The Lake District National Park is hands-down one of my favourite places in the world, and I feel like everything I love about England comes together in this wonderful area.
Beautiful landscapes of rolling hills, drystone walls and grazing sheep? Check! Tiny historic villages full of cute cottages and cozy Pubs? Check! Impressive Lakes and challenging mountains that make for some of the country’s best hiking? Obviously!
Stefanie and I have visited the National Park a couple of times now and spent weeks exploring its various corners. I’m aware that most visitor’s time is likely limited, so here is my ideal 5-day itinerary to see the best of the Lake District.
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The Ultimate 5-Day Lake District Itinerary
Day 1: Keswick and Surroundings
Pretty Keswick is the ideal base for exploring the northern Lake District. From here, you can reach plenty of interesting sights, from the ancient Castlerigg Stone Circle to the historic Mirehouse on the eastern shore of Bassenthwaite Lake.
On your first day, you could try out one of the many possible hikes, whose trailheads you can reach from Keswick. The climb to the top of Skiddaw is one of the most spectacular hikes in the area, but it’s also quite tough. If you’re looking for something more gentle, try climbing Catbells or my personal favourite – Walla Crag. The views on a clear day from all three of them are amazing.
If the weather isn’t playing along, Keswick itself is worth exploring, too. There are a number of interesting museums (including wacky ones like the Cumberland Pencil Museum), possibilities for nice strolls along the wooded shores of Derwentwater, as well as tons of cafés and pubs to warm yourself in.
See also: 15 Fantastic Things to Do in and Around Keswick in England’s Lake District
- Budget Accommodation Tip: YHA Keswick Hostel
- Midrange Accommodation Tip: George Hotel
- Luxury Accommodation Tip: The Inn on the Square
Day 2: The Borrowdale and Buttermere Valleys
On your second day, I suggest you keep your base in Keswick, but explore the nearby Valleys of Borrowdale and Buttermere. The 77 and 77e buses circle the valley from Keswick’s Bus Station, or you can drive yourself if you have your own set of wheels. Be aware that the roads are super narrow, though, and there might be a lot of traffic – especially in the summer.
There are quite a few worthwhile stops along the way, starting with Lodore Falls at the southern end of Derwentwater Lake. Other interesting sights are the huge, somewhat mysterious Bowder Stone and the Honister Slate Mine, which you can explore on an interesting tour.
In pretty Buttermere, you can take a stroll around the namesake Lake before having some snacks and tea and one of the many cafés in the village. In the afternoon, you could explore the hiking trails of Whinlatter Forest, and have a look for the local population of Red Squirrels.
You’ll pass many tiny villages with inviting pubs on the way, including Rosthwaite and Stonethwaite, where we stayed for a couple of nights on our last visit, completely off the grid. All of them warrant a short stop, especially as most people just seem to zip right through them.
- Budget Accommodation Tip: YHA Keswick Hostel
- Midrange Accommodation Tip: George Hotel
- Luxury Accommodation Tip: The Inn on the Square
Day 3: Grasmere and Rydal
To me, Grasmere is the quintessential Lake District village, and I’m not alone in appreciating its charms. This is the heartland of Lakeland Literature, as famous poet William Wordsworth lived in the tiny Dove Cottage with a ragtag band of writers and opium addicts (looking at you, Thomas De Quincey!).
You can tour the cottage and adjacent museum or walk to nearby Rydal to visit Wordsworth’s other home at Rydal Hall. To get to Rydal, I highly recommend hiking the picturesque Old Coffin Trail, which once was used to carry the deceased to their final resting place in Grasmere.
Afterwards, you can circle back to Grasmere along the southern shores of Rydal Water and Grasmere Lake and stop at the impressive Rydal Caves on the way.
If you’re feeling energetic, this would also be a good opportunity to climb Loughrigg Fell, which has some impressive views, considering that it’s only 335m or 1,100ft. tall. In the evening, you can recuperate with a pint in one of Grasmere’s bars and pubs.
- Budget Accommodation Tip: YHA Grasmere Butharlyp Howe Hostel
- Midrange Accommodation Tip: Victorian House
- Luxury Accommodation Tip: The Grasmere Hotel
Day 4: The Langdale Valleys
Keep your base in Grasmere and catch a bus to nearby Elterwater, from where you can explore the beautiful, off-the-beaten-path Langdale Valleys. The first part of the circular hike traverses the Great Langdale Valley and features some dramatic views of the surrounding fells.
The hike also passes the historic Dungeon Ghyll Hotel and the serene Blea Tarn before dropping into the pretty Little Langdale Valley. Things to check out here are a prehistoric thing (meeting) place and the historic Slater’s Bridge.
Another must-see in this area is the Cathedral Cavern, the super impressive remains of an old Slate Mine. On the way back to Elterwater, you can grab a bite and pint in the beautifully situated Three Shire’s Inn (or alternatively in the Britannia Inn back in Elterwater), before returning to Grasmere for the night.
- Budget Accommodation Tip: YHA Grasmere Butharlyp Howe Hostel
- Midrange Accommodation Tip: Victorian House
- Luxury Accommodation Tip: The Grasmere Hotel
Day 5: Ambleside, Windermere and Hill Top
Make your way to Windermere, the Lake District’s biggest town. On the way you could stop in quaint Ambleside, to check out the remaining foundation walls of the Roman Fort, have a look at the cute Bridge House or take a walk to the small Stock Ghyll Waterfall.
Windermere itself doesn’t have a ton of sights, but there is an interesting Steamboat Museum and children as well as nostalgic adults will enjoy the World of Beatrix Potter, which recreates scenes from the famous Peter Rabbit series of children’s books.
Whether you’re a fan of Miss Potter or not, I highly recommend taking the ferry across Windermere Lake and making your way to Hilltop Farm, the former home of the writer in Near Sawrey. The historic house is full of interesting bric-a-brac and the flowering garden is incredibly cute.
If you’re making your way to the ferry by foot (at the time of writing, there was no public bus), you’ll cross some of the most quintessential Lake District scenery we’ve come across. There are a few tiny hamlets and the most picturesquely situated church ever. We were here on our last day of our most recent visit and couldn’t hope for a more fitting farewell to the National Park.
- Budget Accommodation Tip: YHA Windermere
- Midrange Accommodation Tip: The Cranleigh Boutique
- Luxury Accommodation Tip: Church Suites by The Cranleigh Boutique
Lake District Itinerary Map
All the suggested stops and day trips mentioned above can be found in this map of the Lake District.
How to Get Around in the Lake District
The Lake District has a pretty good bus network, which you can check on this site. The 555 bus connecting Keswick, Grasmere, Ambleside and Windermere goes very frequently, especially in the summer.
Other connections, like 77 and 77e for the Borrowdale and Buttermere Valleys or 516 for Elterwater, go a little less frequent, but still several times a day. The buses on those lines have to navigate some extremely narrow roads, so especially in the summer, when there’s a lot of traffic, it’s possible that they are a little late.
Still, I think taking the bus is the best way to get from A to B in the Lake District, and they’re certainly indispensable for point-to-point hikes. If you still prefer a car of your own, there are rental companies in Kendal, Penrith or Lancaster outside the Lake Districts Boundaries.
Organized Tours of the Lake District
If you prefer to explore the area without the hassle of sorting out your own transport and accommodation, taking an organized tour might be the way to got for you. There are plenty of companies offering everything from one-day-tours, to multi-day-tours.
Have a look below for some possible options.