Family fun and romantic breaks in the Lake District

Of all the places to visit for a family holiday in the UK, the Lake District rates as one of the best, and offers family fun, romantic breaks for couples and attractions for all ages.

Tourism chiefs predict thousands more UK families to stay in Britain next year as a result of the recession and the poor Sterling/Euro exchange rate. Families who want more for their money and also a great British holiday, there is no better place to visit than the Lake District.

For the past 20 years more and more families and couples have been going abroad to Europe for their summer holidays and the UK market has continued to decrease. The UK seaside towns used to be thriving, including Whitehaven and resorts in the south west such as Devon and Cornwall, but increasingly, UK holiday resorts were only finding themselves busy during the summer months and virtual ghost towns at other times of the year.

The Lake District however has seen a surge in visitor numbers over the past few years, and the region offers everything for the family and for couples, including hundreds of attractions, superb luxury hotels, guesthouses and spa hotels, plus hot tub hotels and excellent accommodation for all age groups.

Family hotels and romantic hotels in the Lake District

What the UK and the Lake District lacks in winter sunshine, it more than makes up for with the vast range of activities and good old-fashioned fun to be had. Whether you are a lover of the great outdoors, and enjoy walking the fens, sailing across Windermere, or hauling your way around an adventure playground, you will not be disappointed in the Lake District.

If, however you are planning a romantic break in the Lake District without the kids, you can take advantage of the superb themed boutique hotels in Bowness and Windermere, and add some sparkle to your stay with a private spa bath or hot tub suite.

In addition to the many walking trails in the Lake District, other activities within easy reach of Windermere and Bowness include: Muncaster Castle, the World Owl Trust, Ravenglass Steam Railway, the Lake District Coast Aquarium, Puzzling Place and the Derwent Pencil Museum in Keswick, the Beatrix Potter Attraction at Bowness and the cycling tours around Grizedale Forest. Also, take a boat trip on Windermere, Coniston, Ullswater or Derwentwater, which will give you a superb view of your surroundings from the water.

If you organise your stay before you arrive, you can avoid all the stress of thinking what to do and where to go when you get to the Lake District, giving you much more time to enjoy yourself. If you like to be organised and are visiting with the family, work out an itinerary for each day of your stay, and pre-book tickets where applicable (some attractions get very busy in summer, particularly the Beatrix Potter Attraction at Bowness), and tickets can usually be pre-booked. Sailing, walking, museum trips and cycling in the Lake District are also popular so plan your routes before you travel.

Quiet and romantic breaks in the Lake District

If you are planning a quiet and romantic break in the Lake District with your partner, you may want to take each day as it comes, and there are plenty of romantic hotels in the Lake District that can cater to your every need, without you even having to leave your room. Check out the romantic themed boutique hotels in Bowness and Windermere with private spa bath, hot tubs and a range of extras to make sure your stay in the Lake District is extra special.

The poor Euro exchange rate is not the only reason families are increasingly visiting the Lake District. Some boutique hotels in Windermere and Bowness are eco-friendly, and organic hotels are on the increase. The awareness of climate change and also the impact that flying has on the environment, is something that is making people think twice about flying abroad.

Once holidaymakers realise what good they are doing for their children's future, money saved and most importantly, how much fun can be had on a holiday in the Lake District and other parts of the UK, the tourism industry will flourish once again.