10 romantic things to do in Grasmere
If you’re thinking about a romantic weekend (or longer) away, then there’s no better place to base yourself than the charming Lake District village of Grasmere – once home to England’s greatest Romantic poet, William Wordsworth, who called it…
‘The loveliest spot that man hath ever found’
Together, you and your beloved can enjoy woodland walks and hikes with a view, magical waterfalls and eerie caves, lakeside strolls and tranquil rowing boat trips, cosy restaurants and cafés, indulgent spa days and afternoon tea, and browsing in the gift shops and galleries.
Whether you’re planning to pop the question, or just want some quality time away together in beautiful surroundings, we’ve got the perfect retreat for you to stay in.
1. Visit Faeryland and hire a rowing boat

A short stroll from the centre of the village, tucked away in a secluded spot on the northern shore of the lake you’ll find a magical little place called Faeryland. From there you can climb aboard a rowing boat, grab your oars and glide gently out to the centre of the lake and fall in love with the majesty of the landscape that surrounds you. And afterwards, tea and cake await in the tea garden by the shore.
2. Enjoy an intimate dinner á deux
Lewis’s Bistro

This small, family-run bistro only seats 24 people so it’s ideal for an intimate and romantic evening meal.
Serving beautifully cooked and presented food in a relaxed atmosphere with attentive but never intrusive service, Lewis’s Bistro is a real gem of a place. From Lewis’s menu, which uses locally sourced ingredients where possible, you might want to start with the Home-made French Onion Soup (ooh la la), before tucking into a Local Lamb Rack or Sea Bass Fillet, then finding room to finish off sweetly with a lovely Lemon Posset.
There’s also a carefully chosen wine list from Stainton Wines of Kendal, and Champagne too, if you’ve got something to celebrate.
Broadgate
Grasmere
LA22 9TB
The Forest Side

If your pockets are as deep as your love for each other, a trip to the Michelin-starred Forest Side is in order.
Housed in a striking gothic mansion, it can rightly call itself one of the best restaurants in Cumbria, and many of its ingredients come from the on-site kitchen garden.
Combining interesting and unusual flavours in his creative tasting menus, chef Paul Leonard’s recipes are rooted in the Cumbrian countryside (the kitchen team often go foraging for ingredients together) and will take your senses on a culinary journey they won’t forget in a hurry.
Keswick Road
Grasmere
Ambleside
LA22 9RN
3. Spend a day with Wordsworth
You can’t escape the influence of William Wordsworth in Grasmere – he lived there (in several different houses), wrote some of his best-known poems there, and is buried there, so it’s easy to spend a day pottering round Grasmere and nearby Rydal to follow in his footsteps.
Wordsworth Grasmere

Wordsworth’s life and work is celebrated at Wordsworth Grasmere – there you can see original manuscripts, letters and journals, rare editions by Wordsworth and his contemporaries in the Romantic movement, personal items and his sister Dorothy’s much-loved Grasmere Journal.
Dove cottage

Wordsworth and his family lived at Dove Cottage for nine years and William wrote many of his greatest poems there. Largely unchanged since William’s day, it gives a fascinating insight into Wordsworth’s daily life with his wife Mary, sister Dorothy, and three of his six children.
Rydal Mount

Of all the places he lived, Rydal Mount was Wordsworth’s favourite. The glorious views of Windermere and Rydal Water from the hillside in the ground probably helped with that.
William was a keen gardener, and the garden and grounds remain much as he designed them and are a delight to walk around when in full bloom. Still owned by the Wordsworth family, the house contains lots of William’s personal possessions, including books, art, furniture and manuscripts.
Allan Bank

Another one of the poet’s former homes (he rented it for a couple of years after the family outgrew Dove Cottage), Allan Bank is now owned by the National Trust and contains a gallery and indoor mural space.
But, its main attraction is the surrounding woodland with its walks, secret hideaways and stunning views of the lake and fells. And, if you’re lucky, you might even get to see a red squirrel or two.
Daffodil Garden

The entrance to Wordsworth’s Daffodil Garden in Grasmere can be found on Church Stile right next to the gingerbread shop. Created by volunteers in 2003, this peaceful garden is a lovely spot for the two of you to sit and enjoy the blooms in the wild daffodil garden while you munch your gingerbread from the shop next door.
Also, look down at the pathway that wends its way through the garden. All the stones have been sponsored and are engraved with the names of their sponsor – you might even see one or two names you recognise.
St Oswald’s Church

Sitting peacefully by the banks of the River Rothay, St Oswald’s Church is the oldest building in Grasmere and William, along with his wife Mary (who he had known since childhood) are buried in the churchyard.
Inside the church you’ll see exposed beams, gorgeous 19th-centruy oak pews, colourful stained glass windows, and memorials to the Wordsworth family. See if you can also spot the eight yew trees planted by Wordsworth while you’re there.
4. Look at Rydal Falls from the Grot

When you’re sitting together on the window seat at The Grot – a simple stone viewing hut built in 1668 – and looking out at the falls cascading into the pool below, you’ll feel like you’re in a fairy tale.
You can find this idyllic woodland spot, which has inspired Wordsworth to poetry and John Constable to whip out brush and canvas, in the glorious grounds of Rydal Hall near Ambleside – and it’s free to visit too.
5. Share some Grasmere Gingerbread

You definitely won’t be the only couple queuing to get hold of some of Sarah Nelson’s world-famous Grasmere Gingerbread from the tiny shop in the village, but don’t let that stop you.
Still made to Victorian cook Sarah’s original recipe, its gingery gorgeousness will give you the perfect excuse for a pitstop halfway round a loop of the lake or a walk in the woods.
6. Take a walk round the lake

Mostly flat, a walk round Grasmere is a must-do. You can walk close to the lake shore all the way round, taking in some peeper-treating views as you go.
It’s also relatively short at only 4.5km (2.8 miles), but if you’re feeling energetic, you can make it longer by veering away from the lake and up onto Loughrigg terrace for a splendid view over Grasmere village, before heading up higher to eerie Rydal Cave on Loughrigg Fell above Rydal Water.
Red Bank
Ambleside
LA22 9PX
7. Pamper yourselves at a spa

A spa day at a luxury Lake District hotel, you say? Don’t mind if we do. What could be more romantic than treating each other to a day of pampering?
At the Daffodil Hotel and Spa, you can swim in the thermal pool, relax in the sauna and steam room, enjoy a therapeutic massage, indulge in a treatment or two – there’s a list as long as your arm to choose from – and come away feeling perhaps the most relaxed you’ve ever felt in your life. Bliss.
8. Go for afternoon tea

After a hard day of pampering yourselves, it would be a shame to leave just yet, so how about stopping at the Daffodil for afternoon tea while you’re there? Tea, cakes, sandwiches, and great views of the lake – what’s not to like?
But, if you prefer a change of scene, you can also sit down for afternoon tea at the charming Rothay Garden Hotel.
9. Catch the sunset at Helm Crag

If you time it right, you can reach the summit of Helm Crag in time to catch the sunset, which makes the already spectacular views from the top even more jaw-dropping.
Also known ‘The Lion and the Lamb’ after the animals the rocky formations resemble, Helm Crag is a popular climb because the well laid out paths to the top make the shortish yet steep scramble less daunting than it first appears.
You can be up and down in just over a couple of hours – leaving plenty of time for last orders at one of the welcoming local hostelries.
10. Explore the shops and stop off for lunch

Sometimes there’s nothing more romantic than just spending a morning strolling hand-in-hand through a new place, dodging in and out of gift shops and galleries, and where the hardest decision you’ll have to make all day is where you’re going to have lunch.
Grasmere’s winding streets are a moochers paradise with plenty of places to pick up souvenirs, the world-famous Grasmere Gingerbread Shop, outdoor shops if you need an extra layer, a lovely independent bookshop to choose your next holiday read, and a wide range of cafés to eat, drink and relax in.
Looking like rain?
Even if the weather takes a turn for the worse, there’s still plenty to do in Grasmere in the rain.
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