17 EPIC Things To Do In Grasmere, Lake District (2023)
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Looking for the best things to do in Grasmere? You’re in the right place! Grasmere is one of the most beautiful villages in the Lake District, and one we have returned to time and time again.
With traditional cottages and grey-slate buildings, the small town of Grasmere is only a short drive from the main town of Ambleside. Whether you decide to stay in Grasmere, or just visit for the day, it’s a lovely part of the Lake District worth seeing.
William Wordsworth, a famous English poet, once described Grasmere as ‘the most loveliest spot that man hath found.’ Whilst he was a fan of many areas in the Lake District, Grasmere always seemed to be one of his favourites. It probably helps that his childhood home was in the centre of Grasmere, too.
There are lots of things to do in Grasmere, from paid activities to free walks and hikes around the village. In this post, I discuss the best things to do in Grasmere if you’re visiting for the first time.
Visiting the Lake District? Check out these other posts:
- Easy Walks in the Lake District (That Still Have Incredible Views)
- Is the Lake District In Scotland? Complete Guide
- Lake District Solo Travel: Ultimate Guide
- Getting Around the Lake District Without a Car FULL GUIDE
Things to do in Grasmere: A Summary
Grasmere is a small village in the Lake District, in the county of Cumbia, England. It has a small adjacent lake, Lake Grasmere, where you can wild swim and enjoy watersport activities. The lake is also home to a small island, commonly known as Grasmere Island or just ‘the Island’.
Grasmere is also known as the home of famous English poet, William Wordsworth, and many tourists travel to Grasmere each year to visit his childhood home, and pay their respects to his grave in the St Oswald’s graveyard.
Now Grasmere is a popular village amongst tourists and locals in the Lake District. It’s quieter than some of the neighbouring villages like Ambleside and has a distinct small village atmosphere to it, with independent coffee shops, bookstores, jigsaw makers and toy stores.
Whether you plan a day full of activities in Grasmere, or simply walk around the streets admiring the mountainous views and quaint cottages, Grasmere is one of the best places to visit in the Lake District.
Where to stay in the Lake District
If you’re only staying in the Lake District for a few nights, I recommend staying in Ambleside. Ambleside is known as the ‘heart of the Lake District’, and is one of my personal favourite areas, as it’s within walking distance of Lake Windermere.
If you’re only visiting the Lake District briefly, it’s an easy way to see some of the quintessential grey slate buildings, traditional pubs, and modern Lake District restaurants.
- If you’re a solo traveller in Ambleside, I recommend staying in the YHA Hostel. It’s a short distance from the centre of Ambleside, and you’ll be able to meet other solo backpackers. ➡ BOOK THIS HOSTEL NOW!
- Want a cute and cosy cottage in Ambleside? Our favourite is Grayling Cottage. It’s just a one-minute walk from Ambleside town centre and is beautifully decorated. ➡ BOOK THIS COTTAGE NOW!
- For a luxurious one-night stay in Ambleside, check out The Ambleside Inn. It’s an 18th-century hotel which will give you a true ‘English countryside’ experience. ➡ BOOK THIS HOTEL NOW!
Where to stay in Grasmere
Or, if you’d rather stay in Grasmere, I recommend the following places.
🌳 Best Apartment: Low Croft Cottage
This cosy cottage in Grasmere is perfect for couples or groups in the Lake District. And it’s only a stone’s throw from the centre!
🏨 Best Hotel: The Wordsworth Hotel
If you’d prefer to stay in a hotel whilst in Grasmere, I recommend the Wordsworth Hotel for its location, cosiness and facilities. It’s just out of a backpacker’s budget!
Getting around the Lake District
If you can, take a car to get around the Lake District. If you only have one day, you don’t want to be spending hours waiting for public transport. Don’t have a car? We rent our cars in the UK from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world! ➡ LOOK AT CAR HIRE PRICES IN THE UK NOW!
However, if you haven’t got access to a car, exploring the Lake District can still be done! The Lake District has amazing public transport (a lot better than some of the rest of the country), and you can whizz around on buses and boats. For more information about travelling around the Lake District without a car, you can check out my guide here.
➡ Need to hire a car in the Lake District? We rent our cars in the UK from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world! 🚗 LOOK AT CAR HIRE PRICES IN THE UK NOW!
