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Are you looking to explore the UK’s largest national park? We are here to help! We’ve selected the very best Lake District tours from Manchester and will tell you everything you need to know about them.
Whether it’s a day trip or an extended holiday, these four Lake District tours from Manchester offer something for everyone.
Don’t have time to read the full article? Book this Rabbie’s Day Tour from Manchester to the Lake District – with a near-perfect 5 Star rating.
As a Manchester local myself who loves exploring the surrounding areas and go on tours, I will share with you everything I know about the best Manchester Lake District tours.
Ideally located only a couple of hours from Manchester, the Lake District is a popular day trip destination but since you can do very little with public transport, opting for a day tour from Manchester to the Lake District is an excellent thing to do.
From boat rides on Coniston Water to guided walks across fells and valleys, discover the best that The Lakes have to offer with these wonderful experiences!
We’ve reviewed each and every single tour to the Lake District to Manchester and you can now discover which ones are the best!
Ready? Let’s get started!
1. Rabbie’s Lake District and Windermere Day tour from Manchester
⭐️ Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars
⏳ Tour length: 11 hours
If you wish to book a day tour to Lake District from Manchester, look no further, this one will be ideal.
This Lake District tour is run by a company named Rabbie’s. While it’s not that well known in England, it’s particularly famous in Scotland and Wales. They offer some of the best tours of the highlands and more!
It is by far one of the best tour companies in the UK and you can not be disappointed with them.
This tour offers a full day of sightseeing and exploration of the breathtaking Lake District National Park, including picturesque villages and glistening blue lakes.
The tour starts at 8:30 AM at the NCP Car Park on Store Street in Manchester and lasts 11 hours.
It is a bit long but will allow you to make the best of your day in the Lakes.
The guide (and driver) will pick you up and you will head straight to the Lakes. It’s about 2 hours drive.
Once you get there, you will first stop in Bowness to walk around Lake Windermere. You can also opt for a cruise on the lake.
You will then discover the picturesque villages of Hawkshead and Grasmere where you can visit Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage.
Finally, you will end the tour at Ullswater Lake before heading back to Manchester.
You should be back in Manchester at 19:30 PM.
Click here to book the Rabbie’s tour to Lake District
What are the reviews like?
⭐ Rating: 4.7 / 5 – See all reviews here
❤️ “Starting from the transportation to our guide everything was amazing”
❤️ “Outstanding knowledge of the overall tour but also impressive broader knowledge of Manchester.”
Why choose this tour?
- Very knowledgeable guides and drivers
- Comfy bus with USB charger
- Scenic route and possibility to go on a cruise
- Very good value for money
LOCAL’S OPINION: This is by far the best day tour to the Lake District from Manchester, especially knowing the price. It’s very good value for money and you get to see all the highlights.
2. Mountain Goat Tours to the Lake District
⭐️ Rating: 4.6/5
⏳ Tour length: 10 hours
If you are looking for a tour with a smaller group, the Lake District tour by Mountain Goat Tours is ideal.
With a maximum of 6 people, this day tour offers the possibility to enjoy the day without the crowds.
The guides are very knowledgeable and will share a lot of historical facts and anecdotes with you.
The meeting point is located in the city centre. You will be meeting your guide and driver at 8:55 AM on Chorlton Street.
You’ll then drive up to the lakes for a couple of hours (well the driver will drive you up!) and start your day by stepping into the steps of Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth, in the village of Hawkshead.
You will then explore the region of the central lakes, Blea Tarn and the Langdale valley before heading back to Manchester.
Click here to book the Mountain Goat tour to Lake District
What are the reviews like?
⭐ Rating: 4.5 / 5 – See all reviews here
❤️ “Excellent tour of the Lake District, with plenty of great photo stops”
❤️ “Our guide was great, full of information and knowledge of the area”
Why choose this tour?
- Friendly and knowledgeable guides
- Well designed itinerary
3. Lake District Explorer 3-Day Tour by Rabbie’s
⭐️ Rating: 4.9 out of 5 stars
⏳ Tour length: 3 days
If you are looking for a longer Manchester to Lake District tour, this is the one for you!
The Lake District is one of the most beautiful national parks in the UK and there is so much to do and see.
You will find there some of the tallest mountains in England, beautiful lakes and loads of cute villages. It’s also quite a big area and for this reason, a day in the Lake District from Manchester might be a bit short.
If you have a bit more time ahead of you, it’s highly recommended to explore the area more.
