95 Things to do in the Lake District

Discover the best things to do in the Lake District for Families

From agricultural activities to paddling on the sea in a kayak, there’s lots of superb things to do in the Lake District for families.

A visit to the Beatrix Potter World? What about some quad riding, Go-Karting, or a ride on segways for the family? Go Ape in Grizedale Forest and Whinlatter will raise your adrenaline level, and you can also test your mettle on the Infinity Bridge at Honister Slate Mine.

There are many indoor Lake District activities for families too for when the weather isn’t on your side! Such activities include the National Trust property of Allan Bank and exploring the interesting Derwent Pencil Museum!

Other things to do in the Lake District for families include visiting Fell Foot Park, exploring Grizedale Forest and discovering Beatrix Potter’s farmhouse, Hill Top Farm!

Discover a wealth of activities in the lake district for families…

Image Credits: Tomoaki INABA - CC BY-SA 2.0

Hill Top Farm

Near Sawrey
Ambleside
LA22 0LF

The National Trust’s Hill Top was once Beatrix Potter’s farmhouse. The renowned author bought Hill Top Farm with money made from her books. Nowadays, visitors can come and see the maintained gardens and historic interiors firsthand.
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Holehird Gardens

Patterdale Road
Windermere
LA23 1NP

01539446008

Nestled in a stunning setting overlooking Windermere, Holehird Gardens rewards visitors with a host of fascinating plant and tree life at any time of year. The gardens are open from dawn until dusk daily and boast a varied landscape housing a whole host of plants and other features.
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Image Credits: Andrew Abbot - CC BY-SA 2.0

Holker Hall

Cark
Grange-over-Sands
Cartmel
LA11 7PL

015395 58328

Holker Hall is a beautiful, historic estate that spreads over 200 acres. It rests on the southern outskirts of the Lake District National Park and offers visitors access to the hall, gardens, cafe and gift shop.
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Image Credits: Jeremy Sutcliffe – CC BY 2.0

Holker Hall and Gardens

Holker Hall and Gardens
Cark
Grange-over-Sands
Lake Disctrict
Cumbria
LA11 7PL

01539558328

Holker Hall & Gardens is a busy and diverse estate covering 17,000 acres. Home to the Cavendish family, who are committed to the conservation of the estate, many of the buildings and structures are listed or designated Scheduled Ancient Monuments. The estate also includes Sites of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserves, housing an abundance of wildlife.
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Honister Slate Mine

Honister Pass
Keswick
CA12 5XN

01768 777230

England’s last active slate mine is located at the summit of Honister Pass, one of the steepest roads in the country, and draws slate from Fleetwith Pike.
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Hope Park Keswick

Hope Park Keswick
30A Lake Road
Keswick
Lake District
Cumbria
CA12 5DG

01768773607

Hope Park is just a short stroll from Keswick town centre and is brimming with traditional games, activities, and picnic areas, making it the ideal spot for families. Here you can tuck into delicious local ice cream before challenging friends or family to a game of crazy golf or taking a woodland walk.
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Image Credits: Michael D Beckwith - CC0 1.0

Hutton in the Forest

Penrith
Cumbria
England
United Kingdom
CA11 9TJ

Visit the historic home of Lord and Lady Inglewood, Hutton in the Forest. This beautiful country house lies on the north-eastern edge of the Lake District. Surrounded by woodland and extensive gardens that have matured over three centuries. Both the house and grounds are open to the public.
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Ingleborough Estate Nature Trail

Ingleborough Estate Nature Trail
Riverside
Clapham
Lancaster
LA2 8DS

01524251242

The Ingleborough Estate Nature Trails winds its way past a lake and along a steep river valley through beautiful woodland to Ingleborough Cave. The trail is the gateway to some of the Yorkshire Dales National Park’s most stunning limestone scenery including Trow Gill, Gaping Gill pothole, the limestone pavements, Norber Erratics and, finally, the summit of Ingleborough Fell.
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Joint Adventures

Business Park
Unit 2 Lake Rd
Coniston
LA21 8EW

07967380734

Situated close to the lake and fells of Coniston, Joint Adventure are passionate about providing high quality outdoor activities and outdoor skills courses in the Lake District. From gorge walking and raft building to bushcraft and abseiling, there are a whole host of exciting activities on offer here.
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Kendal Castle

Kendal Castle
Sunnyside
Kendal
LA9 1DJ

Visit the ruins of the 13th-century castle and imagine life here centuries ago. From Kendal Castle, you can enjoy magnificent views of the town and the hills beyond, making it more than worth the trip.
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