It’s well known for inspiring poets and designers, but there’s much more to find out in Lake District with young ones compared to breathtaking surroundings.
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Of program, if you’re wanting to get in the open air within gorgeous piece of Cumbria, you will find countless child-friendly strolls including motorboat trips galore regarding the ponds by themselves – and loads of Lake District household destinations to find out.
From Peter Rabbit to historical castles, pet destinations plus the possiblity to travel on a history railroad, listed below are my top 26 things you can do in Lake District with young ones.
Contents – mouse click to leap to a part
Take a boat cruise
You can’t go directly to the Lake District without heading out on one or more pond, and you will find a complete sequence of Lake District motorboat cruises to pick from.
As really as permitting people explore the ponds from a different sort of viewpoint, many cruises make numerous stops at piers and cities, to help you effortlessly combine a boat trip along with other strolls and family-friendly destinations in Lake District.
You’ll be ruined for option based for which you remain, but also for among the better motorboat cruises in Lake District, decide to try here.
Steam Yacht Gondola, Coniston Water
This rebuilt Victorian steam-powered boat the most uncommon techniques to explore the ponds.
Originally integrated 1859, the National Trust’s Steam Yacht Gondola may be the earliest vapor boat in north of The united kingdomt, operating 3 to 4 scenic pond cruises on Coniston liquid a day.
As really as getting a taste of just what life had been like for affluent Victorians on the satisfaction cruises, there’s a commentary regarding the area’s record while you absorb the surroundings.
National Trust people have a 10per cent rebate with young ones under five traveling no-cost.
Prebooking is highly advised and you will select a proven way cruises at the mercy of accessibility, or perhaps the complete pond cruise, which costs just a little over the north or south lake stretch alone.
Windermere Lake Cruises
Windermere Lake Cruises operate numerous day-to-day cruises across England’s biggest pond on both historical steamboats plus modern-day releases.
You can decide to embark at Ambleside, Brockhole, Bowness & Lakeside, with 10.5 kilometers of pond to explore and various roads using that a few of the lakeside destinations. Not all the roads operate beyond your primary April to October period.
There’s discourse on-board and you will additionally purchase ‘freedom associated with lake’ seats, which allow you to visit and down, including 48 time choices, plus seats including destinations or coach vacation.
You can decide faster roads, including a 45-minute sail from Bowness and a 50-minute course from Ambleside, if you’re going to the Lake District with young children – the Green Cruise course is very great for people.
Ullswater Steamers
Ullswater Steamers runs among the biggest history motorboat fleets on earth, and their particular cruises tend to be also dog-friendly if you’re going to the Lake District with animals.
The motorboat trips allow you to sail across the pond in about couple of hours, you can also jump-off to explore the various stops, like the impressive Aira energy waterfall.
There’s an open deck for bright times, sheltered top deck sitting places and interior downstairs saloons if the climate is not so excellent, and commodes.
Watersports at Coniston Boating Centre
If you prefer a far more energetic knowledge than sitting on a boat, one other way to explore the Lakes with young ones is through involved in a few of the water-based activities being offered.
And Coniston Boating Centre is among the most useful places in Lake District for household enjoyable regarding the liquid.
There are many choices for motorboat hire also, from today’s motorboat to a conventional wood rowing motorboat, or open-Canadian canoe for many soothing outside activities with little to no people while admiring the surroundings.
Teens may also set off on the pond on a kayak or stand-up paddleboard. Well-behaved animals tend to be permitted regarding the ships also if you are travelling along with your four-legged buddy. There’s additionally bicycle hire to assist you explore on land also.
Brockhole on Windermere
Brockhole on Windermere is among the most useful times call at the Lake District with young ones which like to get energetic, with lots to help keep all the family entertained.
Sitting regarding the shores of Windermere inside the reasons of an attractive Victorian summertime house, young ones will enjoy the big adventure playing field, go-karting, mini-golf, archery, tree-top trekking, interior caving, nature tracks and orienteering classes, and a lot even more.
