Excellent service from staff. Manager very friendly and helpful. Would recommend and come again.

Mr Lloyd, Market Drayton

Things to do in the area

Lake District Family Attractions

There is just so much to do in the Lake District for families. Here are a few of the great attractions we have on our doorstep:

The World of Beatrix Potter is a magical attraction for all the family. Inside all 23 Peter Rabbit tales are brought to life with sights, sounds and even smells. Outdoors you can explore the delightful new Peter Rabbit Garden.

Your chance to be Tarzan for the day - The Go Ape experience at Grizedale Forest gets you outdoors in the fresh air and above all is just great fun.

See things that swim, things that fly and things that bite! Lakes Aquarium at Newby Bridge allows you to visit the lakes of the world, along with those a little closer to home- making it a captivating centrepiece to the Lake District.

The Lakeland Motor Museum - a diverse and unique collection of some 30,000 exhibits, carefully assembled over a period of almost 50 years, has been painstakingly displayed afresh, alongside many non motoring additions, in fully DDA compliant, state-of-the-art premises, with a beautiful riverside setting.

South Lakes Wild Animal Park - prepare to be truly amazed with penguins, lions, tigers, giraffes, rhinos, hippos, kangaroos, lemurs, monkeys and much much more - you will not experience anything like this anywhere else in the UK!

Situated at the very southern tip of Lake Windermere, very close to our Newby Bridge hotel, Fell Foot Park is a great, family friendly location to play, explore and relax. Sweeping lawns offer plenty of space for games, picnics and gentle walks, while easy lake access makes the park perfect for paddling, swimming, boating and kayaking.

Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway - a steamy experience on its own or combine it with a cruise on Lake Windermere for a real action packed day.

Great for rainy and sunny days alike, Lakeland Climbing Centre near Riverside Hotel.

And if your family includes a dog check out this dog friendly guide.

Golf and Walking

We are lucky enough to have many golf courses as well. These three local ones all have commanding views over the estuary, lake and market town of Kendal. Follow these links for more information:

Windermere Golf Course, ‘a minature Gleneagles’

Ulverston Golf Course overlooking Morecambe Bay

Kendal Golf Course, elevated above the historic town

There’s also some of the finest walking on offer in the country. The choices are endless and always taking in some of the most stunning scenery on offer in Britain. Whether your preference is for a stroll round a lake or an exhilarating climb, an appropriate route is never far away.

So please ask for help if you are looking for a golfing or walking holiday.

Out on the Water

With all four hotels not far from either Lake Windermere or Coniston Water there are lots of great ways to get out and enjoy the scenery from the water. You can hire boats of all shapes and sizes to do anything from fishing to water-skiing, or you can take a more leisurely approach to exploring the area by climbing aboard a lake steamer. You can get on and off at the various landings along the way. And don’t forget, you can even arrive at the Cuckoo Brow Inn by vehicular cable ferry across Lake Windermere.

For more details look here: Windermere Ferry

Here are some helpful websites about getting on Lake Windermere and Coniston Water:

Cinemas, Theatres and Museums

You are never far from a cinema, theatre or museum when you stay at our four hotels.

The cinemas are all small independents and worthy of a visit just for those reasons. Here they are:

Ambleside: Zeffirellis
Bowness: Royalty Cinema
Kendal: Brewery Arts Centre
Ulverston: The Roxy

And for theatres, here are some suggestions:

Bowness: Old Laundry Theatre
Kendal: Brewery Arts Centre

Finally, here’s a selection of museums to visit:

Ambleside: The Armitt
Grasmere: Wordsworth Museum
Kendal: Abbott Hall
Kendal: Kendal Museum

Houses and Gardens

There are many large houses and interesting gardens to visit in the area. Many of them are a legacy of the Manchester and Lancashire mill barons who built great summer residences around the turn of the century. Here’s where you can find out more:

National Trust Properties

Overlooking Windermere: Holehird Gardens
South of Kendal: Levens Hall

You are also welcome to visit Yewbarrow House garden in Grange-over-Sands. The home of South Lakes Hotels owner Jonathan Denby. For more details of his Victorian garden and when it opens, under the National Garden Scheme initiative please visit the website for Yewbarrow House.