Where would you visit in the Lake District?

[SendARavenToRiverRun]

Completely clueless about the Lakes aside from what I've googled. DH and I are looking for a cosy night away Easter time next year.
No kids
Travelling from South Yorks
Will have a wander but probably not a hike (sadly due to injury 😕).
Lovely scenery (which seems pretty much ubiquitous tbh).
Nice pub/ boat trip?
Maybe a few shops to poke around in.
Thanks in advance ☺️

[SendARavenToRiverRun]

Just to add, much as I'd love a posh boutique hotel our budget is more the Premier Inn type end of the range 😆

[Hey2021]

Penrith is beautiful.

[FortunaMajor]

Keswick is probably your best bet if not hiking as it's a decent sized town.
Or
Ambleside
Bowness

They are the ones with the most to do beyond being a hiking base. Some of the other villages like Grasmere and Hawkeshead are also lovely, but a bit limited.

[SendARavenToRiverRun]

Lovely..off to investigate. Thank you
My 'sad face' on the OP about having no kids is obviously a mistake. It should be a huge grin 😁

[PauliesWalnuts]

If it’s just a night away I’d go for Grasmere. Lake, Wordsworth, gingerbread, couple of lovely galleries, outdoor shops and restaurants.

[Toddlerteaplease]

@Hey2021

Penrith is beautiful.

Yes. My sister lives there. And only 10
Minutes from Ulleswater and 20 from Keswick. Some lonely coffee shops and cafes. The deli counter in Booths has little hoovers to hoover crumbs round the pork pies. 😁

[StrataZon]

Anywhere on lake Windermere

[Cheshiremamalife]

We love Bowness on Windermere... Lots to see and do, nice places to eat and an open top bus to other local towns such as Ambleside and Grasmere. Also, some great boat trips. Have a lovely time wherever you choose! Can't go wrong with the Lakes x

[Bernadinetta]

Stay in Ambleside. Get boat trip to Bowness on Windermere.

[AuntieDolly]

Keswick is lovely, great access and not so busy as Ambleside (which is also lovely)

[LadyVictoriaSponge]

I love Ambleside, had some lovely holidays there.

[SendARavenToRiverRun]

Soon many choices! Thank you all. Does anyone have any specific hotel/b&b recommendations for any of the above. Just Google mapping to see journey times and stuff. It really does look beautiful .

[Cheshiremamalife]

If you're wanting to do it on a budget, there's a Travelodge just outside Kendal that we've stayed in a few times. It's a relatively new one and it's actually really nice for the price. You're on the doorstep of Kendal which is lovely and then you've got Lake Windermere a bit further on. We've booked for a weekend in November and I think a family room cost us about 70 quid xxx

[SendARavenToRiverRun]

Trave Lodge sounds good. Thank you. Will have a look.
Bowness is top of my list at the moment. Just because of the distance.

[AndTwoFilmsByFrancoisTruffaut]

Ullswater is gorgeous. Definitely the best part of the Lakes and way less touristy than Windermere (which I hate to say I don’t rate as an area, way too crowded and not as beautiful as Ullswater) and the other towns, Kendal, Ambleside, etc are v touristy too.

Once I discovered Ullswater, I never bothered going back to any of the other typical Lakes destinations, the scenery is just to die for, utterly dreamy, its a really romantic, stunning place.

[Adelaide66]

We love the North Lakes, much quieter.,Cockermouth and Caldbeck are delightful. The west coast from Silloth, Allonby, Maryport and Whitehaven are treats to explore. Kendal is a nightmare with the one way traffic system

[Arucanafeather]

If you want a very “lake district” experience then grasmere is lovely. If you’re going this time of year it won’t be too busy although everywhere is busier during school hols/ half terms. Kendal and Windermere were a bit of a disappointment. Ambleside and Keswick are my favourite towns although having moved to Cumbria we opted for Eden valley just outside Penrith to live, as is beautiful and nowhere near as touristy with the lakes still on our doorstep. Ullswater is lovely and quieter than the other lakes, especially glenriding end. Steamer is pricey but I love it.

[aSpanielintheworks]

Fallbarrow holiday park in Bowness. Beautiful park, right on the lake, central to Bowness, loads of places to visit - Ambleside, Keswick etc, by road or by boat. Nice pubs, shops, beautiful walks around the lake itself. One of our favourite places in the UK.

[QuebecBagnet]

They are building a travelodge in Keswick, or possibly a premiere inn. Not sure when it’s opening. Nice range of shops and pubs and cafes. Boat trips round Derwentwater.

[feeona123]

Keswick! If you can push the budget go for Armathwaite Hall.

[rookiemere]

There's a Premier Inn right in the centre of Keswick.

[Undertheoldlindentree]

Sarah Nelson gingerbread shop at Grasmere!

[DonttouchthatLarry]

Keswick is my favourite - so many great shops, pubs and B&B's. The Premier Inn is opening in December. Easy lakeside walks and boat trips, theatre and lovely little cinema in addition to the stunning scenery. Short drive to Whinlatter Forest or Dodd Wood.

[Chemicalrainbow]

I know you said wander not hike but, if you end up near Ulswater, have a look at Hallin Fell. You can park at St Peter’s Church, Martindale and it’s a short walk to the summit. I’ve done it with toddlers and grandparents. You may be able to manage and it’s worth it for the view.

[ivykaty44]

I like Keswick as you can mooch around the tourist shops and sometimes they have a market

you can get down to the lakeside and have a walk along from the town, further round to wards Derwent water marina

the stone circle is just up the road with an ice cream van and you can wander round the stones taking photographs etc

nice restaurants and pubs for food at night and fish and chips

also a cinema