The Best Things to Do in Grasmere
1) Visit Dove Cottage
A popular attraction in Grasmere and one of the best things to do is to pay a visit to Dove Cottage. You’ll step into another century and visit the former home of the world-famous poet, William Wordsworth.
Dove Cottage is attached to the William Wordsworth Museum and is open to visitors daily. At the time of writing this, Dove Cottage is open from March to October 9.30am – 5.30pm and November to February 10.00am – 4.30pm.
A guided tour of Dove Cottage gives you an insight into what William Wordsworth’s life would have been like in his lifetime. The museum, alongside Dove Cottage, allows you to read some of William Wordsworth’s most famous words, and some describe Grasmere village so beautifully.
Through original letters, journals and poems, we hear the stories of William Wordsworth’s early life, his tragic childhood and even his experiences of the French Revolution. It’s an eye-opening insight into how he changed literature for us all – and by far one of the best things to do in Grasmere!
2) Hike Helm Crag
If you have read any of my other Lake District posts, you’ll know that hiking Helm Crag is one of my favourite things to do in Grasmere. An easy(ish) hike up to an incredible viewpoint, which only takes around 2 hours there and back, and you’re rewarded with amazing views of Grasmere Lake.
It’s one of the best things to do in Grasmere and is a great way to get some fresh air and take in the stunning scenery on one of your Lake District weekend breaks.
The walk starts at White Moss car park and takes you through beautiful fields and woods before finally reaching the top of Helm Crag. From there, you’ll have incredible views of Grasmere Lake and the surrounding mountains. Make sure to bring your camera so you can capture the views!
And if you’re feeling energetic, you can even continue on to Easedale Tarn before heading back down to Grasmere!
Like easy walks? I’ve listed the best easy walks in the Lake District and have a full guide on the Helm Crag walk here!
3) Try the world’s best gingerbread
This was something I was completely unaware of when we first visited Grasmere. I wasn’t sure why there were hundreds of people queuing up for a tiny white house that smelt of ginger.
I then realised it was Grasmere Gingerbread house, and the people were all waiting patiently to try some of the delicious handmade gingerbread sold in this building. As I mentioned, the line can get pretty long for the Grasmere gingerbread house, so I’d recommend heading there early in the morning or out of peak times.
But what I loved about the Grasmere gingerbread shop was that it’s an experience – not just the buying of a sweet treat! Grasmere Gingerbread has been around since the mid-1800s, and over time has become one of the most well-known gingerbread makers in the world.
4) Visit St Oswald’s Church
Even if you’re not big into churches, St Oswald’s Church is one of the best things to do when you’re in Grasmere. The notable height of the church’s spire may be one of the first things you notice when you’re strolling about Grasmere.
Built-in the 14th century, the church is named after Oswald, who founded the first-ever church in Grasmere around 600 AD. St Oswald’s church has stunning roughcast stone and the traditional Lake District grey slate.
Step inside St Oswald’s church, and be transported into an Olde England building with exposed beams, oak pews, and a true medieval design.
It’s amazing! In the surrounding gardens and opposite St Oswald’s church, some of the gravestones of the Wordsworth family are set in the southeast area of the churchyard.
Again, another free activity in Grasmere, perfect for budget backpackers.
5) Indulge in the Chocolate Cottage
Family-run chocolatiers selling everything from handmade fudge, sweets, biscuits, cakes, and of course, chocolate – Grasmere Chocolate Cottage is one of the tastiest things to do in Grasmere.
The Chocolate Cottage even offers dairy-free and vegan options. Just the cottage itself is amazing, and the strong sweet scent as you enter is just delicious (and may make you spend just a little bit too much on chocolate…)
6) Explore one of the craziest jigsaw shops in the world
Barney’s News Box specialises in jigsaws and boasts that they have over 30 thousand in stock. When you enter the shop, you’re transported into a kid’s playground; a really oldie-English toy store. The shop is filled with puzzles and it really is a unique experience!
There are puzzles for everyone, young and old, and can be ordered online if you don’t choose on the day. Even if you’re not looking to buy, I’d recommend popping your head in to take a look!
7) Walk, walk and walk some more!
Of course, one of the most popular things to do in Grasmere is walking. It is the base for quite a few well-known walks, and you might want to wear your hiking boots when visiting. And of course, walking around Grasmere is free!
