Where to say in the Lake District with toddlers?

[Thatsnotmybookworm]

I've started to plan our 2019 summer holiday and am hoping to combine a Centerparcs trip with a few days elsewhere. I was thinking of combining Whinfell Forest with a stay elsewhere in the Lake District. Where would you recommend? We will have a four year old and 21 month old, and we would enjoy some relaxed child friendly sightseeing combined with some children's activities.

We love basing ourselves in Ambleside. Lots of family friendly eateries, shops, small cinema (if weather is rubbish), walks in every direction and in nearby surrounding areas there are the Beatrix Potter attractions, you can use a hotel pool in nearby Grasmere (also helpful in wet weather). They put on stuff for kids at the Grizedale Forest in school holidays - they had a Gruffalo trail when we last went there. Soft play and boat hire in Windermere and treetop nets in Bowness. We’ve been taking my stepchildren there every year for 9 years and so far we’ve never once heard “I’m bored”. We’ve also taken DD, 16 months twice and most places are baby friendly. There are a few walks where you can take a buggy if you need to or some gentle hill walks which aren’t as hard going on little legs.

Ambleside sounds great @Autumnfairy82, thanks. Child friendly eateries sound particularly good as we aren't mad about Centerparcs food so will mostly self cater there; it would be nice to eat out for the other part of our holiday.
Is there anywhere in particular you would recommend accommodation wise?

Second Ambleside we also love Keswick. There's loads to do all over the lakes tbh. Take a look at lake district lodge holidays there's 3 parks around Ambleside area. Or lake lovers which are cottages/houses to rent largely around this area.

We normally book a cottage through Lakelovers. If you need a travelcot/ high chair, etc then they can help with that if the cottage you’re in doesn’t have them. Otherwise there are dozens of B&Bs in the area.

Thanks @Autumnfairy82 and @pickledmommy; I'm looking forward to a browse on those sites.

Don't forget the South of Lake Windermere - there's the steam train, motor car museum and acquarium. You can get combined tickets including the Lake boats to/from Bowness and Ambleside.