During the hotter summertime, it is possible to employ rowing ships, kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards to set off on the pond besides.
There’s additionally a visitor center and museum, scenic home gardens, a woodland faerie path, a few cafes, a restaurant, and a present store full of regional artisan items for the full household day trip in Lakes.
World of Beatrix Potter, Bowness-on-Windermere
See a few of the most famous English children’s storybooks ever become more active at the realm of Beatrix Potter.
The family-friendly Lake District destination allows you to walk-through the familiar tales within a distinctive physical knowledge, including checking out Peter Rabbit’s outdoors.
You’ll see figures from author’s most well-known publications, including Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck, Mr Todd, and Jeremy Fisher, while checking out an enchanting entertainment associated with Lake District country side, which assisted encourage the initial tales.
Keep an eye fixed aside for unique household friendly activities, such Peter Rabbit beverage functions, and stay shows in connecting Old Laundry Theatre also.
If you’re looking even more Beatrix Potter, the woman house at Hill Top – purchased with all the arises from the Tale of Peter Rabbit – is just about 30 minutes away over the pond. Needs to be prebooked.
Wray Castle, Ambleside
Set regarding the finance companies of Lake Windermere, Wray Castle is a National Trust home that’s been converted into a thrilling child-friendly destination.
Built during Victorian age as a mock-Gothic palace, its imposing turrets and towers appear to be one thing straight from the pages of a children’s fairytale guide.
Inside, the palace does not possess normal historical furnishings and artwork you anticipate from nationwide Trust properties – rendering it even more enjoyable for people!
Instead, its areas tend to be filled up with kid friendly tasks, such ping pong, huge games, duration putting on a costume, smooth play, and crafts and arts. Additionally there are Peter Rabbit Adventure areas, featuring Peter’s Burrow, Mr McGregor’s yard, plus.
With loads of interior tasks, Wray Castle is among the top things you can do in Lake District with young ones on a rainy time – or simple to match a Lake District motorboat travel in sunlight also.
Muncaster Castle, Ravenglass
If you prefer a genuinely historical palace, mind to the western Lake District in which Muncaster Castle overlooks the River Esk.
Dating to the 13th century, the level we detailed building is fabled for its breathtaking interiors and lengthy and interesting record.
Children will cherish examining the castle’s 70+ miles of crazy woodland home gardens, with an adventure playing field and interior maze along with the colourful blossoms and views throughout the surrounding valleys.
The Hawk & Owl Centre, set inside the palace home gardens, can be really worth a call with young ones. Take a look at wild birds of Prey shows to look at majestic animals soaring appropriate over your face.
Sizergh Castle, Kendal
Another historical web site, Sizergh Castle near Kendal has-been house to your Strickland household for more than eight hundreds of years.
With a 1,600-acre property, it’s simple to fill just about every day away: along with the crazy play path, it is possible to watch out for butterflies in home gardens and deer in reasons, with wetland, woodland and orchards to explore.
if the residence is available, don’t skip the astonishingly complex inlaid sixteenth century panelling inside also.
Lowther Castle, near Penrith
It’s perhaps not Lowther Castle it self the biggest destination for young ones (although don’t be lured to miss it either). As an alternative, it’s the amazing play location, among the biggest adventure playgrounds in the united kingdom.
The Missing Castle play location is full of turrets, zipwires, walkways and slides, besides the ramps and tips to rise and a-pole to slip down. You’ll discover places for young children also, including a sandpit and line mesh play area (plus someplace for grownups to stay down and flake out also)
Do save sometime to explore Lowther Castle itself however, perhaps one of the most dazzling damages around, and its particular breathtaking home gardens.
The huge palace as soon as had a space for every single day’s the season, plus the exact same household has actually resided right here because the twelfth century – but following the 5th earl went from cash, every thing which may be offered had been eliminated, and all sorts of that stays is a tremendously impressive layer.
It’s today additionally component yard, including becoming enclosed by its reasons, yard and woodland for example quite unforgettable household friendly locations in Lake District. Start all year.
