My parents live in Grange-Over-Sands just south of the Lake District and I am going to be visiting them for the first time in 5 years for a month from mid December to mid January this year. I have visited my parents and done a variety of stuff in the past on my own and with friends, but since my last visit I have had two children and so I have much less good ideas of what is actually fun. Has anyone got any suggestions for things we could do with them, places suitable for eating with kids etc in the southern lakes, or even anything close by outside of the Lake District? We will have a car for about half the time we are there but don’t want to travel too far with the kids in tow.
Muncaster castle and the Ratty are my all time number 1 jam. They’re both fantastic at Christmas, and great for kids. Probably about an hour drive from Grange Over Sands all on A-roads, or a direct train to Ravenglass.
You would be very close drive to the Lakes Aquarium tho, which is on the south of the western shore of Windermere. We loved it when we went. And it’s literally on the platform of the Lakeside And Haverthwaite Railway, so they make a nice combined trip. Both great for kids.
I’ve not been to the Beatrix Potter museum since I was a kid but it’s a classic and I remember absolutely loving it. Also quite close by.
Tarns Hows, just north of Coniston is a nice little circular walk with a flat tarmacked path, so gets a lot of families visiting. The car parks can get really busy tho so you’d need to set off early.
Grizedale Forest sculpture trail has lots of stuff aimed at kids.
Sizergh Castle is good if you like walking around ornate gardens and having a coffee.
Bit far away from Grange Over Sands, but the Rheged Centre is just up the M6 outisde Penrith. They’ve got a big cinema and places to eat and stuff for kids to do. Quite expensive in there tho mind you.
Buttermere is well worth a visit for dramatic driving views - very lord of the rings scenery, with a nice easy walk round the perimeter when you eventually get to it.
Love Keswick, Castlerigg Stone Circle, and going up the hills around there like Blencathra is lovely.
Thanks for all the suggestions so far everyone, will try to look through all their respective exciting websites today. Was not aware of the aquarium at all but that sounds particularly exciting for the three year old.
Definitely very up for some pram suited walks as some people have suggested, assuming my Australian children will manage to tolerate short walks well wrapped up for the cold
Until a couple of months ago my wife’s parents lived in Ulverston, just down the road from Grange, so our kids have spent their who lives holidaying there (they’re now 18 and 15).
One of the things we did a lot, was park at the train station in Windermere, and there is a little walk up a hill you can do, it’s only about a mile or so, but the views at the top are fantastic. We then went for lunch in the Lakeland store and there’s a good free play area next to the cafe. We did this dozens of times and the kids always loved it.
Unsworth’s Yard Brewery in Cartmel is good for a beer and a pizza.
Fell Foot is a nice National Trust park (just a car park really) at the bottom of Lake Windermere, and there’s a nice ice-cream shop.
Getting the train from Grange to Ulverston is quite nice, if you like trains (my kids loved them).
If you’re referring to the Maryport Aquarium, I would not endorse a trip to Maryport even in the depths of wet weather desperation. It’s a shame that the Sellafield Visitor Centre is now closed - I have fond/traumatic memories of it.
Was about to create a new topic on this but did a quick search et voila, so reviving this instead - hope no one minds!
Off to Lake District for a weekend in early March, booked a hotel near Windermere (Merewood Country House Hotel). Will be heading up early Friday morning so have 2 full days there and 2 evenings. Travelling with mini (whos 2, almost 3) - please send recommendations my way for food and drink/things to do & see etc etc.
Has a lovely art gallery, a delightful cafe with amazing cakes and caters v well for most dietary reqs. Grounds are really nice and have paths for easy walking around. Views are beautiful
I mean, it’s the Beatrix Potter museum. It’s a beloved classic.
Fellini’s and Zeffirelli’s cinemas in Ambleside often show kids films during the day and are super charming (there’s vegetarian restaurants in each as well which we love but maybe not appealing to such young kids).
There used to be an amazing vege/vegan cafe (I think it was called Ghandi’s?) in Ambleside. Was really sad to find it’s closed when we went back just before Christmas.
March might not be the time for it but there’s an amazing gelato place in Staveley (on the road into Windermere)
Had the mince pie ice cream, so good. Also nice coffee shop in that village too.
they were a staple meal at Glastonbury and Green Man festivals for me and my pals for like 8 years, then one year they weren’t there anymore and I was sad, and then I found out they’d opened a café in Ambleside and I was happy again, and about 18 months after I found it existed it was shut again. Only managed to go to the cafe like 3 times. Candle in the wind.