Christmas in the Lake District
England's Lake District is a wonderful place to spend the Christmas holidays.
The Lake District is a wonderful place for your Christmas and New Year Holidays.Want to know why? what to do? need tips? I live at Grasmere in the heart of the Lake District- I can help you!
Those , like myself, who are lucky enough to live in the Lake District, find that all our spare rooms are full of family and friends, who want to enjoy a Lake District Christmas.
Those who don't have relatives or friends in the Lake District can stay in one of the many excellent Lake District hotels. Lake District hotels offer a traditional Lake District Christmas. Visitors are generally booked on a special Lake District Christmas package, offering great Christmas meals, and entertainment. If you decide to book one of the main excellent guest houses for bed and breakfast for Christmas, or if you have a self catering holiday cottage Christmas in the Lake District, there are many welcoming pubs, cosy cafes, wonderful restaurants and lots of Christmas entertainments for you to enjoy.
I'm going to take a look at the Lake District at Christmas, and make my personal suggestions of how to get the most out of your Lake District Christmas holiday.
A note about the photographs used on this page. Most of the photos are from the official photo library of Cumbria Tourism. As a member of Cumbria Tourism, I have permission to use these photos, but they are not to be re used or copied by non members without permission. The intro photo of St Michaels and All Angels Church, Hawkshead is thanks to Andrew Heptinstall and Cumbria Tourism
Santa in the Lake District at Christmas
Amblside's shopping area looks beautiful with the Christmas lights.
Lots of Lake District towns and villages have celebrations for the turn on of the Christmas Lights. Find out more here.
Photo thanks to Ben Barden and Cumbria Tourism, not for re use.
- Santa In the Lake District this Christmas- Cumbria Tourism's Official list of Santa sightings
Santa's Grotto, Santa Cruises, Santa trains- Santa is all over the Lake District at Christmas - Ambleside Christmas lights
Santa, lanterns,craft fair, skating, street procession, barbecue and fireworks for the start of Ambleside Christmas lights Christmas starts here!
Christmas holiday or Christmas vacation in the Lake District? - Book your Lake District accommodation before you arrive!
Ambleside at Christmas , photo thanks to Dave Willis and Cumbria Tourism, not for reuse.
It may sound obvious, but if you decide to visit the Lake District at Christmas, be sure to book your accommodation in advance!
Our Grasmere self catering Cottage Brockstone Cottage, Grasmere is a wonderful place to spend Christmas . It's booked for Christmas 2017, but we still have November and December breaks available.
For more ideas about Lake District Accommodation, suggest you use Cumbria Tourism's excellent website, golakes . This is the official website for Lake District tourism, and has all the hotels, guest houses, cottages, campsites even, that are available. There is a detailed search facility that will help you find the perfect Christmas holiday place for you and your family.
If you prefer to have a self catering stay take a look at these excellent Holiday Cottages
Pantomimes and Christmas shows in the Lake District at Christmas - A Christmas Show, or a Christmas Panto- the whole family loves a live show
- Golakes | Christmas Lake District | New Year | Short Breaks Cumbria
The official Tourism website for the Lake District. - Lake District Theatre | Theatre By The Lake Keswick
This year's show is the Snow Queen. Book your tickets early to make sure you get a seat- the Christmas holiday dates sell out early - The Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal
There's always an innovative show at the Brewery, Kendal. Check here for Christmas events.
Festive Food for your Lake District Christmas - Lake District traditional food and drink is a winner at Christmas.
Superb Traditional Lake District food, such as the mince pies above, can be found all over the Lake District at Christmas.
Photo thanks to Andrew Heptinstall and Cumbria Tourism, not for reuse.
- Cumbria Tourism's lists of the top festive food for Christmas in the Lake District.
There is such lovely local food in the Lake District, and much of it comes into its own at Christmas Locally made fruit wines and liquers- perfect at Christmas in the Lake District. The Damson Gin in the photo is from Cowmire Hall, in the Lyth
Cosy pubs to visit at Christmas in the Lake District
Photo is thanks to Ben Barden, and Cumbria Tourism , and is not for reuse
- Cumbria Tourism's list of cosy pubs to visit at Christmas in the Lake District
Warm and welcoming- a Lake District Christmas evening in a local pub
A potpourri of Christmas ideas for your Lake District Christmas - Christmas in the Lake District -lots of things to do
Photo of the Lighthouse cafe bar in Windermere, thanks to ben Barden and Cumbria Tourism, not for reuse.
- All sorts of Christmas ideas for Christmas in the Lake District
Lights, theatre, carols- some of the suggestions for things to do in the Lake District this Christmas
Here are more links to find out about Christmas in the Lake District - Up to date Lake District information.
