Windermere Jetty Museum

Located right on the shores of Lake Windermere, Windermere Jetty Museum boasts a stunning collection of boats and sailing vessels, including steam launches, record-breaking speed boats and motorboats.

As well as showing a history of sailing on Windermere reaching as far back at the eighteenth century, you will also have an opportunity to see ongoing restoration projects.

Vessels include Swallow and Amazon, the boat used in the BBC film adaptation of Arthur Ransome's famous book; Beatrix Potter's tarn boat, built around 1890; and SL Dolly (built around 1850), the oldest mechanically powered boat in the world (still in running order).

Hill Top, Beatrix Potter's House

Let's move on to a Lake District legend - Beatrix Potter. Hill Top was Beatrix Potter's former home, bought with the proceeds from 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit'. Run by the National Trust, the house is a time capsule of her life in the Lake District and appears as if she has just popped out for a walk.

The surroundings provided the inspiration for so many of her books - in fact, 'The Tale of Samuel Whiskers' was set entirely within the house and many of the book's illustrations match items of furniture still present today.

Take a walk through the gardens and spot the rhubarb patch where Jemima Puddle-Duck laid her egg, as well as the garden where Tom Kitten and his sisters played.

Blackwell, The Arts & Crafts House, Bowness-on-Windermere

Blackwell has appeared in a few of our posts to date and with good reason. It's well worth a visit. Originally designed as a holiday home for Manchester brewery owner Sir Edward Holt, the house later became a school and then an office space. Nowadays, Blackwell is one of the UK's finest examples of the Arts and Crafts movement.

When you visit, you'll discover beautiful furniture and objects from leading designers and makers of the time, including MH Baillie Scott, Archibald Knox and William de Morgan. There are also pieces by local makers and designers such as Annie Garrett and Arthur Simpson of Kendal.

After your visit, soak up the wonderful views of Lake Windermere and the Lake District fells beyond while you enjoy a tasty treat in the tea-room.

Brantwood, Coniston

Brantwood is the former home of artist, writer and social reformer, John Ruskin. Ruskin's love affair with the Lake District started when he was just 5 years old. At the age of 52, he bought Brantwood and set about expanding and renovating the house, including the addition of the famous turret on the south west corner, from where he could take in the spectacular views.

Filled with paintings, furniture and some of Ruskin's personal treasures which he'd acquired on his travels, including medieval manuscripts, Turner watercolours and his fabulous mineral collection, a visit to Brantwood really helps you to get to know its famous former owner. 

Ruskin was also a keen horticulturalist and had a part to play in the design of the extensive gardens. The house is set in 250 acres of woodland, so there are plenty of walks to be explored. And why not finish your trip with a visit to the Jumping Jenny Restaurant?

Our top tip for your visit to Brantwood is to travel there by water aboard the National Trust's Steam Yacht Gondola. You can board the Gondola at the Coniston Pier, where you can buy a ticket to Brantwood at the same time.

Dove Cottage and Wordsworth Museum

No visit to the Lake District would be complete without exploring the home of its most famous poet. Dove Cottage in Grasmere was William Wordsworth's family home from 1799 to 1808, where he wrote much of his most famous poetry inspired by the surrounding landscape. The cottage has been beautifully preserved to appear as it would have when Wordsworth lived there with his sister Dorothy.

The adjacent Wordsworth Museum houses an impressive collection of original manuscripts, letters, journals and paintings that provide fascinating insights into Wordsworth's life and creative process. Visitors can stroll through the cottage garden and experience first-hand the tranquil setting that inspired some of English literature's most beloved poetry.

Whether you're drawn to the legacy of Wordsworth, the charm of Beatrix Potter or the engineering marvels of the Campbell family, the Lake District's museums offer something for everyone. These destinations are perfect for uncovering the stories behind the landscapes and characters that make this region so special.

For more information about our cottages, please click here.