Discover the Lake District’s literary heritage on this guided day trip from London, with train transport included. Enjoy a scenic drive along Lake Windermere to Waterhead. Then, visit Hawkshead village, where William Wordsworth studied. If you take your tour during winter, visit Rydal Mount and Gardens — Wordsworth’s former home for a tour and cream tea — and Bowness. Or, if you visit during summer, visit Hill Top, where Beatrix Potter once lived, and enjoy cream tea at Lindeth Howe Country Hotel. Upgrade to travel in style with a First Class rail ticket.
Make your own way to London’s Euston Station, where you’ll pick up your round-trip train ticket and itinerary from a tour host. Should you wish, upgrade to travel in First Class for an even more comfortable ride. Then, board your train and relax on the journey out of the city and into the rolling hills of Cumbria.
After around 3.5 hours, arrive in Oxenholme. Meet a local guide, and then set off on your tour of the Lake District, where literary landmarks, hilltop trails, misty mountains and glittering lakes abound.
Travel north along Lake Windermere, the largest of the Lake District’s waterways. Gaze out over the still waters and drink in views of the surrounding hills and mountains as you journey toward Waterhead, where much-loved children’s author Beatrix Potter spent many of her school holidays. If your tour takes place between April and October, enjoy a leisurely cruise on the famous Lake Windermere.
Next, visit the medieval village of Hawkshead. Enjoy free time to wander the cobbled lanes, and see the Old Grammar School where Romantic poet William Wordsworth once studied. Perhaps recharge with lunch (own expense) at one of the local eateries, and then travel to Tarn Hows, a renowned beauty spot, for sweeping mountain and lake panoramas.
Summer Itinerary
If you’ve taken your tour between April and October, continue to Hill Top, where Beatrix Potter dreamed up characters such as Tom Kitten and Jemima Puddleduck. Head inside the 17th-century farmhouse with your included ticket, and explore the rooms and garden independently. The house remains exactly as the author left it, with each room featuring details that appear in her books.
Then, continue to Lindeth Howe Country Hotel, once owned by Beatrix Potter, for a delightful cream tea before returning to Oxenholme Station for your train back to London.
Winter Itinerary
Alternatively, if you’ve taken your tour between November and March, continue through the beautiful Yewdale Valley, passing Yew Tree Tarn and Skelwith Bridge, and arrive at Rydal Mount and Gardens, where Wordsworth lived from 1813 until his death in 1850. Explore the house and grounds with your guide before savoring a traditional cream tea.
Make your final stop at Bowness, where you’ll enjoy free time to visit the award-winning World of Beatrix Potter visitor center (own expense). When the time comes, join back up with your guide and return to Oxenholme Station for your train back to London.
A wonderful day trip from London. Clear instructions were provided on the ticket emailed including where to meet a representative from the tour company at Euston Station. The representative was excellent outlining the day trip and what to expect. Upon arrival at Oxenholme railway station, we were met by Peter Fox our tour guide for the day. Peter was very polite, informative, obliging and an excellent driver. The highlights for me were Beatrix Potters home Hilltop, Hawkshead and the cruise on Lake Windermere. Peter ensured we were back in time at Oxenholme to meet our train back to London. A beautiful part of the UK and would highly recommend the tour if you have limited time to visit.
Review by: Dean M, December 2017
The Lake District is beautiful and a few days there would be fun. But if you do not have that time this tour is a great way to see it. It is very doable in a day. The guide was very nice and full of fun interesting information. I would recommed this tour.
Review by: judith p, October 2017
Itinerary was well planned and thoroughly enjoyable. Tour Guide was professional and knowledgeable.
Review by: Patricia T, October 2017
The day in the Lake District was the highlight of my trip to England. Everything, from the train trips, being picked up and returned to the station, and the visit to Beatrix Potter's cottage, went without a glitch. It's a long day, but it was thoroughly enjoyable!
Review by: Joe B, October 2017
Our tour guide, Peter Fox, could not have been more pleasant and enjoyable.
Review by: Susan K, September 2017
Very good tour and handled nicely. Loved seeing Beatrix Potter's house.
