Our guide to luxury holidays in the Lake District

Yes, the Lake District is home to mountain passes, ancient tarns and storied fells – but it also lays claim to the most Michelin-starred restaurants outside of London, and a thriving creative scene that draws a bevy of bright young chefs, artists and independent makers. This is our Unique guide to luxury holidays in the Lake District.

The wild expanse of the Lake District is Britain's answer to the Alps. Just a two-and-a-half-hour train journey from London, this is a region where days are spent seeking summits and nights are for fine dining on the land’s natural larder. With boots laced, maps at the ready, and pockets full of Grasmere gingerbread, its hills can make a mountaineer of any city-dweller. A land of first prizes, the Lake District is England’s largest National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site, and home to both its highest mountain and deepest lake. It also has a rich literary and artistic heritage, having inspired the likes of Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth.

With the sheer scale of the region in mind, mapping out your ideal Lakeland escape might feel somewhat mystifying – which is why we’ve covered the best places to eat, shop and explore in our guide to luxury holidays in the Lake District. First, though, you’ll need a base. Whether it’s a modernist lake house set by a glittering shoreline or a 17th-century farmhouse reimagined in riotous colour and texture, these hideaways combine comfort with serious style. There’s never been a chicer place to hang up your walking boots, simmer a Herdwick lamb stew, and plan your next route by a crackling woodburner. This is the Lake District – but not as you know it.

View all properties in The Lake District