- What on in Keswick
Keswick is a vibrant small town with lots going on. This is a great website - Ambelside Online-an excellent source information
A really useful site for locals and tourists. All you need to know about Ambleside. - The Westmorland Gazette- the local paper for South Lakes
Founded in 1818 and still going strong and full of local news and information. - The News and Star is the local newspaper for the North Lakes
Check out what's going on in the North Lakes. You can see how the Lakes only professional football team, Carlisle United are doing!
Lake District Christmas Churches
The Church is the centre for Christmas celebration in the Lake District
The Church of St Michael and all Angels at Hawkshead, seen here in the Christmas snow, is a fine example of the ancient churches of Lakeland. Many people make a special point of visiting the Lake District churches a Christmas, to join in with the celebration of the true meaning of Christmas.
We always go to St Oswald's Grasmere for the Candlelight Carol service n Christmas Eve at 6pm.
Photo thanks to Andrew Heptinstall and Cumbria Tourism, not for re use.
If you are visiting Grasmere or Rydal at Christmas, rector Cameron Butland has put all the information about church services in St Oswald's Grasmere and St Mary's Rydal on the Grasmere and Rydal Churches website.
Shopping at Christmas in the Lake District
Shopping at Carlisle Christmas market, Lake District. Photo thans to Ben Barden and Cumbria Tourism, not for reuse.
Every Christmas, savvy shoppers make a pre Christmas trip to the Lake District to do their Christmas shopping. Those of you who live in towns and cities, full of chain stores all selling the same things, can find unusual, tempting, original Christmas gifts in the Lake District shops.
There are lots of Christmas markets in the Lake District . You can find the details and dates here.
I have no personal links with any of the shops that I recommend- I just like browsing and buying in them.
Support our small , local, Lake District shops this Christmas.
The Attic with in Grasmere is a treasure trove of gifts that remind you of an earlier age, with vintage style gifts for the home and garden, as well as lovely wedding favors. Take a look at their nostaligic web site.
Love the Lakes , with shops in Bowness and Keswick, also has a mail order store. Selling goods made in the Lake District, this store offers orginal Lake District Christmas gfits.
Winter walks - the Lake District at Christmas - Walking in the Lake District at Christmas
Hawkshead at Christmas, thanks to Andrew Heptinstall and Cumbria Tourism- not for reuse
We go out walking at Christmas whatever the weather.
If you can't spend Christmas in the Lake District, then buy a piece of the Lake District for your Christmas at home. - Christmas in the Lake District wherever y
If you can't get to the Lake District at Christmas, then why not buy a Lake District gift to remind you of your Lake District holidays?
This amazing photo, "Dusk, desolation Helvellyn" is by Stewart Smith, who has given me permission to us his photos. Not for reuse without Stewart's permission. Thanks to stewyphoto on flickr
To buy one of Stewart's. visit his web page, Stewart Smith photography.
- Pure Lakes Organic Toiletries
Green, eco friendly, made in the Lake District. Great gifts for you and your family to remind you of Christmas in the Lake District. - Stewart Smith Photography.
Talented local photographer Stewart Smith has print of his wonderful Lake District photographs for you to buy online. Stewart will ship them overseas for you too.
Christmas in the Lake District - Plan your Lake District Christmas with these websites.
Here are some websites you can check out to help enjoy Christmas in the Lake District
- Grasmere & Rydal Churches - Grasmere and Rydal churches
If you are near Grasmere or Rydal at Christmas, this website, written by Grasmere and Rydal Rector Cameron Butland, will guide you.
Why do people love to visit the Lake District at Christmas?
Why do people love a Lake District Christmas? I think people love to visit the Lake District at Christmas because, in the Lake District, visitors can enjoy a traditional Christmas holiday without the commercialisation so evident in many towns and cities.
The Lake District National Park is a conservation area.
There are no billboards or advertising hoardings in the Lake District.
There are no neon signs in the Lake District.
There are no huge modern buildings in the Lake District.
The towns and villages in the lake District appear much the same as they did 100 years ago. At Christmas in the Lake District you will see lights strung around trees, shops and houses. Many Lake District Villages have Christmas lights and a Christmas tree.Ambleside, Windermere and Keswick are all beautifully lit and sparkling. The Lake District Churches are always specially decorated for Christmas. Otherwise, the beautiful scenery of lakes and mountains, the sheep and other animals and the quiet towns and villages remain calm and timeless.
photo of Windermere at Christmas thanks to Ben Barden and Cumbria Tourism
It's nearly here! Please lave me a message. Did you enjouy reading about a Lake District Christmas?