Lake District Itinerary 1 Day Plan: The BEST Day Trip!

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Even if you only have a day to explore the Lake District, it’s still a chance to see some of the most beautiful scenery England has to offer.

The 2362 square kilometres of English countryside is famous for its mountains, lakes, hiking trails, and traditional English villages, and it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful national parks in the UK.

However, seeing everything the Lake District has to offer in one day would be impossible. It’s a big place, and in a day you can only scratch the surface.

But if you do only have a day to explore, I still recommend doing it. Just driving through the landscapes of the Lake District is enough to warrant a day visit.

This post is split into two parts, an itinerary for two different types of people. The first suits a slower traveller; someone who doesn’t need to rush to see it ‘all’.

And then the second, an itinerary that’s suited to someone who is happy whizzing around, seeing as many parts of the Lake District as possible.

Whichever type of traveller you are, this post details how to experience and enjoy the Lake District in just one day.

Visiting the Lake District for the first time? Check out my other posts!

• Easy Walks in the Lake District (That Still Have Incredible Views)
• Where to Stay in the Lake District: An Area Guide
• Scafell Pike From Langdale: Everything You Need To Know
• Castlerigg Stone Circle Walk: Routes, Tips & Guide!

Lake District Itinerary 1 Day: A Summary

The Lake District is located in the north of England, around a 6-hour drive from London. It’s one of the country’s most famous national parks, with almost 16 million tourists visiting every year.

For us, it’s somewhere where we can escape the bustle of London and retreat to the countryside for a few days of walking, hiking, home-cooked meals, large glasses of red wine by the fire and hearty pub lunches. Sounds dreamy, right?

Whilst the Lake District deserves more than a day to visit, a day is better than nothing.

Just driving through the green, rolling hills, past fields of grazing sheep and cows, with the famous Lake District grey slate buildings and Roman walls. Visiting the Lake District, even for a day, is one of the best ways to see the real heart of the English countryside.

Where to stay in the Lake District

If you’re only staying in the Lake District for one day or one night, I recommend staying in Ambleside. Ambleside is known as the ‘heart of the Lake District’, and is one of my personal favourite areas, as it’s within walking distance of Lake Windemere.

If you’re only visiting the Lake District for one day, it’s an easy way to see some of the quintessential grey slate buildings, traditional pubs, and modern Lake District restaurants.

• If you’re a solo traveller in Ambleside, I recommend staying in the YHA Hostel. It’s a short distance from the centre of Ambleside, and you’ll be able to meet other solo backpackers. ➡ BOOK THIS HOSTEL NOW!

• Want a cute and cosy cottage in Ambleside? Our favourite is Grayling Cottage. It’s just a one-minute walk from Ambleside town centre and is beautifully decorated. ➡ BOOK THIS COTTAGE NOW!

• For a luxurious one-night stay in Ambleside, check out The Ambleside Inn. It’s an 18th-century hotel which will give you a true ‘English countryside’ experience. ➡ BOOK THIS HOTEL NOW!

How do I get around the Lake District?

If you can, take a car to get around the Lake District. If you only have one day, you don’t want to be spending hours waiting for public transport. Don’t have a car? We rent our cars in the UK from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world! ➡ LOOK AT CAR HIRE PRICES IN THE UK NOW!

However, if you haven’t got access to a car, exploring the Lake District in a day can still be done! The Lake District has amazing public transport (a lot better than some of the rest of the country), and you can whizz around on buses and boats. For more information about travelling around the Lake District without a car, you can check out my guide here.

Tips for driving in the Lake District

Driving in the Lake District is an experience due to its narrow and winding roads. Most of the time the roads won’t be too busy, unless you are travelling during the English summer months (June – August). When driving around the Lake District, just be sure to:

• Keep an eye on the weather, as it can change quickly. The Lake District experiences a lot of rain.
• Parking can be expensive. Download the apps RingGo and JustPark to make parking easier and quicker.
• Be prepared for wildlife in the middle of the road at any time of day.

➡ Need to hire a car in the Lake District? We rent our cars in the UK from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world! 🚗 LOOK AT CAR HIRE PRICES IN THE UK NOW!

Lake District Itinerary 1 Day: Route One

This itinerary is for a slower traveller visiting the Lake District in one day.

Bowness-on-Windemere > Lake Windemere > Ambleside > Latrigg > Keswick

🌅 Morning: Eat breakfast in Bowness-on-Windemere, followed by a lake activity on Lake Windemere, the biggest lake in the national park. This lake is walkable from Bowness, so you can spend a couple of hours here after breakfast. Either hire a paddle board or a small boat to experience the lake. Stop for lunch at The Boathouse before heading off for your afternoon activities.

⛰️ Afternoon: Head to Ambleside, around a 10-minute drive north of Bowness-on-Windemere. Explore the town, stop for coffee, and have a slow walk up to Stock Ghyll Force waterfall. If you’re checking into a hotel for the night, this is a great time to do so.

🌇 Evening: In the evening, take a drive to Latrigg. It should only take around 30 minutes and is one of the best viewpoints in the Lake District National Park, and one that doesn’t take long to hike to! The viewpoint is a short 15-minute walk from the car park, and it has beautiful views over Keswick during sunset.

As you’re then only five minutes from Keswick, you can eat dinner here and explore. There are plenty of pubs and restaurants to choose from, and it is also known for some of the best Indian restaurants in the Lake District too!

Alternative option from Keswick: Visit the mystical Castlerigg Stone Circle! Find out more information about the Neolithic site here.

Lake District Itinerary 1 Day: Route two

If you’d like to see a little more during your trip to the Lake District, this one-day itinerary is for those who can travel around at a faster pace.

