Where to Stay in the Lake District: An Area Guide

Some links in this post contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission if you use the links at no extra cost to you! Happy reading 😀

Heading to the Lake District National Park and not sure where to stay? This guide will help you to decide the best area to stay in the Lake District for you.

If you’ve never visited the Lake District before, finding the perfect place to stay can be overwhelming.

The Lake District National Park spans over a whopping 912 square miles, and there are four (very different and unique) main towns to choose from.

If you’re looking for somewhere on a budget, you can also choose one of the surrounding villages and areas.

So which Lake District town or village is best for you?

As someone who is totally in love with this beautiful part of England, I’ve written this post from personal experience and with your best interests at heart.

Hopefully, it will help you to whittle down the best area in the Lake District National Park to stay for you, whether you’re a solo traveller or travelling in a group.

Check out my other Lake District posts!

• Adventure in the Lake District: 21 Best Activities (2022)
• Lake District Solo Travel: Ultimate Guide (2022)
• 23 Things to do in the Lake District in Winter (2022)
• Best Breakfast in the Lake District: 10 Best Cafes (2022)
• Best Indian Restaurants in the Lake District (2022 Review)

🗺️ My worldwide must-have: A wheelie backpack! Check out my favourite, the Osprey 65L wheeled backpack. It’s dreamy for long-term trips and when you need more than a carry-on!

Where to stay in the Lake District

The four main towns in the Lake District

As previously mentioned, there are four major towns in the Lake District. These towns are the most popular areas to stay in the Lake District National Park, although there are many other options!

The main towns are:

• Ambleside (South)
• Keswick (North)
• Windemere (South)
• Bowness-on-Windemere (South)

All four Lake District towns are well located with major lakes, hikes and trails nearby. However, they all have their own unique pros and cons.

• The north of the Lake District is home to towns such as Keswick and Cockermouth, and home to Ullswater, Derwent Water and Buttermere lakes. 

• The south of the Lake District is home to Lake Windermere, Coniston Water and Rydal Water, and has towns such as Ambleside, Grasmere, Coniston, Bowness-on-Windermere, and the famous Scafell Pike. 

A bit of an over-packer? I have the answer! I use these handy packing cubes for every trip, meaning I can pack nearly 2 times as much as I could without! They are so worth investing in!

Other notable areas in the Lake District

If you choose to stay out of one of the main towns, you may be able to find more budget options (which is perfect for a budget backpacker like me).

Some of the most popular small villages include:

• Grasmere
• Coniston
• Cockermouth
• Ulverston
• Hawkshead
• Langdale
• Ullswater

Ultimately, if you have a car and you aren’t against spending a lot of time behind the wheel, you can stay in any of these areas and have good access to the lakes and hikes.

However, some are closer than others.

NOTE: I would strongly recommend hiring a car in the Lake District if you do not have your own.

Whilst visiting the Lake District, I’d highly recommend wearing hiking boots. It made the walks a lot easier and I was much more stable when scrambling, especially in my favourite Columbia walking boots!

Where to stay in the Lake District: A Quick Guide

If you’re in a rush and haven’t got time to read the whole post, this quick guide might help you to decide where to stay.

NOTE: There are of course, other Lake District towns you can stay in. But these are some of my favourites and the ones I know the best!

Best place to stay for…

• First timers: Ambleside
• On a budget: Grasmere
• Nightlife: Keswick or Bowness-on-Windemere
• For couples: Ambleside, Windemere
• For families: Coniston, Ambleside or Keswick
• For Scafell Pike: Grasmere

Heading to Grasmere? Check out my Grasmere guide for everything you need to know about one of my favourite Lake District villages!

🌎 Looking for a carry-on bag to hold everything you need for your flight? I spent YEARS looking for a good carry-on that’s accepted by all airlines, and I finally found it. I couldn’t fault this Aerolite backpack!

1) Ambleside

Ambleside is the most popular village to stay in the Lake District. Personally, it’s one of my favourite places in the entire national park!

It’s known as the ‘heart of the Lake District’, and is located north of the Lake District’s largest lake – Lake Windermere.

Ambleside is an ideal place to stay in the Lake District if it is your first time visiting the area. It’s well-connected, has lots of Airbnbs, and is a great base if you’re looking to hike and explore.

It’s also home to some of the best Lake District hotels.

