5 Lake District Towns To Visit This Year

The ancient town of Hawkshead has a rich history and a strong literary scene. The town offers a storybook setting with quaint cottages, cobbled streets and stunning architecture whilst horse-drawn carriages trot through the town. Hawkshead was home to both author Beatrix Potter and poet William Wordsworth and provides opportunities to delve into their past. The former grammar school of Wordsworth is a great place to explore his literary history whilst both the Beatrix Potter Art Gallery and Potter's former home invite you into the world and vision of Peter Rabbit. Hawkshead offers a great selection of local produce with farm shops filling the labyrinth of streets in the town and offering the likes of local cheese and chocolate in addition to fruit and vegetables. Hawkshead Brewery is also a popular attraction in the area and offers an incredible array of beers from classic collections to new world flavours.

With quaint towns, vast waters and mountainous peaks, The Lake District has a wealth of areas to explore and remains one of the UK's most popular tourist destinations. The scenic landscapes and cobbled villages never fail to capture hearts and it is easy to see why famous authors and poets were inspired by the area. Wherever you visit in The Lake District, you are sure to be stunned by the area's beauty and mesmerised by its charm.

Another beautiful town located on the edge of lake Windermere is the picturesque Ambleside. Ambleside is a great base for exploring the Lake District with its central location and great connections to nearby towns and lakes. Ambleside has become one of the top tourist resorts within The Lakes with an abundance of shops, restaurants and accommodation options. The narrow roads of the town feature a stunning Victorian design and are lined with quaint cottages and charming shops. Ambleside is also just a short walk away from Stock Ghyll Force, a beautiful 70-metre waterfall within a stunning woodland area. The National Trust owned Stagshaw Gardens is also close to Ambleside offering 8 acres of stunning gardens with incredible tree and plant collections. As well as boat hire and lake cruises, Ambleside waterfront offers ferries to nearby towns and location attractions to explore further afield. Ambleside is also a great town for activity with a huge range of outdoor adventure to get involved in with abseiling and climbing particularly popular activities in the area.

Kendal is a charming market town located just 8 miles from Windermere and is home to the Kendal mint cake. The Kendal mint cake is a peppermint flavoured confectionary which originates in the town and is popular with hikers and climbers as a source of energy. The town is also full of history and has a thriving local culture making it a great town to experience and explore. Kendal offers many museums including The Museum of Lakeland Life and Museum of Natural History and Archaeology, the latter which is one of Britain's oldest museums. Abbott Hall Gallery showcases centuries of British artwork within a beautiful Georgian mansion and is a perfect attraction for art lovers. Meanwhile, the ruins of Kendal Castle offer incredible panoramic views over the local town and surrounding countryside. Kendal also features an incredible selection of cosy tearooms, traditional pubs and charming shops as well as a busy farmers market which takes place on the last Friday of every month.

The beautiful town of Keswick is nestled between the lake of Derwentwater and Skiddaw mountain. The town inspired romantic poets such as Wordsworth and has grown a thriving art and literary scene over the past few centuries. Keswick offers an eclectic mixture of shops featuring a wealth of art dealers and smaller businesses showcasing crafts, paintings and pottery. The Saturday market is Keswick is also the most popular market in the Lake District and has been running for over 700 years. The town features a number of museums dedicated to the local area including The Cumberland Pencil Museum and the Keswick Museum and Art Gallery which is home to a wealth of local artefacts. Keswick is also one of the main areas for outdoor activity in The Lake District which a wide selection of companies offering activities and walking in the fells very popular in Keswick. Nearby, the stunning lake of Derwentwater offers boat hire and lake cruises to get out onto and experience the water and beautiful landscape.

Located on the largest lake in England, Bowness-on-Windermere is one of the busiest towns in the Lake District but despite the hustle and bustle, the town still retains a relaxed vibe. As a former fishing village, Bowness-on-Windermere has a charming air with Victorian streets and lakeside views. The town features an abundance of art galleries, antique shops, boutique stores and quaint cafes to explore. The town is frequently busy as Windermere is one of the most popular lakes to explore and the pier in the town offers a wealth of boat trips, hire options and watersports on the water. The Lake District was also home to famous children's author Beatrix Potter and Bowness-on-Windermere now features The World Of Beatrix Potter, a vibrant and interactive family attraction which brings Potter's world to life. Bowness-on-Windermere is also a starting point for Windermere Way, the 72km pathway which wraps around Windermere.