And that’s exactly what you can do with Rabbie’s 3-day tour of the Lake District from Manchester.
As previously mentioned, Rabbie’s is one of the best tour companies in the UK and literally every single one of their tours is fabulous.
For this one, here is what you will be doing.
You will meet your tour guide near Manchester Piccadilly and head up North. On the first day, you’ll visit the Aira Force waterfall, Ullswater lake and the cute town of Keswick.
On day 2, you will go to Lake Windermere and can opt for a cruise there if you want to. You will also visit the village of Hawkshead and Wordsworth Memorial Daffodil Garden.
Finally, on the last day you will head to Ullswater and discover the slate mines at the Honister Mountain Pass.
Note: Accommodation is not included in the tour but you can arrange it with Rabbie’s through their website.
What are the reviews like?
⭐ Rating: 4.5 / 5 – See all reviews here
❤️ “Great tour guides led you to the extraordinary experience of how the Lake District could be, no matter it’s sunny or rainy.”
Why choose this tour?
- Friendly and knowledgeable guides
- Well designed itinerary which allows you to truly discover the Lake District
- Great value for money
4. BusyBus Lake District Sightseeing Day Trip
⭐️ Rating: 4.7/5
⏳ Tour length: 9 hours
If you’d prefer a shorter day trip, the one provided by BusyBus will be ideal for you. Unlike most day tours from Manchester, this one starts from Manchester airport at 9:15 AM.
It’s very easy to get to the airport by train from Manchester Piccadilly. It only takes 20 minutes.
From there, you will head north to the lakes and stop at Castlerigg Neolithic Stone Circle.
The driver and guide will explain loads during the trip which will give you a chance to learn plenty about the UK’s largest national parks.
The second stop is the super cute village of Grasmere where you can see the grave of the famous poet William Wordsworth.
You will then go to Sarah Nelson’s Gingerbread Shop. It’s a famous shop and the gingerbread is absolutely delicious!
You will then drive through Langdale Valley. This is one of the most scenic parts of the national park and the views are breathtaking.
Finally, you will stop at Blea Tarn (which is a less touristy but beautiful lake) and Ambleside.
You will then head back to Manchester and get there around 18:30 PM.
Click here to book the BusyBus tour to Lake District
What are the reviews like?
⭐ Rating: 4.5 / 5 – See all reviews here
❤️ “The guide was superb and listening to the stories while going around the mountain terrains was worth an experience”
❤️ “Must do tour when visiting Manchester”
Why choose this tour?
- Great guides
- More off-the-beaten-track activities
LOCAL’S OPINION: While this is a great tour, the fact that it’s shorter than the Rabbie’s one makes it a bit more compact and in a rush.
5. Smile Adventures Lake District Tour
⏳ Tour length: 11 hours
This tour is perfect for people who live in Manchester and want to make some friends while exploring the region.
Smile Adventures organises day trips and weekends away. They are available every Saturday and Sunday and include various locations across the UK.
Amongst the day trips available, you will find a Lake District one. It only runs once a month and the groups are a bit big but again, that’s a great way to meet new people in Manchester.
Why choose this tour?
- To make friends
- Includes a guided walk of Derwentwater
FAQs about the best Manchester to Lake District tours
Now that you know exactly what is the best Lake District tour from Manchester, you may have some questions about the logistics and how tours work. Here are all the answers!
Do you spend a lot of time on the bus with these Lake District day trips from Manchester?
This is all relative of course but as a general thing, tour companies make sure to include as many stops as possible.
They want you to enjoy the beauty of the Lake District and not their bus so you will spend most of the time exploring.
Since it takes a couple of hours to get to the Lake District, you will spend around 4 to 5 hours in the bus during the day though.
Do I need to pack lunch?
No, you will stop in a town or village for lunch and your tour guide will make sure to bring you somewhere nice.
Since lunch is not included in the tours though, you can bring your own if that’s something you’d prefer but you do not have to.
Do you have to pay to go to the Lake District?
No. The entrance to the Lake District National Park is free so you do not have to pay to visit it.
If you’d like to do some activities such as a cruise you will need to pay for that.
Of course, you also need to pay for your tour or transportation but visiting the Lakes in itself is free.
Should I tip the drivers and guides?
You do not have to tip the drivers and guides of these tours from Manchester to Lake District.
Since you’ve paid for the service, it is not expected however, they will always accept and be happy if they get tips.
