Lake District at Christmas: Top Things to See and Do

11. Enjoy a Full English Breakfast at a local pub

The best way to prepare yourself for a day outside in the cold mountain air is to have a good breakfast before you go out. A Full English Breakfast is a great way to start your day. Just make sure you do some long-ish walks in the mountains to start to burn off some of the calories! But remember, at Christmas, calories don’t really count so it’s ok…

12. Visit the Beatrix Potter Attraction in Bowness-on-Windermere

The Beatrix Potter Attraction in Bowness-on-Windermere is one of my favourite indoor attractions in the Lake District. Beatrix Potter spent a lot of her life in the Lake District, and it was here that she wrote some of her most famous books with the beautiful illustrations. The Beatrix Potter Attraction really brings the characters she created to life. You can walk through with models of Peter Rabbit and all his friends. Look out for Mrs Tiggywinkle, Jemima Puddleduck, Mr Todd the fox and so many more. If you read Beatrix Potter books as a child, this attraction will really bring back fond memories. It’s a really lovely place to spend an hour or two.

13. Take photos of a frosty Lake Windermere

The biggest lake in the Lake District is Lake Windermere. The views across the lake are amazing all year round, but I think it’s especially lovely in December. The white frosty landscape is just magical. It just feels really Christmassy. My favourite viewpoints are from the North of the lake, near the small town of Ambleside.

14. Visit a cute tea room in Grasmere

Another great way to warm up on a cold winter’s day in the Lake District is in a tea room. Many of the towns and villages have at least one tea room, which tend to be open at lunchtime and in the early afternoon. I enjoy the tearooms in the village of Grasmere. If you’re visiting the Lake District at Christmas, you might also see some nice Christmas decorations in the tea rooms.

15. Get up early to watch the sun rise above the snowy mountains

Another advantage of visiting the Lake District in December is that the sunrise isn’t too early. This means that you’ll only have to get up slightly early to be able to watch the sunrise. I saw the sun rising just above the mountains near Ashness Bridge, and it was magical. There were hardly any other people around so it was really peaceful, and I felt really connected with the beautiful nature around me.

16. Marvel at the power of Skelwith Force

The Lake District has several great waterfalls, but my favourite to visit at Christmas is Skelwith Force. It’s an easily accessible waterfall, just a short walk from the car, so it’s the perfect waterfall to visit in the winter if the weather isn’t good. I visited on a snowy day, so I was glad not to have to walk too far in the ice and snow. The path down to the waterfall can be a bit slippery if it’s icy, so you might need to hold onto the rocks as you climb down. But the views are definitely worth the climb down.

17. Wander around the shops in Ambleside

Ambleside is another place worth visiting on a Christmas trip to the Lake District. It’s one of the slightly bigger towns in the Lake District, although it’s still really small. It has lots of outdoor shops, so you can look for maps, coats and other outdoor clothing and equipment. It’s a great place to go Christmas shopping if you want to buy outdoor-s gifts for people. There’s also a good selection of cafes and pubs as well.

18. Take a bracing mountain walk to secluded farm buildings

For me, one of the top things to do in the Lake District at Christmas is just to enjoy the scenery. Secluded farm buildings high up in the hills can give a great focus point for your photos of the mountains. Just make sure you’ve got all the right equipment and experience for the hike you’re planning. The weather in the Lake District can be very changeable at any time of the year, but especially in December. If in doubt, plan a simple walk that isn’t far from the car to make sure you don’t end up getting into any difficulties.

19. Wander through the pretty village of Hawkshead

Hawkshead is a really pretty little village in the Lake District. Walking through Hawkshead can feel like you’ve stepped back in time. It’s a cute village, and it can really busy with coaches of tourists in the summer. But in December, it can be really calm and peaceful. Just be aware that several things in Hawkshead might be closed in the winter, so you might only want a short visit. When I visited on a mid-week day in December, a lot of the pubs and tearooms seemed closed. It was still worth looking around, and I still enjoyed seeing the cute historic buildings. But just be prepared for it to feel a bit quiet.

20. Enjoy traditional British pub food and beer in a pub

After a long day in the cold outside, you’ll definitely be ready for a hearty dinner and a drink. Luckily, there are many pubs in the Lake District serving traditional British pub food. Some of my favourite pubs were in Ambleside, such as the Ambleside Inn and the Flying Fleece. Enjoy a burger and a pint of beer as you look back on your day’s adventures and start planning the next day.

21. Take photos of the Lake District sheep

The sheep in the Lake District are another highlight for me. They just seem so much cuter than the sheep in the south of the UK where I’m from. I’m always amazed that they seem happy to be outside all winter, despite the freezing temperatures. I love taking photos of the sheep and watching their cute little faces.

22. See the fish at the Lakes Aquarium

Another great indoor attraction in the Lake District is the Lakes Aquarium. It’s at the southern tip of Lake Windermere. It’s not a huge aquarium, and probably won’t take you more than an hour to see everything. But it’s a nice attraction, with some lovely displays of fish. I particularly liked the tunnel where you could walk underneath the water and see the fish swimming all around you. Check out the opening times here.

23. Dream of climbing the highest peaks

The Lake District has some of the best mountain walks in the UK. The highest mountain in England, Scaffell Pike, is in the Lake District. There are other famous mountains here as well, such as Hellvelyn, Great Gable and the Langdale Pikes. If you’re an experienced mountain climber, you could try climbing one if the weather is nice. Or, if you’re not sure about the climb, you can enjoy the views of the mountains and dream of climbing them one day.

24. Eat Kendal Mint Cake to replenish your energy

Kendal Mint Cake is a great sugary treat to replenish your energy when you’re out and about in the Lake District. You can buy it from many shops all around the Lake District. It’s basically just mint flavoured sugar. Maybe not the healthiest snack, but it’s really nice!

25. Watch the sun set over the mountains

The last of my top things to do in the Lake District at Christmas is to watch the sunset over the mountains. The sun sets quite early in the Lake District in December, around 4pm. So it’s easy to catch the sunset at the end of your day exploring. Even if you’re just driving back, you can still see some beautiful sunset views. I love how the tops of the mountains change colour in the golden sunset light. It’s the perfect end to an amazing day exploring this beautiful part of the UK at Christmas.

Enjoy the top things to see and do in the Lake District at Christmas! If you’d like a more detailed itinerary for visiting the Lake District in the winter, check out my Lake District winter itinerary. Or if you want to try some of the more challenging walks, read my guide to the best walks in the Lake District. If you’d like to explore more of the beautiful UK scenery in winter, you can also check out my guide to the Peak District in winter. Or visit other parts of the UK in warmer weather – such as the Yorkshire Dales, Scottish Highlands and Isle of Skye, Brecon Beacons, Devon and Dorset.