Coniston (Coniston Water) > Tarn Hows > Ambleside > Grasmere > Waterhead

🌅 Morning: Start off with a wild swim in Coniston Water. Coniston Water is one of my favourite places to wild swim in the Lake District because of its calm waters and absence of large motorised boats (unlike Lake Windemere). There are also some great places to grab breakfast in Coniston, like our favourite, Herdwick’s Cafe.

⛰️ Afternoon: A short 10-minute drive from Coniston is Tarn Hows, one of the Lake District’s easiest yet most scenic walks. There are lots of green spaces for a picnic, so if the weather is nice, pick up some lunch in Coniston beforehand.

After Tarn Hows, head to Ambleside. Grab a coffee, browse the shops, and check into your hotel before driving to another quintessential Lake District town; Grasmere. Grasmere is one of the prettiest towns in the Lake District, and even if you only visit for 30-45 minutes, it’s worth strolling through.

🌇 Evening: For your evening in the Lake District, head to the waterfront at Lake Windemere. There are plenty of pubs to choose from, at the Waterhead, in Bowness-on-Windemere or in Windemere itself. These three areas all have beautiful lake views, and it’s a chance to relax after your busy day and watch the sunset.

➡ Don’t forget to pre-book your Lake District accommodation. You can check prices and availability here.

Is 1 day enough in the Lake District?

One day in the Lake District is a short amount of time, and if you can visit for longer, it is worth doing. To really experience the Lake District, it’s hikes, walks, quintessential villages and copious amounts of things to do, I recommend staying for at least 4-5 nights.

However, if you are on a tight time schedule, the Lake District can still be enjoyed within a day. You may only get to see a couple of places, but it’s still enough to enjoy the warm and welcoming Lake District atmosphere and to see some of the most beautiful scenery in the whole of the UK.

➡ Don’t forget to pre-book your Lake District accommodation. You can check prices and availability here.

How many days do I need for the Lake District?

If you are visiting the Lake District for the first time, I recommend at least 4-5 nights.

This gives you the opportunity to hike some of the biggest peaks (like Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain) and swim in some of the lakes. It will also give you enough time to enjoy the scenery and get to know some of the small Lake District villages.

➡ Don’t forget to pre-book your Lake District accommodation. You can check prices and availability here.

Other things to do in the Lake District

There are plenty of things to do in the Lake District. It’s one of the reasons why we return again and again each year! Some of the best things in the Lake District include:

• Hiking Scafell Pike, Helm Crag or Helvellyn
• Walking around some of the Lake Districts’ famous lakes, including our favourite; Blea Tarn
• Enjoying the nightlife and pubs in Keswick
• Visiting the busy market town of Kendal
• Trying water sports like kayaking, paddle boarding and rowing
• Exploring the Rydal Caves
• Take a trip to a local brewery
• Taking a lake cruise around Lake Windemere
• Enjoying fish and chips near the lake
• Walking the Orsett Head trail from Windemere
• Eating fudge at Roly’s in Keswick
• Visiting the Honister Pass

When is the best time to visit the Lake District?

You can visit the Lake District 365 days a year; as it’s an ‘any kind of weather’ destination in the UK. However, if you want the cheapest accommodation prices, visit in the shoulder season (autumn and spring). During the winter months (November – February), you can expect layers of snow to be covering the trails and paths.

Summer months in the UK (June – August) are always the most expensive months to visit the Lake District, as well as being the busiest. But of course, it’s when you’ll get the best weather, with dry, hot and sunny days.

➡ Visiting the Lake District in winter? Check out this detailed guide on what to do during the colder months.

What to pack for a day trip to the Lake District

If you’re only visiting the Lake District for the day, make sure you have everything for a normal day in the countryside. These are some of my essential items for the Lake District:

• A lightweight waterproof jacket
• Hiking boots (that won’t slip)
• An umbrella
• A waterproof day bag
• A waterproof phone case (which can also be used for wild swimming when it’s sunnier)
• A portable charger
• Lots of layers
• A GoPro for waterproof camera footage
• A waterproof backpack cover
• A chilly bottle to keep your water at a drinkable temperature
• A Dry Robe, as it helps to keep you warm when entering and leaving the water (even if it’s raining!)

Check out my detailed travel packing list here!

Do I need a SIM card to visit the Lake District? 

If you’re not from the UK, it’s worth downloading an eSIM on your phone to ensure you can use it for directions and avoid roaming charges as soon as you arrive. 

ESIMs are easy to download and ready to use within a few minutes of purchasing! Plus, there are eSIMs available for the entire continent of Europe, so there’s no longer a need to hunt down free Wifi! ➡ You can check out the prices and packages for eSIMs here!

Do I need a car to visit the Lake District? 

If you’re visiting the Lake District and are short on time, I recommend hiring a car. However, it is possible to get around the Lake District using public transport.

If you’re looking to hire a car in the Lake District, we rent our cars from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world!  ➡ You can check out the prices for car hire in the UK now!

What tours should I do in the Lake District? 

Looking to book a tour in the Lake District? Tours are one of the best ways to see the hidden gems of the country you are visiting. If you’re travelling during peak season, I highly recommend pre-booking your tours to ensure you don’t miss out!

When travelling, we use this company to book our tours. Tours include skip-the-line tickets to the world’s most iconic attractions, walking tours by top local experts, immersive food and beverage tours, cooking and craft classes, bucket list experiences, and niche offerings you won’t find anywhere else! 

➡ You can check out available tours in the Lake District with prices here!

Lake District Itinerary 1 Day: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it. Everything you need to know about what to do on a Lake District one-day itinerary.

As always, if you have any questions or worries about your trip to the Lake District, contact me on my Instagram or in the comments below.

Happy travelling!

Jennie 🙂 x

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