1 / 6The Lake District in Cumbria is one of the UK's most rewarding places for a family day out, mixing lakes, steam railways, gentle indoor attractions and outdoor adventure. Whether the sun is shining on Windermere or the rain has set in, there's plenty to keep children of all ages entertained. Here are eight confirmed family favourites, with tips for planning your visit at the end.
🎟️See things to do in Lake District on GetYourGuide →Windermere Lake Cruises
Windermere Lake Cruises run passenger boats on England's largest lake, with hop-on hop-off tickets linking the piers at Bowness, Ambleside, Lakeside and Brockhole, plus shorter island and colour-coded route cruises. Kids love being out on the water spotting ducks and swans from the open decks, and the hop-on hop-off tickets let families combine a boat ride with lakeside attractions. Cruises run year-round, making this a dependable centrepiece for a day out from Bowness-on-Windermere.
The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction
This indoor visitor attraction in Bowness-on-Windermere recreates the scenes and characters of Beatrix Potter's books in 3D, complete with sound effects, an outdoor Peter Rabbit garden and a themed Peter Rabbit cafe. It's a gentle, immersive walk-through experience aimed at toddlers to tweens, bringing Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck and Mrs Tiggy-winkle to life. With a typical visit of around 60 to 90 minutes, it's a reliable rainy-day option.
Lakeland Motor Museum
Set on the riverside at Backbarrow near Newby Bridge, the Lakeland Motor Museum houses over 30,000 exhibits tracing 20th-century road transport, from cars and motorbikes to cycles and automobilia, alongside period shop displays and a Bluebird/Campbell land-speed record exhibition. There are lots of shiny vehicles to look at, hands-on and nostalgic displays and a riverside cafe. It pairs easily with the nearby steam railway and lake cruise for a full day out.
Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway
This heritage steam railway at Haverthwaite runs seasonal services through the Leven Valley between Haverthwaite and Lakeside, connecting with Windermere lake cruises and the Lakes Aquarium. The iconic steam-train ride comes with a Victorian station, engine sheds and tea rooms, and there's a children's adventure playground at Haverthwaite with slides, nets and climbing structures to burn off energy.
Lakes Aquarium
At the southern tip of Windermere in Lakeside, Newby Bridge, the Lakes Aquarium showcases freshwater and rainforest life including fish, amphibians, reptiles and marmosets, and can be reached by boat or steam train. Younger children love the close-up encounters with fish, otters, reptiles and cheeky marmosets in a compact indoor setting that works well in poor weather.
Go Ape Grizedale
Go Ape Grizedale is a high-ropes and zipline adventure course set in Grizedale Forest Park near Hawkshead, featuring a Treetop Challenge, a kid-friendly Treetop Adventure course and a longer Zip Trekking Adventure. Expect tree-top rope bridges, climbing obstacles and zip wires, with junior courses for younger children, in a forest also known for its sculpture trails and cycling.
Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway (La'al Ratty)
This 15-inch narrow-gauge heritage steam railway runs seven miles from the coastal village of Ravenglass to Dalegarth for Boot in Eskdale, threading through the western Lake District fells. Kids adore the miniature steam train ride, and a ride-all-day ticket lets you explore at your own pace, taking in the railway museum, scenic valley views and the riverside walks and playgrounds at Dalegarth.
Brockhole on Windermere
Brockhole is the Lake District's lakeshore visitor centre, set in 30 acres of grounds between Bowness-on-Windermere and Ambleside, with formal gardens, an adventure playground and lakeside activities. Entry to the grounds is free (parking is charged), so it makes an easy low-cost family day, with a large adventure playground and open lakeshore space to run around, plus paid adventure activities. Note that stewardship passes to BeWILDerwood from 2026, so check ahead before you travel.
Tips for a family day out
- Combine attractions: The lake cruise, Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway, Lakeland Motor Museum and Lakes Aquarium all sit around the southern end of Windermere and pair together well for a full day.
- Plan for weather: Keep indoor options like the World of Beatrix Potter and the Lakes Aquarium in reserve for rainy days.
- Budget-friendly choice: The grounds at Brockhole are free to enter, with charges only for parking and activities.
- Check seasons and opening: Several railways run seasonal services, so confirm timetables before setting off.
- Book ahead: Where tickets can be booked in advance, it saves queuing on busy days.
FAQs
What is the best family day out in the Lake District for young children?
For toddlers and younger children, the World of Beatrix Potter Attraction and the Lakes Aquarium are gentle, compact indoor options, while a Windermere lake cruise appeals to all ages.
Are there good rainy-day options in the Lake District?
Yes. The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction, the Lakes Aquarium and the Lakeland Motor Museum are all largely indoors and work well in poor weather.
Can you combine a boat trip with a steam train?
Yes. The Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway connects with Windermere lake cruises and the Lakes Aquarium at the southern end of the lake, so you can combine a boat ride and a steam-train trip in one day.
🎟️ Top things to do in Lake District
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