Photo: User:Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Lake District is a mountain landscape of craggy fells, deep glacial lakes and stone-walled valleys, with Scafell Pike, Scafell and Helvellyn offering classic ridge walks and sweeping views. Windermere station is a gateway to lakeside trails and fell walking by train.
There are 30 stations within 5 miles of Lake District National Park.
The park area is home to 1079 DoBIH-listed peaks, the highest being Scafell Pike at 978m.
A National Trail passes through or near the park: Coast to Coast.
Lake District train stations
Best for walkers first: gold, silver and bronze rate the hills, landscape and trails near each.
- WindermereGold walking rating
- StaveleyGold walking rating
- Burneside (Cumbria)0.6 mi (about 0.7 to 0.8 mi on foot)Gold walking rating
- Foxfield0.7 mi (about 0.9 to 1 mi on foot)Silver walking rating
- RavenglassSilver walking rating
- Drigg0.3 mi (about 0.4 mi on foot)Silver walking rating
- Kirkby-in-Furness1.7 mi (about 2 to 2.5 mi on foot)Silver walking rating
- Seascale2.2 mi (about 2.5 to 3 mi on foot)Silver walking rating
- Kendal0.9 mi (about 1 mi on foot)Silver walking rating
- St Bees4.3 mi (about 5 to 5.5 mi on foot)Silver walking rating
- Green Road1.1 mi (about 1.5 mi on foot)Silver walking rating
- Penrith North Lakes2.2 mi (about 2.5 to 3 mi on foot)Silver walking rating
- Millom2.2 mi (about 2.5 to 3 mi on foot)Silver walking rating
- Sellafield2.0 mi (about 2.5 to 3 mi on foot)Silver walking rating
- Bootle (Cumbria)Silver walking rating
- Braystones2.5 mi (about 3 to 3.5 mi on foot)Silver walking rating
- Corkickle3.8 mi (about 4.5 to 5 mi on foot)Silver walking rating
- SilecroftSilver walking rating
- Nethertown3.6 mi (about 4.5 to 5 mi on foot)Silver walking rating
- Aspatria2.8 mi (about 3.5 to 4 mi on foot)Bronze walking rating
- Oxenholme Lake District1.8 mi (about 2 to 2.5 mi on foot)Bronze walking rating
- Arnside0.4 mi (about 0.5 to 0.6 mi on foot)Bronze walking rating
- Askam4.8 mi (about 6 to 6.5 mi on foot)Bronze walking rating
- Whitehaven4.4 mi (about 5.5 to 6 mi on foot)Bronze walking rating
- Parton5.0 mi (about 6 to 6.5 mi on foot)Bronze walking rating
- Grange-over-Sands0.7 mi (about 0.9 to 1 mi on foot)Bronze walking rating
- Silverdale2.6 mi (about 3 to 3.5 mi on foot)Bronze walking rating
- Cark2.1 mi (about 2.5 to 3 mi on foot)Bronze walking rating
- Kents Bank2.0 mi (about 2.5 mi on foot)Bronze walking rating
- Ulverston3.0 mi (about 3.5 to 4 mi on foot)Bronze walking rating
Walking distances are estimates from the straight-line distance and the type of ground, not a measured route. Check a map before you set off.
Onward bus services
Buses that reach further into Lake District than the stations above. Check the days each one runs before you travel.
555 (Lancaster–Keswick)
From Windermere station, on to Ambleside, Grasmere and Keswick
Every 30 minutes Monday–Saturday, less often on Sundays, 23 March–1 November 2026
Timetable: Stagecoach Cumbria ↗Coniston Rambler (505)
From Ambleside, via the 555 from Windermere station – return journeys run through to Windermere
Daily, roughly hourly, via Hawkshead, 23 March–1 November 2026
Timetable: Stagecoach Cumbria ↗Honister Rambler (77 / 77A / 77C)
From Keswick bus station – no railway station of its own; nearest is Penrith, a further bus away
Enhanced timetable from 23 March; daily some journeys 2 May–31 August 2026
Timetable: Stagecoach Cumbria ↗
Journey times from cities
How soon you can be at the nearest station serving Lake District National Park from each city, counting stations just outside the boundary as well as inside it.
- Lancaster to Oxenholme Lake DistrictFrom 16min
- Preston to Oxenholme Lake DistrictFrom 32min
- Manchester to Oxenholme Lake DistrictFrom 1hr 14min
- Liverpool to Oxenholme Lake DistrictFrom 1hr 20min
- Glasgow to Penrith North LakesFrom 1hr 30min
- Edinburgh to Penrith North LakesFrom 1hr 34min
- Newcastle to Penrith North LakesFrom 1hr 47min
- Durham to Penrith North LakesFrom 2hr 10min
- Leeds to SilverdaleFrom 2hr 12min
- Stirling to Penrith North LakesFrom 2hr 16min
- Birmingham to Oxenholme Lake DistrictFrom 2hr 19min
- Sheffield to Oxenholme Lake DistrictFrom 2hr 21min
- York to SilverdaleFrom 2hr 31min
- London to Oxenholme Lake DistrictFrom 2hr 46min
- Dundee to Penrith North LakesFrom 2hr 53min
- Leicester to Oxenholme Lake DistrictFrom 3hr 6min
- Nottingham to Oxenholme Lake DistrictFrom 3hr 10min
- Oxford to Oxenholme Lake DistrictFrom 3hr 48min
- Bristol to Oxenholme Lake DistrictFrom 3hr 51min
- Aberdeen to Penrith North LakesFrom 4hr 14min
- Bath to Oxenholme Lake DistrictFrom 4hr 17min
- Cambridge to Oxenholme Lake DistrictFrom 4hr 21min
Good to know
Can you get to the Lake District by train?
Yes. 30 stations are within 5 miles of the Lake District, including Bootle (Cumbria) and Ravenglass.
What is the nearest train station to the Lake District?
5 stations with regular trains are inside the Lake District, including Bootle (Cumbria), Ravenglass and Silecroft.
How long does it take to get to the Lake District by train?
The Lake District is 35min from Lancaster, 1hr 37min from Liverpool, 1hr 47min from Manchester and 3hr 7min from London by train, to the quickest station inside the park.
More of Lake District
Photo: Doug Sim, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo: StaraBlazkova, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Michael Graham, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons