10 EPIC Things to Do in Grasmere, Lake District (2022)
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Looking for the best things to do in Grasmere? You’ve come to the right place! Use this guide to help you plan your trip to this quaint Lake District village.
The wonderful Grasmere.
One of the most beautiful villages in the Lake District, Grasmere has so much to offer!
Traditional grey-slate buildings, oldie cottages, history, culture, and everything in between, Grasmere village is definitely worth visiting if you like aesthetically pleasing places!
Plus, there are so many things to do in Grasmere village!
As Grasmere village is geographically smaller than many of the other well-known Lake District places, it definitely has a less commercial feel to it, with much more peaceful streets and surroundings.
Not only are the streets decorated with pretty flowers, but the entire village is nestled between the overlooking valleys and mountains, making it a perfect place to enjoy your time in the Lake District.
Don’t just take my word for it – the famous English poet, William Wordsworth, describes Grasmere as ‘paradise’ and a place that everyone should enjoy.
And when you wander around, it’s clear to see why.
Finding things to do in Grasmere is easy – and yay for us budget backpackers, most are free!
Grasmere will always be one of my favourite places to visit when in the Lake District National Park.
So, without further ado, let’s get down to the best things to do in Grasmere, especially if you’re visiting for the first time!
Visiting the UK? Check out these other posts:
- The Ultimate Wales Road Trip for Beginners
- 7 Day Scotland Road Trip Route & Itinerary (2022)
- Isle of Skye Guide: Best Things to do on Isle of Skye, Scotland
- 9 Easy Walks in the Lake District (That Still Have Incredible Views)
Things to do in Grasmere
1) Visit Dove Cottage
A popular attraction in Grasmere and one of the best things to do is to pay a visit to Dove Cottage.
Step into another century and visit the former home of the world-famous poet, William Wordsworth.
Dove cottage is attached to the William Wordsworth Museum and is open to visitors daily.
At the time of writing this, Dove Cottage is open from March to October 9.30am – 5.30pm and November to February 10.00am – 4.30pm.
A guided tour of Dove Cottage gives you an insight into what William Wordsworth’s life would have been like in his lifetime.
The museum, alongside Dove Cottage, allows you to read some of William Wordsworth’s most famous words, and some describe Grasmere village so beautifully.
Through original letters, journals and poems, we hear the stories of William Wordsworth’s early life, his tragic childhood and even his experiences of the French Revolution.
It’s an eye-opening insight into how he changed literature for us all – and by far one of the best things to do in Grasmere!
🗺️ My worldwide must-have: I use my Insta Mini 11 to take photos on all of my trips. As they print instantly, they’re perfect for making a scrapbook and writing in all your favourite and funniest memories. I’ve even got my boyfriend joining in on it now too!
2) Hike Helm Crag
If you have read any of my other Lake District posts, you’ll know that hiking Helm Crag is one of my favourite things to do in Grasmere.
An easy(ish) hike up to an incredible viewpoint, which only takes around 2 hours there and back, and you’re rewarded with picturesque views of Grasmere lake.
It’s one of the best things to do in Grasmere and is a great way to get some fresh air and take in the stunning scenery on one of your Lake District weekend breaks.
The walk starts at White Moss car park and takes you through beautiful fields and woods before finally reaching the top of Helm Crag.
From there, you’ll have incredible views of Grasmere Lake and the surrounding mountains.
Make sure to bring your camera so you can capture the amazing views.
And if you’re feeling energetic, you can even continue on to Easedale Tarn before heading back down to Grasmere!
🗺️ My worldwide must-have: Well, it’s a little more advanced, but if you want to take high-quality photos, make sure you invest in a good camera. This doesn’t have to be thousands of pounds, and our favourite is the Canon EOS 6D Mark II.
3) Try the world’s best gingerbread
Now, this was something I was completely unaware of when we first visited Grasmere.
Why are there hundreds of people queuing up for a tiny white house with a lady dressed like she’s from the 1800s?
Upon closer inspection, I realised it was Grasmere GIngerbread house, and the people were all waiting patiently to try some of the delicious handmade gingerbread sold in this building.
As I mentioned, the line can get pretty long for the Grasmere gingerbread house, so I’d recommend heading there early in the morning or out of peak times.
But what I loved about the Grasmere gingerbread shop was that it’s an experience – not just the buying of a sweet treat!
Grasmere Gingerbread has been around since the mid-1800s, and over time has become one of the most well-known gingerbread makers in the world.
It really would be silly to miss out, wouldn’t it?
🗺️ My worldwide must-have: Don’t forget an additional memory card and hard drive for saving your photos on the road!
4) Visit St Oswald’s Church
Even if you’re not big into churches, St Oswald’s Church in Grasmere is one of the best things to do when you’re in town.
The notable height of the church’s spire may be one of the first things you notice when you’re strolling about Grasmere.
Built-in the 14th century, the church is named after Oswald, who founded the first-ever church in Grasmere around 600 AD. Crazy history!
St Oswald’s church has stunning roughcast stone and the traditional Lake District grey slate.
Step inside St Oswald’s church, and be transported into an Olde England building with exposed beams, oak pews, and a true medieval design. It’s amazing!
In the surrounding gardens and opposite St Oswald’s church, some of the gravestones of the Wordsworth family are set in the southeast area of the churchyard.
🗺️ My Lake District must-have: If you’re visiting the Lake District, make sure you pack a Microfibre towel (and this one linked is super pretty too). They make life easier when getting in and out of the water, they’re portable and easy to carry on any kind of day trip. I’ve had mine for years and use it on every lake trip!
5) Indulge in the Chocolate Cottage
Family-run chocolatiers selling everything from handmade fudge, sweets, biscuits, cakes, and of course, chocolate – Grasmere Chocolate Cottage is one of the most delicious things to do in Grasmere.
The Chocolate Cottage even offers dairy-free and vegan options if that floats your boat.
Just the cottage itself is a vision, and the strong sweet scent as you enter is just mouth-watering.
🗺️ My Lake District must-have: A portable power bank. Don’t get caught short and lose your phone battery whilst travelling! If you’re solo travelling, you’re going to rely on it to get you from A to B!
6) Explore one of the craziest jigsaw shops in the world
Barney’s News Box specialises in jigsaws and boasts that they have over 30 thousand in stock. Yes, you read that right!
When you enter the shop, you’re transported into a kid’s playground; a really oldie-English toy store. The shop is filled with puzzles and it really is a unique experience!
There are puzzles for everyone, young and old, and can be ordered online if you don’t choose on the day.
Even if you’re not looking to buy, I’d recommend popping your head in to take a look!
🗺️ Booking hostels? I always use Hostelworld as their deals are usually the cheapest. They also have reviews from other backpackers, and explain the vibe of the hostel (party, chill, social…) so you know exactly what you’re booking.
7) Walk, walk and walk some more!
Of course, one of the most popular things to do in Grasmere is walking. It is the base for quite a few well-known walks, and you might want to wear your hiking boots when visiting.
Loughrigg, Alcock Tarn, Silver How and Easedale Tarn are all great walks that start from Grasmere.
They range in distance, so make sure you don’t bite off more than you can chew!
Soak in the surrounding fells, the daffodil gardens, stop off in the coffee shops and enjoy your visit to Grasmere, the Lake District.
Like easy walks? I’ve listed the best easy walks in the Lake District here!
I highly recommend purchasing hiking boots for visiting the Lake District. I wore mine every day on our recent trip. It made the walks a lot easier and I was much more stable! You can buy my favourite walking boots here.
8) Browse Sam Read’s book store
How can you pay a visit to Wordsworth’s former home without a trip to the local book store?
The Lake District an inspiration for world-famous literary figures, such as Beatrix Potter and John Ruskin. Therefore, the lakes are full of cute independent book stores in the villages.
Sam Read’s has been selling books since 1877 and is still going strong. The still-standing, Victorian bookshop is a good experience for all.
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9) Enjoy Grasmere for what it is
Overall, just walking around Grasmere is an experience in itself.
We spent quite a long time just browsing the shops, walking the streets, talking to the locals (even though the majority of people you meet are tourists!) and stopping in some of the Grasmere tea gardens.
We tried the famous Cartmel sticky toffee pudding ice cream (there’s a really cute ice cream van which can get quite busy!) and sat in a few different cafes for smoothies and amazing veggie food.
Plus, don’t forget to check out the quaint Grasmere tea gardens.
Grasmere tea gardens are one of the best parts about visiting Grasmere, and you can get scones, cakes, milkshakes and everything in between in these family-run cafes.
10) Visit Grasmere Garden Village
As well as the Grasmere tea shops, there are some incredible independent shops in Grasmere garden village where you can pick up some unique gifts and souvenirs.
If you like flowers and plants, you can find something in Grasmere garden village for your garden, with plenty to choose from.
It’s a great addition to add to your itinerary when you explore Grasmere.
Things to do in Grasmere: In a Nutshell
In a nutshell, there are so many things to do in Grasmere that are worthwhile and enjoyable.
I really recommend visiting on your next trip to the Lake District.
Even if you do nothing on the list above, just seeing Grasmere for yourself is an experience. Especially Grasmere lake – it’s stunning!
Soak in the history, admire the traditional cottages and buildings and appreciate the culture surrounding you!
Happy travelling!
Jennie 🙂 x
Other Lake District posts:
- 9 Easy Walks in the Lake District (That Still Have Incredible Views)
- Where to Stay in the Lake District: An Area Guide
- Wild Swimming in the Lake District: The Best Spots
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