Lake District

The beloved home of poet William Wordsworth, the village of Grasmere sits on the eponymous lake. The fells of the surrounding landscapes evoke the verses of the Romantics, and the quaint streets of the village are home to stone cottages and pretty galleries. Don’t miss Sarah Nelson’s Gingerbread Shop, housed in the old school building in which Wordsworth himself taught – the gingerbread here is, quite rightly, legendary.

Dove Cottage is best known as the erstwhile home of William and Dorothy Wordsworth. The Grade I-listed building remains much the same as it was in the Wordsworths’ time; filled with their possessions, this intriguing writers’ home brings history to life. Don’t miss the lovely fell garden outside the cottage, created by William and Dorothy and filled with wildflowers.

The Wordsworth Museum hosts a treasured collection of artefacts from the Romantic age. The museum tells the story of Wordsworth’s life, travels, ideas and impact on literature through unusual items, manuscripts and letters.

The lovely village of Hawkshead is a jumble of cobbled streets, narrow passageways and quirky stairways that dates back to Norse times. Many of the properties in this compact village are immaculately preserved, including the lovely Beatrix Potter Gallery (NT) which is housed in the building that used to serve as her husband’s office.

Coniston village sits by the tranquil waters of the lake, backed by the spectacular Coniston fells, and the Steam Yacht Gondola is one of the best ways to take in the beautiful scenery. This extraordinary Victorian boat is a wonderful way to see Coniston Water, and whilst enjoying the opulent journey you can also watch the boat’s steam engine in action.

The jewel of the Lake District, Windermere is also the largest lake in England. Sitting at the region’s heart, it’s a beautiful and bustling place to visit, ideal for boat trips, train rides, or simply exploring the lovely villages of Bowness, Ambleside and Windermere.

This short branch line offers a wonderful experience to travel by historic steam locomotive from Haverthwaite Station to Lakeside, through the picturesque Leven Valley. At Lakeside Station, you can alight the train and continue up to the pretty village of Ambleside on the water, by boarding a Windermere Steamer boat for a leisurely journey.

This fine medieval house, surrounded by stunning gardens and filled with art and history, stands imposingly at the gateway to the Lake District. The estate is known for its large rock garden and impressive collection of hardy ferns, whilst the house itself is famed for its exquisite wood panelling and collection of portraits showing centuries of habitation by the Strickland family.