Walby Farm Park
There’s enjoyable galore can be found at Walby Farm Park, including an opportunity to meet up with the pets, plenty of play places and some unforeseen incentives, such ferret events!
Great if you’re going to the Lake District with more youthful young ones, it is possible to spot a string of farmyard favourites, fulfilling the rabbits and guinea pigs, including some hand-feeding and goat race, and several much more uncommon furry residents such alpacas.
Plus there’s an astonishing 30 miles to explore, with interior and outside play places. The Indoor Adventure Enjoy Barn has actually a different location for younger kids, or some larger delights for teenagers like the 24 base Demon Drop Slide (and indeed, grown-ups can participate in also).
Outside, and swings and trampolines, you can test your hand at running JCB Diggers, Pedal Tractors and Go-Karts.
There’s additionally a three-level Roman fort, Milecastle62, that is covered up against the elements to help you rise ropes and mountains, stability on tree trunk area beams, whoosh down slides and poles, crawl through tunnels and usually play towards heart’s content – and the appropriately called Barbarian Village location for less than 3s!
The Lake District Wildlife Park, Keswick
For much more animal enjoyable in Lake District with young ones, the Lake District Wildlife Park is unmissable, with more than 100 types of unique pets within 24-acre playground near Keswick.
You’ll get a hold of from even more wild birds of victim and amazing reptiles to cheeky primates and friendly farmyard pets.
Conservation lies in the centre associated with wildlife playground, and young ones can understand put at risk types within many keeper speaks daily, including more info on the pretty purple pandas, along with the lynx which will as soon as have roamed Cumbria’s woodlands.
Children may also get fully up near and fulfill a few of the park’s residents within shows and wildlife activities.
There are many play places also, including a patio play location and interior smooth play and baseball gap, in the event the elements is bad, plus a cafe offering tasty do-it-yourself dishes.
If you’re looking even more pet destinations, South Lakes Safari Zoo is not really in Lake District nationwide Park (despite its title) however it’s however near adequate to check out and determine its 1,000 uncommon and endangered residents – around thirty minutes’ drive from Sizergh Castle, as an example
Alpacaly Ever After, Keswick & numerous places
Certainly one of the most special Lake District household destinations, Alpacaly Ever After is an award-winning personal enterprise that rescues and rehomes alpacas and llamas from around the nation – understood affectionately due to the fact woolly military!
The center provides people the chance to come and fulfill their particular friendly alpacas also – check out in springtime or very early summertime, and you also may reach look at infants.
You may also make the alpacas on a walk around a few of the lake’s many scenic places, like the personal reasons associated with Lingholm home regarding the shores of Derwentwater.
The alpaca experiences tend to be ready to accept young ones of all of the many years, although site visitors under 18 must be followed by a grownup. Young ones under 10 can choose no-cost on a personal alpaca stroll, although not team walks.
Honister Slate Mine, Keswick
If you’re picturing a call to a slate my own, the possibilities tend to be you are perhaps not hoping to be high-up floating around. However the Infinity Bridge at Honister Slate Mine does that – ideal for teenagers and older young ones looking an adrenaline excitement.
The longest high-wire connection in Britain, the Infinity Bridge is strung 2,000 foot over the area flooring, with a few astonishing panoramic views out over the surroundings – in the event that you dare keep an eye out to take pleasure from all of them,
Suitable for young ones elderly 8+ that 1.3m high, it’s perhaps one of the most unforgettable household times call at the Lake District. Assuming becoming suspended in mid-air does not lure, you can even simply take 90-minute trips associated with record my own, decide to try the Climb the Mine adventure scaling wall space and ladders, and crawling through tunnels inside the my own caverns, including canyoning.
You’re additionally simply a quick drive from dazzling surroundings associated with Honister Pass if you’d choose to appreciate it from walk out
Lakes Aquarium, Lakeside
Set regarding the shores of Lake Windermere, the Lakes Aquarium hosts the UK’s biggest assortment of freshwater seafood and lots of various other aquatic animals.
On a call to your tank, it is possible to understand the product range of animals residing the ponds, including perch, pike, white-clawed crayfish, koi carp, and substantially more.
Best of all of the, it is possible to walk-through an underwater tunnel which takes you on a captivating recreated trip under Lake Windermere.
The Lakes Aquarium can be house to a lot of various other interesting pets from around the globe, to help you spot from clownfish and piranhas to rays, otters, and tortoises. Unique speaks, activities and young ones’ tracks additionally happen throughout every season.
Lakeland Maze Farm Park, Kendal
If you’re going to the Lake District in the summertime, young ones will cherish dealing with the task associated with maize maze at Lakeland Maze Farm Park.
Each 12 months from July to September, the maze has actually a design, with a mini maze and primary maze which takes over 90 moments to perform (you will find exit things as you go along just in case you must escape!)
But even although you see outside those months, it is possible to enjoy getting lost with two permanent mazes, including an inside bunny burrow pipe maze.
That’s simply the begin also. You can observe farmyard pets regarding the working farm, including compact fluffy residents within farm playground, and undoubtedly smooth play, a climbing wall surface, bouncy castles and trampolines.
Opening times differ, limited by college breaks and vacations (if) outside April/May to October.
Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
The Ravenglass & Eskdale in Lake District is among the earliest and longest narrow-gauge railways in The united kingdomt.
Affectionately generally La’al Ratty, indicating “little railroad“ in old Cumbrian dialect, the history railroad works along a seven-mile-long range to the spectacular Lake District country side.
There tend to be dazzling views throughout the estuaries and off to the fells, and you also may spot some Cumbrian wildlife along the way.
Don’t skip the no-cost Ravenglass section museum, that is saturated in interactive displays the young ones getting tangled up in. There’s additionally a train-themed play location at Dalegarth section within various other end.
If you are going to in run-up to Christmas time, have a look at Santa Express train, among the beautiful Santa train experiences in UK – although be informed, it books up quickly
Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway
Stretching for over three kilometers, this small heritage railroad is a good Lake District household destination with its very own right, however the vapor train trips additionally make an enjoyable option to explore a few of the remaining portion of the Lake District with young ones.
With vapor trains and diesel machines operating from Haverthwaite to Lakeside, within south end of Windermere, it is possible to combine it with a sailing regarding the pond up to Bowness or Ambleside, including utilizing it to simply take that Brockhole, the Lakes Aquarium or realm of Beatrix Potter.
The course additionally links to a different associated with Lake District nationwide Trust web sites, Fell leg Park with strolls and watersports (and also the possibility of crazy swimming if you are viewing with older young ones)
Derwent Pencil Museum, Keswick
A pen museum may well not seem like it should be top of one’s young ones’ range of Lake District destinations, but this quirky web site in Keswick – the house associated with very first pen – is unexpectedly entertaining.
For beginners, you go to the Derwent pen museum through a replica graphite my own to begin with your trip from first times of pencils to your contemporary.
On show, you will find projects appearing pencils tend to be way less ordinary than you may believe – 2nd World War pencils with concealed maps, and one associated with biggest color pencils on earth at practically 8m lengthy.
There may also be tiny pen sculptures to appreciate while you are empowered because of the tiny museum getting imaginative, a shop to grab art materials, including art workshops.
The Rheged Centre, Penrith
As really due to the fact huge cinema display right here, which ultimately shows family-friendly films, the Rheged Centre has actually regular events with its gallery and an arts programme including children’s theater and art.
There may also be a string of family-friendly tasks to amuse, plus an an indoor smooth play location, with a location set-aside for less than fives – you will find presently prebookable slot machines for interior play.
For young ones that love Lego, you’ll get a hold of a toy store that begs that invest your pocket-money, plus great pizza pie in cafe. Among the best things you can do in Lake District with young ones on a rainy time also.