Plus, the village itself has cute cafes, restaurants, pubs, coffee shops and outdoor clothing stores. It really is the perfect base for a Lake District first-timer!

Ambleside is also the best area for solo travellers and backpackers. The YHA Hostel is the biggest hostel in the Lake District, and has an onsite restaurant and amazing views of Lake Windemere. It’s perfect for solo travellers!

• Perfect for: couples, families, groups, solo travellers

• Close to: Lake Windermere, Coniston Water, Scafell Pike, Helm Crag, Rydal Water

• Top 5 things to do: Hike Stock Ghyll Force waterfall, hire a boat on Lake Windemere, climb to the top of Black Fell, grab a pint at the Royal Oak and soak in the views at Loughrigg Fell.

Love adventure? Check out the best adventure activities in the Lake District here.

🗺️ My hiking must-have: A portable power bank. Don’t get caught short and lose your phone battery whilst hiking! If you’re solo travelling, you’re going to rely on it to get you from A to B.

2) Keswick

Keswick is another great town to stay in the Lake District. One of the biggest towns in the national park, it’s an ideal area for hikers and climbers.

With good access to Scafell Pike and other climbs such as Helvellyn, it’s surrounded by the breathtaking Skiddaw mountains and Derwentwater lake.

Keswick is also great for live music and a fun, lively pub atmosphere. It makes a great place to stay if you’re travelling with friends. It’s a bustling market town with some luxury hotels and epic surrounding countryside.

• Perfect for: couples, families, groups, solo travel, young travellers

• Close to: Helvallyn, Skiddaw, Buttermere, Ullswater, Derwent Water, Glenridding, Catbells, Calf Close Bay, Walla Crag, Bleaberry & High Seat 
• Top 5 things to do: Hike Helvellyn, dance your night away at the Loft nightclub, soak in the scenery on the Catbells walk, have a wild swim in Derwentwater, watch a show at Keswick’s local theatre.

Oooh, and Keswick has some great Indian restaurants!

🗺️ My hiking must-have: If you’re out on a long hike and run out of water, you can use a filter water bottle to drink any water you may find along the way. From puddle to lake water, it purifies in seconds so you can safely drink and stay hydrated! It’s a must-have for visiting the Lake District.

3) Grasmere

William Wordsworth labelled Grasmere “the loveliest spot that man hath ever found”. It’s easy to see what he was talking about with this picturesque village.

If you want a quieter and cheaper stay in the Lake District, head to the small, historical village of Grasmere.

Grasmere is one of my favourite places to stay in the Lake District for many reasons.

Grasmere is a historic village around 20 minutes south of Keswick. It is the starting point for the Helm Crag hike and the home of William Wordsworth, where you can book to tour his home where some of his famous poems were written.

Grasmere offers world-famous gingerbread, family-run cafes and the starting point to some of the Lake District’s best walks.

Accommodation in Grasmere can be cheaper than some of the larger villages like Keswick and Ambleside, so it’s a great stop for travellers on a budget who still want to be close to the action!

• Perfect for: couples, families, solo travel

• Close to: Helm Crag, Loughrigg, Brackenfell & Alcock Tarn, Easedale Tarn, Dora’s Field, Tarn Crag, Silver How.

• Top 5 things to do: William Wordsworth’s former home, Dove Cottage, a hike up Helm Crag, the village of Town End, the Wordsworth museum, and the Daffodil Gardens.

🗺️ My Lake District must-have: Whilst out hiking during the day, I use a tote bag to hold my belongings like my camera, notebook, purse and Microfibre towel (for wild swimming). It’s easier to pack away than a big backpack, and can be neatly tucked away when you don’t need it!

4) Bowness-On-Windemere

Bowness-On-Windemere is a small and well-located village on the shores of England’s largest lake, Lake Windemere.

It has a busy high street, full of high-street shops and restaurants, as well as plenty of boating and watersport activities. If you have time, you can even book one of the wonderful lake cruises from the banks of the lake.

The banks along the lake are packed full of ice-cream vans and food spots, making it perfect to stop off for a snack and enjoy the hot weather along the lake.

Bowness-on-Windemere is one of the most popular areas to stay in the Lake District, so during peak times, it can get pretty busy.

So if big crowds, and a need to pre-book a fine dining restaurant and busy pubs aren’t your thing, I’d recommend staying elsewhere.

