UK Staycations are here to stay I think and the Lake District is a great place to visit for a short holiday in the UK to reset in nature by enjoying the beautiful lakes, pretty villages, tearooms and mountain walks.
There are so many places to visit in the Lake District and the best way to see the Lake District is to base yourself in one place and visit different sections of the Lakes each day.
So many of the best things to do in the Lake District are outside and are outdoor activities which is why the Lake District is an appealing place to visit this year whilst travel restrictions are still in place to keep us safe.
So in this Lake District travel blog I’m going to share with you ideas of where to stay in the Lake District on your Lake District Staycation so you can use these towns and villages as a base to enjoy and see more of the Lake District from!
Staycation Lake District
Haven’t got long in the Lake District?? Here’s How to Spend 1 Day in the Lake District! & 10 Easy Lake District Walks!
Places To Stay In The Lake District
1. Bowness-on-Windermere & Windermere
Lake Windermere is one of the most well known places in the Lake District and it is Englands largest natural lake.
The village of Bowness-on-Windemere is right on the shore of Lake Windermere and Windermere village is just up the road. Although both places are separate villages they do get merged together because of their close proximity to each other and the ease of access to Lake Windermere from both of them.
Why stay in Bowness-on-Windermere & Windermere on your staycation in the Lake District?
Windermere has it’s own train station and many local buses pass through it so if you are travelling to the Lake District using public transport then it’s an ideal place to base yourself.
There are lots of things to do on and around Lake Windermere like boat cruises on Lake Windermere (I love the sunset boat cruise!), hiring a rowing boat, climbing Orrest Head to see an amazing view, browsing the shops and walking around the shore of Lake Windermere.
The best thing is that many of the things to do in Lake Windermere are outside which will help keep you safe this year and inline with current restrictions within the UK.
If you’re looking for dog friendly hotels in the Lake District, Windermere has a few!
2. Ambleside
Ambeside is another great location if you want to stay close to Lake Windermere on your staycation in the Lake District because this town is located at the head of Lake Windermere.
It’s one of the most popular towns in the Lake District and therefore makes a great if you want to stay in a busy, thriving and quirky area of the Lake District!
Why stay in Ambleside on your staycation in the Lake District?
If you are travelling to the Lake District using public transport then like Windermere, Ambleside is a good location to stay in as you’ll have plenty of bus access to and from the town to other areas of the Lake District.
Ambleside is a popular base for walking, climbing and biking so if you are visiting the Lake District for outdoor activities and walks then basing yourself here means you won’t have to go too far to do this! For example from the town centre you can walk to Stock Ghyll Force Waterfall!
It’s a good location to stay in if you are climbing Scafell Pike which is the highest mountain in England!
You also have Lake Windermere on the doorstep and from here you can also go out on lake cruises which is one of the top things to do on Lake Windermere!
3. Keswick
Keswick is a market town and a larger town than many of the popular towns and villages in the Lake District and on this list. It’s located close to the shore of Derwentwater and is a really lovely town. By staying in Keswick and visiting the surrounding areas you will see easily see the beauty of the Lake District!
Why stay in Keswick on your staycation in the Lake District?
Keswick is the centre of tourism in the Lake District so if you like trips away and staycations with plenty of amenities close to you then basing yourself in Keswick is a good idea! Here you’ll find plenty of shops, cafes, restaurants, museums and tourist information sites.
From Keswick you can enjoy the quietness of Derwentwater, you can enjoy walking in the Fells which are nearby, go paragliding and go climbing. You can also enjoy organised activities like watersports and indoor climbing.
4. Grasmere
The village of Grasmere is famous because of the poet William Wordsworth who lived there and described it as ‘the loveliest spot that man hath ever found’. It’s also famous because of its Gingerbread shop!
Grasmere is a popular tourist spot in the Lake District but it’s also a lovely village to stay in if you don’t wish to base yourself in a town but still want all the amenities of cafes, restaurants and shops.
Why stay in Grasmere on your staycation in the Lake District?
Most of the buildings in Grasmere are either holiday cottages or hotels giving lots ofaccommodation options in traditional, old, buildings that the Lake District is known for.
If you are into history and literature, you will enjoy learning more about William Wordsworth here and Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum are must visit places for you.
Grasmere has lots of events on throughout the year which means it is often thriving but it’s also easy to get out of the busyness of the village and go for some beautiful walks along Grasmere Lake, Rydal Water and Helm Crag which is a smell fell above the village with amazing views!
5. Hawkshead
If you want to stay in a charming, historic and picturesque village in the Lake District on your staycation then Hawkshead is for you.
Hawkshead is a tourist hub but for very good reasons and although it gets busy during the day with day tourists, by staying here overnight you will get the evenings and mornings to yourself in this pretty, character filled village.
Why stay in Hawkshead on your staycation in the Lake District?
Hawkshead is made up of clusters of whitewashed houses, archways and alleyways, courtyards and squares. These are full of independent bakeries, village shops and boutique stores and no cars since cars are banned from the village centre.
It’s probably everything you imagine the Lake District and your quiet days away from home to be like!
The village and landscape around Hawkshead is what inspired Beatrix Potter and Wordsworth and the charm still remains today.
Like all villages and towns in the Lake District, a short drive will take you to nearby mountains to climb and lakes to discover.
6. Penrith
Penrith is a much larger town to those I have mentioned above in this Lake District staycation post and it sits just outside of the Lake District at 3 miles away. Penrith is a thriving historic and pretty market town and a great base to explore the Lake District and North East from.
Why stay in Penrith on your staycation in the Lake District?
As it is a larger town outside the Lake District it is easier to get to by road and by public transport. Many Lake District day tours with a guide start from Penrith so if you are interested in something like this, staying here rather than inside the Lake District is a great option.
Accommodation options in and around Penrith benefit from being slightly less expensive because of it’s location outside of the Lake District which may be favourable to you. There are still plenty of things to do in Penrith and nearby!
I hope you found these Lake District staycation ideas helpful!
- For more of my UK, Lake District & Staycation posts see:
- Full Lake District Day Trip! How to Spend 1 Day in the Lake District!
- 15 UK Staycation Ideas For This Year! Visit The Best Of The UK In 2021!
- 16 Beautiful Staycations in Wales To Feel Like You’re Abroad in 2021!
- How To Do Orrest Head Walk from Lake Windermere Easily!
- Best Things To Do in Lake Windermere To Avoid the Crowds!
This post is in collaboration with Hotels.com, but all views are my own.