So this is entirely up to you. You can decide to tip or not and no matter what, the amount is definitely entirely up to you.
FAQs about visiting the Lake District from Manchester
Now that you know everything about the best Lake District tours from Manchester, it’s time to answer all of your questions!
Which part of Lake District is closest to Manchester?
Manchester is located south of The Lake District which means that the southern part of the national park is the closest to Manchester.
As a general thing, Kendal and Windermere are the closest towns and lakes in the Lake District from Manchester.
How far is Manchester from the Lake District?
From Manchester City Centre, it takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to get to the Lake District which is around 80 miles.
Is 1 day enough for Lake District?
Ideally, you’ll need several days to truly explore the Lake District however, visiting for a day will allow you to see all the highlights such as Windermere lake, the World of Beatrix Potter, Ambleside…
How many days do you need to see Lake District?
3 to 5 days is the ideal amount of time to spend in the Lake District. There are many things to do and you can easily spend a week there as well.
That having been said, it truly depends on the time you have available.
As a general thing, 3 to 5 days would be good but if you only have one day available, it would be better to book a day tour from Manchester so you get to see as much as possible.
Do you need a car in Lake District?
While there is public transport in the Lake District, it’s not the most convenient way to get around. We highly recommend renting a car or booking a tour so you can go to all the best spots.
Public transport will get you from one village to another but it’s not practical especially if you want to go hiking.
How to get from Manchester to Windermere?
There are 3 ways you can get from Manchester to Windermere:
- By car. It takes 1 hour and 45 minutes from the city centre. There are many car parks available in Windermere but it’s better to get there early.
- With a tour. This is ideal for people who only have one day to discover the Lake District.
- With the train. It takes a bit under 2 hours from Piccadilly station with a change in Oxenholme Lake District station.
What month is best to visit Lake District?
As a general thing, summer and shoulder months are the best to visit the Lake District since they are the ones with the highest chances of having nice weather. If you can visit between May and September, that’s ideal.
Is the Lake District in Manchester?
No, the Lake District is not in Manchester but it’s one of the national parks located near Manchester. It’s less than 2 hours away, making it a great destination for a day trip or weekend away.
What do I need to know before going to the Lake District?
The weather in the Lake District can be unpredictable and changes quickly. For this reason, we recommend you dress in layers.
Always make sure to take a rain jacket in case it rains but also if you are planning to do a boat trip.
We also recommend wearing hiking shoes (or good walking shoes) since there will be a lot of hiking opportunities.
What should I do on a lake district day trip from Manchester?
The best place to go in the Lake District for a day out from Manchester is Windermere, Bowness-on-Windermere and Hawkshead.
You can go on a boat cruise, visit The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction and do one of the hikes.
What is the best area to stay in the Lake District?
Windermere is the best area to stay in the Lake District since there are so many things you can do in this area.
Keswick and Buttermere are also great places to stay but a bit further if you’re coming from Manchester.
What is famous about the Lake District?
As the name suggests, the Lake District is mainly famous for its beautiful lakes.
It’s also home to the highest peak in England, Scafell Pike and is one of the best places in the UK for hiking.
Finally, it’s famous for being a place where a lot of authors came to write including Beatrix Potter and Alfred Wainwright.
Is Windermere worth a visit?
Absolutely! Windermere is home to the largest lake in the national park and is such a cute town with loads of local shops, attractions and hiking opportunities.
It is one of the most visited places in the Lake District and an excellent place to go on a boat trip or learn more about Beatrix Potter.
What is the most visited place in the Lake District?
Windermere is the most visited town and lake in the Lake District.
It’s ideally located close to Manchester and offers a lot of activities for adults and kids.
It’s one of the best places in the Lake District for a lake cruise as well as hiking.
You will also find Beatrix Potter world in Windermere, making it a great place to discover for families.
What is the only lake in the Lake District?
Bassenthwaite Lake is the only body of water in the Lake District to be classed as a lake.
All the others are actually meres or waters.
This is always a bit of a surprising fact about the Lake District but true nonetheless.
Final Thoughts on the Best Tours from Manchester to Lake District
Now that you know everything about the best Lake District excursions from Manchester, the only thing left to do is to book a tour and enjoy your day!
As we said before, here is the best tour to the Lake District from Manchester:
This Rabbie’s Day Tour from Manchester to the Lake District – with a near-perfect 5 Star rating.
It includes all the highlights and makes for the perfect day trip to Lake District from Manchester.
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