Grasmere is a picturesque village set in the heart of the Lake District. Once a stomping ground for poets like William Wordsworth, the village will charm you with its cobbled streets, stone cottages and a postcard-perfect setting on Grasmere Lake. Rowboats are available to rent from the shoreline and are a great way to explore the lake.
Dove Cottage & The Wordsworth Museum occupies the former home of the famous poet. The tiny rooms are filled with artefacts and personal items, including handwritten poems and letters. William and his wife Mary are buried nearby in the St Oswald’s Church graveyard. It enjoys a tranquil setting on the River Rothay and attracts literary pilgrims from around the world.
Owned and maintained by the National Trust, Church Stile is lined with some of the best-preserved 17th-century cottages in England. Stop by the Grasmere Gingerbread shop to try the famous cake, which has been baked in Grasmere since 1854.
Getting there
Grasmere is located in Lake District National Park, a two-hour drive from Manchester and 2.5 hours from Leeds. The village is compact and easy to get around on foot. Trains call at Windermere, a 20-minute drive from Grasmere. Manchester Airport is a two-hour drive away.