The Lake District is one of the UK's most popular holiday destinations and is famed for being the largest national park in England, along with having the country’s highest mountain (Scafell Pike), its largest natural lake (Windermere) and its deepest lake (Wastwater).
Located in the North West of England in Cumbria, the Lake District boasts a simply stunning landscape that attracts visitors from all over the world. It is a place that has inspired writers, artists and poets alike including Wordsworth, Coleridge, Southey and Beatrix Potter, and a holiday destination you will want to return to time and time again. Read more
Centrally located in the very heart of the Lake District National Park, this well presented farm cottage offers peace, tranquility and superb walks (plus a pub!) on the doorstep and all the amenities of Ambleside just two and a half miles away. Situated at Skelwith Bridge, the area is a walker's paradise and a great base for exploring the many attractions of this beautiful part of Cumbria. Tourist board rating: 4 Star
Why limit yourself to the Lake District when you can also explore the Forest of Bowland and Yorkshire Dales? Milo's Retreat is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty between Arnside and Milnthorpe. It's perfect for a romantic retreat or a solo escape, sleeping two people in one sublimely comfortable superking bed. Your day can include scaling mountains, hiking through fells, sailing over lakes or cycling around the coast. Throw in a region renowned for its fantastic food and all the comfort and charm of this wonderful self-catering holiday cottage, and you have a holiday you won't forget.
Carr Crag Cottage in Ambleside is a stunning Lake District holiday home with modern interiors and incredible views of the Langdale Fells. Perfect for groups or families, the luxurious house accommodates up to eight guests in four bedrooms and bathrooms. Ambleside offers scenic walking and cycling routes, plus three Michelin-starred restaurants within eight miles. The village has independent shops, cafes, and galleries, while nearby Lake Windermere is ideal for boat rides, paddle boarding and kayaking. Families can enjoy the Lakes Aquarium, Beatrix Potter Gallery, and historic sites like Castlerigg stone circle. With breathtaking views and loads of space, the cottage provides the perfect backdrop for unforgettable moments.
High Tarn Green is a wheelchair-friendly holiday cottage in a peaceful part of the Lake District, designed for comfort and accessibility. This single-storey property features widened doors, grab rails, and en-suite wet rooms with underfloor heating. The well-equipped kitchen and spacious living area with a log burner, SMART TV, and books provide a cosy retreat. With one double and one twin bedroom, it’s perfect for a small family or couples. The courtyard patio offers a lovely outdoor space for alfresco dining. A relaxing, practical escape, High Tarn Green is ideal for those seeking comfort and accessibility.
Garden Cottage occupies the upper level of a traditional Westmorland bank barn, offering high quality accommodation for up to 6 guests. A calming haven for those looking to escape in nature, ideally located on the edge of The Lake District.
Oakland West is a luxury holiday home sleeping 14 in a quiet and exclusive area of Windermere. This former grand hall and has been painstakingly restored and provides the perfect space for large groups and family gatherings.
1 Brathay Fell is an opulent, ground floor apartment that offers magnificent accommodation and bids the perfect abode for your time in The Lake District. Nestled at the foot of Loughrigg Fell and with views from the apartment towards the northern end of our best-known lake, Windermere, 1 Brathay Fell is ideal.
Rose Barn is an immaculately appointed barn conversion sleeping 6, providing modern day accommodation less than 1 mile from Hawkshead village, and even closer to the quaint hamlet of Outgate.
FIVE STAR GOLD Smart TV with availability to stream Netflix etc. Super fast fibre broadband Hot tub Six bedrooms SLEEPS 12 Private parking for 4 cars Private Games room Three bathrooms and one downstairs WC Pet friendly
Orrest Head Cottage's superpower is its location. The property is situated on the famous Orrest Head Walk. It features a very contemporary lounge, some amazing views, 3 bedrooms and 2 bath/shower rooms. Within a couple of minutes walk you can be in Windermere village with all of its pubs, restaurants and independent shops - what's not to like!
With private lake access and an abundance of character, this charming Lakeland cottage is the perfect base to explore some of The Lake District hidden gems. Ideal for those who love an adventure!