Loughrigg Fell, Alcock Tarn, Silver How and Easedale Tarn are all great walks that start from Grasmere. They range in distance, so make sure you check them out before heading off. Soak in the surrounding fells, and the daffodil gardens, stop off in the coffee shops and enjoy your visit to Grasmere, the Lake District.
Like easy walks? I’ve listed the best easy walks in the Lake District here!
8) Browse Sam Read’s bookstore
The Lake District was an inspiration for world-famous literary figures, such as Beatrix Potter and John Ruskin. Therefore, the lakes are full of cute independent bookstores in the villages.
Sam Read’s has been selling books since 1877 and is still one of the most popular bookstores in the Lake District. The still-standing, Victorian bookshop an experience as well as a chance to treat yourself to a new book!
9) Wander around Grasmere’s village centre
Overall, just walking around the village of Grasmere is an experience in itself. We spent quite a long time just browsing the shops, walking the streets, talking to the locals and stopping in some of the Grasmere tea gardens.
We tried the famous Cartmel sticky toffee pudding ice cream (a cute ice cream van which can get quite busy on the main street!) and sat in a few different cafes for smoothies and amazing veggie food. Grasmere tea gardens are one of the best parts about visiting Grasmere, as you can get scones, cakes, milkshakes and everything in between!
10) Visit the Garden Village in Grasmere
As well as the tea shops, there are some incredible independent shops in Grasmere garden village where you can pick up some unique gifts and souvenirs.
If you like flowers and plants, you can find something in the garden village for your garden, with plenty to choose from. It’s a wholesome addition to add to your Grasmere itinerary!
11) Hike Loughrigg Fell from Grasmere
One of the best walks (and one of my favourites) can be started from Grasmere. An easy-moderate hike, Loughrigg Fell offers some of the best views in the entire national park, and can be completed within a few hours. You can start the walk either in Grasmere or Ambleside, and loop back round from where you started.
If you need more information about Loughrigg Fell, check out detailed post here.
12) Hire a boat on Lake Grasmere
If you’re a water baby like I am, you’ll want to use every opportunity possible to get in the water in the Lake District!
There are plenty of watersports you can do around Lake Grasmere, from kayaking, paddleboarding and wild swimming. It’s the perfect activity after a long day of hiking Loughrigg Fell!
13) Visit William Wordsworth’s grave
If you’ve visited Dove Cottage, you may also want to visit William Wordsworth’s grave. Just outside of St Oswald’s church, Wordsworth is buried in the graveyard, where members of the public can go to pay their respects. It’s an interesting thing to do in Grasmere when you are visiting.
14) Grab a coffee at Lucia’s Coffee and Bakehouse
There’s nothing quite like finding a delicious coffee and bakehouse and watching the world go by. The last time we visited Grasmere, we returned to Lucia’s twice for one of the incredible cappuccinos.
There’s also a bench close by where you can drink your coffee and overlook the mountains and Helm Crag. I highly recommend it if you’re in Grasmere and looking for something to do!
15) Eat lunch at Green’s Cafe and Bistro
One of our favourite cafes in the Lake District is one of the best cafes in Grasmere; Green’s Cafe and Bistro.
Serving everything from sausage rolls to bacon baps, a hearty full English breakfast and delicious, thick smoothies. Take a visit if you’re in Grasmere and need some lunch!
16) Visit the Daffodil Gardens
Finally, if you haven’t had enough of your Wordsworth fix, you can take a walk around the Wordsworth Daffodil Gardens. It is a small garden, right behind the gingerbread shop. It’s a popular area with tourists wanting to stroll around to see the flowers and visit St Oswald’s Church.
Opened in 2003, the gardens aim to raise funds to support the village of Grasmere. Entrance is free, but you can sponsor or donate a daffodil, Lakeland paving stone or shrub.
17) Drink a pint in The Good Sport
Grasmere Brewing is a small, independent brewery & distillery in the Lake District that supplies beer to the Good Sport.
With lots of connections with the local community, the brewery is full of locals (both staff and customers) and uses traditional methods with a ‘modern style’ to create their tasty drinks.
They also have a dedicated taproom in Grasmere called The Good Sport. This is a great place to head to on both a sunny and rainy day, with a large beer garden and a cosy interior.
You can find out more about other and the best breweries in the Lake District here!
Things to do in Grasmere: FAQs
1) Is Grasmere worth visiting?
