The best places to live in the Lake District

With so many great locations to choose from, it can be challenging to pin down the best places to live in the Lake District so here we have highlighted some of the top places to own a property.

The Lake District is a beautiful region in the northwest of England known for the natural beauty of its mountains and lakes, picturesque towns, and opportunities for outdoor activities. It is little wonder that many people consider moving to the Lake District to make it their home.

Those who know the Lakes well will likely recognise the locations on this list, but those new to the area might want to understand more about the best places to live in the Lake District, which they will uncover in this blog:

Keswick

A pretty market town in the northern Lake District, Keswick is situated between the Skiddaw Mountains and Derwentwater lake, offering amazing views of the surrounding natural beauty.

Keswick is one of the biggest centres for outdoor activities in the U.K. and there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy hiking, walking, and a variety of water sports.

The town offers a range of amenities such as shops, cafes, pubs, and restaurants. Its cultural attractions include Keswick Museum and Art Gallery, which showcases the history of the area and its famous residents, the Theatre by the Lake, and The Alhambra Cinema.

Annual local events and festivals include Keswick Film Festival, the Words by the Water literary festival, Keswick Mountain Festival, and Keswick Jazz Festival.

Keswick is well-connected by road, with the A66 and A591 leading to the town. The M6 motorway, which runs between the Midlands and the Scottish border, is approximately 16 miles to the east and there are regular bus services. The nearest railway station is in Penrith with services to Glasgow, Edinburgh, the Midlands, and London Euston.

Ambleside

Easily another of the best places to live in the Lake District, Ambleside is a small but thriving town in the heart of the Lake District. It is surrounded by mountains and, just a short walk away is Lake Windermere, England’s largest natural lake.

Ambleside is known for its outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and water sports, and is also home to a small student campus of the University of Cumbria that offers degree courses such as environmental studies and conservation sciences.

The town is filled with quaint shops, cafes, pubs, and restaurants, and has many historic buildings and landmarks to visit, making it a draw for tourists.

Ambleside is one of the best places to live in the lake district and has plenty of local events and activities to get involved in. These include the Armitt Museum and Library, which houses a collection of books, manuscripts, and artwork related to the Lake District.

There are regular bus services to Ambleside and the nearest railway station is in Windermere, five miles to the south. The town is also easily accessible by car via the A591 and A593.

Bowness-on-Windermere

Bowness-on-Windermere is a small, bustling, town situated halfway along the eastern shore of Lake Windermere, one of the most famous spots and comfortably one of the best places to live in the Lake District

Bowness-on-Windermere is one of the best places to live in the Lake District.  Situated waterside, the town is surrounded by the stunning scenery of the lake, rolling hills, and mountains, and there are plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities, especially water sports.

There is a great community spirit in the town and its winding streets are full of independent shops, restaurants, cafes, pubs, and places to stay. Attractions include the World of Beatrix Potter Museum and The Old Laundry Theatre.

Bowness-on-Windermere has good transport connections. There is a regular ferry across the lake to Far Sawry, a railway station in neighbouring Windermere, regular bus services, and easy access to a network of roads.

Grasmere

Grasmere is a picturesque village situated alongside the River Rothay three miles northwest of Ambleside. Grasmere Lake, one of the smallest in the Lake District, is a third of a mile south of the village.

Despite its small size, Grasmere has a good selection of shops, restaurants, cafes, and pubs. As well as the river and lake, the village is surrounded by hills and mountains, with many hiking trails to explore the beautiful scenery.

Grasmere is famous for being the home of the poet William Wordsworth. He and his sister Dorothy, also a poet and author, moved to Dove Cottage on the edge of the village in 1799. William married and started a family, remaining in the cottage until 1808. The Wordsworth Trust bought Dove Cottage, which is largely unaltered since Wordsworth’s day. The surrounding buildings are also owned by the Trust and include a dedicated museum.

The A591 road bypasses the village from north to south. There are regular bus services and the nearest railway station is in Windermere, nine miles southeast.

Coniston

Coniston is a small village situated half a mile northwest of Coniston Water, the third-largest lake in the Lake District. For a number of reasons Coniston is one of the best places to live in the Lake District.

The village’s amenities include convenience stores, a post office, and several pubs, cafes, and restaurants. It is surrounded by beautiful scenery, including forests, hills, and mountains, which provide plenty of opportunities for walking and hiking.

The Old Man of Coniston, the highest mountain in the vicinity, is around a mile west of the village. It is extremely popular with visitors as there are several routes to the summit where the views can reach as far as the Isle of Man and the Blackpool Tower on a clear day.

The Ruskin Museum celebrates the area’s local heritage, and the life and work of John Ruskin, a prominent Victorian writer, artist, social reformer and conservationist. Ruskin’s former home, Brantwood, is on the eastern shore of Coniston Water and is open to the public.

Coniston Water is famous for water speed world records being achieved. Douglas Campbell broke the world record four times in the 1950s and died during an attempt in 1967; a wing at the Ruskin Museum houses a collection dedicated to him.

Coniston is well-connected by road, with the A593 running through the village and there is a regular bus services to Ambleside and Windermere. The nearest railway station is in Windermere, twelve miles east.

Buying in the Lake District

As mentioned, these are just some of the best places to live in the Lake District, there are many other places off the beaten path that you might want to consider as places to live. For help searching for your next property, please contact Garrington for a no-obligation discussion.