If you’ve visited the Lake District and Northumberland, which did you prefer?

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TIA

I love this place:
https://www.beamish.org.uk/explore-discover/

So that means Northumberland. 😁

Northumberland- bit I'm biased!

Btw, Beamish is in County Durham - well worth a visit though

I prefer the Lakes.

There is about 40 minutes difference drive time from Beamish to Northumberland or Beamish to The Lakes so you could visit either and still do Beamish.

Another on to say north lake - eg based Keswick- if you havnt been to the lakes it's really beautiful - to really enjoy the lakes you have to do some walking I think the moment you get out of the tourist traps eg amebleside and windermere its just much quieter and lovely - if don't like walking then probably Northumberland

I really love the Lakes and have been there many times. But I also have very happy memories of visiting Alnwick . . . the castle and gardens are wonderful and there is a fantastic secondhand book shop in the town, if I remember correctly it's housed in an old railway station.

Northumberland.

Northumberland. More beaches and castles, fewer people and less rain.

As lots have said both equally lovely but for different things.

For those saying the Lake District is crowded - not at all, most of it is extremely remote. I've walked all day and barely seen a soul. Like people have said, if you go to those honeypot areas such as Ambleside then fair enough, but they form such a small part of it. Some of the tinier villages are not busy at all.

Again, Northumbria great for huge beaches and old castles.

I know the Lakes well but I've never been to Northumberland. What are the main places not to miss?

Alnwick . . . there's a castle which has been used for the filming of Harry Potter and Downton Abbey. It also has amazing gardens

In the town there is a massive secondhand bookshop, if that's something that would interest you

I was actually talking about Northumberland yesterday as ex-inlaws had just been, definitely my favourite.
The Lakes are beautiful but there's just something about Northumberland, the unspoilt beaches, the scenery, the history, the people.
I just love it

Northumberland. Far more liveable population density and still, despite people discovering it far too much for my liking since COVID, relatively undersung. Beaches, forest, castles, tales of border reivers, close enough to Newcastle and Edinburgh, great food, friendly people - what more could you ask for?

It depends what you want to do!
My must list would include:
Lindisfarne and if the right time of year a boat trip to the smaller islands to see the puffins
Bamburgh and Alnwick castles
Cragside
The Roman wall at Halsteads or one of the other major archeological sites.
Kielder
Ford and Etal
Walking in the national park
But that is just off the top of my head.

Lake District lakes are beautiful (obv). Northumberland the beaches are beautiful so depends what you prefer.

But the Lakes are always rammed. It feels like you're lining up to go around some of them. Northumberland is peaceful. Some fab places if you've National Trust too.

Very tempted by Northumberland. Just the history really intrigues me! Plus I realise the lakes get crowded. Haven't been to either....yet!

@Ohwhatfuckeryitistoride agreed. It’s difficult to get reasonably priced accommodation up there nowadays. We’ve been going for years and Bamburgh is very busy, full of artisan butchers, definitely appealing to a certain well off visitor.

Oooh you don't want to go to Northumberland - awful place! There's no one there, the beaches can be deserted even in the height of summer.

(It's my happy place)

The Lake District has more dramatic scenery but is incredibly crowded a lot of the time. Northumberland is beautiful and very quiet.
I don't think one is better than the other. They're both wonderful in different ways.

I think they’re both beautiful but I love Northumberland for the variety it offers.

Northumberland. Love it there. So much to see, beaches, lovely wee towns like Alnwick, castles. People are so friendly too.

The Lakes are beautiful but there's just something about Northumberland, the unspoilt beaches, the scenery, the history, the people.
I just love it

I second this. We had a winter holiday in Warkworth. So beautiful, peaceful and the biggest skies and open beaches. Castles, bustling market towns, incredible architecture, Alnwick with its castle and fabulous book shop. The bus service was great so we could potter from place to place without getting in the car.

Being on an empty Northumberland beach with a stunning castle in the background and snow softly falling is one of my happiest memories.

I live in Northumberland and for all the people saying it’s not busy! I would hate to see what the Lake District is like if you think Northumberland is not busy.
Tourisim has virtually exploded in our area since Covid. Tourists regularly end up with no where to park on Lindisfarne, it’s just too busy, car park full. I have seen police having to come and direct traffic on the A1 to let queuing traffic off the island because the tide is coming in and the A1 so busy.
Bamburgh & Seahouses - lovely places but again just absolutely rammed all summer.
Best time to come is autumn/winter imo. Still lots to do & see but less cars going about.

You're comparing apples and oranges- the two are in no way alike. And it really depends what you want from a holiday.

If you want to potter around and go to tourist sites and tearooms then go to Northumberland. The castles are great and the Holy Island etc are lovely. It's also decent for bike riding and sea swimming.

If you're into fell running, watersports, or walking, it has to be the Lakes. It's the most beautiful part of the country imo and the experiences you can have there are incredible. Obviously Bowness and Ambleside are touristy hellholes at peak times, but they're not the best spots for walking, swimming, running etc anyway. I go to the Lakes several times a year and don't go anywhere near those places, so genuinely don't view it as a "busy" place to be. Happily, the tourists have little original thinking so all stick in the same spots!

Kielder, Cheviot, Hadrian's Wall and the National park offer lots of beautiful, often remote walking (obviously there are hot spots). The beauty of Northumberland is its variety. The coast is completely different to the west/north of the county.

The amazing bookshop several people have referenced is called Barter Books.
https://www.barterbooks.co.uk/