Whether by boat, bus, bike, or on foot, traveling sustainably allows you to experience the beauty of the Lake District in a more immersive and eco-friendly way. Let the journey be part of your adventure! Help us look after this spectacular landscape by leaving the car at home and choosing alternative ways to explore the National Park.
We are encouraging you to walk, cycle, travel by boat, rail or bus when exploring the Lake District. The Lake District is in the North West of England, with Manchester to the South and Carlise to the North. From sitting back and watching the landscape go by on a train, to connecting with the National Park by boat.
Let the journey be part of your adventure!
Current and sustainable travel offers
Click on the links to take you to the page sections:
Make the journey part of your adventure! Arriving by boat, bus or bike helps reduce traffic and parking pressures, meaning you can enjoy more views and some stress-free, sustainable travel.
All bus fares are capped to £3 per single journey, why not give the bus a try for scenic adventures? Even in autumn and winter many bus services still run in our most popular valleys, including Borrowdale, Langdale, Grasmere and Coniston and core services such as the 555 through the heart of the Lake District, 599 Bowness to Grasmere and x4/5 Penrith to Keswick, Cockermouth and Workington. Visit Stagecoach or Traveline.
A free bus will be running again this year. Wasdale can get very busy and parking is limited, so why not leave your car and hop on the shuttlebus. More information and timetables can be found on our page Wasdale shuttlebus.
For more information and timetables.
Visit our page Buttermere shuttlebus.
Check out great value tickets at:
Ride the bus all day, and enjoy a cruise on either Windermere, Ullswater, Coniston Derwent or Derwent water with combined bus and boat tickets.
The West Coast mainline runs to the east of the Lake District, connecting Oxenholme (which is near Kendal), Penrith and Carlisle with London and Glasgow. A direct train runs from Manchester to Windermere. Local trains from Oxenholme call at Kendal, Staveley and Windermere. There is also a route following the Cumbrian coastline. Search and book trains across the UK at Trainline and across UK and Europe at Omio:
National Express runs coaches to Lancaster, Penrith and Carlisle where you can catch an onward bus connection into the Lake District.
Visit buses around the Lake District at Stagecoach for maps, timetables and details of bus and boat trips and open-top bus tours. Their website has everything you need to explore the Lake District.
There are many companies offering you the chance to sit back and watch the scenery, with half day, full day and bespoke tours around the lakes and fells.
Take a look at our Minibus tours and bus explorer tickets page.
Taking a cruise is a great way to experience our beautiful Lake District. Combining a one-way cruise with a bus, walk or cycle is great way to travel around a lake in one day. The following four lakes have passenger boats with multiple stops:
We've electric and mountain bikes to hire in the Lake District; for example Hawkshead to Coniston Boating Centre with suggested quiet and off-road routes including to the Western shore of Windermere and Langdale valley. For details on electric bikes with route ideas for half and full day rides visit Cycling.
Whether you're visiting the Lake District for the first time or looking for an accessible way to explore, there’s a walk for everyone. Explore Miles without Stiles, a collection of 50 easy access routes or try a guided walk, where volunteers share new routes on gentle paths.
Check out our Lake District Sat Nav codes but beware of following Sat Nav at all costs on small country roads.
Things to know before you go, tips to plan a great trip and help us look after the landscape you love.
