Please help me plan two day Lake District Trip

[lovenaturelovelife]

We're visiting Lake District on Thursday, our first trip to Lake area and will be staying in Penrith. I understand it's not enough time to explore all major attractions in Lake District area but we woukd like to see the top beauty spots. Weather wise it looks like cloudy day on Thursday and sunny on Friday.

We will be arriving in the area around 8/9 am on Thursday morning by car and will be leaving Lake district on Friday just after 6pm-two full days.
Grasmere, Beatrix potter Hilltop house are on our list so far and love to explore Windermere, Keswick , Buttermere or I'm overestimating the time.
On one day we would like to be stationed on one site and able to relax with beautiful walks, scenery and lovely cafes etc.
I'm thinking of doing this on Friday and on Thursday explore Windermere, Ambleside, Keswick etc. Husband wants to leave Buttermere as it's out of the way. I looked at Buttermere lakes photos and really want to explore that area as well.
Please provide any suggestions or hidden gems.
Which area we should explore to relax on Friday - Grasmere or Windermere or any other area?
I would really appreciate your help.

My family have all moved to Penrith. It's a lovely town. And the property prices are really good. Considering how close it is to the lakes. Granny Dowbekins In pooley bridge does a great breakfast.

This should tick the boxes
https://www.donthibernate.co.uk/route-9-the-lakes/

A second for Granny Dowbekins! My mums in Penrith and I’m in Kendal so we use Ullswater as our meeting place.

OP I live in the Lakes and agree that from Penrith the Western Fells (Buttermere) is too far. Ullswater for the steamers is a great day. If you park in Pooley Bridge and walk to Howtown on the Ullswater Way you can get the steamer back. If you’re National Trust members Aira Force is stunning and it’s been very wet so the waterfall will be looking great. The villages of Glenridding and Patterdale at the Southern end have some lovely cafes and again accessible by steamer. There’s some smaller busses running around Ullswater as a trial this year so you don’t necessarily need to drive the car - Pooley Bridge is accessible easily by bus from Penrith.

Also someone recommended the BP Gallery in Hawkshead, it’s currently housing an exhibition of local artists called Wilder Nature.

I think the best of the Lake District is experienced by walking. In my opinion, it is best to choose one area and then hike from there. We recently did the Red Tarn Circular walk (about 10km), which had epic views of varied landscapes. However, there are lots of shorter ones too. The AllTrails app has a variety of routes.