The Lake District is located in the county of Cumbria and is by far our family’s favorite destination in England. If you’re looking for the perfect place to plan a fun, adventurous, yet peaceful family holiday, look no further than the Lake District! The Lake District has a lot of activities for families, including toddlers.
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Our family of three recently spent a few days in the Lake District as part of our two week road trip through the United Kingdom. This was my first time visiting this beautiful part of England, and my husband deserves a lot of credit for suggesting it (he had been there once before), because it turned out to be one of our favorite destinations in U.K.! We found that this beautiful National Park is popular with people from the U.K., but we didn’t come across any other travelers from the United States while we were there. The locals were kind and welcoming, and we truly cannot wait to go back. We will spend more time there next we go!
I’m excited to share about our family’s time in the Lake District with you. I’ll share information about where we stayed, our favorite attractions and activities, and other tips to help you plan your family’s time in the Lake District!
The Lake District for Families
Where To Stay: Kendal
When planning our trip to the Lake District, we knew that we wanted to stay close to Lake Windermere on the eastern side of the National Park. We were driving north to Scotland after and we wanted to stay on our planned route as much as possible. We were pleasantly surprised at how many lodging options we had. We wound up booking a lovely cottage through Airbnb in the village of Kendal, which is located about 15 minutes away from Lake Windermere.
We immediately fell in love with Kendal! It is a beautiful village that truly captures the quaint, English feel that we were hoping for. Our one bedroom cottage was perfect for our family, and our hosts were among the most welcoming locals that we’ve ever encountered (and we’ve stayed in a lot of Airbnbs!). Our cottage was attached to the host’s main house, but we had our own private entrance and full access to their amazing garden. We could have stayed for months! It was small but perfect for us. They provided a high chair, a portable crib, and toys for our daughter. If you’re interested in staying in this same cottage, you can find it on Airbnb here!
We traveled in May and were most comfortable staying in a home, but the Lake District has a wide variety of lodging options. We are big fans of Airbnb, and they have so many unique huts, cabins, and glamping options in the Lake District. Or you could stick to what we did and go with a private home (or just a private room, if you prefer).
If you prefer hotels, I recommend using Booking.com. We use them almost exclusively when we stay in hotels, as they provide great options and rates!
Rent a Boat on Lake Windermere
Once we decided to visit the Lake District as a family, we knew that we wanted to rent a boat. We love spending time on the water wherever we go, so this was our biggest priority. We did some research and decided that renting a motor boat would be best (we usually kayak when it’s an option, but we weren’t sure what the weather would look like).
We wound up renting a self-drive luxury cabin boat from Windermere Lake Cruises. We loved our experience with them and highly recommend their company! I wanted to make sure that they had a life jacket that would fit our daughter (I planned to pack one if they didn’t), so I emailed them ahead of time and they provided great customer service and answered my questions. (Note: This isn’t sponsored, we just really loved them!) 🙂
Reservations were not necessary, but you can check with them if you’re traveling during peak season (we were there at the beginning of May). We boarded at their Ambleside Pier location, but they do have two other locations. Their boats and life jackets were all wonderfully clean. I highly recommend this experience, no matter what your boating experience is! These boats are perfect for beginners and don’t not go fast. Everyone in the family can take turns driving.
Explore and Play at Wray Castle
When I researched family-friendly Lake District activities, I kept coming across Wray Castle. This beautiful Victorian castle was built in the 1840s (and is much younger than the other castles that we explored in the U.K.). It was once a vacation destination of Beatrix Potter, the world-famous author of The Tale of Peter Rabbit. The castle is now open to the public and is designed with children in mind.
We actually opted to not explore the inside of the castle, as it’s designed for children a bit older than our toddler, and she was happily napping when we arrived. We did explore the castle grounds, and we purchased her a copy of The Tale of Peter Rabbit from their gift store (when in Rome, right?!). They have a lovely picnic area if you would like to bring your own lunch (or you can purchase meals inside).
Wray Castle also has a cute outdoor play trail for kids! Complete with a tire swing and tunnels to crawl through!
We knew that Wray Castle would be a great place for us to base ourselves, because it is surrounded by beautiful trails. Those trails did not disappoint! We spent a couple hours walking through the countryside, admiring the stone walls (something we do not have in California!), visiting with adorable sheep, and enjoying the amazing creeks, green hills, and overall peacefulness of the Lake District.
