Tourism
The Lake District National Park is a major tourist destination for both UK and overseas visitors. In 2007 8.3 million visitors came to enjoy the spectacular landscape and rich cultural heritage in a peaceful setting.
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Why do people come to the Lake District?
Spectacular landscape
Peace and quiet
Outdoor pursuits
- Walking
- Climbing
- Watersports
- Mountain biking
History and culture
- Wordsworth Museum and Dove Cottage
- Beatrix Potter’s house
- Roman forts
- Stone circles
Attractions
- Lake District National Park Visitor Centre at Brockhole
- Coniston Boating Centre
- Lake Cruises on Windermere, Ullswater, Derwentwater and Coniston
- Lakeside Aquarium
Events
- Great North Swim
- Lakes Alive
- 3 Peaks Challenge
Is the Lake District a visitor attraction?
Although it attracts many visitors, the Lake District is not a “visitor attraction”. It does not charge an entrance fee nor is it owned or managed by a single organisation. It is an area of land which is half as big again as Greater London. It measures approximately 40 miles from north to south and is 30 miles wide. As well as spectacular hills, lakes and woodlands it has towns, villages, farms and businesses and it is home to 41,000 residents.
Top Lake District attractions
The most popular attractions in the Lake District according to research by Cumbria Tourism in 2008 were:
- Windermere Lake Cruises
- Whinlatter Visitor Centre and Forest Park
- Grizedale Visitor Centre and Forest Park
- Theatre by the Lake Keswick
- Lake District Visitor Centre at Brockhole
- Cumberland Pencil Museum
- Muncaster Castle
- Homes of Football Ambleside
- Go Ape Grizedale Forest
Source: Cumbria Tourism - Visitor Attractions Monitor. Please note this only includes visitor attractions who provided data for 2008 and gave permission for their figures to be published. Some visitor numbers may be estimated.
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