Allan Bank, Grasmere
Another associated with nationwide Trust web sites in Lake District, Allan Bank is a little diverse from the typical household times out knowledge.
The house associated with nationwide Trust’s creator, near Grasmere, sets the main focus regarding the landscape – the house isn’t also completely embellished, and so the bare wall space and vacant areas highlight the area and pond surroundings.
You can spy purple squirrels in yard and often see buzzards traveling overhead, including getting nature spotter guides for young ones.
There are a handful of walking roads to look at also, including loads of locations to relax and play hide-and-seek.
There’s no car parking or cafe on location, therefore you’ll have to take trains and buses or walk-up from Grasmere. Picnics tend to be welcome, and you will find hot products readily available for a tiny contribution.
Walks in Lake District with young ones
With a number of England’s many breathtaking surroundings, you’re additionally spoiled for option regarding family-friendly strolls in Lake District – rather than each one is because difficult as climbing Scafell Pike, England’s greatest top.
There tend to be 50 ‘Miles without Stiles‘ roads, suited to people with pushchairs – including various grades, so that you determine if you’ve got a smooth road or whether or not it’s anyone to simply take a tougher all-terrain buggy.
Or if you’re uncertain the place to start, have a look at 7 roads for 70, celebrating the Lake District nationwide Park’s 70th birthday celebration back 2021, showcasing the variety over the entire nationwide playground including some less explored sides if you wish to escape a few of the crowds of people much more well-known places.
Grizedale Woodland, Hawkshead
There’s not just mountains and ponds to explore within section of Cumbria, and some very nice woodlands to walk in.
Grizedale Forest has actually some sculptures dotted on the list of woods, including 10 hiking tracks and nine pattern roads, including off road hill bicycle tracks and gentler choices (you can employ bicycles here).
Add in an adventure play location and get Ape large ropes classes, plus art events and cafe for a rest involving the task, therefore it’s simple to while away several hours. You can easily pay money for parking on line besides.
Whinlatter Woodland, Keswick
Another great Forestry The united kingdomt web site, Whinlatter Forest has many amazing views to take pleasure from while you explore the tracks, including an opportunity to keep an eye out to Bassenthwaite Lake, Derwentwater and Keswick.
There tend to be nine walking tracks right here, with a one-mile stretch to identify some numbers from Gruffalo dotted around. Stay in within customer center for guidelines very first, and even though its walkable with a buggy, be ready for mountains.
With older young ones, the woodland can be house to your longest purpose-built hill bicycle tracks in Lake District, and another Go Ape program and adventure playing field.
mind to the woods, Windermere
As really as experiencing the woodlands from walk out, there are lots of enjoyable methods for people getting up to the woods.
The treetop nets at ZipWorld Windermere feature over 1,500 metres of huge trampolines, walkways, slides and netting tunnels suspended to 9 metres from the surface. Ideal for age 3+
Or have a look at treetop trek, with 35 various treetop difficulties through oaks, completing with a 250m triple zip from 14m large treetop tower, to help you race one another straight back.
There will vary choices for various many years: age 5+ may take on Climb and Zip, which persists around thirty minutes, or perhaps the hour-long Mini Trek, as the Comprehensive Trek would work for age 7+ and takes around couple of hours.
The Puzzling Put, Keswick
Another enjoyable alternative if you are looking things you can do in Lake District in the torrential rain, The Puzzling Put in Keswick is full of illusions to tricky your eyes and an enjoyable hologram gallery.
With optical illusions making it appear you’ve shrunk/grown, that you’re standing laterally, also that you’re defying gravity, it’s a powerful way to invest an hour or so roughly – and you’ll emerge with a few hilarious photographs also.
Do guide forward if you are viewing at school breaks or looking motivation on rainy times in Lake District, because’s perhaps not huge and may be – unsurprisingly – popular.
While you are going to the Lake District, it’s simple to match a call to your Yorkshire Dales nationwide Park – discover a number of my top things to complete in Yorkshire with young ones
*First posted 2021, final up-to-date 2024*
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