Pack Your Bags: The Lakes District (England)


I've blogged about the Lakes District before
(and the previous post may even have more information),
but I always feel the need to add the new places
that I discover upon my return to familiar sites.

So here a few extra glorious stops 
for you to make
if (and when!) you find yourself
in the glorious Lakes District in England.

... and some selfies of myself + Viola.

(I'm sorry and you're welcome.)




*  *  *


After skipping this stop 
over the previous years,
I finally decided to give this stop a chance.

Woah baby,
this was way cuter than I imagined.

If you have a kids
-or fond childhood memories involving Peter Rabbit-
make this stop
when you go to Windermere.

(And, if you're in the lakes, you should go to Windermere.)

There are gorgeous "It's a Small World" like scenes
for each of the stories by Beatrix Potter,
sans the boat ride, unfortunately.




Complete with a stop by Mr. MacGregor's garden,
tea + cakes at the cafe downstairs,
and a knit hat complete with bunny ears from the children's shop-
this was a fun way to spend the afternoon.

{Editor's Note: You don't need to pay to enter the cafe or gift shops.}

Admission for adults: £7


*  *  *


When you're in Windermere,

It's completely cozy
and ticks all the boxes 
your mind will have 
for the stereotypical British pub.


*  *  *





The birthplace of gingerbread
is a tiny shop near the church in Grasmere...
and the women working in the closet-sized shop
wear old-fashioned aprons & bonnets.




You may be a bit surprised at the biscuit-like
(read: "cookie-like" if in America)
consistency of this forerunner
to Starbucks gingerbread loaf.

Oh, and get some homemade fudge while you're there.

I mean, you might as well.





Then take the spoils of your visit
and wander lonely like a cloud
through the church cemetery
and pay your respects to the Wordsworth family.





*  *  *


I always stay at the Ambleside Central Hotel in, well, Ambleside...
but last year, we detoured and stayed at the Red Lion in Grasmere.

Also a good option! Less to choose from at night for dinner
since the town is much smaller,
but the hotel was super cute & cozy.






*  *  *

For more of my favorite stops in the Lakes District,
hop back to my earlier post 
for fun places like Beatrix Potter's home, Hilltop Farm,
my favorite place for breakfast, The Apple Pie Bakery,
and Wordsworth's home, Dove Cottage
and more here.


*images original to Aspiring Kennedy

21 comments:

  1. Viola is looking too cute! A quick note though; it's referred to as 'the lake district' rather than lakes plural. Not sure why, as there are several lakes!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Perfect timing as we are heading there today!! You girls are the cutest and V's bunny ears are killing me! xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love Grasmere and the Lake District, I used to visit a family friend there and it is so beautiful! And that gingerbread....obsessed, now they sell on the internet so I can still get my fix!

    ReplyDelete
  4. That place looks dreamy! Viola is as precious as ever!

    ReplyDelete
  5. look so fun! v is the CUTEST! xo jillian - cornflake dreams

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have a friend who did a semester of student teaching at a school in Windermere and loved it! It looks like such a charming place.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ooh and you can blog about it again...and again...and again. You transported me to right by your side - I could almost smell the gingerbread. Lovely 'taking journeys' with you! x

    ReplyDelete
  8. Viola might have the cutest cheeks in the history of cheeks.

    ReplyDelete
  9. That gingerbread shop looks so adorable! I'd love to visit the Lakes District :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Viola pictures always brighten up my day - she's just all cheeks and so smiley! This place is so adorable - it's exactly what I imagine old England to be like :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a fun place during the holidays - and those bunny ears! Stoppppp!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I would love to be able to try an original Gingerbread!! Although Im pretty sure Starbucks didn't come up with our American style Gingerbread :-)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Cuteness overload! Viola's smile with Peter rabbit is just too much. And the bonnets and aprons and gingerbread? Awesome!
    -Rachel @ With Love, Rachel

    ReplyDelete
  14. OMG, stop it with the bunny hat!! So adorable. Would it be too much to hope for it to be featured on an upcoming Four Sale? :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Lauren!!
    I love your hat, where can I find one like that?
    I love how Viola is happy about everything!
    :) she's so cute!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Viola is adorable. I love reading about your adventures. :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. The hats in this post are off the scale!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. love this post! We visited Grassmere and Windermere two years ago on a trip (thanks to your blog) and it's one of my favorite places I have ever been!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. lovely pics

    http://www.facebook.com/AmandaChicFashionRoomLounge?ref=hl
    twitter & instagram : @fashionrlounge
    Fashion room lounge

    A chic kiss ;)

    ReplyDelete
  20. a literal gingerbread house. i love it.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Makes me nostalgic! I used to live in Kendal (on the edge of the Lake District) and I miss all those beautiful places. Another great hotel (maybe for a future visit) is the Angel Inn, pretty centrally located in Bowness. Try the Wateredge in Ambleside too for a drink, right on the lake. I think I need to plan a trip back!

    p.s.
    We had Sarah Nelson's Grasmere gingerbread for our wedding favors, so yummy :)

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...