10 Of The Prettiest Lake District Towns & Villages

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The Lake District is one of the most beautiful places in the UK. England’s largest National Park is full of stunning scenery, but also unique, picturesque Lake District towns and villages. And who doesn’t love a quintessential English village?

The villages and towns of the Lake District are about as idyllic as you can get. Carefully manicured homes, many made using local slate stone, are set against the rugged wild hills of the National Park.

It’s no wonder people love to vacation in the Lake District. The area is ideal for walking countryside trails and seeing the most beautiful lakes and hills in England.

Growing up around the Lake District

I figured if anyone was going to tell you more about the best Lake District towns and villages, it should be a local. You see, I grew up on the edge of the Lake District in Cumbria’s largest city, Carlisle.

The Lake District takes over the majority of the county so I spent most weekends and school holidays going for drives around the Lake District with my family.

I have lost count of the number of times I’ve been to some of these places, however it’s not until you move away that you realize how lucky you were to live somewhere so special.

I live in Canada now, but my family still live in Carlisle. So you can bet every trip to the UK starts and ends with a jaunt into the Lake District to explore my favorite villages.

How long should you spend in the Lake District

The Lake District, despite being a relatively small part of a relatively small country, still has more to do than you can fit in a weekend. In fact, when you do visit, I recommend staying for at least a week so you’re not rushed.

Since you will inherently want to move here once you see the Lake District, you’ll need at least a week to devise your plan. As well as, of course, to scope out your favorite village – aka your future home.

Even if you’re only sticking to visiting the Lake District towns and villages, many of them are spread out around the National Park. Add in some fell walking and hill top hikes and you’ve got enough to keep you busy for the week (at least).

Prettiest Lake District Towns & Villages

There are so many lovely little villages and of course some are more popular than others with the tourists. But just because these villages are popular doesn’t mean you should skip them.

So I wanted to share some of my favorite villages in the Lake District National Park and what you can do there. I’ve also included some handy tips and the nearest lake to each so you can plan your trip more easily.

Ambleside

NEAREST LAKE: Windermere – England’s largest lake

WHERE TO STAY IN AMBLESIDE: A cute little B&B like The Gables or a nice hotel with a view like the Waterhead Inn or Langdale Chase. A budget option is the YHA Ambleside Hostel.

As my favorite place in the Lake District, Ambleside has to be first on this list. Why didn’t I leave it until last you might ask? Well, simply because I couldn’t wait to talk about it.

Ambleside has beautiful slate stone homes, including the famous tiny house, 17th Century Bridge House. Can you believe a family of 8 once lived here? Ambleside also has easy access to Windermere – walk down to the lake, rent a row boat or take a lake cruise to the nearby town of Bowness.

What I love most about Ambleside is all the cute shops selling locally made crafts, and its mouthwatering bakeries. My personal favorite bakery is The Apple Pie – their flapjack is delicious as are their signature apple pies.

Don’t rush past this amazing gem of a village – make sure to stay over and get some early morning sunrise pictures of the lake. Read about my weekend in Ambleside here.

Bowness-on-Windermere

NEAREST LAKE: Windermere – the opposite side of it from Ambleside

WHERE TO STAY IN BOWNESS-ON-WINDERMERE: Guests houses are plentiful in Bowness, try Fellview Guest House, in a quiet area only a few minutes walk to the centre of the town. For a fancier hotel right on the lake, there’s the Macdonald Old England Hotel.

Bowness is a lovely little place but given its proximity to Windermere it is likely the busiest of the Lake District towns. If you go in the summer months prepare to search for parking. If you don’t intend to spend more than the day you might be better taking the boat over from Ambleside.

The town is famous for its Beatrix Potter World exhibition which revolves around the stories of the Peter Rabbit author. Despite being aimed at children, it’ll bring back happy memories for anyone who grew up reading the books.

Like Ambleside you’ll find plenty of lovely shops to buy local goodies and art galleries. Enjoy a meal at the fabulous Hyltons restaurant, or sample some local beers at one of the pubs. And it wouldn’t be a trip to the Lake District without an ice cream at the lakeshore.

Elterwater

NEAREST LAKE: Elter Water

WHERE TO STAY AROUND ELTERWATER: The Britannia Inn if you’re on a budget trip, or the Langdale Hotel & Spa if you want somewhere a little fancier. Prefer some independence? Try one of the lovely self-catering holiday homes in the area.

This tiny village is near to Ambleside but much smaller and much less touristy. That doesn’t mean it’s any less beautiful. Elterwater and neighboring village Chapel Stile form part of the Great Langdale valley.

If you’re looking for top tourist attractions and entertainment this is not the village for you. If you’re a big fan of cozy country pubs and long walks in the countryside, maybe a sheep sighting or 17, then this is the place you’ll want to visit.

There’s a National Trust car park where you can leave your car and set off on a lovely riverside walk that eventually leads to Elter Water. It’s not a long walk and perfect for families or an easy afternoon amble.

Make sure to stop by the Britannia Inn pub, either for a meal, or a cheeky pint in the cozy snug-like bar. If it’s a nice day, enjoy your pint on the outdoor patio, even in the winter months it can be nice out there.

Hawkshead

NEAREST LAKE: Esthwaite Water

WHERE TO STAY IN HAWKSHEAD: There are many inns and pubs with rooms to rent in the village such as the Red Lion. For a unique stay, the YHA Hawkshead hostel has some basic but cozy camping pods.

Hawkshead is full of pretty houses and small country pubs. The village isn’t big and although popular is often overlooked from the more tourist heavy Ambleside and Bowness close by.

Like many places in the area Hawkshead has many literary connections. William Wordsworth attended school there and Beatrix Potter’s house, Hill Top, is nearby. Hawkshead’s Beatrix Potter attraction, the Beatrix Potter Gallery, has original drawings and manuscripts of the famous children’s stories.

Of all the Lake District towns and villages, Hawkshead is one of the most beautiful. Grab a coffee or some lunch at one of the quaint tearooms and visit some of the many little shops. My favorite, Hawkshead Relish Company, has many traditional and innovative flavors of locally made jams, relishes and chutneys.

Wander up the hill to Saint Michael’s & All Saints church for incredible views over the village. Then take a slow walk to Esthwaite Water from the village, which will take about half an hour.

Grasmere

NEAREST LAKE: Grasmere (same name as the village)

WHERE TO STAY IN GRASMERE: The fabulous Daffodil Hotel & Spa is the ultimate place to stay in Grasmere. But for a more moderate accommodation you can’t beat The Inn at Grasmere or the Glenthorne Guest House.

18th Century poet William Wordsworth called Grasmere home. You can visit his home, Dove Cottage, just outside of the village and see why he called this village “the loveliest place that man hath ever found”. See his writings on display and the journal his sister kept about life in Grasmere.

The village itself is rather small, like Ambleside, and can be just as popular and busy. But it isn’t hard to see why. Nice little shops and bakeries make up this adorable village surrounded by hills and lakes.

Make sure to go to the Grasmere Gingerbread shop, selling the world famous treat sine 1854. Their gingerbread is less cake, more biscuit, but it’s so good I occasionally order it to Canada because I miss it so much. 2 to 4 day international shipping means you get it while it’s still fresh.

Pooley Bridge

NEAREST LAKE: Ullswater

WHERE TO STAY IN POOLEY BRIDGE: Make Pooley Bridge your base for a few days with a self-catering stay at Holly House or Eusemere Lodge. For a shorter stay try the Pooley Bridge Inn.

As the name suggests, the village was once famous for its stone bridge dating back as far as the 16th Century. However Cumbria was hit by severe flooding in 2015 and the bridge was unfortunately washed away. Now replaced with a more modern structure, the name still stands.

If it’s a nice day, rent a boat and go out on Ullswater – rowing boat or motor boat options start around £15-30/hour. Just outside of Pooley Bridge you can also go pony trekking for a morning or afternoon. Starting at £20 you can ride along the fells with views of the lake.

For a more relaxed adventure, grab a picnic table outside one of the many pubs in the village and enjoy a cold patio beer on a hot day. Well behaved dogs are always welcome, and most places serve great pub lunches.

Glenridding

NEAREST LAKE: Ullswater

WHERE TO STAY IN GLENRIDDING: The Inn on the Lake is exactly how it sounds. It also does a good afternoon tea. For another lakeside stay book a stay at the Glenridding Manor House B&B which is so amazing even Charles Dickens stayed there.

At the completely opposite end of Ullswater is the tiny village of Glenridding. This is the ideal place to visit if you plan on hiking Helvellyn mountain. While there are a couple of small shops here, the main reason to visit Glenridding is the views.

Take a walk around the Southern edge of the lake, or enjoy the view from inside at one of the lakeside bars or restaurants.

