The Lake District is an area full of natural beauty, and stunning scenery, and is home to some of the best attractions the UK has to offer. Sitting comfortably in the North-West of England, it is a highly sought-after holiday destination with over 15.8 million tourists visiting each year.
Many will flock to enjoy a quiet weekend away while others will come to partake in water sports and other leisure activities. The Lake District caters to both young and old audiences and there is something for everyone.
The Lake District houses plenty of accommodations from romantic log cabins to family-friendly hotels, so whatever your reason for visiting, you can be sure to be well looked after.
This guide to the top 5 attractions is hand-picked to ensure you get the most out of your visit.
1. Whinlatter Forest
Whinlatter forest is located in Keswick and is home to some of the most exhilarating experiences. It offers a wide range of outdoor activities such as orienteering and mountain biking and boasts breath-taking views across Bassenthwaite Lake. The site is cleverly designed for mountain bike enthusiasts with miles of beautiful forest scenery and trails that are customised to fit your needs.
Visitors to Whinlatter can also partake in well-being and fitness classes ranging from meditation to jogging which are all led by fitness instructors ensuring you get the most out of your exercise. Facilities at Whinlatter include a play area, café, and picnic area, making Whinlatter Forest a family-friendly attraction.
2. Honister
Image source - www.visitlakedistrict.com
Honister is an adrenaline junkie’s dream, with adventures that are sure to test anyone to their limits. Honister is deep in the centre of the Lake District and is also the last working slate mine in England.
Visitors to Honister are greeted with a range of activities to do which are suited for both indoor and outdoor areas. The key to visiting Honister is to be prepared to push yourself to the limit as most activities include climbing and heights but if you are not a fan of this, Honister does also offer tours down into the slate mines. The slate mine tours are jam-packed full of history and facts as you descend deep underground and get the opportunity to relive a miner’s journey.
Honister is a great site for exploration, history, and activities and is highly recommended to anyone looking for a unique day out.
2. Lakeland Motor Museum
Image source - www.cumbriaslivingheritage.co.uk
This is a haven for the car enthusiasts, The Lakeland Motor Museum showcases some of the most unique and classical cars the motoring world has to offer. With over 30,000 exhibits displayed, it really is one to explore.
The Lakeland Motor Museum may seem like it is all about cars but if you visit you will soon realise it isn’t. The museum also showcases historic displays featuring the local history on topics including, the iron works, the historic blue mill, and the gunpowder factories to name a few.
You can also take a walk back in time and immerse yourself in the recreated scenes of period-style shop displays, 1920s garages, and 1950s cafes.
The museum caters to all ages and offers an onsite café for refreshments after a hard day exploring. Tickets for the museum can be purchased online or on the day and 1 standard ticket is priced at £10.00 per adult.
4. Windermere Lake
Windermere Lake takes centre stage in the Lake District and is known to the locals as The Gem of Lakes. Windermere is the largest natural lake in England and stuns visitors with its 11 miles of pure beauty.
Windermere has quickly become a tourist hotspot thanks to the beautiful and vast array of shops and restaurants and the infamous Windermere Lakeside cruise. The cruise takes passengers on a trip across lake Windermere and as far as Ambleside, where you can stop off for a drink and a meal at one of its many pubs and restaurants. Passengers are free to hop on and off at the different ports and explore the area further for a more fun experience.
Windermere is very rich in culture and history; visitors can also experience guided tours to the best historical sites.
Windermere Lake is connected to surrounding towns and villages where you get a chance to visit museums such as the Beatrix Potter Museum and national gardens such as Brockhole and Grizedale.
5. The South Lakes Safari Zoo
The South Lakes Safari Zoo is any animal lover’s paradise and is home to over 1,000 rare and endangered animals. It can be suggested that this certainly brings an exotic flair to the Lake District.
You can get up close and personal with the animals and witness them in their natural habitat. The zoo also offers animal feeding experiences where visitors can hand feed Giraffes, Kangaroos, and Lemurs. Only the brave can also hand-feed the lions!
The whole experience itself takes around 3 hours to complete and there is an onsite café offering refreshments and light meals.
The South Lakes Safari Zoo is a must-see treat when visiting the lakes as it is the UK’s most interactive animal park, and it is Europe’s only safari zoo.
Overall, choosing the Lake District for your next staycation is an experience you will never forget. From its family-friendly attractions and adrenaline-fuelled experiences to romantic and stunning walks around the hills and lakes, the Lake District really does have it all neatly packaged, so you can spend less time travelling and more time exploring. If you want to stay and travel around the Lake District then consider Roof Tents as a way of getting around the Lake District and jumping from campsite to campsite to make sure you experience as many of the attractions as possible.