The best part about Bowness-on-Windemere is its variety of food options that can be bought on a budget. Whilst we were there, we ended up living off £4 pizzas! Perfect for budget backpackers like us.

Oooh, and the sunsets over Lake Windemere are some of the best I’ve seen in the Lake District. They really are incredible.

• Perfect for: young travellers, large groups, couples, solo travel, families
• Close to: Lake Windermere, Claife Heights, Brantfell, School Knott, Orrest Head, Townend, Miller Ground, Grasmere
• Top 5 things to do: Hire a boat on Lake Windemere, explore the World of Beatrix Potter, take in the views at the Lake View beer garden, drink cocktails at the Magic Roundabout and hike the Orrest Head circular loop.

5) Coniston and Hawkshead

For those who still want to be in the centre of the Lakes, but want cheaper accommodation than popular towns like Ambleside and Keswick.

Coniston really stood out for me on our recent trip to the Lake District, as it’s surrounded by the kind of mountains you really want to see on your visit to the lakes.

A short 10 minute drive away is the town of Hawkshead. Known to be one of the prettier Lake District villages, Hawkshead is home to traditional guest houses, pubs and craft shops.

And strap on your hiking boots and head out to do the iconic Tarn Hows walk, which was one of our favourites during our time in the Lake District!

• Perfect for: couples, families, solo travel

• Close to: Coniston Water, Coniston Boating Centre, The Old Man of Coniston walk, Little Langdale, Esthwaite Water, Hawkshead to Lake Windemere circular loop, Latterbarrow, Grizedale forest

• Top 5 things to do: Herdwick’s family-run cafe, a wild swim in Coniston waters, walk Tarn Hows, the Old Man of Coniston hike, the Ruskin Museum.

🗺️ 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.

6) Ulverston

If you want to save some money on accommodation and Lake District hotels, Ulverston is a short drive out of the national park.

Don’t let that put you off, as it still has the Lake District charm with cobbled streets, colourful street flags and a friendly atmosphere.

I was so grateful for finding this unexpected location on our first visit to the Lake District. With little clue about where to stay in the Lake District the first time I visited, I took a punt and booked one of the cheapest cottages I could find.

The punt paid off, and we had a cosy, two-bedroom, brick cottage just ten minutes away from all the action the lakes have to offer.

Take a stroll down the high street to find independent stores, family-run pubs, Italian and Indian restaurants and even a local chippy.

If you don’t mind a bit of a drive into the lakes every morning, it’s a great place to stay in the Lake District on a budget!

• Perfect for: couples, families, friends

• Close to: Morecambe’s Bay, Sandscale Haws Nature Reserve, Duddon Estuary, High Dam and Rusland Heights, Beacon Tarn.

• Top 5 things to do: The Laurel and Hardy museum based in the 1930s Roxy Cinema, Ford Park, Aroma Indian restaurant, The Mill pub, enjoying a pint in The Rose pub.

Where to stay in the Lake District: In a nutshell

So, there you have it. You now know the main areas to stay in the Lake District National Park.

Hopefully you should have a better idea of where you’re going to book.

Of course, the more I explore the lakes, the more hidden gems and places I’ll find!

But if you’re heading to the lakes for the first time, the villages listed above are a great place to start.

As always, if you have any questions or worries about your trip to the lakes, contact me on my Instagram or in the comments below 🙂

Happy travelling!

Jennie 🙂 x

Other Lake District posts:

• 23 Things to do in the Lake District in Winter (2022)
• Best Indian Restaurants in the Lake District (2022 Review)
• 10 EPIC Things to Do in Grasmere, Lake District (2022)
• 9 Easy Walks in the Lake District (That Still Have Incredible Views)
• Wild Swimming in the Lake District: The Best Spots

🌎 Travelling for the first time? You’re in the right place! Check out my essential travel kit for EVERY type of trip, big or small!

LIKE THIS POST? PIN IT!

Hey you! 🙋‍♀️ I quit my job in 2021 to become a full-time travel blogger + visit as much of the globe as possible. Come and join me on my chaotic and hilarious travel journeys!

📷 Instagram: @jennie_wanders

🎥 Youtube Channel: Jennie Wanders 

📍Pinterest: Jennie Wanders Travel Blog