Where would you visit in the Lake District?

[SendARavenToRiverRun]

Completely clueless about the Lakes aside from what I've googled. DH and I are looking for a cosy night away Easter time next year.
No kids
Travelling from South Yorks
Will have a wander but probably not a hike (sadly due to injury 😕).
Lovely scenery (which seems pretty much ubiquitous tbh).
Nice pub/ boat trip?
Maybe a few shops to poke around in.
Thanks in advance ☺️

[PauliesWalnuts]

If you end up in Keswick the Keswickian fish and chip shop is the second best in the world! (Only beaten by Yorkshire Fisheries in Blackpool…)

[wanderlove]

I would go Keswick or Grasmere. Beautiful scenery and great for a mooch. I love Penrith but wouldn’t stay there; it’s more of a proper working town and outside the Lakes. Don’t like Bowness—scenery not as nice and too busy. Same with Kendal—is nice but not the Lakes. If you book now you should be able to get a good deal

[AlexandraJJ]

Have a look at the Lake District hotels website, some right on the water. Had to smile reading your post. I’m from South Yorks and been living up there for 10 years and just returned home. Keswick is very pretty. Penrith is a dump compared to what it was, sad decline of the high street and all that. If you’re travelling that far I guess you want to be in the scenery. The Daffodil Hotel is on Grasmere. Check the a66 before you travel and treat it with respect. Lots of accidents and deaths on there sometimes on a weekly basis. Most of all have fun

[Diplidocus4]

Masons Arms Strawberry Bank
Sadly not premier inn prices but fabulous ?

[constantindigestion]

Windermere is ideal and can have a shortish drive to Ulverston which has some nice shops and bars

[SendARavenToRiverRun]

It'll be outside of school holidays. Not sure when Easter falls but I'm guessing we'd be going around mid April.

[rookiemere]

I actually like Bowness - it's popular for a reason, and it's a nice hub to have boat trips on your doorstep.

It depends very much on when you're going, so yes it would be busy at Easter but if you're ever able to go outside school holidays I'd recommend it.

[SendARavenToRiverRun]

So many ideas. Thank you all so much. Glad I asked!

[Toddlerteaplease]

Seriously don't bother with Bowness. It's a tourist trap, rather than a nice little Lake District town. It's where the coach trippers go.

[ivykaty44]

I like Keswick as you can mooch around the tourist shops and sometimes they have a market

you can get down to the lakeside and have a walk along from the town, further round to wards Derwent water marina

the stone circle is just up the road with an ice cream van and you can wander round the stones taking photographs etc

nice restaurants and pubs for food at night and fish and chips

also a cinema

[Chemicalrainbow]

I know you said wander not hike but, if you end up near Ulswater, have a look at Hallin Fell. You can park at St Peter’s Church, Martindale and it’s a short walk to the summit. I’ve done it with toddlers and grandparents. You may be able to manage and it’s worth it for the view.

[DonttouchthatLarry]

Keswick is my favourite - so many great shops, pubs and B&B's. The Premier Inn is opening in December. Easy lakeside walks and boat trips, theatre and lovely little cinema in addition to the stunning scenery. Short drive to Whinlatter Forest or Dodd Wood.

[Undertheoldlindentree]

Sarah Nelson gingerbread shop at Grasmere!

[rookiemere]

There's a Premier Inn right in the centre of Keswick.

[feeona123]

Keswick! If you can push the budget go for Armathwaite Hall.

[QuebecBagnet]

They are building a travelodge in Keswick, or possibly a premiere inn. Not sure when it’s opening. Nice range of shops and pubs and cafes. Boat trips round Derwentwater.

[aSpanielintheworks]

Fallbarrow holiday park in Bowness. Beautiful park, right on the lake, central to Bowness, loads of places to visit - Ambleside, Keswick etc, by road or by boat. Nice pubs, shops, beautiful walks around the lake itself. One of our favourite places in the UK.

[Arucanafeather]

If you want a very “lake district” experience then grasmere is lovely. If you’re going this time of year it won’t be too busy although everywhere is busier during school hols/ half terms. Kendal and Windermere were a bit of a disappointment. Ambleside and Keswick are my favourite towns although having moved to Cumbria we opted for Eden valley just outside Penrith to live, as is beautiful and nowhere near as touristy with the lakes still on our doorstep. Ullswater is lovely and quieter than the other lakes, especially glenriding end. Steamer is pricey but I love it.

[Adelaide66]

We love the North Lakes, much quieter.,Cockermouth and Caldbeck are delightful. The west coast from Silloth, Allonby, Maryport and Whitehaven are treats to explore. Kendal is a nightmare with the one way traffic system

[AndTwoFilmsByFrancoisTruffaut]

Ullswater is gorgeous. Definitely the best part of the Lakes and way less touristy than Windermere (which I hate to say I don’t rate as an area, way too crowded and not as beautiful as Ullswater) and the other towns, Kendal, Ambleside, etc are v touristy too.

Once I discovered Ullswater, I never bothered going back to any of the other typical Lakes destinations, the scenery is just to die for, utterly dreamy, its a really romantic, stunning place.

[SendARavenToRiverRun]

Trave Lodge sounds good. Thank you. Will have a look.
Bowness is top of my list at the moment. Just because of the distance.

[Cheshiremamalife]

If you're wanting to do it on a budget, there's a Travelodge just outside Kendal that we've stayed in a few times. It's a relatively new one and it's actually really nice for the price. You're on the doorstep of Kendal which is lovely and then you've got Lake Windermere a bit further on. We've booked for a weekend in November and I think a family room cost us about 70 quid xxx

[SendARavenToRiverRun]

Soon many choices! Thank you all. Does anyone have any specific hotel/b&b recommendations for any of the above. Just Google mapping to see journey times and stuff. It really does look beautiful .

[LadyVictoriaSponge]

I love Ambleside, had some lovely holidays there.

[AuntieDolly]

Keswick is lovely, great access and not so busy as Ambleside (which is also lovely)