Lake Windermere

[CitrusZest]

I'm going to lake Windermere for a week at half term with my DH, two DDs, (4 and 20 months) parents and brother. I can't wait. I've never been and any recommendations would be very much appreciated...particularly ebtertainment for kids and shops for me!

take a boat out on the lake, it's about £25 for a little motor boat that seats 7. the beatrix potter place is a bit overpriced, are you a national trust member?, there's lots f places to go if you are.

also go to brockhole, it's between windermere and ambleside, big adventure playground and lakeside walk, you only have to pay for parking.

Thank you, LucyKate. I think my parents are members of the National Trust. I'll have a look online at the Beatrix Potter place and Brockhole sounds perfect!
Any shopping/restaurants worth a trip?

Lovely place... but then I'm biased

loads of walks to do, they dont have to be huge hikes up great big fells there are plenty of flat ones that my 4 year old will happily do. (Tarn Hows and Loughhrigg from Ambleside but that is a bit of a hike I admit)

Boat trip, aquarium, steam train, national trust properties often have activities on during half term, beatrix potter museum to name a few.

Coffee shops a plenty and lots of individual shops too.

Where are you based ?

Glasgow, so our half term may be different to yours. They'd love the aquarium and the steam train.
It sounds lovely. Can't wait!

tarn hows is good, can park there for free if you're a nt member. there's lots of pubs to eat in, we like a place called the sun inn at troutbeck, and also the outgate which is not far from tarn hows, been to both places a few times with the kids. shopping wise, there are lots of clothes shops but they all stock mainly walking clothes, outdoors stuff. there is a fat face in bowness now though.

my mil lives in bowness, me & dh got married in the church down by the water.

oh yes, the aquarium, they have otters there!

World of Beatrix Potter is deeply naff but just right for that age (animated models of BP characters).

steamer trip on the lake if the weather is bad. You can get the steamer down to the aquarium, that makes a good day out.

I meant where on the lake will you be based !

The train and aquarium are right at the bottom of the lake.

Ambleside is the anorak capital of the UK so if you are after waterproofs thats the place to shop.

It is a lovely part of the world, but it does rain. A. lot

But if you are prepared for that you will be fine.

Have a lovely time.

Lol - sorry RunforFun!!!
Lake Windemere!

Thanks!

I'll pack wellies and waterproofs, games and books just in case. Hopefully we can spend the week outdoors!

Oh a few locals on here. I would second a walk round tarn hows, will certainly tire out the little ones.

Lot's of lovely places to visit, eat, drink and shop. Bowness is less anoraky than Ambleside and has better shops, although there is a Costa now . Hope it's nice and sunny for you.

'The train and aquarium are right at the bottom of the lake.'

so you will need scuba diving apparatus.

sorry, couldn't resist!

If it rains more than the wellies can handle there's a soft-play in Ambleside called Rufty-Tufty's.

Trotter's World of Animals in Bassenthwaite is good for kids of that age.

I remember going to Brockhole when DD1 was 5 and she went on a Barnaby Bear tour, really enjoyed it. DD2 (about a year at the time) just enjoyed the playground there.

Sorry, Runforfun, I should be more spcific, we're staying in Minster in a cottage beside the Brown Horse Inn.
A cleeague recommended a car museum and james Bond museum in Keswick. My DH and Step-dad would love that but think it's shut for the winter.

Thanks MotherSnowy, they both sound great. Hoping for dry weather!

the pencil museum in Keswick is better than it sounds.

soft play at Rheged near Penrith.

I live very near to windermere and go often

World of beatrix potter = rip off

The aquarium, is small for what it costs to get in, much cheaper to get a combi ticket which is a trip on the steam train, trip round the lake on a steamer boat AND entry to the aquarium, think it's about £40 per family

Grizedale forest isn't too far and well worth a visit, has a go ape, brilliant park, fab den building plus you can hire bikes.

If you get time the ratty miniture steamtrain is worth a visit, the water falls are lovely

Oh and whitewater for a bit of pampering, £7 to use basic facilities pay extra for treatments

Tarn Howes is magical, we LOVE it there.

Whats that place called near Go Ape, with the wooden instruments, bout 10 miles from windermere....cant rememebr and we went twice last summer?????

damit old age memory loss.....

Grizedale forrest...lovely little walk with wooden and metal sculptures.

Ave aalready said, grizedale forest, always fun for firefly spotting

Are you all local ? Where do you all hide?

Car museum at Backbarrow, sizergh castle towards kendal & sizergh barn cafe/shop nice.Laurel & Hardy museum at ulverston has films to watch. Zefferellis at ambleside for veggie pasta/pizza & cinema.

Aha !! Nymph, are you on bookface ?? Am doing a bookface sweep at the mo

No never heard of it

Sorry got it now!