Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost for you!
The Lake District is one of those places I keep coming back to. I’ve been more times than I can count, in every season.
While the lakes and fells get all the attention (rightly so), the villages are honestly half the magic.
Cobblestone streets, slate cottages, tiny tea rooms, National Trust gems and pubs with views that don’t seem real.
If you’re heading to the Lake District soon, here are my 9 favourite small towns and villages — the ones I’d send any friend to on their first visit.
Quick tip before we dive in: you really need a car to do the Lake District properly. Some villages are connected by bus or boat (especially around Windermere), but a car gives you the freedom to actually explore.
1. Ambleside
Located at the northern end of Lake Windermere, Ambleside is the perfect base for your holiday in the Lake District.
I absolutely love this town.
It’s very central, has everything you might need, and it’s as cute as it gets — full of cobblestone streets, independent pubs and cafés.
Heads-up though: it does get really busy in summer on a sunny day but don’t let that put you off, it’s still very much worth the visit though.
The main landmark here is the Bridge House — a tiny 17th-century building that sits directly over Stock Beck. It’s run by the National Trust.
If you’ve been to Conwy in Wales and loved the smallest house in Britain, you’ll get a real kick out of this one too.
Ambleside is also a walker’s paradise. Loads of trails start right from town, but my favourite is the walk up to Stock Ghyll Force — an easy walk that starts in town and brings you to one of the best waterfalls in the Lake District.
2. Keswick
Located in the northern part of the Lake District, Keswick is a cute market town with Derwentwater right on its doorstep.
I absolutely love Keswick.
The town itself is lovely — local cafés, bakeries and a really good market — but what’s really special is heading down to the shore of Derwentwater.
The boats, the lake, the fells in the background — it’s all stunning.
You can hire a kayak or paddleboard from the lakeshore, which is one of my favourite things to do here on a sunny day.
Also worth checking out the Theatre by the Lake, right on Derwentwater. It has a great programme of plays and music year-round and the setting alone is worth the trip.
If you’re visiting with kids, the Derwent Pencil Museum is a quirky little stop — surprisingly interesting and a good rainy-day backup.
3. Windermere and Bowness-on-Windermere
Windermere is arguably the most famous town in the Lake District. It sits next to Lake Windermere — the largest lake in the national park, and the largest natural lake in England.
Quick clarification that catches a lot of first-timers out: Windermere (the town) and Bowness-on-Windermere are two separate places.
Windermere town sits about a mile inland, while Bowness is the one right on the lake shore. Most of the boat trips, cruises and tourist action happen in Bowness.
This is the ideal base in the Lakes since there’s so much to do nearby.
If you’re into hiking, I really recommend going up to Orrest Head. It’s a short-ish and easy walk from Windermere town with fantastic views over the lake and the surrounding fells.
You can also walk all the way down from Windermere town to Bowness and the lake.
From there, hop on a cruise on Lake Windermere or visit The World of Beatrix Potter — a small attraction where you’ll discover the tales of Peter Rabbit.
4. Elterwater
Located about 4 miles west of Ambleside, at the entrance to the beautiful Great Langdale Valley, Elterwater is the perfect place to visit if you want to stay away from the crowds.
The village sits beside the lake of the same name, Elter Water, which is just as beautiful as the others — only smaller and a lot less busy.
There are loads of hiking opportunities in this area, including the beautiful Skelwith Force waterfall nearby.
If you’ve already done the busier villages and want somewhere quieter to spend a morning, this is the one.
5. Hawkshead
Hawkshead is one of those quintessential Lake District villages: quaint stone houses, cobblestone streets, and barely any cars.
While you’re there, walk up to the church for some lovely views over the village and the surrounding countryside.
This area is heaven for Beatrix Potter fans. She lived just down the road in Near Sawrey, and her former farmhouse, Hill Top, is now a National Trust property you can visit (free for NT members).
If you’re into the outdoors, there’s also plenty of hiking and cycling nearby. Head to Grizedale Forest for proper woodland trails, or hop across to Wray Castle if you haven’t already.
6. Pooley Bridge
Pooley Bridge sits at the very north end of Ullswater and is a true paradise for water lovers.
Ullswater is one of the best lakes in the area for paddleboarding and kayaking, and Pooley Bridge is an excellent place to launch.
A bit of recent history worth knowing: the original 1764 stone bridge that gave the village its name was destroyed by Storm Desmond on 5 December 2015, when the river rose to record levels.
A temporary bridge stood in its place until October 2020, when a brand new stainless steel single-span bridge was opened — apparently the first stainless steel road bridge in the UK.
There are also loads of hiking trails in the area, including Arthur’s Pike and the beautiful Aira Force waterfall nearby.
7. Grasmere
Grasmere is probably my favourite village in the entire Lake District.
It’s one of the most popular villages in the Lakes, put on the map by the English poet William Wordsworth, who lived here.
As soon as you arrive, you’ll understand why the Lake District has attracted so many poets and writers over the years. It’s stunningly beautiful and feels like a proper holiday.
The big stop in town is the Grasmere Gingerbread Shop.
It’s a Victorian recipe that was invented here by Sarah Nelson in 1854, and it’s considered one of the best gingerbreads in the world.
You can buy it in a few other places now, but this is the only place where it’s actually made.
The queue can get really long though, so I’d recommend going early in the day.
I personally love the gingerbread (it’s more of a biscuit than a soft cake, in case you’re wondering). But honestly, even if you don’t buy any, the shop itself is gorgeous — they also sell hand cream and soap that smell amazing.
After the shop, head to Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum to learn more about the poet’s life here.
8. Coniston
Coniston is a beautiful village in the south of the Lake District, sitting right on the shore of Coniston Water.
The first time I visited, I came on a Rabbie’s day tour that also included Hawkshead and Grasmere — and I really enjoyed it.
The guide told us loads about the area’s history, including the story of Donald Campbell and his attempts to break the world water-speed record on Coniston Water. He tragically died here in 1967 trying to do exactly that — a fascinating (and slightly haunting) bit of Lakes history.
If you fancy going under your own steam, the lake shore is lovely for a quiet walk and Coniston Water is generally a lot quieter than Windermere.
And if you’re up for a proper hike, the Old Man of Coniston is one of the most famous fells in the area — challenging but doable for most fit hikers.
9. Cartmel
Quick disclaimer: Cartmel is technically just outside the Lake District National Park.
But it’s so close and so lovely that I couldn’t leave it off the list.
The village sits in the southern Lakes area and is small, picture-postcard pretty, and absolutely worth the detour.
The main attraction is Cartmel Priory, a medieval church right in the heart of the village. The churchyard is really lovely.
If you visit in April or May, the surrounding fields are filled with lambs — proper countryside cuteness.
Cartmel is also the birthplace of sticky toffee pudding, and you can buy the famous original from the Cartmel Village Shop.
Honestly, this alone is worth the trip.
There’s also a brilliant pub in the village with a great outdoor area — perfect for a long lunch on a sunny day.
If you happen to be visiting when a race is on, Cartmel Racecourse is one of the best charming racecourses in the country.
Map of the quaint villages and small towns in the Lake District
I hope this article was helpful and that you find your new favourite village in the Lake District!
You may also be interested in:
