Lake District Voted Best British Getaway

“We could stay there for a year and not be disappointed.”

Here at Lakelovers HQ, in Windermere, we were not surprised to find that the Lake District has been voted the best British getaway in a survey recently carried about by The Sun newspaper.

Still, it is nice to hear that our beloved Lake District National Park, celebrating her 67th birthday this year, continues to hold a dear place in British holidaymakers hearts too.

Lake Windermere (pictured) and Keswick came out as the most popular destinations in this best British getaway bucket list.

With Ambleside and Elterwater also featuring as popular choices for Brits.

Here we look at some of the responses revealed in this research, and list some of the reasons for the Lake District soaring to the top.

Over the next few blog posts we also look more closely at Windermere, Keswick, Ambleside and Elterwater, giving some nice handy tips on things to do for pet owners, families, culture lovers, walkers and those looking for evening or day entertainment in these Lake District hot spots.

Check out our other blog posts as part of this series:

What’s On In Windermere

What’s On In Ambleside

What’s On In Keswick

1. Plenty for Everyone

“Lake Windermere has plenty for everyone. Walking, camping, canoeing or just relaxing with a picnic watching the sun go down.”

So Dad is into cycling and Mum really likes gardens. Gran and Grandad are happy as long as there’s a cup of tea and cake involved. The kids want to run around and to be entertained from 7am – 7pm.

If you’ve not yet experienced the Lake District as a holiday destination then you’re in for a treat.

Here are some top attractions in these Lake District hot spots:

• The World of Beatrix Potter and Windermere Lake Cruises, Bowness-on-Windermere
• Lakes Aquarium and Lakeside to Haverthwaite Railway, Lakeside
• Blackwell Arts and Crafts House, Bowness-on-Windermere
• Brockhole on Windermere, Bowness-on-Windermere
• Wray Castle, Windermere
• Honister Slate Mine, Keswick
• Hope Park, Keswick
• Theatre by the Lake, Keswick
• Grizedale Forest and Brantwood House, Coniston
• Cathedral Caverns, Elterwater

2. All-Year-Round

Good weather is never part of the deal when you book a holiday in the Lake District and so we just don’t expect it. The Lake District is, therefore, geared up for all weather. There’s all-year-round walking and cycling routes. Water sports are particularly fun when it’s not raining, but cruise experiences also have undercover seating for wet spells and even have indoor bars for if a nice hot toddy is needed.

“Rain or shine, it doesn’t matter. The area is beautiful whatever the weather.”

 

3. What No Costa?

There’s a saying that in affluent area’s you are always within striking distance of a Costa or M&S. Well, in the Lake District, whilst you can get your artisan coffee hit from any one of the bustling towns, you can just as easily head in the opposite direction and find yourself in the peace of anti-civilisation. With life being so busy, finding yourself without WiFi, amidst the towering giants of England’s biggest mountains and with only Herdy’s as company really is what a holiday is all about. Costa. What Costa? ThermoFlask we say!

“A magical place where you can lose yourself in the most beautiful and tranquil surroundings,”

 

4. Easy to Get Around

“…Wonderful scenery and easy to get around — great for peace and quiet.”

The Lake District is in the northwest of England and you can now reach the Lakes by air (into Carlisle Lake District Airport) as well as road or rail.

By road, the Lake District is conveniently just off the M6 motorway. By rail, Virgin Trains and the Lake District partnership offer great offers for travelling into the Lakes, from the likes of London, Liverpool, Sheffield and Manchester.  So, you can breakfast in London and be enjoying lunch in a lakeshore beer garden in only a couple of hours.

5. Never Lets You Down

“We could stay there for a year and not be disappointed.”

Being harassed by locals trying to sell things, poor infrastructure, language problems, over-priced and not delivering value for money – these are some of the top problems that us Brits have about a disappointing holiday abroad.  The Lake District welcomes over 19 million guests a year. This is still impressive, even when compared with the 89 million that flock to the most visited country on the planet, France. London attracts a similar number as the Lake District. So the Lake District is a serious contender when it comes to welcoming and looking after holidaymakers.

The broadband speed in Ambleside, Windermere is 76 Mbps, exactly the same as in Cirencester in the Cotswolds. In Keswick you get high-speed broadband, on par with London, at 300 Mbps.

Because of the low population density of the Lake District, there’s also great innovation in transport.

There are 1889 electric car charging points (EV) in Windermere, 1064 EV points in Ambleside and 857 EV points in Keswick. The #twizyflock of electric cars are a firm fixture on the tourism map in the Lake District now proving that the ‘pay as you drive’ car hire is here to stay.

Reducing traffic emissions and congestion in the Lake District is a priority and so huge support is given to ensure the bus and train services are ‘up to speed’. During the summer months the open top, double decker 555 bus is a hugely popular way to enjoy top Lake District attractions. Plus you can enjoy a pint between stops!

The Lakes is the first UK National Park to be awarded the protection of UNESCO’s World Heritage Status. This means that visitors can continue visiting this ancient landscape and its customs that have remained the same for centuries. Wake early in the morning and head to one of the 16 major lakes to watch the mist rise in pure tranquility. Tear down hairpin bends on some of the best mountain bike trails in the world and walk for hours on rocky bridle ways, hopping over clear, tumbling streams and taking in the surrounding giant mountains that were forced up from 500 million years of dramatic geological processes.

Yes. We love the Lake District and are happy that you do too.