7 things to do In Grasmere, Lake District

On my recent visit to the Lake District there were so many stunning places to explore I almost didn’t know where to start!  After some research I finally settled on exploring the stunning village of Grasmere.  It’s a place that that combines quaint village life, amazing historic buildings and awe-worthy views.  Here is a few of the things to do in Grasmere:

Try the famous Victorian gingerbread

You won’t get far in Grasmere before smelling the sweet, spiced smell of gingerbread scenting the air.  Follow that scent and you will no doubt eventually come across a winding queue leading to a very small Victorian shop.  What is it that is drawing the crowds to this tiny shop?  It’s Grasmere’s famous and totally unique gingerbread that can only be bought at this exact location.  It was invented here in 1854 and is now only sold in this tiny cottage shop that is so small it’s only big enough for 2 people, and the staff still dress in traditional Victorian clothing.  It’s so tiny and quaint you need to expect queues but it is well worth the wait.  Grasmere Gingerbread is totally unique, it’s a mixture between a biscuit and a cake that is hard inside and crumbly on the outside.  The recipe is top secret but all you need to know is that is completely delicious!

Visit the grave of William Wordsworth and the Wordsworth Daffodil Garden

Just behind the Gramere Gingerbread Shop is St Oswalds Church where you can find the grave of William Wordsworth who is buried here beside his wife and children.  Nearby is also the grave of his sister Dorothy, who helped him with a lot of his writing.

In the Churchyard you can also find the Wordsworth Daffodil Garden which is a small garden with a path running through it surrounded by Daffodils (what else!) with the words of Wordsworth’s most famous poem etched around.  It’s a beautiful and peaceful place to visit.

Take a dip in the stunning Grasmere Water

It’s called the Lake District for a reason, the whole region is full of stunning lakes, and Grasmere is no exception.  Just outside the village you will find the lakes which provide some of the most beautiful views in the UK.  Surrounded by trees and mountains, there’s not a single bad view anywhere around the lakes here no matter where you decide to dip your toes in.

Unwind with a drink and a bite to eat

For a village Grasmere has a great array of restaurants and bars for you to enjoy, whether it’s a Prosecco overlooking the river you are after, a heart pub meal or a more upmarket affair, Grasmere has you covered.  Of course there is also a couple of tearooms if you fancy treating yourself to a spot of afternoon tea for a truly traditional British experience.

Visit Dove Cottage

If you want a bit more Wordsworth in your trip you have to include a visit to Dove Cottage to learn more about the poet.  This beautiful and quaint 17th century cottage was home to Wordsworth and his sister for much of his writing period and later his wife and children also.  Even if you aren’t a Wordsworth fan this small cottage is still worth a visit to see its fantastic period interior and beautiful sloped garden which has fantastic views of the mountains overlooking the village.

Take a hike to nearby Rydal 

We took a circular walk based on the one found on this website which took us from Grasmere to Rydal and back by walking half up Rydal Mount to see the stunning views, around many of the Lakes and past Rydal Mount, another beautiful home of Wordsworth from later in his life with more beautiful gardens and a great tearoom.  There’s plenty of beautiful architecture to explore in this small village and even some incredibly magical looking caves to be explored along the way!

Visit the cute cottages of the Church Stile 

This 17th century row of cottages used to be an inn and now belongs to the National Trust.  They are beautiful, quintessentially english country stile cottage which make a great backdrop for a picture or two.

Grasmere is one of the most beautiful villages in the Lake District and it’s well worth a visit here, it’s a great way to spend a day and one I will certainly be visiting again in the future.  I think I left a bit of my heart in the Lake District so I must go back and retrieve it…

What is your favourite area of Cumbria?