Amazing Things To Do In The Lake District With Kids: Family Guide 2026

From easy walks and steam train rides to family-friendly restaurants and accommodation, find out the best things to do in the Lake District with kids.

After two action-packed trips to the Lake District as a couple, filled with daytime hikes, adventures on the water and Michelin-starred meals, it was time for something completely different. This time I was excited to return with my two favourite little people in tow! The Lake District is a region I adore, and I hoped that over the course of a few days, they’d see why I love it so much.

Travelling to the Lake District with children

We drove from the south of England up to Grange-over-Sands in Cumbria. The journey took just over five hours with one stop for lunch. I was apprehensive about the long car journey, but it turned out to be fine. Both kids had some solid naps and we packed plenty of snacks and entertainment to keep them happy.

My son is three-and-a-half. You know, that slightly awkward age where he’s not really a toddler, but doesn’t have the attention span of an older child. Some days he wakes up full of beans, little legs raring to go. Other days, he’ll take five steps and demand to be carried. I didn’t know how he’d fare with the busy few days we had planned, but I knew he’d love a lot of it!

As for my daughter, she’s just turned one and is wonderfully portable! She’s not walking and happy to be pushed in the buggy or strapped to us in the baby carrier.

Our four-night trip would take us on steam trains and boats, to waterfalls, castles and country pubs. There was even a chance to come face-to-face with Peter Rabbit – what more could a kid want?!

If you’re planning a family trip to the Lake District, I’ve packed this guide full of practical tips and recommendations. We did a lot in just a few days, so don’t feel you’ll be missing out because you’re travelling with little people. This is a region made for family adventures!

Things to Do in the Lake District with Kids

Go on a steam train ride

Transport is always a winner with kids, so how about this for a day out? You can catch a steam train on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway from Haverthwaite Station to Lakeside, where you can then board a cruise on Lake Windermere. Two modes of transport in one day! This is definitely one of the best family days out in the Lake District.

We arrived at Haverthwaite Station around fifteen minutes before our journey. The train was already fired up, so there was a great opportunity for photos before boarding. Once on the vintage steam train, the journey to Lakeside took 18 minutes.

As the route is quite enclosed, there aren’t big Lake District views, but we did go through some lovely forests full of autumn colours. Plus we all loved the experience. I knew my son would enjoy being on a steam train (thanks to Thomas the Tank Engine!) but as adults, we adored the retro experience too.

Once we arrived at Lakeside Station, we hopped off the train and walked a few metres to our Windermere Cruise. It’s such a convenient way to explore the Lakes, and each part of the journey adds to the experience.

Cruise on Lake Windermere

At 11 miles long and a mile wide, Windermere is the largest lake in the Lake District. The best way to experience it is by cruising through its calm waters. From Lakeside we hopped on a boat with Windermere Lake Cruises to the popular town of Bowness-on-Windermere. This company offers a range of cruises, from sightseeing tours to motorboat hire.

The 50-minute cruise was a lovely introduction to why this lake is so special. We sailed past beautiful islands, spotted kayakers and paddleboarders, and dreamed about owning one of the stunning lakeside properties. There was a commentary to accompany the journey, which gave a bit more background to the area.

My son didn’t sit still for long. Instead, we explored the boat, heading up and down the stairs between decks, enjoying different views. We never expected our October holiday to coincide with beautiful blue skies and sunshine, alongside the golds and oranges of autumn. It was absolutely spectacular!

Explore Bowness-on-Windermere

Arriving in Bowness, I was surprised by how busy it was! We were visiting out of school holidays, yet there were coach loads of tourists milling around by the piers. It was lovely seeing so many people enjoying the area, just like us!

This is one of the largest towns around Lake Windermere, and is a picturesque hub for independent shops, pubs and restaurants. It’s a vibrant tourist town with streets lined with ice cream shops, cafes with delicious pastries in their windows, and pretty gift shops selling locally made items.

If your kids will allow you some shopping time, it’s a lovely place to mooch around. We rewarded our son with a scoop of chocolate from The Little Ice Cream Shop. All I can say is that the kids’ portions are anything but little! Thankfully that meant I got a few spoonfuls too!

Enjoy The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction

Whether your kids are Peter Rabbit fans, or you just fancy a bit of nostalgia, I’d recommend spending an hour at the World of Beatrix Potter Attraction in Bowness-on-Windermere. I enjoyed learning about Beatrix Potter’s life, including her time in the Lake District.

Meanwhile, my son loved exploring the attraction, seeing some of the best-known characters (such as Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddleduck) brought to life in beautifully detailed 3D scenes inspired by Beatrix Potter’s original illustrations. There’s even a little garden, with amusing references to Mr McGregor, Peter Rabbit and Mrs Tiggywinkle.

All children are given an activity book on arrival, which I would say is ideal for keeping children aged five and over engaged. While we visited on a sunny day, this is one of the best rainy day activities in the Lake District.

At the end, you’ll find a Peter Rabbit-themed café and a gift shop, which you might need to speed-walk through if you want to avoid spending a small fortune!

Top tip: Book your tickets in advance, as it can get busy. Most tickets are timed, so plan your visit accordingly.

Visit Lowther Castle and Gardens (and the best playground in the Lake District!)

We are huge fans of places where there’s as much for adults to do as for kids. Lowther Castle is definitely one of those attractions, combining fascinating history, beautiful gardens with one of the best playgrounds your little ones will have seen!

The castle itself is spectacular, and was particularly pretty covered in the reds and oranges of the autumn leaves. It was built in the 1800s, but was left to ruin and had its roof removed in 1957. While there’s a section of the castle dedicated to its history, with exhibits, paintings and information, the majority is in a beautiful state of ruins.

I hadn’t expected this! Essentially the greenery has been allowed to take hold of the old stone walls, wrapping its leaves around ancient windows and archways. It was incredibly pretty and a wonderful place for photography.

We also enjoyed a stroll through the gardens, which include a rock garden, Japanese garden and rose garden. We experienced it with the autumn colours, but I imagine it would be even more spectacular with the amazing spring and summer blooms.

The highlight for children is The Lost Castle adventure playground. It’s widely regarded as the best playground in the Lake District, but after visiting, I’d put it up there as one of the best adventure playgrounds in the entire UK!

Hidden in the woodland, this wooden castle-themed play area has slides, zip wires, swings, climbing frames, walkways and turrets to explore. There’s also a separate smaller area for toddlers. Our son absolutely loved it, and didn’t want to leave. To be honest, it was it was a lot of fun for adults too! I really appreciated the architecture of the castle and how it blended with the forest around. Lowther Castle was a highlight of our time in the Lakes.

Visit Hawkshead, one of the prettiest towns in the lakes

Oh Hawkshead, how pretty you are! This is one of those charming English villages where you arrive and instantly feel like you’ve been transported back in time. It’s where William Wordsworth went to school, and where Beatrix Potter once lived. We enjoyed strolling the along cobblestone streets, looking in shop windows and taking in the beauty of the ancient stone houses.

Children will enjoy the shops here as much as the adults, as there’s a chocolate shop, ice cream store and even a cake shed! A big draw is the newest Grasmere Gingerbread store. I’ve been to the tiny shop in Grasmere, so it was lovely to peruse this store and look at all the unique gingerbread-themed products.

Obviously, we had to try a delicious slab of spicy, sweet and chewy gingerbread, still made using Sarah Nelson’s famous 1854 recipe. Spoiler: it’s utterly delicious! But, it was also lovely to try the ice cream, rub a bit of ginger balm on my chapped hands and enjoy a nice flat white in the sunshine outside the charming shop. Our son was a fan of all of it too… the gingerbread, the ice cream. He lapped it all up!

Best family-friendly walks in the Lake District

If you’re visiting the Lake District with children, you’ll quickly discover that some walking routes are hard-going! This is an area with a lot of hills, fells and mountains, so unless your children are used to steep climbs, you’ll need to look for options that are more manageable. We managed these three on our trip.

Visit Aira Force

Looking for family-friendly Lake District walks? I’d recommend visiting Aira Force, one of the most famous waterfalls in the Lake District. If you follow the circular waterfall trail, you’ll be rewarded with river views, stunning woodland, tall pine trees, wildlife, and of course the 65-foot waterfall.

