Scheduled Half Day Tours
up to about 4 hours
max. 7 guests
age 7+
up to about 4.5 hours
max. 7 guests
age 7+
approx. 4 hours
max. 7 guests
age 7+
Scheduled Full Day Tours
Includes boat trip on Ullswater
up to about 9.5 hours
max. 7 guests
age 7+
up to about 8.5 hours
max. 7 guests
age 7+
Private Tours
Includes boat trip on Ullswater
up to about 9.5 hours
max. 7 guests
any age
up to about 4 hours
max. 7 guests
any age
See the lakes and the mountain passes
The Lake District has sixteen lakes and some of the highest mountains in England, linked by passes such as Kirkstone, Honister and Wrynose. Our scenic tours are built around them: eight lakes, Castlerigg Stone Circle and Ashness Bridge in a morning or an afternoon; ten lakes, a cruise on Ullswater, Honister Pass and Buttermere on the full-day Ultimate tour; and, in winter, ten lakes and four mountain passes on the Ten Lakes tour. There are plenty of photo stops, and no entry fees to pay.
What you'll see
- Eight lakes, Castlerigg Stone Circle and Ashness Bridge in half a day
- The Ultimate tour: ten lakes, an Ullswater cruise, Honister Pass and Buttermere
- The Ten Lakes Winter Tour across four mountain passes
- The Langdale Pikes and Coniston on the Coniston and Langdales tour
Where the tours start
Find the Lake District tours that start near you: Windermere, Bowness, Ambleside, Grasmere, Keswick, Coniston and Oxenholme.
Coming by train? Our rail tours start from London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, Chester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bradford, York and Newcastle.
A small group or a private tour
Shared tours are small groups of no more than seven, priced per person, for ages 7 and up. A private tour is for your group alone, at one price for up to seven guests, with no age limit, and can collect you from your hotel in the Kendal, Windermere, Ambleside, Coniston, Grasmere or Keswick areas.
Why travel with English Lakes Tours
We are a local, independent company, and our groups are never larger than seven, so there is always time for your questions. Every route is driven in both directions before it runs, and our guides' research draws on a library of around 6,500 books.
Questions about these tours
Which Lake District tour is best for a first visit?
With a full day, the Ultimate Lake District Tour covers ten lakes, a cruise on Ullswater, Honister Pass, Buttermere and Castlerigg Stone Circle. With half a day, the Eight Lakes tours see eight lakes, Castlerigg and Ashness Bridge in a morning or an afternoon.
Are lunch and entry fees included?
Lunch is never included: full-day tours stop where you can buy it. Entry to the places on the itinerary is included, such as Hill Top or Dove Cottage. The scenic tours have no entry fees.
Do you run Lake District tours in the winter?
Yes. Some tours run through the winter, including the Ten Lakes Winter Tour and private tours. The dates on each tour page show when it runs.
Can children come on your tours?
On shared small-group tours the minimum age is 7. Private tours have no age limit, so they suit families with younger children. We don't provide booster seats.
What is the difference between a shared and a private tour?
A shared tour is a small group of up to seven, priced per person. A private tour is for your group alone, at one price for the whole group of one to seven, with hotel pickup in the main Lake District towns and no age limit.