Things to do in the Lake District with Kids
Things to do in the Lake District with Kids – 72 Hour Itinerary We’re just back from a scenic long weekend in the Lake District. We visited in September, with 4 kids and 4 adults. Here’s what worked, and why.
Wordsworth Dove Cottage / Gingerbread Shop / Orrest Viewpoint Easy Hike / School Knott hike / Lake Windermere Cruise / Hill Top Beatrix Potter House / Ambleside Roman Fort / World of Beatrix Potter / Quality Accommodation
Day 1 – Grasmere – Things to do in the Lake District
Dove Cottage & the Wordsworth Museum, Grasmere
Our first stop was Grasmere where we’d pre-booked tickets to see Dove Cottage, where William and Dorothy Wordsworth lived. They were so inspired by the landscape here, and suggested it should be protected for all the nation to appreciate. I was excited about this attraction, and with the gardens, gift shop, museum, cottage, viewpoint, cafe and special exhibitions (focussing on Gothic literature when we visited) there’s a fair amount to see.
The tour itself comprises of being led to watch a short ten-minute film, which summarises the Wordsworths’ love affair with the area, then you’re taken to their cottage to explore. In terms of the tour, that’s it, you’re not really told anything about the poet or the building, outwith the contents of the film. While you can ask the tour guide questions, you discover 99% of the info about Wordsworth yourself by reading display boards in the museum. This worked OK for me, but kids generally learn from great tour guides, such as the fantastic Giant’s Causeway tour, so I’d recommend Dove Cottage for adults or older teens who wish to read up themselves. I always wanted to see this cottage, but felt I paid for access rather than a ‘tour’, and I would have benefited from a private tour guide to bring it to life.
St Oswald’s Church and the Wordsworth family graves, Grasmere
FREE See the final resting place of the Wordsworth, his sister, brother, wife and children. A tranquil spot, and there’s a carved stone Wordsworth memorial designed by Thomas Woolner inside the church (above the chancel stalls).
Grasmere Gingerbread Shop – Things to do in the Lake District
While our pub lunch pitstop was fine, the Grasmere Gingerbread Shop is the cutest, so get your dessert here. Step inside a tiny shop, where staff in period costume sell delightful gingerbread in traditional paper packaging. I’m not usually a gingerbread fan, but this biscuit has a texture combo of crumbly and chewy, with a subtle flavour that converted me. Gorgeous, but there can be queues, so make it a first/last thing stop to avoid the masses!
Check in – Windermere Cottage
From Grasmere, drive to Windermere. We found a delightful and central Windermere cottage in traditional slate stone, which was impeccable, modern yet super cosy, wonderfully furnished, PLUS it had a cinema room (with shelves of DVDs) and games room with foosball and darts with its own fridge/laundry area. Also, expect a vast sitting room, dining room and garden with outdoor seating. Ideal for families on a great escape. I thoroughly recommend this base. Take a look at prices and availability here.
Day 2 – Windermere & Sawrey – Things to do in the Lake District
Hike to Orrest Viewpoint, Windermere
FREE Wake up in Windermere and make the most of the scenery on the doorstep. A very easy, short hike which is achievable for most ages, wonderfully signposted, and has accessible routes too, is Orrest Viewpoint. Despite the ease, the views you get are fabulous, sweeping right over Lake Windermere. There’s also a coffee van and Gruffalo figures halfway, if you want a pitstop. Such views helped us relate to what Wordsworth and Coleridge felt when they were in this environment, and they also inspired travel writer Alfred Wainwright. As the viewpoint is easy to reach from town, it’s popular and the summit can be kinda busy.
Continue Hike to School Knott, Windermere
FREE From Orrest, we continued our hike to School Knott, which I’d recommend if you want a slightly longer hike, self-navigated on clear paths, with potentially nobody else on the summit except maybe some sheep. Our kids loved crossing the railway line, seeing the farm animals such as Belted Galloways, crossing burns, and stomping through boggy ground. We got the viewpoint to ourselves, and then followed a separate route into town. At no point on our hikes did we retrace our steps, but always saw something new.
Ice cream & Shopping, Windermere – Things to do in the Lake District
After lunch back at the house, we took two options. One family hung out exploring Windermere, grabbing ice cream at the charming Little Ice Cream Shop with its 44 flavours, including blackcurrant and liquorice! The town also boasts independent gift shops, galleries and boutiques, so makes for a relaxing wander, with pubs and coffee shops dotted around as well.
Hill Top Beatrix Potter’s House, Sawrey
A second option is to visit Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top home in Sawrey, run by the National Trust. Drive round the lake, or cross it by car ferry to save time. The cottage is quaint and atmospheric, the tour is quite self-led again, but it gets fans of Peter Rabbit more in touch with the author. The gardens and village are charming too. (Don’t confuse dwelling with the Beatrix Potter World in Bowness-on-Windermere, which I’ll mention below).
Day 3 – Bowness-on-Windermere & Ambleside – Things to do in the Lake District
Boat Trip – Cruise from Bowness-on-Windermere to Ambleside
Day three, we awoke in Windermere and walked 30 mins to the pier in Bowness-on-Windermere to catch the recommended Red Cruise to Ambleside. The large, sturdy boats offer indoor, outdoor exposed, and outdoor covered seating, plus basic refreshments for sale. We loved the 35 minute sail to Ambleside, with occasional, relevant and interesting commentary along the way.
When you arrive at Ambleside pier, the town centre looks quite far inland on the map, but it’s only a 10-15 minute walk. Take the high road for the quickest route on main road pavements, but we took the low road to see the Roman Fort and walk through the countryside.
Ambleside Roman Fort – Things to do in the Lake District
FREE Being able to stand in a Roman fort and township was an unexpected pitstop, and it’s open to the elements so never really ‘shuts’. This 2nd century fort, with large granary areas, garrisoned around 500 soldiers, making it strategically important to the Roman occupation of Cumbria. A great find en route into town, and the countryside is quietly attractive.
For a pub lunch, the Ambleside Inn was a a crowd pleaser, serving pub classics that suited all 8 of us. After hiking back to the pier, we simply hopped on the next boat back to Bowness-on-Windermere.
World of Beatrix Potter, Bowness-on-Windermere
Back on shore, we stopped at the Windermere Ice Cream shop for a treat, before heading home. Bowness-on-Windermere is home to an array of tempting, independent shops, plus the World of Beatrix Potter, described as a magical, immersive experience, introducing visitors to Potter and her timeless characters. There’s even a garden, but look out for Mr McGregor!
We still have so much to see in this region, and so many more beautiful walks to do, but these are certainly the headlines. Enjoy the Lake District!
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