Find cheap hotels near Lake District National Park

What you need to know about Lake District hotels

Lake District hotels are available all over the national park, from pretty Keswick on the edge of Derwent Water in the north to the soaring peaks and rugged summits of the Southern Fells, where Lake Windermere glistens between the massifs. Other options lurk just on the boundaries of the protected area, in towns like Kendal and Cockermouth. These typically offer lower rates but are just a little further from the trailheads and pretty vistas.

What you can expect from a hotel in the Lake District

Because the construction of new buildings is tightly controlled in national parks in England, it's likely that any hotel in the Lake District will be a quaint and old affair. That means you can look forward to crooked, real-stone inns with roaring fires and local ales on tap. You can seek out the trademark whitewashed cottages of the region, and get hearty converted barns overlooking the windblown fells. Don't worry though, the amenities offered by hotels in the Lake District are often contemporary or luxury – there are plenty of boutique stays with swimming pools, spas and stylish restaurants on site.

Top things to do in the Lake District

Bag that great Lake District hotel deal on ebookers and then start planning all the Things to Do in this beautiful corner of northern England. Naturally, it's the great outdoors that takes centre stage, with hiking trails up to Scafell Pike or the mystical Red Tarn of Helvellyn just some of the top routes. Others will opt for long cruises on Windermere Lake, or rides on the narrow-gauge trains to the handsome Eskdale Valley. There's also oodles of literary culture to enjoy, with the home of Beatrix Potter and the old haunts of William Wordsworth nearby.

Food and drink in the Lake District

No matter where your hotel in the Lake District is situated, it's likely to be close to at least one hearty English tavern, where Cumberland sausages mix with rum butter and locally brewed ales for that real northern punch of flavour. However, it's not all rustic, regional foods, because the Lake District has also become something of an unlikely hub for fine dining. There are acclaimed Michelin-starred bistros in the vicinity, offering creative new British cuisine in elegant 15th-century mansions overlooking the fells.

Getting around the Lake District

As one of England's most popular trekking destinations, it's hardly a surprise that walking is one of the best ways to get around the Lake District – you can wax up the boots and hit the trails to complete multi-day itineraries of the whole park. For something a little easier on the legs, regional bus routes connect most of the major towns in the area, while a coastal rail link runs from Barrow-in-Furness to Carlisle along the western edge of the reserve.