Things to do in

Windermere

Discover the wonderful scenery of the Lake District on a guided tour from Manchester. Enjoy a scenic boat cruise on Lake Windermere, with visits to the charming villages of Bowness, Hawkshead, and Grasmere. Depart from Manchester by bus and travel to the first stop of the day at Bowness. Explore this charming lakeside town, before embarking on a leisurely cruise on Lake Windermere. Then, travel around the southern tip of Windermere and towards Coniston Water. Enjoy the views of this body of water before arriving in the picturesque conservation village of Hawkshead, where famed poet William Wordsworth attended grammar school. Head through the narrow country lanes north towards Grasmere, which Wordsworth described as “the loveliest spot that man hath found”. Take some free time to visit Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage, taste the legendary gingerbread, or enjoy the serenity of the Wordsworth Daffodil Garden by the River Rothy. Continue to the southern shore of Ullswater Lake for a final photo stop. Then, relax on the return journey to Manchester, arriving back in the city center in the early evening.

The Lake District is renowned for being the most beautiful corner of England and this full-day tour introduces you to just that; magnificent scenery of mountains, valleys and lakes from the south to the north. From within the circle, get picture-perfect views of some of the Lake District’s highest peaks. Travel over the famous Kirkstone and Honister passes whilst enjoying some spectacular mountain scenery. From beautiful valleys to waterfalls and traditional Lakeland villages, enjoy plenty of stops for admiring the views and taking photographs.  Eat lunch at the market town of Keswick, where you can try a typical pub lunch, or seek out a charming restaurant. Get the chance to stretch your legs at either the magnificent lake of Derwent water or Ullswater, where you can see the tranquility of the Lake.

The tour departs from Liverpool and drives out of the city heading north to connect to the M6 Motorway. Listen to a partially narrated journey as we head to Bowness on Windermere for our first views of one of the many Lakes that give this area its name. You will have the opportunity to hop on one of Windermere's boats (at own cost - but ticket from driver/guide) on a one way journey to Ambleside. On a pleasant day, use your time to shop for a picnic that we can have when we are in the open air of the Langdales. On colder, more overcast days, you can take lunch at Ambleside in one of the many eateries. On to the Langdales, we travel through Little Langdale to Blea Tarn where we spend time exploring the area. At the end of our walk, we head out through Great Langdale and on to the picturesque village of Grasmere. The final stop of the day, you can wander around and see why it has been voted England's most beautiful village on a number of occasions. You may wonder what that delicious aroma is and follw the scent to the Grasmere Gingerbread Shop like so may travellers who have been here before you!

Start off by travelling over the famous Kirkstone Pass which is the highest mountain road in the Lakes, before making your way down to take in the beautiful Ullswater. You’ll have the chance to stretch your legs at Castlerigg Stone Circle, taking in the panoramic views of the fells. The tour returns travelling south along the vast Thirlmere whilst learning all about its interesting story. There is then time to wander around the historic village of Grasmere before travelling back to Windermere. This half-day tour is perfect for those who are short on time but want to see as much of this beautiful area as possible.

Surround yourself with the scenery that inspired Beatrix Potter's enchanting tales during a half-day tour of the Lake District National Park. Visit the author's home and explore the medieval Hawkshead and the scenic Tarn Hows. Start by making your way to Hill Top, the 17th-century home that Beatrix Potter used as an artistic retreat. Stroll through the charming garden, home to various flowers and which featured in several of her little stories. ~Please note, Hill Top House is closed on Fridays out of the UK school holidays and from November-February. In this case you will visit the World of Beatrix Potter Attraction in Bowness, here you will discover more of the authors life and about the characters she created. After exploring Miss Potter’s extraordinary house, continue to the medieval village of Hawkshead, and get some time to explore the fascinating village. Drive through the renowned beauty spot of Tarn Hows. Conclude with a lake cruise offering unrivaled views of the mountains. Note: The tour includes a £32.50 worth of attractions, Lake Cruise RRP £17.50 and Hill Top £15

Discover the beautiful sights of the Western Lake District on this adventurous full-day tour. This tour will take you off the beaten track as you discover the magnificent scenery of the Lake District with its beautiful mountains and dramatic lakes. Make your way over the Wrynose and Hardknott passes, the steepest passes in England we drive past the extraordinary remains of Hardknott Roman Fort, 1,000 feet up on the fells. Enjoy lunch at a traditional country inn. In the afternoon you will drive onward to “Britain’s Favorite View” at Wastwater, England’s deepest and most dramatic lake. This Tour includes £15.50 worth of attraction Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway ticket is £15.50

