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Adult female and two young children sat at a large table painting. Large window with a view over green gardens

On a rainy day

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Home Explore Things to do Beyond the trails Things to do on a rainy day
Steam Yacht Gondola on Coniston Water. Long, thin, white and wood Victorian style gondola with tall black chimney releasing steam. Lake is blue with small waves, with green woodland and fields and rocky fell in the background

Take a boat cruise

Boat cruises on Windermere, Coniston, Derwentwater and Ullswater all have covered boats, many with refreshments and toilets on board. And any electric hire boats have covered cabins, to watch the rain splashing on the lake beside you!

Take a boat cruise
Vintage yellow and black steam train

The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway

The railway is one of the longest narrow gauge railways in England. The journey is 7 miles long and takes about 40 minutes each way with stunning views of the Lake District. Location: Ravenglass, Cumbria, CA18 1SW.

Learn more about the railway
Black and red vintage steam train running on tracks amongst green woodland

Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway

Take a short trip on a steam train and travel 3.5 miles from Haverthwaite to Lakeside pier, south end of Windermere lake. When at the lake you can visit Aquarium of the Lakes, or catch a boat to Bowness or Ambleside with Windermere Lake Cruises. Haverthwaite Station Ulverston, Cumbria. LA128AL.

large white country house behind a grass garden, framed by purple garden flowers

Brockhole on Windermere

Enjoy the stunning waterfront and explore the fabulous Mawson designed gardens with easy pushchair and wheelchair access. Free admission. Pay and display car park.

Visit the Brockhole website
Adult woman and child looking and pointing at information board by stone wall

The World of Beatrix Potter

Meet Peter Rabbit and all his friends, as Beatrix Potter’s stories, inspired by the Lake District landscape. Crag Brow, Bowness-on-Windermere, LA23 3BX.

Visit the Beatrix Potter website
Large historic house beneath fell

Historical houses

Step into the homes of famous lakeland residents like Wordsworth, Ruskin and Beatrix Potter, as well as families who have lived and worked here for generations. From beautiful arts and crafts interiors, to traditional farmsteads.

See more historic houses
Green double decker bus in Grasmere on road in front of stone country building. Sunny day

Take a bus ride

Take in the views and explore the Lake District without the hassle of driving or parking. Stagecoach’s guide to the Lake District has timetables and maps to help you plot your journey. In the summer an open-top bus ride is a wonderful way to enjoy the Lakes.

Plan your route with Stagecoach

Wray Castle – National Trust

Wray Castle on the west shore of Lake Windermere has waymarked trails through woodlands with perfect stone skimming and paddling spots. You can arrive by Windermere Lake Cruise, which runs until end of October. The cosy café makes food fresh on site. Low Wray, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0JA

Lakes Aquarium

Set on Windermere lakeshore, visit UK’ largest collection of freshwater fish. Arrive by boat, from Bowness or Ambleside with Windermere Lake Cruises or a steam train with Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway. Café and shop on site, entry for under 3s free. Newby Bridge, Cumbria, LA128AS.

Keswick Climbing Wall

Your kids climbing the walls? Let them scale a proper climbing wall! Keswick Climbing Wall and Outdoor Activity Centre is just 5 minutes drive outside Keswick and offers indoor and outdoor activities. Free parking and café on site. Goosewell Farm, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 4RN.

Rheged Centre

An Arts programme including everything from children’s theatre and craft to opera, ballet and theatre streamed live on a giant cinema screen, which also shows a range of movies for all the family. A gallery space for five exhibitions every year. Children’s activities and an outdoor play area, shop and cafe with local produce and crafts. Rheged Centre, Redhills, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 0DQ.

A fell walker in outdoor clothing stood on top of a snowy topped fell looking down onto the valley with sun rays coming out from the moody clouds

Weather

To find out the current weather conditions, check out our Lake District weather page with Weatherline forecast information.

Lake District weather