Have yourself a merry Lake District Christmas!
Christmas gets us all giddy here at Lakeland Retreats HQ ā and itās not just from drinking lots of mulled wine. Promise. No, itās the crisp, dark, starlit nights; the satisfying crunch of snow (hopefully) underfoot…
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Book your Christmas or New Year break today.
The magic and majesty of the frost-dusted fells
The decorated and twinkly light-festooned houses and shops (that seems to start earlier every year); the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas markets; and, of course, looking forward to the big day itself ā buying and wrapping the presents, and preparing the all-important Christmas dinner. Sprouts optional.
If youāve never thought about spending Christmas away from home before, or even just taking a pre-Christmas winter break, maybe this yearās the year. Weād love to see you in the Lakes ā thereās always loads going on, and weāve got the perfect Christmas retreat waiting for the whole family ā and that includes a choice of dog-friendly cottages if you have four-legged family members too. After all, why should they miss out on a Christmas break away from home?
Hereās just some of what you can expect in the Lakes in the run-up to Christmas Day.
Lake District Christmas Events
Let there be lightsā¦ Christmas lights
Switching on the Christmas lights to kick off the festive season is a tradition all over the UK, and Cumbria is no exception ā here are a few dates for your diary from around the county this year.
Lake District Christmas markets
We donāt think youāre doing the festive season properly without a visit to a traditional Christmas market or festival.
Mince pies and mulled wine; local crafts and good food; live music and street performers ā it wouldnāt be in the spirit of Christmas not to indulge ā so check out our choice of the best ones below.
Ulverston Dickensian Festival
Every November the clocks are turned back to Victorian times in this historic and charming market town as it hosts its Dickensian Festival.
Locals (and visitors) dress up in period costume; a Victorian helter-skelter and fair entertains young and old; several performance stages keep the music flowing; strolling performers ā fire eaters, magicians, jugglers and more ā keep the laughs and gasps coming; food stalls fill empty stomachs; and a good time is had by all ā finishing off with a grand costume parade through the town.
Hawkshead Christmas Fair
The cobbled streets of Hawkshead will come alive on the 2nd and 3rd of December for its annual Christmas Fair, with indoor and outdoor stalls, selling food, gifts and crafts.
You can also look forward to live music and other entertainment, including brass bands and roving street entertainers, a magical lantern parade, and a visit from the big man in red himself.
Carlisle Christmas Market
If youāre looking for a more traditional, German-style Christmas market (there will be bratwurst), then take a day trip out of the Lake District to Cumbriaās only city, Carlisle.
The city will be home to over 40 alpine-style festive chalets crammed to the rafters with food, drink, crafts, decorations, gifts, and a great big helping of Christmas cheer.
Holker Hall Winter Market
Close to the charming village of Cartmel, Holker Hall (home of the Cavendish family) is hosting a 3-day winter market.
You can enjoy a wide range of stalls selling artisan gifts, food and drink, handmade crafts and more.
And, thereāll also be live music from local musicians to get toes tapping at this family-friendly event.
Christmas in Cartmel
If youāve never been to Cartmel before, youāre in for a treat. This pretty-as-a-picture village is a must-visit at any time of year, but on Friday 24th November, its Christmas market kicks off the festive season with a bang.
Expect local craftspeople selling their creations, pop-up food stalls, live music, and a horse procession from Cartmel Black Horses ā Mr. Claus will be making an appearance too.
Even better, itās free to park at the racecourse on the edge of the village.
Santa’s Magic Kingdom,
Hayes Garden World, Ambleside
If you’re staying in Ambleside, make your way through the castle to enter Santaās Magic Kingdom. His naughty reindeer are hiding & he needs some help to find them.
Play snowball games with the polar bears. Fish with the penguins. Then in to see Santa with all your Christmas wishes.
Beetham Nurseries Christmas Market
This year, Beetham Nurseries, near Milnthorpe, is holding a brace of Christmas Market Weekends ā
- Thursday 30th November to Sunday 3rd December
- Thursday 7th December & Sunday 10th December
The nursery will be all dressed up with festive chalets and twinkly lights, and you can treat yourself to delicious food and festive tipples, enjoy live music, shop for gifts, and maybe even pick up a plant or two to take home.
Dog-friendly Lake District Christmas breaks
Thereās no need for your precious pooch to be lonely this Christmas if you want to take a break in Cumbria this year.
Dog-friendly pubs
As youād expect, the great outdoors of the Lake District is one big playground for your furry friends, but the great indoors is pretty welcoming too, with the majority of pubs allowing dogs in. Weāve written a guide to the dog-friendly pubs of the Lake District, but if you want to get tails wagging in anticipation, weāve picked three of the best to try below.
The Dog and Gun,
Keswick
As youād expect from a pub called the Dog and Gun, your four-legged friend is very welcome ā itās a pooch-perfect pit-stop after a nearby walk, and they sell doggy treats too and donate the proceeds to charity.
If you visit on Christmas Eve this year, dress your dog up in its Christmas best to be in with a chance of winning a bumper bag of doggy treats ā and a Ā£20 gift card for you.
The Queens Head,
Troutbeck
Both humans and hounds will enjoy refuelling at the Queens Head after a hard dayās hiking ā it even has its own special doggy menu.
Raise a paw if you fancy trying the Bark Bangers or Wham Bam Lamb ā washed down with a Paw Star Dog āMartiniā. Woof!
The Sun Inn,
Kirkby Lonsdale
Take your four-legged friend to the 17th-century Sun Inn and head pooch, Charlie, will be on-paw to provide a woof-worthy welcome.
With a cosy bar and dog-friendly dining room too, thereās even a dog shower outside if your petās got a bit muddy. And they make their own dog biscuits too.
And so to bedā¦
Your pooch is going to need somewhere to relax after all that fresh air and exercise on the fells ā so check out our range of dog-friendly cottages that will be just the ticket for your Christmas stay in the Lake District.
Tell me more
Christmas in the Lakes really is a magical time, and as well as all weāve mentioned above, thereās so much more to see and do. Everything from historic houses and museums to visit, loads of outdoor activities to take part in ā on and off the water, and steam train rides and festive shows to keep you entertained.
Keep a close eye on our Whatās On page ā that way, you wonāt miss a thing this festive season.
From all of us at Lakeland Retreats, have a fabulous Christmas and New Year. We hope to see you soon!
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More things to do in the Lake District
Visiting the Lake District in November
Crisp, clear night skies, cosy country pubs with roaring fires, hikes on snow-topped fells, bonfire night, & Christmas light switch-ons
Lake District Christmas light switch-on
Thereās no getting around the fact that Christmas is coming. So, if you want to start feeling fabulously festive, here’s the upcoming events
Halloween in the Lake District
Bonfire night takes place on the fifth, but hereās where and when you can hear some big bangs light up the night sky in the Lake District
Lake District Bonfire Night
Bonfire night takes place on the fifth, but hereās where and when you can hear some big bangs light up the night sky in the Lake District
Where can I see daffodils in the LakeĀ District?
Who would have thought a flower could become a tourist attraction? Hereās our selection of the best places to see daffodils in the Lakes
Bluebell walks in the Lake District
Blankets of bluebells can be seen in ancient woodland and beyond all over Cumbria from mid-April and throughout May