Ideally located in a quiet corner of the Lake District, this chocolate box style cottage provides a truly romantic base to explore the popular town of Windermere and surrounding areas.
Centrally located accommodation sleeping up to six in the popular village of Hawkshead. This home from home is the perfect place to hang your hat after a day of exploring.
Orrest Head House sleeps 12 in 5-star luxury. This majestic house is located a couple of minutes’ walk from Windermere village. The property can be hired with Orrest Head Cottage to increase your party numbers to 18. The House has many stand-out features including its very own bar. All of the bedrooms are ensuite, 2 have in bedroom baths which overlook the extensive garden. We welcome all kinds of parties including, milestone birthdays, family gatherings and girls getaways.
Bannerrigg is located at the heart of in Windermere Village. This 4 star property sleeps 16 all in single beds. Bannerriggs stand out features are its hot tub in its own building in the garden and an 18 seat cinema in the cellar. Whether you're looking to book a family break, a milestone birthday party or a girls getaway Bannerrigg is a fabulous choice.
Boston House is one of 5 houses to rent on the Terrace Windermere, a private row of holiday homes in the heart of The Lake district. The property’s stand-out features are its 7-seat hot tub in the rear garden and a secret 15-seat cinema with Smart TV in the cellar. Boston house has 7 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms, a comfortable lounge, elegant dining room and large sociable kitchen. Whatever you reason to visit be it a Milestone birthday, 3 generation family gathering or girls’ getaway Boston House is the perfect choice.
Alice Howe, part of the Terrace Windermere a private row of 5 holiday houses in the heart of The Lake District National Park. The property benefits from a 7-seat covered hot tub in the garden and a 15-seat cinema complete with Smart TV in the cellar. There are 7 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms and a beautifully appointed lounge and dining room. We welcome all kinds of gatherings from Milestone birthdays to girls’ getaways.
White Moss is part of The Terrace Windermere a private row of houses all to rent in at the heart of The Lake District. The property sleeps 12 and features a 7 seat hot tub in the rear courtyard and a private 12 seat cinema with 75inch Smart TV. The lounge and dining room both have woodburning stoves to keep you warm and cosy in the winter. We welcome milestone birthdays, family gatherings and girls’ weekends.
Number One sleeps 14 in 6 bedrooms. Located in Windermere village at the centre of The Lake District National Park, this luxury house is the perfect venue for milestone birthdays,3 generation family gatherings and girls' weekends. The property features a large lounge and dining room, hand-built kitchen with AGA and second range cooker, 6 lovely bedrooms and 4 bath/shower rooms. Number One's stand out features are its 7 seat hot tub and 15 seat cinema in the cellar.
Dandelion Cottage is a dreamy rural holiday cottage where couples can relax in luxury against the beauty of the Cumbrian countryside. It's four miles from Carlisle and a short drive from the Lake District National Park, Solway Coast, Hadrian's Wall and the Scottish border. This quiet area is the perfect place for fell walking, climbing, mountain biking and road cycling, with historic houses, gardens and lakes for variety. The spacious one-bedroom barn conversion has a super-kingsized bed, a huge ensuite, and a private landscaped garden with a covered hot tub.
Popular towns in and around The Lake District:
AmblesideBowness-on-WindermereCartmelCockermouthConistonGrasmereGrizebeckHawksheadKendalKeswickKirkby StephenPenrithRavenglassSilverdaleUllswaterUlverstonWasdaleWindermereSome local suggestions:
Dog friendly Lake District cottagesLake District cottages with a hot tubRomantic Lake District cottagesOr search further afield:
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The most popular tourist spot is Bowness-on-Windermere, where many head for boat trips, cobbled streets and great restaurants. This beautiful town never gets old, no matter how many times you visit.
If you seek less hustle and bustle and more of the great outdoors, then perhaps Ambleside is the one for you? With cottage-style shops and a town encompassed beautifully by mountains, there is plenty of exploring to do here.
For thrill-seekers aiming to tackle Scafell Pike, Keswick is where you want to go. Twinkling waters paired with mighty mountains make this a very popular destination in the Lakes.
