Guide · Planning Lake District
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The Lake District is one of the finest family destinations in England — but only if you approach it correctly. Approached incorrectly, it is a long drive to a busy car park followed by a walk that is too long for the youngest child and too short for the oldest, ending with everyone tired and no one quite sure what they saw.
This guide is written for parents and grandparents who want to give children a genuine experience of the Lakes rather than a crowded replica of it.
The lakes themselves — children who are bored by most of their surroundings consistently engage with the lakes. The size, the boats, the reflections, the wildlife. Derwentwater with the Keswick launches; Ullswater with the steamers; the shore at Glenridding. Being near water reliably holds attention that walking through the landscape cannot.
Castlerigg Stone Circle — children of primary school age and above consistently respond to Castlerigg in a way they do not respond to most heritage sites. The scale (the stones are taller than they look in photographs), the age (five thousand years), the setting and the freedom to walk among the stones freely all work in its favour. No ropes, no glass cases, no signs telling you not to touch. Just five thousand-year-old stones in a field.
Red squirrels — a potential sighting at Tarn Hows or Grizedale is one of the most effective ways of engaging children with the Lake District landscape. It requires patience and quiet, which is useful.
The Grasmere Gingerbread Shop — this is not a heritage statement. It is gingerbread. It works.
Boats — the Ullswater Steamers and the Keswick launch on Derwentwater both accept children and are one of the most reliable ways of giving children an experience of the Lakes that they will remember. The The 10 Lakes Full-day Tour includes the Ullswater cruise.
Long walks with young children — the Lake District is a walking destination, and the most spectacular views often require a walk to reach them. With children under eight, the walk needs to be short and the destination visually rewarding. A viewpoint thirty metres off the road works better than a viewpoint thirty minutes up a hill.
Queued attractions in summer — the Beatrix Potter World in Bowness and Dove Cottage in Grasmere both have summer queues. A child who has been in a car for two hours and then stands in a queue for forty-five minutes has used up a significant proportion of their goodwill before the visit begins.
Too many museums — one visited properly is better than three rushed.
Our tours are suitable for children aged approximately eight and above. The minibus format, the moving landscape and the expert storyteller's narrative keep older children engaged in a way that independent driving does not. The expert storyteller's knowledge of wildlife, geology and local stories is particularly effective with children who have a specific interest.
For younger children (under eight), the logistics of a four-hour guided tour are more challenging. We recommend contacting us to discuss whether a particular tour is suitable for your group.
Children between roughly ten and sixteen tend to get the most from the Lakes — old enough to engage with the stories and the history, young enough to be genuinely excited by the landscape and the wildlife. The Brontë Country Day Trip is consistently popular with teenagers who have read (or are reading) Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre.
Eating: Most cafés and restaurants in Windermere, Bowness and Ambleside are child-friendly. Avoid the busiest Bowness waterfront options in peak summer and look one street back.
Accommodation: Many B&Bs and hotels in the southern Lakes cater for families with extra beds or connecting rooms. Self-catering cottages are often the most practical option for families with young children.
Buggies and pushchairs: The valley paths are generally pushchair-accessible; the fell paths are not. Tarn Hows has a largely accessible circular path; the Borrowdale path below Derwentwater is accessible. The main lakeside paths at Grasmere and Ullswater are accessible.
Children aged 8+ are welcome on all our scheduled tours. Maximum seven guests. Contact us to discuss your group's needs.
Travelling with children? These help:
Roughly ten to sixteen, though every age has a version that works.
The lakes themselves — the size, the boats, the reflections and the wildlife, along with Castlerigg Stone Circle.
Long drives and long walks without a payoff at the end.