And it’s only a 10-minute walk from Keswick, a town with plenty of shops (especially outdoor shops), restaurants and accommodation. It’s a good place for both hiking and climbing. Derwentwater and Keswickĭerwentwater is at the tip of the Borrowdale Valley, a majestic spot of cliffs, rivers and ravines. It’s close to Rydal Water, a small picturesque lake that’s popular for wild swimming. No motorboats are allowed on the lake, so it’s a good option for kayaking, swimming and rowing.

Grasmere is a popular village, famous for its gingerbread and Wordsworth connections. It’s particularly popular for watersports and lake cruises.It’s also close to the cute villages of Glenridding, Patterdale and Pooley Bridge. Ullswater is the second largest lake and widely considered the most beautiful. Popular towns and areas to stay around Windermere Lake are: Ambleside (small but busy town), Windermere (one mile from the lake shore), Newby Bridge (at the southern tip) and Bowness-on-Windermere (right on the water).

It’s also in the centre of the national park, so offers easy access to most attractions. It offers a bit of everything, from lake cruises, hiking and cafes to Beatrix Potter’s former home.

Windermere is the biggest lake in the park and one of the most popular places to stay in the Lake District. Below I’ve included a quick description of each lake and area to help you choose the best option for you. I’ve split the listings by lake and the most popular towns and villages to stay in for each one. The Lake District is made up of 16 lakes spread over 885 square miles. Lake District Airbnb: Which area is best? Found this useful? Share it on Pinterest!

Lake airbnb near me