Things to do in the Lake District at Christmas

The Good Life elves have sprung into action and are busy preparing our Lake District holiday cottages for Christmas. There’s plenty of Christmas Trees to decorate, festive hampers to arrange, Christmas cards to write and mince pies to be eat….it’s a hard life being a holiday letting elf!

We thought it would be nice to spread our festive cheer and tell you about some Christmas events that will be taking place in the Lake District this year. If you live locally or are on holiday in the Lake District we hope you can enjoy some of these Cumbrian festivities. Bring friends and family to the Lake District and fill this Yuletide season with joy and merriment (and mulled wine).

Ulverston’s Dickensian Festival - 24th & 25th November

This is a Christmas Festival not to be missed! Enjoy the wonderful atmosphere along the cobbled streets of Ulverston and wander between the town’s specialist shops, cafes and pubs. There’s lots of things to do for free; a variety of entertainment, events for children, costume competitions, balloon modelling, horse drawn carriages, music and dancing. You can also enjoy the traditional fairground and of course the all-important Christmas Market.

Hawkshead Christmas Fair - 1st & 2nd December

The centre of Hawkshead village comes alive with music, entertainment and festive stalls during the first weekend of December. Taste yummy local produce and admire the crafts, you’ll be sure to find lots of gorgeous Christmas presents for friends and family. There’ll be children’s rides and Father Christmas to meet as well, so your little ones can have plenty of fun at the Hawkshead Christmas Fair too.

Windermere Christmas Celebration - 8th & 9th December

Windermere’s Christmas Celebration is a great place for food lovers! There’s a variety of delicious food and drink stalls to buy from, as well as Windermere’s bars, pubs and cafes….you won’t leave hungry. You can also enjoy the seasonal gift stalls, visit Santa’s Grotto and enjoy live music throughout the weekend.

World of Beatrix Potter - 15th to 22nd December

Watch the classic animation film of The Tailor of Gloucester at the Laundrama venue (across the road from the World of Beatrix Potter) and enjoy a delicious lunch as Father Christmas hosts a Christmassy tea party. There’ll be presents for children and they meet Father Christmas too. If that wasn’t enough tickets also include entry to the World of Beatrix Potter attraction on the same date. Get booking quick before it’s too late!

Ravenglass and Eskdale Santa Express

All aboard the Santa Express! Trains are running during the weekends from 24th November and through December. Keep your eyes peeled for Santa on this magical train journey and meet him in his grotto at Dalegarth to receive a gift. Tickets include a return train journey, complimentary drink & mince pie, a gift for children and 50% discount on a 2019 adult's season ticket. Various times and weekend dates available however dates are selling fast so book quickly!

Muncaster Castle 

Book Festive Afternoon Tea in the lead up to Christmas at Muncaster Castle. Enjoy a glass of mulled wine or hot spiced apple juice as you admire the Christmas decorations in the Great Hall. Afternoon Tea is then served in one of Muncaster Castle’s elegant state rooms. Included in the price is entry to Muncaster’s gardens and the Hawk & Owl Centre. This is the ideal way to get into the festive spirit and brighten up those dark December days!

Brockhole Christmas Events 

There’s lots of festive goings-on at Brockhole during December. They’re certainly spreading festive cheer, ensuring everyone is welcome this year! Get crafty at the free craft workshops at the beginning of December, have fun at the family jester shows, meet the Huskies (little ones aged 4 - 8 can enjoy a sleigh ride too) and enjoy the Astral Circus! When you’ve had your fix of merriment and worked up an appetite you can enjoy Christmas lunch or hot chocolate & cake in the cafe. The activities run throughout December so check what’s going on the weekend you plan to visit to avoid disappointment.

Haverthwaite and Lakeside Railway

Enjoy Santa’s special train rides with all your family! Get Christmassy on the 90 minute return journey by singing carols on the way to and from the Lakeside stop. Included in the ticket price are presents for children, christmas cake and a festive drink for adults. These special train rides will be taking place during the weekends in December so book now to avoid disappointment. If you want to extend the fun visit the Lakes Aquarium at Lake Windermere or the Lakeland Motor Museum at Haverthwaite when you get back!

We hope our ideas will help you fill your festive season with joy and merriment. For more information on any of these events visit the attraction’s own website and social media pages. 

If you’d like to stay in one of our self catering holiday cottages while you enjoy these events CLICK HERE We have a wide selection of properties available during December for you to choose from. We also have some availability over Christmas and New Year, but this won’t last long so book now to avoid disappointment. If you would like some help choosing the perfect Lake District holiday cottage for your festive break please give our friendly team a call on 015394 37417.

Happy Christmas from all of us at Good Life Lake District Cottages! x