Getting Around the Lake District Without a Car FULL GUIDE 2023

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Need help with getting around the Lake District without a car? You’ve come to the right place! Getting around the Lake District without a car isn’t as difficult as you might think it may be, and it’s actually the most recommended way to travel according to the locals.

However, having a car in the Lake District will always be the easiest way to travel around (it’s just not the only option). And if you can hire a car, you’ll save a lot of time not waiting for public transport. 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 don’t want to hire a car to explore the Lake District, you can still get around easily. It may just be a little more time-consuming, and you may need to plan your activities a bit further in advance. exploring the Lake District in a day can still be done! 

In the following post, I’ve written about the number of ways you can travel around the Lake District without a car. From boats to buses, to walking and cycling; let’s get started!

Visiting the Lake District? Check out my other posts!

• Best Hiking Boots for the Lake District
• BEST Walks from Ambleside, Lake District
• Things To Do In Ambleside In The Rain: 10 EPIC Ideas!
• Where to Stay in the Lake District: An Area Guide

Getting Around the Lake District Without a Car: A Summary

In summary, there are five other ways to travel around the Lake District without a car. The option you choose will depend on your budget and the needs of the trip. The five other modes of transport to use in the Lake District include:

• Bus
• Boat
• Bike
• Foot
• Taxi

All options are easily available in the Lake District. There are excellent bus and boat routes, so when we want to leave the car at home, we tend to opt for these modes of transport. Plus, you get some great views of the lakes travelling via boat!

➡ Check buses and shuttles around the Lake District and the UK here.

➡ Travelling by train to the Lake District? Check national train prices and timetables to get to the Lake District here.

Where to stay in the Lake District

If you’re only staying in the Lake District for a few nights, 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 Windermere.

If you’re only visiting the Lake District briefly, 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 to get to the Lake District without a car

🇬🇧 IF YOU’RE ALREADY IN THE UK

You can travel to the Lake District without a car from most places in the UK. The first stage would be travelling to a major city (London, Manchester, Carlisle, Glasgow etc) and then boarding a connecting train or two from there. Here are some of the easiest ways to get to the Lake District without a car by train:

• London > Oxenholme (direct)
• Manchester > Windermere (direct)
• Carlisle > Oxenholme (direct)

If you are travelling to the Lake District by train, be sure to book your tickets in advance to get the cheapest prices. From Oxenholme or Windermere, you can either board a bus to your accommodation or jump in a taxi. There are taxi ranks outside the main train stations in the Lake District.

✈️ TRAVELLING INTERNATIONALLY TO THE LAKE DISTRICT

If you’re travelling to the UK for the Lake District, you will need to fly into Manchester Airport. From there, you can board a train to Oxenholme to reach the Lake District. The train takes roughly 1.5 hours and will need to be pre-booked in advance.

1) Getting around the Lake District by bus

Travelling around the Lake District by bus is one of the easiest and most reliable ways to get around. Lake District buses are clean and modern, and usually have two floors with an open roof to admire some of the countryside views!

Buses run every 10-20 minutes in most locations. To board, you can buy a ticket directly from the driver. A single fare is roughly £2.50/$3, or you can buy a £9/$11 unlimited day pass. This means you can travel on as many buses as you’d like during a 24 hour period (but note that all buses stop by 11pm). You can check out the Stagecoach website for more ticket information.

A great bus route in the Lake District is the 599. This bus runs from Bowness-on-Windermere, through Ambleside and all the way to Grasmere. Many of the best attractions, pubs and hikes are on this bus route. With onboard wifi, charging ports and incredible Lake District views, getting around by bus is a great way to travel!

➡ Travelling to the Lake District by bus? Check out prices and availability here.

2) Getting around the Lake District by boat

You can also travel around the Lake District by boat. One of the most unqiue and fun ways to get around, it’s a cheaper alternative to driving! Lake Windermere has regular cruise and boat services around the lake, stopping at different towns and villages. If you’re based in either Ambleside or Bowness-on-Windermere, this is a great option to travel around the Lake District.

One of the main docking stations is in Bowness-on-Windermere; where you’ll be able to choose either a large Windermere cruise boat or a smaller speed boat to reach your destination. Return fares cost between £8-£15 ($10-17), depending on the size of the boat and location.