The 1.5km route is ideal for families, although little legs (like those of my three-year-old) might tire quickly, particularly in the steep sections. The entire walk took us around 50 minutes, although I’ll admit that my husband carried our son on his shoulders for a chunk of it! At my son’s pace, it would have been well over an hour.

Walk around Tarn Hows

Did you know there’s a beautiful lake with a buggy-friendly path around the edge? Tarn Hows is a spectacular spot, with serene blue water, pretty woodland and lots of lovely viewpoints. The 3km circular walk took us around two hours, with several stops for photos and snacks.

It was lovely to be able to push our one-year-old in her buggy, rather than carrying her. She enjoyed a lovely nap, while the rest of us took in the views. Our three-year-old darted in and out of the trees, spotting little details we would have missed. I loved the way the autumn colours and sunshine added a special glow to the lake.

In practical terms, this is a really easy Lake District walk, with some of the best views you’ll see. However, you’ll find the car park gets very busy in peak times. I’d recommend arriving as early as possible to get a space and enjoy the morning views.

Hike Hallin Fell

If you’re a reasonably adventurous family, you might want to tackle a more challenging hike on your trip to the Lake District. We were staying close to Ullswater for part of our trip and discovered that the walk up Hallin Fell, a nearby 388-metre (1,273-foot) hill could be manageable, even with two small kids!

While we wouldn’t have fancied the entire hike from the base of the hill, you can drive part of the way up and park at St Peter’s Church in Martindale, removing a big chunk of the steep climb. From there the circular route is around 2 km and will take around one hour to complete.

The views from the top are mesmerising, with wide panoramas over Ullswater and the surrounding hills and valleys. As it’s not one of the highest points in the Lakes, I hadn’t expected it to be as spectacular as it was! Just look at these amazing photos.

In terms of the walk, it was very steep in parts, but a lot of the path was moulded into footholds and rocky steps, so it wasn’t hard to follow. I hiked with our baby in the carrier on my back, and my husband ended up with our three-year-old on his shoulders for some of it. I wasn’t that surprised his little legs gave up – it was steep, tiring and quite blustery near the top! We all made it to the summit, touched the trig point and felt a great sense of achievement.

Family-Friendly Restaurants in the Lake District

Many parents will share our fears of dining in restaurants with young kids. You worry they won’t want to sit at the table, whether the entertainment (stickers, colouring etc) will keep them occupied, whether the food will come quickly enough and whether they’ll eat anything! These three restaurants are great recommendations if you’re visiting the Lake District with kids.

Trenchers, Bowness-on-Windermere

Fish and chips is a family favourite, but did you know one of the best fish and chip restaurants in the country is on the banks of Lake Windermere? Head to Trenchers in Bowness and you’ll enjoy one of the most upmarket and delicious fish and chip shop experiences of your life! Service was friendly and speedy, making it ideal for families.

We tucked into a delicious seafood platter (generous, varied and yummy), as well as a classic cod and chips. This was a “small”… so yes, expect big portions.

There was a broad menu, featuring everything from tempura tiger prawns and a hearty fish pie, to an aromatic Goan curry. Let’s just say this is worlds away from your standard chippy!

The kids menu was great too, and even better, it came with an activity sheet and colouring pencils. Busy kids = happy parents!

The Brackenrigg Inn, Ullswater

Looking for a family-friendly pub in the Lake District? The Brackenrigg Inn is a welcoming spot, with sweeping views over Ullswater. Wow, did we time our visit perfectly! Yes, it was a Sunday lunchtime so we feasted on hearty roast dinners.

Plates arrived laden with Yorkshire puddings bigger than our heads, tender slices of roast beef and all the trimmings (including stuffing – yum!) It was just what we needed after a lot of crisp country air.

The kids menu was great, and portions were way larger than most grown-ups would manage! All in all, a lovely experience.

If you’re looking for somewhere for a casual drink, my tip is to grab one of the tables out the front. You’ll have beautiful views over the lake as you recharge your batteries.  

Force Café, Ambleside

To reach this café, you’ll have to drive through Ambleside, which is one of the biggest and busiest towns in the Lake District. The one-way system took a bit of getting used to, but soon we were on a road overlooking the town, heading towards the Force Café. We’d heard this was a beautiful spot, and wow oh wow, it really is!