The Lake District is home to many impressive lakes, the second largest being in Ullswater. If you seek rolling hills, a magnificent National Park and plenty of water to explore then Ullswater is the perfect place.
Before booking your holiday cottage in the Lake District, you can find here all the information you need for your trip.
For more tips, be sure to check out our complete guide to the Lake District.
The Lake Districts’ dramatic and rugged landscape is its main attraction, with noble peaks, heather-clad moors, tumbling waterfalls, sparkling lakes and dense forests. Ever-changing, each season has something incredibly special to offer.
In the spring the landscape bursts into life with lush green pastures alive with playful Herdwick lambs. In the autumn, the trees are ablaze with colour making it incredibly photogenic.
The summer months attract plenty of visitors to the hills, villages and lakes, but the warm weather provides the ideal climate for wild swimming and long days of walking.
The winter months are breathtaking, with snow-capped mountains and friendly Lakeland pubs serving hearty traditional food with a roaring fire crackling in the background.
Being one of the country's largest outdoor playgrounds, the Lake District attracts outdoor enthusiasts of all types who visit to enjoy incredible walking opportunities, climbing, sailing, mountain biking, kayaking and winter mountaineering.
It also has plenty of options for family days out (including lots of things to do on a rainy day) and is great for those seeking relaxation and a quieter time with its beautiful tranquil landscape providing the perfect setting for bird watching, painting, photography and lazy lake cruises.
If you happen to be visiting the Lake District for the weekend, there is still plenty to do! Whether you choose to have a night with the stars or take a cruise atop one of the many lakes, check out our essential weekend guide to visiting the Lake District.
If you are travelling from one of the major cities situated in the UK, below shows an average distance from the town of Bowness-on-Windermere, so you know what to expect when choosing to visit by car.
London: 275 miles
Birmingham: 159 miles
Glasgow: 150 miles
Liverpool: 88 miles
Bristol: 240 miles
Manchester: 86 miles
Leeds: 81 miles
Edinburgh: 155 miles
Newcastle: 110 miles
There are many ways in which you can travel to the Lake District. With its great public transport, you can journey from many of the major UK cities by train. If you choose to travel by car, there are some great service stations to stop off and rest up whilst on your trip, as well as alternative routes depending on what roads you prefer to drive on.
Cumbria is a part of the Lake District and is a county with a unique and diverse character. It has miles of wonderful scenic coastline, pretty villages and historic towns and is steeped in history with ancient forts, disused mines, historic homes, castles and literary attractions. This is an area that is also exceptionally pet-friendly with many Lakeland cottages and attractions welcoming dogs.
It is also famed for its culinary specialities, including the sticky toffee pudding, Grasmere Gingerbread, the Cumberland sausage and Kendal Mint Cake – the perfect energy boost for hillwalkers!A popular destination for both short breaks and longer holidays, we offer a huge selection of self catering Cumbrian cottages.
Finding the best part of the Lake District to visit will all depend on what you are looking for. Bowness-on-Windermere is definitely the most popular for tourists and day-trippers, however, there are many other great towns to visit such as Keswick, Ambleside, Grasmere and Coniston.If you are looking to spend more of your trip to the Lake District adventuring then places like Ullswater, Wasdale and Great Langdale are perfect for their impressive mountains and scenery.
The Lake District is famous for its huge lake offering, rugged landscape and dense forests. Many famous artists have come from the Lake District, names such as Beatrix Potter, William Wordsworth and John Ruskin all created some of their best works here.
Being a unique and beautiful spot is what makes the Lake District more expensive than other UK holiday locations. With some of the highest peaks and best hiking trails here, it is a very popular destination for people all over the UK. The prices are higher than some other holiday locations in the UK, but you get to explore a diverse range of terrains and activities in a unique part of the country, which is well worth the price.
Derwentwater has been labelled as the most charming lake in the Lake District as it offers impressive fells and is surrounded by outstanding peaks. However, there are many other lakes and hidden waterfalls that are all situated around the Lake District, all of which will take your breath away with their beauty.