Some examples of the boat routes in the Lake District include:

🛥️ The red route: Bowness → Windermere Jetty (Museum) → Brockhole → Ambleside (Waterhead) → Bowness

⛵️The yellow route: Bowness → Lakeland

🛶 The green cruise (summer only): Ambleside (Waterhead) → Wray Castle → Brockhole → Ambleside (Waterhead) 

➡ If you want to find more detailed timetables and boat routes, check out the Windermere Lake Cruises website.

3) Getting around the Lake District by cycling

One of the most sustainable ways to travel around the Lake District without a car is by cycling. Whether you bring your own bike or pre-book to use when you arrive, cycling is a great way to travel around the Lake District!

Roads in the Lake District can have a steep gradient, so you may be cycling up and down hills quite often. The main roads are winding and narrow, so you must be a confident cyclist to use this mode of transport to travel around the Lake District. It’s also advised to always wear a helmet on the roads whilst cycling in the Lake District.

➡ Need to hire a bike in the Lake District? Check out prices and availability here.

4) Getting around the Lake District by walking

If you’re a big walker, you can travel around the Lake District on foot. However, the Lake District is a big place; so it depends on where you want to go! If you’re keen to walk to most places in the Lake District, I recommend staying in Ambleside. It’s the main town in the Lake District, and is one that’s closest to most of the big attractions, hikes, shops, bars and pubs.

If you are going to walk to most places in the Lake District, I recommend combining this with the bus or boat. That means you can walk when you reach certain destinations, villages or attractions.

5) Getting around the Lake District by tours

Booking a private tour or excursion is one of the most expensive ways to get around the Lake District, but a helpful option if you would like everything sorted for you. Most tours pick you up from your accommodation, so you don’t even need to leave the house!

If you’re visiting for the first time, the tours I recommend doing are:

• Ten Lakes Full-Day Tour: ➡ MORE INFORMATION + BOOKINGS
• William Wordsworth and Dove Cottage Half-Day Tour: ➡ MORE INFORMATION + BOOKINGS
• Beatrix Potter Tour: ➡ MORE INFORMATION + BOOKINGS

➡ View all Lake District tours here.

6) Getting around the Lake District by taxi

Finally, you can get around the Lake District via taxi. There are either public taxis to use all over the national park, or Uber.

If you are in a location that has Uber, you will need to order it on your phone. You can either use the Wifi in your hostel or accommodation, pick up a local SIM, or buy an eSIM. I am a huge advocate for eSIMS, as I hate the fuss of changing SIM cards in every new country I visit. ➡You can check out the eSIM company I use all over the world here.

Having a working SIM or Wifi connection will allow you to order an Uber. You will need to download the app, put the pin on your exact location in the Lake District, and wait for your Uber driver to accept your ride. Rides shouldn’t take more than 6-7 minutes to arrive, and if it’s anything longer than that, you may want to consider cancelling and re-ordering.

Lake District without a car: FAQs

1) 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.

2) What to pack for the Lake District

If you’re visiting the Lake District for the first time, I recommend packing:

• A lightweight waterproof jacket
• Hiking boots 
• An umbrella
• A waterproof day bag
• A waterproof phone case 
• 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 when it’s raining)
• As well as using bug spray, we have midge-repellent wristbands.

3) 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!

4) 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! 

If you’re visiting for the first time, the tours I recommend doing are:

• Ten Lakes Full-Day Tour: ➡ MORE INFORMATION + BOOKINGS
• William Wordsworth and Dove Cottage Half-Day Tour: ➡ MORE INFORMATION + BOOKINGS
• Beatrix Potter Tour: ➡ MORE INFORMATION + BOOKINGS

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

5) 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!

6) Can I solo travel in the Lake District?

Yes, you can solo travel in the Lake District. If you are solo travelling and want to meet other people, I recommend staying in hostels to meet like-minded travellers. Or, if you’d like to explore the lakes by yourself, stay in a location like Ambleside so you are close to all of the main sites and hikes. Check out my full guide on solo travel in the Lake District here.

Getting Around the Lake District Without a Car: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about getting around the Lake District without a car. When you’re planning a trip to the Lake District, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more Lake District content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

Other posts you might like:

• Blea Tarn Walk: What to Expect
• Best Indian Restaurants in the Lake District
• 23 Things to do in the Lake District in Winter

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