.
Pack for all sorts of weather, but plan on wet, wet, wet, and cold, too. We got lucky with amazing weather in July but didn’t pack any different than if it had been October: wellies, hiking boots, raincoats, sweaters, puffer jackets, change of shoes in the boot, gloves, hats, and even shorts. And if you love the watch as seen on me in the Lake District, you’ll want to bring that too.
[adcode-api type=”asin” asin=”B07MJ77MXJ”]
But don’t let the erratic (or consistent) weather steer you from visiting the Lake District. It’s simply gorgeous and one of those places you’ll wonder why it took so long to get there.
This road trip itinerary covers the best Lake District things to do in 5 days. If you have more time, lucky you! And if you don’t, you’ll find a way to go back. Share what I missed and need to do on our next Lake District visit in the comments.
Looking for more UK road trip ideas?
- 13 Best Things To Do In York England
- 13 Best Things To Do In Edinburgh, Scotland (& Where To Stay)
- England Bucket List
—————————————————————-