Lake District Family Holidays and Breaks

Take the Family is a travel agency specialising in active, adventure and luxury holidays. Your personal travel advisor will create the perfect The Lake District holiday for your family, with expert advice and dedicated support throughout.

The Lake District for family holidays

The Lake District, within the county of Cumbria, has been a family favourite for decades, come rain or shine, and children have always been warmly welcomed. You may not all be dreaming of hiking to Helvellyn Summit, but even on a short sailing trip by launch or pleasure across the water, visitors of all ages appreciate the vastness and beauty of this greatest of the great outdoors

Book a Lake District family holiday with Take the Family and discover that many of its main attractions are free. In particular, whether you head for the hills or explore the shores, you’ll find walks suitable for families of all ages and abilities. You can also try out a whole range of adventure activities in the Lake District National Park and the rest of Cumbria, from mountain-biking, horse-riding, kayaking, scrambling and rock-climbing to sheepdog handling.

As a specialist family travel agency, we can tailor-make the perfect family break in the Lake District, perhaps combining two or more destinations. Contact one of our travel advisors now and let's discuss your dream trip.

For more about Lake District family holidays, scroll down.

Things to do with kids in The Lake District

Windermere and the South Lakes with Kids

• Start with a Windermere lake cruise then head to the southern tip of the lake for a ride on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway.

• On sunny days, hire a rowing boat or let kids loose in the adventure playground of the National Trust's Fell Foot while you enjoy the views over the lake.

• Take tots to the World of Beatrix Potter, a re-creation of the Lakeland landscape where the world-famous stories of Beatrix Potter are brought to 3D life. To see the farm where Potter wrote many of her most famous kids’ books, head to the National Trust's Hill Top near Sawrey in Ambleside.

• Bring your little monkeys to Treetop Nets Adventure at Brockhole, with a network of giant trampolines, walkways, slides and tunnels, all made from netting, suspended between trees up to 9m off the ground within lovely oak woodland.

• Venture west of Windermere to Coniston Water, to ride on the Victorian steam yacht Gondola and take part in adventurous outdoor activities at nearby Grizedale Forest, including a Go Ape treetop adventure course.

• Head east to Kendal, where you’ll find more than just the famous mint cake: lose yourself in the Lakeland Maze Farm Park or step back in time to get in touch with local heritage at the Museum of Lakeland.

Keswick and the Northern Lakes with Kids

• Head to the Whinlatter Forest Park for outdoor activities, including a second Go Ape treetops course.

• Go pony-trekking and for cruises on the northern lakes.

• Enjoy family-friendly attractions including the famous Derwent Pencil Museum and the Puzzling Place, a small museum full of holograms and optical illusions.

Western Lake District with Kids

• Take the beautifully restored Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway from the coastal town of Ravenglass through the Western Lakes to the foothills of the highest mountain in England, Scafell Pike, which you can, of course, climb if you wish. The best route is Wasdale Head via Brown Tongue – a round trip of about 8.4km/4-5 hours with 900m of elevation gain.

• Further north along the coast, explore the area around the seaside port of Whitehaven with its family-friendly attractions including The Rum Story with its seafaring tales and The Beacon Museum of local history, science and art.

The World of Beatrix Potter

Eating in The Lake District

Food in the Lake District is at its best when based on local produce and there is family-friendly dining in countless cosy tea rooms and pubs offering hearty Cumbrian specialities including great sausages. Local farmers’ markets are great for stocking up for picnics in spectacular settings.

There’s even an award-winning farm shop at Tebay Services on the way into or out of the Lake District by car, on the M6, just north of Junction 38.

The steam yacht Gondola

When to go to The Lake District

The best time to come to the Lake District is any of the school holidays from Easter to October, as this is when all attractions are open. That said, it’s worth visiting any time of year – in spring and autumn, without the tourist crowds, the roads are quieter and so are the walking trails.

How to get to The Lake District

Getting to the Lake District by road is easy, as it’s conveniently located off the M6. Roads within the National Park itself can get very busy, particularly going to and from major towns during peak periods (Ambleside and Keswick can be chaotic).

The Lake District is also well connected to the rest of the UK by rail, with trains from London taking 3.5 hours and those from Glasgow and Manchester less than 2 hours.

Trains stop at Oxenholme Lake District for the Southern Lakes, with connections to Windermere and Ambleside, and at Penrith for the Northern Lakes (Derwentwater, Ullswater), with connections to Keswick.

The Lake District

Lodore Falls Hotel

The Swan Hotel & Spa

Another Place, The Lake