Yes, Grasmere is definitely worth visiting if you are in the Lake District. It may not be as big as its neighbours Windermere and Ambleside, but it’s one of the prettiest villages in the Lake District National Park.
There are many things to do for every type of traveller, from eating delicious gingerbread to hiking some of the best walks in the area.
2) What is Grasmere famous for?
Grasmere is known for being the former home of English romantic poet, William Wordsworth. Wordsworth was extremely fond of the area and frequently described it as ‘the loveliest spot that man hath found’.
And he wasn’t wrong! It really is beautiful and looks like something straight from a postcard.
3) How long is the walk around Grasmere lake?
The circular walk around Grasmere Lake is approximately 5.3miles (8.5km). Start your journey from Grasmere village and take in views along the way. It’s one of the best things to do in Grasmere.
4) What is the least touristy part of the Lake District?
The further out of the National Park (and away from villages like Ambleside, Windermere and Bowness) will be the least touristy areas. If you stay in one of the towns just outside of the National Park (like Ulverston), you will be around fewer tourists than in the centre.
If you want to save some money on accommodation, Ulverston is a short drive out of the Lake District National Park. But, it is still one of the prettiest villages in the surrounding areas and in this Lake District area guide!
Beautiful Ulverston accommodations:
- If you’re travelling to the Lake District in a group, check out The Stables’ three-bedroom house. It’s cosy, has its own garden and BBQ for you to use, and is close to the town centre. ➡ BOOK THIS COTTAGE NOW!
- A cottage suited more for couples is Sunnybank. It’s cosy and comfortable, and has its own outside space for you to enjoy! ➡ BOOK THIS COTTAGE NOW!
5) What are the best maps for walking in the Lake District?
If you are doing any kind of walking or hiking in the Lake District, you will need Ordnance Survey OS Explorer maps. Most of the hikes are not signposted and Google Maps is not accurate on mountain trails.
The OS Explorer maps cover the whole of the Lake District but are broken down into different areas. Make sure you buy the right map for the area you would like to hike in.
➡ Buy your Lake District Ordnance Survey OS Explorer maps now!
6) Do I need a car to visit the Lake District?
If you’re visiting the Lake District and are short on time, I recommend hiring a car. However, it is possible to get around the Lake District using public transport.
If you’re looking to hire a car in the Lake District, we rent our cars from this company. They’re reliable, cheap and have car rentals all over the world! ➡ You can check out the prices for car hire in the UK now!
7) What tours should I do in the Lake District?
Looking to book a tour in the Lake District? Tours are one of the best ways to see the hidden gems of the country you are visiting. If you’re travelling during peak season, I highly recommend pre-booking your tours to ensure you don’t miss out!
When travelling, we use this company to book our tours. Tours include skip-the-line tickets to the world’s most iconic attractions, walking tours by top local experts, immersive food and beverage tours, cooking and craft classes, bucket list experiences, and niche offerings you won’t find anywhere else!
If you’re visiting for the first time, the tours I recommend doing are:
- Ten Lakes Full-Day Tour: ➡ MORE INFORMATION + BOOKINGS
- William Wordsworth and Dove Cottage Half-Day Tour: ➡ MORE INFORMATION + BOOKINGS
- Beatrix Potter Tour: ➡ MORE INFORMATION + BOOKINGS
➡ You can check out available tours in the Lake District with prices here!
8) Do I need a SIM card to visit the Lake District?
If you’re not from the UK, it’s worth downloading an eSIM on your phone to ensure you can use it for directions and avoid roaming charges as soon as you arrive.
ESIMs are easy to download and ready to use within a few minutes of purchasing! Plus, there are eSIMs available for the entire continent of Europe, so there’s no longer a need to hunt down free Wifi! ➡ You can check out the prices and packages for eSIMs here!
Things to do in Grasmere: In a Nutshell
So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about the best things to do in Grasmere. When you’re planning a trip to the Lake District and need to know what to do in Grasmere, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!
If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!
Keep an eye out for more Lake District content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!
As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!
Happy travelling 🙂
Jennie x
Other Lake District posts:
- 12 Easy Walks in the Lake District (That Still Have Incredible Views)
- Where to Stay in the Lake District: An Area Guide
- Wild Swimming in the Lake District: The Best Spots
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MEET THE AUTHOR!
Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.
If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).