Not satisfied with looking at the pretty lake? Take a ride on the Ullswater steamer. There are boat cruises around the lake as either a circular trip, or from one place to another. In fact if you wish you can travel all the way from Glenridding to Pooley Bridge. Pricing starts at £8 depending on the route you take.

One place you shouldn’t miss near Glenridding is the undeniably spectacular Aira Force waterfalls. While you can drive there before or after your visit to Glenridding, there’s also a shuttle option on the Ullswater Steamers. It only takes 20 minutes. If you have plenty of time in your day, take the 3-mile scenic walk back to Glenridding along the lake.

Coniston

NEAREST LAKE: Coniston Water

WHERE TO STAY IN CONISTON: You can’t get much closer to the lake than The Coniston Inn. With jaw-dropping views and serving mouthwatering food it’s hard to beat. For something a bit more central to the village try the charming Orchard Cottage B&B. And for a budget option there’s the YHA Coniston Holly How.

The village is named after the lake it sits near. Or is that the other way around? Either way, this lovely place just a short drive past Hawkshead is well worth a trip. Coniston is famous for copper mining – hike the almost 6-mile Coniston Coppermines loop trail for impressive views.

Coniston was also the site of the World Water Speed record, set by Donald Campbell. He was a speed freak who broke the world record 6 times, 4 of those on Coniston Water. Learn more about him and the wonderful Ruskin Museum in the village.

After exploring the village, take a wander down to the namesake lake for some lovely photos. There you’ll find the National Trust Steam Yacht Gondola offering rides out onto the lake during the summer months.

Keswick

NEAREST LAKE: Derwent Water

WHERE TO STAY IN KESWICK: Keswick has so many hotels that also just happen to be pubs – perfect for stumbling home after some local ale. Try The Kings Arms Hotel or The Royal Oak. Both in the town center and both serving great food.

Keswick does have a sizeable population, but that doesn’t make it any less pretty or worthy of a visit. The popular market town has a nice little town center filled with shops and old fashioned pubs. Make sure to check out Ye Olde Friars sweet shop, and stop for a pint in the Dog and Gun pub.

If you’re a fan of unique museums then you will love the Derwent Pencil Museum. Graphite was discovered near Keswick and later used to create the classic pencil, the first of which was made here. Discover the story in the museum and see the world’s largest coloring pencil – 8 meters long!

Keswick is a great base for your Lake District canoeing and rock-climbing adventures, but be sure to spend some time in the town instead of just passing by. And for a really cool experience check out the nearby Castlerigg Stone Circle (like a mini Stonehenge, but free). A visit just before sunset can be spectacular.

Mardale

NEAREST LAKE: Haweswater…kind of

WHERE TO STAY AROUND MARDALE: A hotel with a view, the Haweswater Hotel is a great looking property overlooking the water. It’s really one of the only places to stay around here but you can’t beat the location.

I left this one until last on my list of Lake District towns and villages for a very good reason. It’s not actually a village anymore, you see. Mardale is a lost village at the bottom of Haweswater (which is technically not a lake, but a reservoir).

Back in the 1930s the village of Mardale Green was flooded to make the Haweswater reservoir. This was to supply water to Manchester. All the people were relocated, obviously before they filled it with water, but it remains a controversial decision.

So why did I include it here? In years where the summer has been particularly warm and the rainfall low (like 2021), the village of Mardale Green becomes partially visible again. I was lucky enough to be able to explore the village recently, wandering along streets that are usually at the bottom of a reservoir.

The buildings were all taken down before the village was flooded, however the foundations remain. You can even trace the old village roads, streets, and bridges. And if you look close enough you’ll find hidden gems in this once inhabited village.

Are Lake District towns and villages really all that?

The distinctive stone work here is so different from many other places in the UK. It’s because of this that the Lake District towns and villages have a completely unique feel to them. The haphazard looking buildings are stronger than they seem. And they create impossibly delightful villages with the most extraordinary backdrops.

Lofty hills, lush green fields and glistening crystal-clear lakes cradle these exquisite towns and villages. I may be biased, but I believe the Lake District to be one of the most gorgeous places in the world.

The scenery – rightly so – gets a lot of the credit. But I also think a certain amount has to go to the Lake District towns and villages too. Be sure to visit as many as you can while you explore this inspiring National Park.

If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Which of these Lake District towns or villages is highest on your list?