Review by: Manuela-Lidia G, July 2017
I travelled to Lake District on the 29th July. Someone from the agency waited for me in the train station and handed me the train tickets to and from Oxenholme. There, a very friendly guide was waiting for me in the station. She drove to other locations to gather everyone from the group, which had 10 people. We covered everything listed in the trip details, and the guide was amazing, she had impressive knowledge on the area and the people. The landscapes were breathtaking, so I would strongly encourage you to take this tour.
Review by: Linda F, July 2017
Great guide. Helpful and knowledgable.
Review by: Joanne G, May 2017
This was a great tour! But not because the guide was good because he was not, I am use to learning many interesting facts he really had none to share? The coach had no air conditioning either. We were just lucky that the countryside was so beautiful and the towns so charming!
Review by: jubitzbk, August 2016
A must if your a Beatrix Potter fan. The tour is operated in the Lake District by Mountain Goat Tours. The scenery is beautiful, the day was packed with activities. Our tour guide gave great history about the area, gave us a little to explore the sites.
Review by: Susan C, August 2016
Great tour by Peter Fox. He was very knowledgeable, friendly and adept at getting us around the area without a hitch. The boat ride and the cream tea were nice features. It was a fabulous way to see this region in one day and still get back to London.
Review by: LYNN B, June 2016
This was a very nice tour which had a bonus of touring Beatrix Cottage and a lake cruise. The only complaint was that we were shorted tour time because the driver/guide had to pick up additional tourists at their hotels and going back to the tour office to sign in. They could have had the others brought to the tour office to be there when our group arrived. Other than that it was a very pleasant experience and wonderful scenery.
Review by: Michael R, June 2016
Highly recommend this tour! Peter was a great tour guide. I went in April and the weather and area was enjoyable. Not overly crowded or cold! If you're worried about taking a train to and from London... 3 hours really goes by fast on the Virgin trains.
Review by: Lucie R, October 2015
Excellent birds eye view of the Lake District, very good guide informative and efficient. The seat reservations were not good, fortunately the train was not full and we were able to change, a window is infinetly preferable to a blank wall. Trains unlike aeroplanes do have views, often scenic! Departure information was incorrect, we were told to be at the station by 7.30am for an 8am departure but the train was not scheduled to leave until 8.30am.
Review by: Ai Vee N, September 2015
The upgrade to first class was worth it. Even it is just a day trip , you get a taste of Lake District. There plenty of time on each location as advertised on trip. David was an excellent driver and got us on time and safely from 1point to the other. The tea was good. The lake cruise was enjoyable.
Review by: Patricia S, July 2015
The Lake District Day Trip was a wonderful experience._br/_
We loved getting to see Beatrix Potter's home, but the rest of the Lake District was also wonderful._br/_
Having afternoon tea at the hotel was a wonderful experience._br/_
What a beautiful area!
Review by: Sally R, June 2015
This was wonderful! We were met at the station and given our tickets and then relaxed on the train to the Lakes District. Leaving the train we were met by our guide and spent a lovely day! Our guide was very knowledgeable and pointed out many interesting sights along the way. I loved our time in Ambleside, particularly the old school which our guide had recommended we go to...Wonderful, wonderful day and it was one of my sons favourite days on our holiday! He is 6
Review by: Lori C, September 2014
Long train ride for a day tour but so worth it!
Review by: Camille D, December 2013
Beautiful scenery! Guide was great. Definitely recommend
Review by: David, December 2013
wonderful experience_br/_
may be better if lunch is organised
Review by: Ginger S, September 2013
I rate this one a three, not because the Lake District was bad (it was amazing!) but because it was SO badly managed. We arrived at the train station in the Lake District on time, as directed by our first tour guide. We were told that there, we would meet another guide. We waited for half an hour, and still no one showed up. We made many phone calls. The tour company that handles the actual Lake District part of the tour - never apologized for the inconvenience, or even admitted that it was their fault that they had had a mis-communication regarding our booking. They didn't even want to make an effort to let us at least see part of the Lake District. It was only after we absolutely insisted that they reluctantly agreed to allow us to join the latter half of a Japanese group's tour. We missed about half of the things that we had been looking forward to doing, and couldn't understand our Japanese guide. Thankfully, our driver was English and would put in his two bits for us Americans every now and then. My friends and I made the best of it, and ended up having a fantastic day (one we certainly won't soon forget!), but we will never work with this particular tour operator again.
Review by: sandusky, July 2013
Arranging a meeting point can be confusing. You must be familiar with Euston station and initiative and very specific which ticket counter office they ( Local tour operator) meant. I had to stress to them was it the Euston station ticket office or the Virgin ticket office ?
Review by: georgeviney1, November 2012
A great way to get a taste of the lake district in one day
Review by: Mary Ellen L, September 2012
This was a great tour and a good deal since it included the rail ticket. I am only giving it 4 stars though because there was too much packed into one day. I would have preferred to stay longer at some of the places instead of going on the boat ride. There was no time to see the Beatrix Potter Gallery at Hawkshead and eat. And speaking of eating, there needs to be a lot more information about eating. I learned that a "Cream Tea" is a scone and tea only--nothing else. That really needed to be clarified and more information provided about places to eat, but more time provided to actually eat! But it was a small group in a small van, which is necessary since the road we were on were very, very narrow. Beautiful sites, but a lot of driving to get to them and to pick up people along the way.
Review by: Mary Ellen L, August 2012
This was a great tour and a good deal since it included the rail ticket. I am only giving it 4 stars though because there was too much packed into one day. I would have preferred to stay longer at some of the places instead of going on the boat ride. There was no time to see the Beatrix Potter Gallery at Hawkshead and eat. And speaking of eating, there needs to be a lot more information about eating. I learned that a "Cream Tea" is a scone and tea only--nothing else. That really needed to be clarified and more information provided about places to eat, but more time provided to actually eat! But it was a small group in a small van, which is necessary since the road we were on were very, very narrow. Beautiful sites, but a lot of driving to get to them and to pick up people along the way.
Review by: Becky N, August 2012
Great trip. Saw a lot. Well timed. Enjoyed the comments from the driver. I would definitely take another trip with Viator.
Review by: David H, June 2012
We were confused about the itinerary of the tour, thinking we would see Wordsworth's.
Review by: Charles H, June 2012
The tour was well worthwhile. Amazing scenery and Beatrix Potters House is a must see. Tour bus could have had better air con and an integrated sound system and guide could have been more enthusiastic
Review by: Michelle B, October 2011
This tour is well worthwhile and was thoroughly enjoyable. The two tour companies involved in this trip organised everything very well. Evans and Evans made the train journey very easy and we somehow ended up with first class train tickets and Mountain Goat the tour company who met us when we got off the train were fantastic. We had an awesome guide and the whole day was fantastic. Definitely recommend this tour as the scenary and itinerary are fantastic. Beatrix Potter's house a must for anyone interested in Peter Rabbit.
Review by: Lorna Joan S, September 2011
Tour most enjoyable and the guide very informative _br/_
We did think the guide could have a made good use of a microphone._br/_
Thank you
Review by: Joanne F, August 2011
This was an easy way to see the Lake District for a quick, first glance. We know we want to go back now! The person who met us at the Easton Station and gave us our tickets was very informative, and the guide on the tour (we went in a mini bus because there was overflow ) was very informative on the area and very entertaining. I would give this trip an A.
Review by: bharat k, August 2011
Tour was very good . the driver cum tour guide was excellent ,
Review by: Norman H, July 2011
The things I saw on the trip were wonderful, but the mini bus used by mountain goat was horrid. The foot room was less than on an airplane and even at 5 foot 2 inches I had no foot room. Also the driver would not turn on the air conditioning and the windows couldn't be opened. It was way too hot. At the end of the day when he got hot he turned it on. All in all except for the mini bus it was great but that can ruin a trip for anyone and should be improved.
Review by: Norman H, June 2011
The things I saw on the trip were wonderful, but the mini bus used by mountain goat was horrid. The foot room was less than on an airplane and even at 5 foot 2 inches I had no foot room. Also the driver would not turn on the air conditioning and the windows couldn't be opened. It was way too hot. At the end of the day when he got hot he turned it on. All in all except for the mini bus it was great but that can ruin a trip for anyone and should be improved.
Review by: Joanne F, June 2011
This was an easy way to see the Lake District for a quick, first glance. We know we want to go back now! The person who met us at the Easton Station and gave us our tickets was very informative, and the guide on the tour (we went in a mini bus because there was overflow ) was very informative on the area and very entertaining. I would give this trip an A.
Review by: bharat k, May 2011
Tour was very good . the driver cum tour guide was excellent ,
Review by: William P, November 2010
This was the tour we were most looking forward to, of course it rained all day. We were in the UK for two weeks and this was the only rain day we had. The guide was good but we were rushed as we were in a fire drill. Even though it was raining we still took the boat ride that was a complete waste of time because of the weather. I dont understand why we weren't given the option of the boat ride or more shoping time in town as we had to speed shop to even find anything, it was a one hour waste for everybody.
Review by: William P, September 2010
This was the tour we were most looking forward to, of course it rained all day. We were in the UK for two weeks and this was the only rain day we had. The guide was good but we were rushed as we were in a fire drill. Even though it was raining we still took the boat ride that was a complete waste of time because of the weather. I dont understand why we weren't given the option of the boat ride or more shoping time in town as we had to speed shop to even find anything, it was a one hour waste for everybody.
Review by: Marilyn D, August 2010
I didn't feel there was enough time at any one stop. Most were 20 or 25 minutes. The biggest thing was there was no provision for lunch. We only got 20 minutes to find a sandwich and get back to the van. Making arrangements with a shop to provide sandwiches would certainly help given the time constraints.
Review by: Dawn O, August 2010
This trip gave me enough of a "taste" of the area to know that I will have to return someday.
Review by: Su Yin G, Malaysia, June 2010
Good option to visit the Lake District if you've not got enough time to put up a night!
Review by: Suzanne L, Canada, June 2010
We were a total of 15 people in a small van, tour guide was very informative and friendly. However, the trip felt rushed, we didn't really get to appreciate Beatrix Potter's farm. 20 minutes here, 15 minutes there - too rushed. With no time designated for lunch, we had to choose between grabbing a bite or visiting the village. Overall the trip was OK, I just wish there had been better planning to give more time in the villages.
Review by: christine s, Australia, June 2010
This is a very long day, but very worthwhile. Very well organised with pick up and return at Lakes District Railway. Train trip from London was efficient and comfortable. A great way to see a beautiful part of England in a day.
Review by: Christine. M. S, June 2010
This is a very long day, but very worthwhile. Very well organised with pick up and return at Lakes District Railway. Train trip from London was efficient and comfortable. A great way to see a beautiful part of England in a day.
Review by: Anonymous, June 2010
Good option to visit the Lake District if you've not got enough time to put up a night!
Review by: , June 2010
Good option to visit the Lake District if you've not got enough time to put up a night!
Review by: Anonymous, Austria, May 2010
Obviously the Lake District is not a place that one can fully appreciate in less than a day, but this trip was a very nice first encounter with that beautiful region. Everything went very smoothly the trains arrived on time, the guide was friendly and competent, and even the weather was pleasant most of the time. It's a pity that there was not enough time to simply explore the surroundings at a slow pace and find better spots for taking pictures, but as I said, there is not much one can do in a few hours. Highly recommended!
Review by: Nikolay S, May 2010
Obviously the Lake District is not a place that one can fully appreciate in less than a day, but this trip was a very nice first encounter with that beautiful region. Everything went very smoothly the trains arrived on time, the guide was friendly and competent, and even the weather was pleasant most of the time. It's a pity that there was not enough time to simply explore the surroundings at a slow pace and find better spots for taking pictures, but as I said, there is not much one can do in a few hours. Highly recommended!
Review by: Carolynn M, February 2010
Loved the tour, guide really made the trip, very nice man.
Review by: Judith P, December 2009
A wonderful day. Everything ran like clockwork. The guide was interesting and knowledgeable. Trains on time. Plenty to see and do. Just wish it had lasted longer. A wonderful 'taster' of the area.
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