Head to London Euston station to enjoy a relaxing train journey to Oxenholme in the spectacular Lake District National Park. On arrival at Oxenholme you will be met by a local guide, who will take you on your tour of the Lake District. This tour is the ideal way to explore the best of the Lake District, which is famous for its Beatrix Potter and Wordsworth connections.  Enter the National Park and travel north alongside Lake Windermere to the medieval village of Hawkshead. Explore this fascinating village where Wordsworth went to school. Visit Hawkshead and Hill Top the famous lakeland home of Beatrix Potter. (The property is not open Fridays outside of the UK school holidays or between November - February). When Hill Top is closed we will visit the World Of Beatrix Potter in Bowness to learn more about the author and the characters she created. Continue on towards the renowned beauty spot of Tarn Hows for a photo stop before driving through Yewdale, passing Yew Tree Tarn, used in the film Miss Potter. Next journey into the famous mountainous valleys of the Langdales, which have been carved by glaciers to form spectacular u-shaped valleys. Arriving at the lakeside village of Waterhead you will join a lake cruise on England’s largest lake, Windermere, and sit back and enjoy the views of the Lakeland Fells (local word for mountains). Arriving at Bowness Bay, enjoy a cream tea at the Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel, once owned by Beatrix Potter. You will then be taken back to Oxenholme Station for the train back to London.

The tour departs from Manchester Airport and bypasses the city heading into the luscious surrounding countryside. Admire the views as you travel to the UK’s largest national park, the Lake District, stopping at the underground Rheged Discovery Center along the way. During the partially narrated 2-hour journey to the Lake District, the tour also stops by the famous Castlerigg Neolithic Stone Circle where you can feel ancient mythical energy flowing around you. Continue on to Grasmere Village, which boasts an array of beautiful 19th century architecture as well as the grave of well-known poet William Wordsworth. Afterwards, let your nose lead the way to Sarah Nelson’s Gingerbread Shop, where you can taste a selection of traditional sweet treats from the region. After you have filled up on gingerbread, it is time to explore the national park and navigate through the Langdales, also known as “Little Switzerland”. As you wander around the park, marvel at the breath-taking views that sprawl across the landscape, which offers some of the most dramatic and diverse scenery in the UK. Throughout the tour there is plenty of stops both on and off the bus to make the most of your trip to the Lake District. One of the highlights of the day includes an amble around Blea Tarn before a stop at Ambleside where you can get lost in the maze of twisting streets or shop at a selection of picturesque stores.

This full-day adventure departs from Manchester Aiport's public transport hub (The Station) and heads north connecting to the M6 Motorway. Listen to a partially narrated journey as we head to Bowness on Windermere for our first views of one of the many Lakes that give this area its name. You will have the opportunity to hop on one of Windermere's boats (at own cost - but ticket from driver/guide) on a one way journey to Ambleside. On a pleasant day, use your time to shop for a picnic that we can have when we are in the open air of the Langdales. On colder, more overcast days, you can take lunch at Ambleside in one of the many eateries. On to the Langdales, we travel through Little Langdale to Blea Tarn where we spend time exploring the area. At the end of our walk, we head out through Great Langdale and on to the picturesque village of Grasmere. The final stop of the day, you can wander around and see why it has been voted England's most beautiful village on a number of occasions. You may wonder what that delicious aroma is and follw the scent to the Grasmere Gingerbread Shop like so may travellers who have been here before you!

Your tour starts with a climb by our minivan, all the way up to the Kirkstone Inn, the highest inhabited building in the Lake District, for a stop to take in the views back down the valley right the way down to Lake Windermere. This once important coaching inn sits almost at the summit of the Lake District's highest pass that is open to motor traffic. From here the road plunges down into the Kirkstone Pass properly with the valley walls rising up steeply on either side on to the viewpoint for a photo stop of the ribbon of road as it descends down to Brothers Water. The thin strip of road winds past the lake, down to the Ullswater Valley and on to the charming and popular village of Patterdale. The only other village in this valley is Glenridding and it is here that you get your first glimpse of the National Park's second largest lake, Ullswater. You follow the road along the western shore of the vast and sparkling lake. You then head north towards Keswick. Your next stop is at one of the most spectacularly located Neolithic stone circles anywhere, Castlerigg. Castlerigg Stone Circle stands on a superb natural plateau commanding a superb 360 degree view over the surrounding fells. Made up of 38 free standing stones, some up to 3 metres (10 feet) high, it is one of Britain's earliest stone circles dating back to the Neolithic period 4000 to 5000 years ago. A short stop here before you head onwards to the shores of Derwentwater. Your journey now takes you along the eastern shores of Derwentwater. Driving along the woodedshore of the lake, the road suddenly forks off and you climb up a narrow, steep track into the wooded fell side. Suddenly, the trees clear and your next destination, Ashness Bridge appears. Ashness Bridge is the most photographed bridge in the Lake District. You will then be taken further up the fell to another well-known beauty spot, the Surprise View: you have an uninterrupted view across Derwent Water to Bassenthwaite. You head back along the shores of Derwentwater and start to head back down towards Ambleside. On the way you will pass Thirlmere, a man-made reservoir. You then head back along the mountain pass of Dunmail Raise. This is also the name of a large cairn which stands on the top of the pass. Legend has it that Dunmail, the last king of Cumberland, is buried beneath the cairn. Now the road drops steadily down from the fells and before long, you drive along the shores of Grasmere, your seventh lake. The road winds along the shore until you come to Rydal Water, your eighth and final lake.