The Lake District doesn't just offer spectacular scenery, it is also jam-packed with fabulous activities for the whole family.
Tom has been visiting the Lake District all his life, and Elizabeth fell in love with the area the first time she visited. Now we love exploring the region with our children Arlo and Lila. We have put together below our favorite family activities in the Lake District.
Overview of our Favorite Things to Do in the Lake District With Kids
- Lowther Castle and the Lost Castle Adventure Playground
- Lakeland Maize Farm Park
- Brockhole on Windemere
- Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway
- Lake Grasmere
- The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction
- White Scar Cave
- Sizergh Castle
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1. Lowther Castle & the Lost Castle Adventure Playground
We are not exaggerating when we say that Lowther Castle is one of our favorite places to take our kids. Since our son was a one-year-old we have been coming here at least once a year. The castle is a dramatic ruin from the 1800’s, surrounded by stunning gardens. The castle is a sensational place to play hide-and-seek.
But the highlight for the kids is the ‘Lost Castle Adventure Playground’, an epic adventure playground nestled among the forest. The playground is HUGE, filled with slides of all sizes, cages, crawl-throughs, zipwires, and obstacle courses. The setting is enchanting where your kids imaginations will ran wild. There is a large area specifically for toddlers, and the playground is challenging enough that kids in their early teens would still have fun.
There is a nice café to grab a bite, and plenty of places to picnic.
2. Lakeland Maize Farm Park
You can’t fail to have a great family day out at the Lakeland Maze Farm Park. There is so much to do. Our kids loved the Mega Ride n Slide and the Air Bouncer. We went during the Summer school holidays so it was quite busy, but the lines for attractions were never too long.
There are also the Mazes. We did the ‘Mini Maize Maze’ which took about 20 minutes and the kids really enjoyed, but they have bigger mazes to tackle. The larger ones did look a bit intense, so definitely something for older kids. All the animals appeared happy and well cared-for with the stables clean.
Tip:- there is a café on the site, but we did find service to be extremely slow (and we weren’t ordering food, just drinks). We recommend you bring a picnic from home.
3. Brockhole on Windermere
There is so much to do at Brockhole on Windermere. Our kids absolutely loved the TreeTop Nets. It contains more than 1500m of nets suspended 9 meters high among trees. There are trampolines and slides where you can play the most epic games. It sounds scary but it is completely safe. Our five-year-old was a little trepidatious at first due to it being quite high, but soon was a jumping around with everyone else. Our two little ones went with their cousins and a had a blast. We booked a 2 hour time slot, but we had to drag them off as they would have stayed all day. It can get busy depending on the time of year, we would recommend booking online for a timeslot earlier in the day before the crowds really come.
Right next to the TreeTop nets there is a fantastic adventure playground. We also played some Mini Gold. Our kids begged us to do the Ziplining but they were a little young for it.
There are food trucks to grab lunch, but also plenty of space to bring a picnic which is what we did.
4. Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway
The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway is a fantastic weather-proof activity (it does rain a lot in the Lake District so it is always good to plan a few activities that are guaranteed to keep you dry). Our son was going through a train-obsessed phase when we planned to ride this classic steam train. The train ride itself goes through beautiful countryside, cutting through woodlands, streams, and rolling fields.
The stations either side of the journey both had nice cafes. We found all the staff to be incredibly friendly and helpful. It can get busy so we do recommend booking tickets online where you can select a time you want to ride.
Tip:- check the timetable on the website. If a time has a “D” next to it, that means it is a ‘diesel-powered’ train. All the other times will be powered by a steam engine (much more charming and exciting for the kids).
5. Hike Lake Grasmere
Obviously, what attracts a lot of people to the Lake District are the breathtaking walks that inspired Wordsworth and other poets. If you have young children it is unlikely you will be attempting some of the more arduous hikes. We found the circuit of Grasmere Lake to be the perfect walk for little legs. There is plenty of parking on the A591 road into Grasmere. The walk is just over 3 miles and takes in stunning woodlands, and beautiful views. There is also a lake shore along the way. Our kids loved to paddle and skip rocks while we had a picnic.
You will definitely need to ensure that everyone is wearing hiking boots and always prepare for potential showers (no matter what the forecast says!). For your tiny ones the route probably isn’t stroller-friendly, but perfect for a sling.
The walk also takes you through the village of Grasmere which contains several charming shops and pubs, and you can also purchase the famous Grasmere Gingerbread (we weren’t huge fans honestly, but definitely worth trying!).
6. The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction
Both myself and Elizabeth were raised on Beatrix Potter books as children, so we have taken to reading her books to our children. The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction brings the world of her books to life in an enchanting and interactive way. If your kiddos are like our youngest they will be mesmerized as they walk through the various exhibits. This is definitely one of the Family activities in the Lake District to save for a rainy day.
7. White Scar Caves
White Scar Cave is a fantastic place to bring your kids. Located in Ingleton, it's one of the UK's longest showcase and offers a fantastic opportunity to explore underground formations, stalactites, stalagmites and waterfalls. The cave tour lasts about an hour and a half and covers around a mile, with a few lower tunnels that require some ducking and crouching. The cave itself remains chilly throughout the year, averaging around 46°F (8°C). So be sure to dress in warm layers. It can also get a little slippery so we recommend wearing warm books or hiking shoes with good traction.
The guides are incredibly friendly and knowledgable and the cave itself is beautiful. Kids who love adventure and learning are going to adore this cave!
Bonus: If the kids still have energy after the tour take some time to explore the nearby Ingleton Waterfalls Trail.
8. Sizergh Castle
Sizergh Castle is a great way to combine history, nature and hands-on exploration for a family day out. This National Trust property has beautiful winding gardens, an impressive medieval stone house and a great cafe and picnic area. Throughout the year they have different kid-oriented activities, such as scavenger hunts in the woodland play area, and pop up games and dress up stations on the lawn.
There are tours inside the castle with interactive worksheets, however it can feel a little formal for younger kids so be sure to balance outside time to get their wiggles out.
