8 Picturesque Villages And Quaint Towns In England's Lake District

The accolades of the Lake District run as deep as its deepest lake. Nestled in Cumbria, in England's north-west, this national park was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017 and is England's largest, spanning 912 square miles of valleys, fells (hills), and mountains — including Scafell Pike, the country's highest peak. 

Its lakes live up to the name, too: Wast Water is England's deepest, and Windermere its longest, with a slew of tarns and rivers punctuating the landscape. This tapestry of natural attractions makes it a veritable playground for nature-lovers and adventure-seekers; no wonder Copernicus, the European Commission's Earth Observation Programme, hails it as the United Kingdom's most-visited national park. 

Scattered like hidden gems throughout the national park are picturesque villages and quaint towns that ooze charm and character. From a hamlet-studded village boasting 17th-century pubs to a quaint, historic village reached by a narrow gauge railway operating for over 150 years, these eight Lake District villages and towns make gentle but memorable stops for those willing to wander off the main trail. 

While some towns or villages bustle with outdoor markets and thrum with tourism-fueled energy, Boot — a historic village set against a backdrop of swooping fells in the Lake District's Eskdale Valley — plays the part of "remote English village" to the hilt. Come admire a handful of stone cottages, two local pubs, and a terminus stop aboard the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway. The village is jump-off point for the surrounding must-sees: the 12th-century St. Catherine's Church, a network of bucolic riverside trails, and a view of the Stanley Ghyll waterfall from a 150-foot perch — all enjoyed away from the crowds.

Near Sawrey is perhaps best known for its most famous resident, author, illustrator, and conservationist Beatrix Potter of the Peter Rabbit books fame. Overlooking the Esthwaite Water, the village's landmarks are immortalized in Potter's books, starting with the quaint Hill Top, now a National Trust monument; Castle Cottage, where she lived until her death in 1943; and the village pub and inn, Tower Bank Arms, repeatedly featured in her works. Elsewhere, Near Sawrey's historic cottages spanning the 17th to 19th centuries and rolling farmland complete the picture of a storybook Lakeland setting.

Staveley leaves visitors smitten with its industrial-turned-artisan atmosphere. Former cotton and wool industry buildings now host local commerce and businesses that fuel jobs for its townspeople, resulting in a small but thriving local community. Head to Hawkshead Brewery for its pours and tours, or delve into Staveley's medieval roots by visiting the clock tower of St. Margaret's Church. Outside the village are foot and bike trails of Kentmere Valley, including the Kentmere Horseshoe, a scenic yet challenging loop through moorlands and rough terrain.

Anchored at the head of its eponymous lake, the village of Grasmere is nothing short of idyllic. Surrounded by rivers, meadows, fells, and the lake, the quaint town forms a natural tableau that inspired Romantic poet William Wordsworth, Grasmere's most renowned literary resident. Trace his life through his home, gardens, and dedicated Wordsworth Museum, and visit the 13th-century St. Oswald's Church where he is buried. Afterward, spend the rest of the day soaking up this charming English village's cottagecore vibes by exploring its quaint shops and cafés, including the artisanal Grasmere Gingerbread, whose recipe dates back to 1854.

Tinged with medieval charm, the village of Troutbeck unfolds with a smattering of farmhouses and barns amid springs and pastures, with the shores of Windermere Lake — England's largest lake, and a beauty to visit — just a few miles south. Troutbeck's highlight is Townend, home of the wealthy Browne farming family for four centuries. Visitors can wander the rooms of this National Trust home filled with carved furniture, rare books, and farming implements, seemingly suspended in the 17th century. Lastly, stop at the Mortal Man pub and the Old Post Office tea room before you go.

Though tourists naturally gravitate toward Keswick, a popular Lake District town promising lake fun, tasty eats, and camping within its national park, neighboring Braithwaite trades the bustle for something quieter. The village is composed of a jumble of whitewashed buildings at the foot of Whinlatter Pass. There are a handful of pubs and restaurants, including the stately Coledale Inn, a former pencil factory, and its proximity to sweeping fells and forests makes it a perfectly placed spot for several days of hiking or exploring Force Crag Mine, the Lake District's last working mineral mine and a National Trust-preserved monument.

Wasdale Head, a remote hamlet of fewer than 100 residents, occupies some pretty impressive natural real estate in the Lake District's western corner. It sits in the shadow of Scafell Pike — England's highest peak, whose beauty comes with temperamental weather — and is an easy hike from Wast Water's shores. Hikers make the pilgrimage to climb some of the Lake District's most scenic summits. Retire to the famed Wasdale Head Inn after a day's walking adventure, which The Telegraph recommends for its "simple rooms, robust food, real ales, and the warmest of welcomes."

Patterdale is the epitome of a postcard-perfect village: a hodgepodge of stone buildings and Gothic Revival architecture set against the fells of the Ullswater Valley in the eastern Lake District. Its scenic pull has won over ardent admirers, including Alfred Wainwright, of Lake District Pictorial Guides fame, and William Wordsworth, whose poetry was inspired by childhood memories made here. Duck into the 19th-century Church of St. Patrick, the village's namesake; embark on your choice of lakeside strolls, walks, or fell routes around the area; then wind down with an ale at the village pub and inn, The White Lion.