Lake District - where's best for kids, what's to do?

[dontdillydally]

thinking of going July hols for 5-7 days want perhaps a cottae but need somewhere to occupy ds age 6.

Where's best to go and what can we do?

Brockhole & fell foot for the parks. Apparently whinfell are opening a new one this weekend too.

Beatrix potter museum at Bowness

Car museum at Backbarrow

Rheged near Penrith for HUGE screened cinema& play area

Aquarium of the lakes

Steamer on lake Windermere

Gondola on lake Coniston

thanks so what area should we stay in to do all the above?

I'm talking from the south mainly so Windermere/Coniston. Windermere/Bowness/Ambleside are all around lake Windermere. I prefer Ambleside out of the 3. Or around Coniston is less touristy.

Have a look here for various Lake District Days Out Videos.
Such as;

Have fun

Some of our favourites ( we live in the Penrith area and have 2 pre schoolers)
*Whinlatter forest has a new wild play area with lots of different play activities probably best for primary and younger kids, Go Ape and mountain bike trails for older kids. Good even on a wet day as it's sheltered if you all have waterproofs.
*Keswick leisure pool is really nice and warm for little ones - look out for the parent and toddler sessions. Keswick park just by the pool is also highly reccomended as it's been re-done - but am yet to try it!
*Abbott Lodge jersey ice cream farm - on A6 south of Penrith - good for a stop off - small indoor and outdoor play area and calves to see.
*Various boat trips and steam trains
*Soft play: Pirates in Penrith/Rufty Tufty's in Ambleside
*Eden Ostrich World - farm park in Langwathby. Free tractor rides and bouncy castle etc during weekends and school hols.

Hope that helps with some ideas

Sorry - missed your ds's age before posting - all still good things to do - just ignore the bit about parent and toddler sessions!

Windermere/Coniston is a good place to stay. I recommend..

Beatrix potter museum
Coniston boat trip
Fell Foot park
Brockhole visitor centre
Tarn Hows (stunning)
Grizedale forest trails (lots of carvings etc to spot on the trails)
Duckys farm park (grange)
paddling at Conniston lake, walk accross lake path to Coniston hall (stunning walk)

We enjoyed all of the above when we went.