The café has a huge terrace with tables overlooking rolling hills and Lake Windermere beyond. I was instantly distracted by the array of delicious treats behind the counter, from huge chocolate brownies to tempting cheesecakes.

We visited for lunch, so ordered from the main menu. There’s a mix of creative brunch dishes, like a slow-cooked beef benedict and hearty classics like burgers. We visited on a very busy Saturday afternoon and experienced quite a wait for our food, but it gave us a chance to really soak up the views.

If you have more time, you can walk from the café to Stock Ghyll waterfall. The 70-foot waterfall is one of the most impressive in the Lake District.

Where to stay in the Lake District with kids

To experience two areas of the Lake District without long drives each day, we split our time between these two spots.

The Grange Hotel, Grange-over-Sands

This four-star hotel overlooks Morecambe Bay, in the charming town of Grange-over-Sands. It’s a spacious hotel with family rooms and suites, making it a great choice for a getaway like ours.

One of our favourite things about the hotel was its spa, which includes a swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. We’ve stayed at plenty of hotels where swimming times are restricted for families, so it was lovely to be able to enjoy the pool whenever we wanted.

The hotel also has a stylish restaurant serving a tempting mix of fine-dining dishes and family favourites. We enjoyed a two-course dinner, starting with smoked salmon followed by a delicious pink rack of lamb. Meanwhile, my son tucked into crispy chicken fillets with chips and baked beans… something to keep even the youngest diners happy!

We loved the relaxed atmosphere, too. While the surroundings are smart, the restaurant feels welcoming and unfussy. It’s the kind of place that suits every occasion, from a romantic dinner or a catch up with friends to a family dinner. It’s that combination of a touch of luxury and a genuinely family-friendly feel that made our stay at The Grange so enjoyable.

Mellguards Cottage

For the second part of our family holiday in the Lake District we stayed at Mellguards Cottage in Howtown. This spacious four-bedroom cottage is a great choice for a family getaway. With four large bedrooms, a beautiful conservatory and a large open-plan kitchen, dining and living area, it has the sort of space you want when you’re travelling as a family. It has everything you could need for travelling with young kids, including a travel cot and high chair. It’s dog-friendly, too.

We were mesmerised by its remote setting, with huge fells either side and open countryside all around. I loved our breakfasts looking out at the cows, sheep and mountains, and the cosy feel of the house in the evenings. The starry skies were special too!

From Mellguards Cottage it’s a short walk to Howtown Pier where you can catch the Ullswater Steamer to explore more of the lake. It’s also a short drive from the Hallin Fell hike I mentioned earlier.

Top tip: Shop for food and essentials in Penrith or Pooley Bridge, as this is a remote cottage.

Practical Tips for Visiting the Lake District with Kids

• Plan your route: Group locations and attractions together so you don’t spend too long driving. The roads are often narrow and windy, so allow plenty of time to get around.
• Arrive early: Popular attractions and car parks can get busy, especially during school holidays, so beat the rush.
• Pack for all weather: Bring waterproofs, layers, comfortable shoes, snacks and water. Weather can change quickly!
• Choose suitable walks: Check distances and conditions to find routes that suit your children. Tarn Hows is a great choice for all levels.
• Mix up your activities: Combine walks and outdoor adventures with boat trips, steam trains and family attractions to keep kids happy.
• Have a rainy-day plan: Keep a few indoor activities or cosy cafés in mind in case the weather turns.
• Pick up essentials in major towns: If you’re staying in a remote location, make sure you’ve stocked up on food and drinks as you won’t be able to pop to a shop easily.

I hope this guide helps you plan the ultimate family holiday in the Lake District. We absolutely loved our time in the region and made so many amazing memories as a family. Our son went back to nursery and told his teachers how he’d ‘climbed a mountain’… which was hilarious as we carried him up most of it!

But, we know moments like this make an impact. He’s taken a little slice of the Lakes home with him, made memories that will stay with him and, I hope, sparked his imagination. It’s one of the reasons we love showing our kids the world.

If you need more help planning your trip, take a look at Visit Lake District. You’ll find lots of information about beautiful walks, natural wonders, attractions and accommodation.

Or for more Lake District guides, don’t miss these from my previous trips: