James Forrest

I love the Lake District so much I uprooted my entire life to move here from the city. Seven years later and I have zero regrets. This achingly pretty corner of north-west England never fails to mesmerise: mountains soar, cosy pub fires roar and all-around the sense of contentedness is as deep as the shimmering lakes.  The Lake District is (probably) the UK’s best-loved National Park, a place so beguiling it inspired Wordsworth, Coleridge and Potter. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to England’s highest mountain (Scafell Pike) and deepest lake (Wastwater). But where is most beautiful: the chocolate-box village of Grasmere, the knife-edge ridges of Helvellyn or the pristine waters of Buttermere? There’s no right or wrong answer – the joy is in finding out for yourself. Here’s how to have the perfect trip in the Lake District.  RECOMMENDED:🚞 The most breathtaking hikes in the UK🌤️ The best places to visit in the UK🏨 The best hotels in the Lake District🏠 The best Airbnbs in the Lake District James Forrest is a writer based in the Lake District. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.