Note: We drove our car to Wray Castle, but you can opt to take a lake cruise from Ambleside if you would prefer. Parking spaces are limited at the castle, so we would likely avoid bringing our car there if we traveled there again during peak season. The parking is a Pay & Display lot. You can find more information on their official website.
Walk Around Kendal Castle
If you choose to stay in the village of Kendal, make a point to explore the ruins of Kendal Castle. Our Airbnb was within walking distance of the castle, but it’s easy to drive there and park. It’s just a little walk uphill to the ruins, where you can enjoy a stunning view of the village. It took our breath away!
Then, explore the castle ruins and read about its fascinating history. Our daughter loved running through the wide-open, grassy space (which is often difficult to find on vacation). We spent a lot of time here, and it seemed to be a popular places for the locals to walk too.
Additional Tips for Families with Toddlers or Babies
The Lake District is a wonderful place to travel with your little ones. Our daughter was 14 months old when we went, and she was overjoyed to explore our beautiful garden at our Airbnb, check out the sheep all over the countryside, run through the wide open spaces, and help us drive our boat on Lake Windermere! Here are a few additional tips:
Travel Gear
My biggest piece of advice is to bring a baby carrier with you. As much as we love our travel stroller, we don’t recommend relying on wheels in the Lake District. You’ll want to use a carrier when you’re exploring the unpaved trails and castles. We love our Ergobaby 360! It is comfortable for us and our daughter. It allows her to face toward us when it’s naptime and away from us when she’s awake and wants to be a part of of the action. (It also allows you to wear your baby on your back.)
In general, we love traveling with our white noise sound machine by Rohm. We never leave it behind! It is small, lightweight, and provides just enough noise to help our daughter sleep on the go. We used it in the Lake District during every nap, and our daughter slept great!
What to Wear
The Lake District can be chilly (especially if you are like us and are used to warm California weather!). Although we were blessed with a lot of sunshine during our stay, keep in mind that rain is common and temperatures can be cold. Our daughter wore her rainboots (or wellies, as the locals would say!), a fleece sweatshirt (similar to this one), and a wool hat (similar to this one) the entire time we were there.
Family-Friendly Shopping
If you need to purchase items for your little ones during your stay, such as diapers or baby food, have no fear! There are numerous grocery stores, markets, and pharmacies throughout the Lake District. We did quite a bit of shopping in Kendal, mostly at a grocery store called Booths. You’ll find that the area is very family-friendly!
I hope that you found these suggestions helpful! If you’ve been to the Lake District with your family, I would love to hear your suggestions! We know that we will go back, and we look forward to exploring new parts of the Lake District next time!
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46 Comments
Emily
Your article has given me so many ideas! First, the Lake District sounds like the perfect place for my immediate family’s next vacation. We normally stay local or go to the same coastal vacation. I’m definitely going to recommend we try the Lake District instead for our next trip. Secondly, renting a boat would be perfect for my significant other. Such a lovely place!
Leah
I am so glad that I could help inspire your next trip! It is truly perfect. It is great for groups or couples- there are so many things to do!
Erin Parker
This is a great read. We are compiling a list of places to visit when we head to UK/Europe next year.
Leah
I definitely recommend the Lake District! It is beautiful!
Ann
Oh wow thats really beautiful, I would love to visit the countryside of England 🙂
Leah
It is stunning! So many people just stick to cities like London, but the trip to the Lake District is well worth it!
Vanessa
I’m pleased to hear you immediately fell in love with Kendal, I was born there! I’m obviously biased but it truly is a beautiful place, the AirBnB you found looks stunning. I got a boat last time I was home, I wish it had been a luxury cabin boat, I ended up rowing my nephews back against the current! I don’t ever remember visiting Wray Castle though, looks like a great place for a stroll. Thank you for the trip down memory lane!
Leah
How amazing that you were born there! Kendal was absolutely beautiful!
Pooja
Lake District seems like a quaint little place. It’s amazing for families. I too travel with my kid and I loved the tips you have given here. Kendal Castle looks amazing for a day visit. Wray Castle looks so beautiful. Would love to visit it someday.
Leah
Yes, it is amazing for families and travelers of all ages. I highly recommend it!
Emmanuel Damian
The Lake District looks like a very serene place in Cumbria. I want to check out Wray Castle. It gives me Game of Thrones feels! I hope I can book some ticket soon and explore it. Hope to be one of the first from my country to visit it.
Leah
I hope you make it there soon! It is beautiful!
Hailey
I have always wanted to visit the Lake District and your has post is making me want to go ASAP! I don’t have any children, but I would still be happy to visit Wray Castle and walk those beautiful trails!
Leah
Yes, these things are great for visitors of all ages! 🙂
Ami Bhat
Wray Castle seems to be perfect even on the outside. It is kind of a mini hike in nature. I would definitely want to see it from inside and with that I am sure I need at least half a day. Thumbs up for that boating trip too. Nothing like being in water to get a feel of the fresh air around.
Leah
Yes- beautiful inside and out! Although we didn’t tour the inside, we did get to see parts of it when we visited the gift shop. It was stunning!
amar singh
I must admit living in London I have had the opportunity to visit Lake District a few times now but have always not had the best weather unfortunately. It is a beautiful place and great natural beauty and if the weather is on your side you couldn’t ask for more. I love the boating on Lake Windermere and is a great outing for the entire family. Some great pubs in the area where you can sample the best British food. Overall a great place to visit and I would would love to return to
Leah
We were definitely blessed with great weather! I would love to try out more, new local pubs next time we go!
Amanda
I had never heard of the Lake District and it looks wonderful! Those castles are so magical!
Leah
It is wonderful! If you travel to England, I highly recommend heading here for the perfect getaway!
Sarah Wilson
Oh my, this area looks magical.
Leah
It is! I highly recommend it!
Shaily
Lake District seems to be a perfect place for a refreshing family holiday. Kendall looks very beautiful and pristine. Boating at Lake Windermere surrounded by heavenly views must be an unforgettable experience. Wray Castle looks and sounds quite fascinating. I would love to explore every nook and corner of it. I love the breath-taking views from uphill. Looks like you had a great family time.
Leah
We did, thank you! It sounds like you would love to visit the Lake District!
Margie
While I have never heard of this area, the more I read about the UK, the more I am enthralled with all the things to do besides London. The Lake District sounds lovely!
Leah
Yes- there are SO many places to explore outside of London. We are so glad that we decided to check out this area on our last trip!
Iuliya
Lake District is always such a magical place to explore. Thanks for the detailed guide! 😍
Leah
I agree! 🙂
Jody Robbins
I love how there’s two castes Wray Castle and Kendal in the region. I’ve always wanted to get to the Lake District, but didn’t think it was great for families. Now I don’t have to worry.
Leah
Yes, it is great for families! There are actually more castles in the surrounding area too. It’s lovely!
Karen
We absolutely adore the Lake District, such wonderful scenery and great things to do with kids. We’ve never visited Wray Castle though, will have to add it to our next trip.
Leah
It’s a great one to see with little ones! If we lived closer, we would visit regularly!
FS Page
The green landscape in the BnB of Kendal looks beautiful. The kids seem to enjoy this place. Boating in Lake Windermere must be fun I believe. The castle looks just right of a fairytale and the gardens surrounding are so so lovely. Loved everything in the Lake district. Would love to visit it someday.
Leah
Thank you! I highly recommend a visit there. As you can see, it’s beautiful!
Gina
Such a beautiful place to explore! I am sold by just seeing the boats and that castle! So fun!
Leah
The boats and castle got me too! 🙂
Lillie
I have always been so intrigued by the Lake District, and these photos and tips make me more so!
Leah
I’m so glad! It’s beautiful!
Harmony Skillman
I gotta be honest, had not heard of it! I was thinking like great lakes USA – clearly I need to get out more!
Leah
It’s a beautiful spot! Very popular with those living in the U.K.! 🙂
Wendy
My favourite UK holiday destination! I’ve been several times now and walked up Haystacks and Helvelyn 👏🏼
Leah
How lovely! I’d love to visit again!
Vanessa Shields
The Lake District looks so beautiful! There is so much to do and would love spending time on the lake, going for walks and visiting Wray and Kendal Castles. Can never visit too many castles. 🙂
Leah
I agree- there is no such thing as too many castles! 🙂
Nicola Lavin
I would love to visit here with my nephews. It looks like a beautiful part of England to explore.
Leah
It is a great place to explore- for people of all ages! It is very beautiful!