'City Break' in the Lake District

[RainyTulips]

Parents have their 40th wedding anniversary coming up in September and was thinking about maybe booking them a weekend in the Lakes as they've never been before - would anyone have any recommendations on where might suit/accommodation suggestions?

They're more big drinkers (gin/real ale) than big walkers and usually love a good HOHO bus when visiting somewhere new. Any remote cabins etc won't work as they won't want to be driving. So almost like a city break in the Lakes.

We normally holiday round Ullswater but I can't think of anywhere round there that might be suitable - would Windermere perhaps be better?

Try the Wild Boar at Crook
Micro brewery on site, fantastic whisky cellar, fantastic food and very relaxed. Close to Ambleside and Kendal too for other things not walky

Keswick is a great place to go if you aren't driving, there is a fantastic little theatre, endless places to eat and drink, a lovely Saturday Market. It can be very busy but I like it. Good bus connections, no train station.

If they like real ales The Watermill in Ings (about 5 mins drive from Windermere) might be a good place to get a room as a base. It's a big drinking / social pub popular with locals and tourists for beer as well as food and has its own microbrewery. almost right outside there is a bus stop for the 555/556 which will take them through to Windermere/Ambleside/Grasmere/ Keswick in one direction, and Staveley (where there is Hawkshead Brewery another microbrewery and Wilfs) and Kendal in the other direction.

Otherwise anywhere in Windermere/ B-O-W or Keswick would be fine.

You would struggle to get a bus from there though.

Fallbarrow is a holiday park right in the centre of Bowness and the lodges are really lovely, we're going for the 6th time this year. Easy walks nearby, lovely shops, great pubs and fantastic restaurants. Easy drive to Ambleside and Grasmere. As someone previously mentioned The Wild Boar is lovely, one of the best meals we've had but it isn't close to anything so would require a car.

If you stay in the Keswick area they might enjoy a visit to The Lakes Distillery. They do tours and the bistro is very nice. You wouldn't be able to get there by bus but a taxi wouldn't be too bad.
Another really nice place to eat is Bassenthwaite Station - it's the train from the Murder on the Orient Express film. You could get there on the X5 bus from Keswick.

The Langdale in Elterwater

Keswick?
I mean Windermere/ Bo’ness is ok….but has a stag do vibe on weekend nights

Keswick. You can get the open top bus to Windemere , you can get a bus on a circuit round some mountains. You can do a boat trip. Theatre is great as is tge cinema. As mentioned lakes distillery. Also a few NT properties. These need a taxi but I've always found these cheap and reliable.

Bo'ness is in Scotland not the Lake District.

Only pointing out the error as someone who in the last 20 years has known of 3 different groups of holiday makers arrive a day late or not at all to the accommodation they had booked in Bowness on Windermere after a SatNav induced detour to Bo'ness.

Keswick.
Lots of bars, pubs places to eat, lots of walks - flat walks and fells, a theatre, a cinema. Some great shops.
And a fabulous crazy golf course...

We had tea there this evening! We were just commenting on how well run it is. Stopped off at Hawkshead for a pint on the way home too!

Oh this could be perfect thank you, and just the sort of local knowledge you need about buses!

You wouldn't be able to get there by bus but a taxi wouldn't be too bad.

You can get there by bus. The X4 will take them.

I agree with everyone who said that Keswick is a good base. And seconding Bassenthwaite. I had an amazing Afternoon tea there but they do breakfast and lunch also.

The Apple Pie Bakery in Ambleside is lovely if they go to Ambleside. Wild Strawberry was lovely in Keswick. Also had a really good meal in the Royal Oak and Inn on The Square. Nice breakfast in Booths too. It’s worth getting a Booths card. There are some good deals in the cafe with a card.

Keswick, Windermere or maybe Ambleside (Zafferellis is nice) if they like more things close by and more people around.

Hawkshead used to be nice only about 4 pubs but a nice little square and a few people around they also have a gastro pub on the outskirts called the Drunken Duck. The village used to have a nice atmosphere. But probably not enough to do for a weekend if not drivers.

Nether Wasdale has two nice traditional pubs but frequented more by walkers and locals do may not go down well.

Or Askham is nice but maybe too quiet.

Lodore Falls is a Spa hotel, as is The Daffodil at Grasmere, the Low Wood Bay and another called something like Another Place (but the latter maybe too family orientated).

For me its a one horse race, Keswick, everything is walkable and nice place.