For Children and Families
Lake District National Park www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/things-to-do/family-children-activities
Things to do for families and children - Have fun in your National Park! The Lake District is jam-packed with amazing adventures for tots to teenagers.
Visit Lake District www.visitlakedistrict.com/things-to-do/family-days-out
Family Days Out in the Lake District - Because the Lake District, Cumbria is a destination for the whole family, so our menu of activities is broad enough to satisfy every interest and ability. From farm experiences to taking to the water in a kayak, we have exactly what it takes to keep the whole family happy.
A Small Selection of Activities for Families
Grizedale forest www.forestryengland.uk/grizedale
Grizedale forest in the heart of the Lake District World Heritage Site, offers an unrivalled day out for everyone
Breath-taking views, stunning artwork and endless forest trails, come and discover all that Grizedale has to offer!
Explore the forest on two wheels, foot or horse back and keep your eyes peeled along the way for our unique sculptures which are dotted throughout the forest. For more of a challenge, test your nerve and swing among the trees on one of our Go Ape courses.
Go Ape Grizedale Forest www.goape.co.uk/locations/grizedale
This stunning location in Grizedale Forest is the full monty of adventure with FOUR unrivalled experiences.
Adrenaline junkies should head to the Treetop Challenge or Zip Trekking Adventure if seriously high-level tree-top crossings and incredible zip wire flights get your pulse quickening.
There’s Treetop Adventure for kids up to the age of 10.
Whinlatter Forest www.forestryengland.uk/whinlatter
Whinlatter is home to stunning views, fantastic walks, exhilarating mountain biking, rare wildlife and adventure play.
Set within the Lake District, a World Heritage Site, Whinlatter has unrivalled views across Bassenthwaite Lake, Derwentwater and Keswick. It is also home to the longest purpose-built mountain bike trails in the Lake District.
Brockhole on Windermere www.brockhole.co.uk
Children's adventure playground, beautiful gardens, lakeshore, magnificent views. Activities including boat hire, archery, laser clay shooting. Exhibitions of local culture, landscape and natural history.
Café and take away food
Information centre
Lakes Aquarium www.lakesaquarium.co.uk
Go on a journey of discovery! Set on the lakeshore, this award winning attraction has the UK's largest collection of freshwater fish.
The World of Beatrix Potter www.hop-skip-jump.com
The World of Beatrix Potter™ is a vibrant family Attraction bringing to life Beatrix Potter’s enchanting stories in a magical recreation of the beautiful Lake District countryside. The exhibition features favourite characters from the famous books, an award-winning outdoor Peter Rabbit Garden, a superb character-themed family-friendly café and world-famous gift shop ensuring all generations of visitors can experience a little bit of Beatrix Potter magic.
Wray Castle www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/lake-district/wray
Take a walk in the grounds at Wray and discover some of the features of this great estate, still much as they were when they were built, including an arboretum and yew walk, walled garden, boathouse, and miniature harbour.
Follow waymarked trails through beautiful grounds, parkland and woodland including a long stretch of shingle beach on the shores of Lake Windermere and panoramic Lake District views, Wray has it all in every season.
Derwent Pencil Museum www.derwentart.com
Home of the world's first pencil!
Located in Keswick, the home of the first pencil, visitors enter this museum through a replica graphite mine which would have served as the source of the pencil industry over three centuries ago.
A journey of graphite and pencil discovery from its humble beginnings as a cottage industry to modern day production.
Discover our secret WW2 pencils with hidden maps; one of the largest colour pencils in the world measuring almost 8 metres; The Queen's diamond Jubilee pencil; miniature pencil sculptures; and much more!
Lakeland Motor Museum www.lakelandmotormuseum.co.uk
Explore our fascinating collection of over 30,000 exhibits that trace the development of road transport throughout the twentieth century - cycles, motorbikes, motor cars and automobilia.
Housed in a converted mill in the heart of the Lake District, we’re minutes from Lake Windermere.
Lowther Castle & Gardens www.lowthercastle.org
Lowther Castle is one of the most intriguing visitor attractions in the country. Dramatic ruins, gardens within gardens, an adventure playground to rival the best in the land.
The Lost Castle Adventure Playground at Lowther Castle Penrith www.lowthercastle.org/visiting/the-lost-castle/
Imagine coming to a ruined castle, walking through its gardens and into the woodlands and stumbling across one of the largest adventure playgrounds in the country. When you do this at Lowther, you have found the lost castle.
Sail
Easy-to-drive boats available from Bowness Beach, Bowness Dock & Waterhead
Cruises
Windermere Lake Cruises windermere-lakecruises.co.uk
Explore Windermere, England's largest lake by boat. Spectacular Lake District views from on board our regular cruises from Ambleside, Brockhole, Bowness & Lakeside.
Ullswater 'Steamers' ullswater-steamers.co.uk
Ullswater ‘Steamers’ celebrates over 160 years of operating cruises on one of England’s most beautiful lakes, Ullswater. Operating one of the largest heritage boat fleets in the world, we offer visitors an unforgettable experience 363 days a year.
The cruises from Ullswater ‘Steamers’ connect to some of the most famous and iconic walking routes in the Lake District National Park, with views of Wordsworth's daffodils on the west shore in spring.
Coniston Launch conistonlaunch.co.uk
Coniston Launch offers a variety of ways that you can enjoy a beautiful boat cruise on Coniston Water in the Lake District. We offer regular services covering two different circular routes on Coniston Water. During summer these routes run daily and during winter there is a limited service on certain days. Stay on the boat for the full cruise or hop on and off at any of the jetties to catch a later boat back. You can combine a boat cruise with one of the popular walking routes around Coniston Water.
Historic Steam Yacht Gondola nationaltrust.org.uk/steam-yacht-gondola
Steam Yacht Gondola is a rebuilt Victorian steam-powered yacht.
Enjoy the charm of luxury travel once experienced by wealthy Victorians, riding in style in Gondola’s opulent saloons or relaxing on her open-air decks as she glides across Coniston Water.
Watch the gleaming steam engine in operation from the open viewing windows and quiz the boat’s engineer on its workings. Take in the spectacular scenery of the Coniston Fells and listen to the crew’s commentary on the area’s history and famous connections.
Trainlines
https://www.communityrailcumbria.co.uk/lines/cumbrian-coast-line/
Historic Railways
Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway lakesiderailway.co.uk,
At Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway, travel back in time when you climb aboard our steam train. A distant memory of bygone years for some and a new experience for others, it’s a unique day out for all.
Established in 1973 The Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway is a family run business in the heart of the Lake District.
Ravenglass Railway ravenglass-railway.co.uk
Join us on a stunning seven-mile journey from Ravenglass, the only coastal village in the UNESCO World Heritage site, The Lake District National Park. Travel across the estuary, through the hills, past seven request stops, en route to our final destination, Dalegarth for Boot station.
Tours
Minibus tours:
Mountain Goat Tours mountain-goat.com
Discover Northern England and beyond with multi award-winning Mountain Goat Tours, celebrating over 50 years of experience. Our small group tours take visitors off the beaten track with knowledgeable and friendly driver-guides.