16 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in the Lake District, England

A graceful stone arched bridge poised over its top adds the finishing touch to this beautiful waterfall as it drops 19 meters, in stages, through a rocky ravine.

At the entrance to the Lake District National Park, Levens Hall began about 1250 as a Pele Tower, and grew into a magnificent Elizabethan manor house. You can tour the interior, with its fine oak paneling and ornate plasterwork, antique furnishings, and works of art.

About eight kilometers long and less than a kilometer wide, Coniston Water lies beneath the eastern slope of the mountain known as the Old Man of Coniston, which towers above the lake and Coniston Village.

Of the more than 300 stone circles in England, Castlerigg is not only among the oldest, it is one of the most atmospheric.

The first family home of the great British poet William Wordsworth, Dove Cottage is a traditional Lakeland cottage with dark wood-paneled walls and stone floors, heated by coal fires.

The distinctive peak of Catbells lures walkers of all capabilities, a short half-day climb to the final fell on a long ridge that separates Derwentwater from the Newlands Valley.

Bought in 1905 with proceeds from her first book, the Tale of Peter Rabbit, the 17th-century farmhouse at Hill Top and the surrounding countryside inspired many of Beatrix Potter's books.

At 14 kilometers long and less than two kilometers wide, Ullswater is the second largest lake in the Lake District.

One of the highest peaks in the English Lake District, Helvellyn is also one of its most popular hikes, for both casual climbers and those who relish a rugged scramble.

Less than five kilometers long, Derwentwater is an idyllic lake in the northern part of the national park, and a 10-minute walk from the center of Keswick.