Places to Eat in the Lake District

Eating out in the Lake District ranges from lakeside pubs with fell views to small cafes serving breakfast before a day's walking. Ambleside and Keswick have the densest clusters of restaurants, coffee shops and bars, while Kendal and Cockermouth offer a good mix of everyday cafes and more considered dining away from the tourist routes.

Further out, towns such as Carlisle, Brampton and Maryport bring a different pace, with pubs geared to locals as much as visitors, and spots like Hawkshead showing how even small villages can support a proper café or country guest house dining room. Garden centre cafes, tearooms and gift-shop kitchens turn up throughout the region too, useful for a stop between drives.

Choosing where to eat often comes down to what you're doing that day: a hearty pub lunch after walking, a quiet brunch spot in town, or somewhere with rooms attached if you're combining a meal with a night's stay.