Kim Brough
26 October 2023
The Lake District is home to many tasty foods, including popular regional specialities such as Cumberland sausage, Kendal mint cake and Grasmere gingerbread. However, you can also enjoy newer twists on traditional flavours, with Kendal mint cake liqueur and damson ketchup to name but a few.
Whether you're looking for a restaurant or wondering which farmers' market to visit, here are just some of the ways you can experience the amazing food of the Lake District.
Which of our mouthwatering Lake District cottages will you stay in during your foodie holiday? Feast your eyes on the full collection then pick your favourite from the ‘menu’.
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Speciality food shops
The Lake District is a foodie haven, with many speciality food shops offering unique and hard-to-find delicacies. Take Grasmere gingerbread, for example - a sweet treat invented in 1854 by Sarah Nelson. The world-famous biscuit is still produced in Sarah’s original house, which is now the Grasmere Gingerbread House. The only other place you can find it is in their newly-opened Hawkshead store, and at occasional food markets across Cumbria.
For a larger choice of Cumbrian speciality foods, head to Cranstons Cumbrian Food Hall in Penrith, which boasts a counter of fresh locally farmed meat, as well as a fishmonger, a greengrocer and a delicatessen counter displaying freshly baked pies, cheeses and cooked meats. Café Oswald's, on the first floor, offers a delicious daytime menu to tempt you during your visit. Cranstons also has food halls elsewhere in Cumbria in Orton, Carlisle and Brampton.
Lakeland is the home of kitchenware and a must for hobby bakers and home cooking enthusiasts. Its flagship store is in Windermere and is a great place to spend some time on a wet day. Be sure to visit the First Floor Café, and turn up early during busy times so that you can book in and wander around the store until you are alerted that your table is ready. Once you settle in for your meal, you’ll be treated to foods from local suppliers, including the Hawkshead Brewery.
As well as visiting independent shops, you may also like to visit Booths Supermarkets for some everyday essentials during your stay. Booths stocks a wide range of speciality food and drink from the North West and beyond. You'll find stores in Penrith, Keswick, Kendal, Windermere, Ulverston, Milnthorpe and Kirkby Lonsdale.
More speciality food shops
- Cartmel Village Shop is home to the famous Cartmel sticky toffee pudding and also stocks other local fares
- Hawkshead Relish produces a wide range of award-winning relishes, pickles and preserves, individually and in hampers
- Unsworth’s Yard, Cartmel features a brewery, Cartmel Cheeses, Red Pepper Kitchenware, Fine Wine & Spirits, and The Mallard Tea Shop
- Bryson’s is great local baker with stores across the Lake District and Cumbria
- Friars is a must-visit for any chocoholic in Keswick or Ambleside
Lake District farm shops
If you want the freshest of fresh food, then head to the source at one of the Lake District’s farm shops. Stocked with meats, cheeses, baked goods, flowers, fruits, and so much more, these shops are attractions in themselves. Whether you visit these wonderful farm shops during your stay, or stop off at Tebay on your way back home along the M6, make sure you stock up on plenty of Cumbrian food.
Tebay Services Farmshop and Kitchen
Tebay is no ordinary service station. Between J38 and J39 on the M6, this destination farm shop is the perfect place to stock up on a sumptuous selection of goodies. Browse the cheese counter, deli counter or butchers’ counter; pick something up from the homeware shop; or sit down for a meal in their top-quality restaurant.
Low Sizergh Barn
You can pick up local treats and gifts at Low Sizergh Barn, on the edge of the Lake District just south of Kendal. If you’ve got time, take a stroll down the farm trail (a route just under 2 miles that takes in farmland and ancient woodland); browse the gift shop with clothing and items for the home; or visit the tea room where you can watch the cows being milked from the window.
Breweries and distilleries in the Lake District
The Lakes has become home to a number of microbreweries and specialist distilleries in recent years, with craft ales and alcoholic beverages available to purchase from local retailers. For a more complete experience though, why not visit the makers themselves? From whisky and gin to Lakes-inspired beers, you’ll find word-class names next to best-kept secrets.
Visit each individual maker, or, for an incredible choice, seek out Chestnut House. This amazing independent grocery store in Pooley Bridge boasts a wall of over 400 gins, as well as whiskeys, ales, gifts and foods from the Lake District, Cumbria, and further afield.
The Lakes Distillery
The Lakes Distillery is close to Bassenthwaite Lake and provides tours of over 200 years of distilling heritage. You'll learn how whisky, gin and vodka are made, see the stills, and experience the results in the tasting room. You could also finish with a visit to the Bistro at the Distillery. Talking of tastings, did you know there are walks in the Lake District with gin tastings?
Hawkshead Brewery
For your choice of beers, Hawkshead Brewery, based in the Mill Yard in Staveley, offers brewery tours and boasts a beer hall serving tapas and other beer-friendly foods. You can even look into the brewery itself from your seat!
Cookery schools in the Lake District
If you're really into the creation of food and want to treat yourself to the full cooking experience, Lucy Cooks in Staveley and Peter Sidwell's Simply Good cookery school at Rheged might just be the places for you. You’ll be able to put together your own delicacies, honing and improving your skills to take back home with you.
The Lake District School of Food and Wine in Penrith also runs small intensive one and two-day cookery courses catering for both beginners and enthusiastic cooks.
The best pub food in the Lake District
Pub food in the Lake District ranges from hearty meals that are perfect after a day on the fells, to more refined award-winning dishes that provide exciting modern twists on the traditional fare. Whichever is more to your taste, pair it with a good drink (or two!) and you’ll be sampling some of the best local foods in the best of spirits!
The George and Dragon
The George and Dragon, In the small village of Clifton, near Penrith, is brilliant for quality food and service.
The Drunken Duck Inn
A gastropub to write home about, The Drunken Duck near Ambleside comes with its own microbrewery and serves elevated pub food.
The Dog and Gun
How many Michelin-starred pubs do you come across? Well, The Dog and Gun in Skelton is one of them! Expect the best of the best in this dog-friendly pub.
Kirkstile Inn
With a stupendous backdrop and an interior that’s bursting with character, the Kirkstile Inn at Loweswater serves spot-on food and is the home of famous Loweswater Gold beer.
Restaurants in the Lake District
With an abundance of local produce available, it’s no wonder that so many Lake District restaurants are keen to show off what their locality has to offer. With dog-friendly restaurants, Michelin-starred eateries, vegetarian and vegan specialities, and much, much more, it’s impossible to list every amazing restaurant in one guide. So we’ve come up with just a small selection of some of the best serving up top-notch local produce.
Fellpack
This bistro offers a friendly welcome with warming food from a short but intriguing menu that changes with the seasons. An ideal choice when looking for somewhere to eat in Keswick.
The Boathouse
Looking out over Windermere, The Boathouse has a great view to complement its delicious food and excellent service. It’s just one of the great places to eat in Bowness and Windermere.
BLOCKS Steakhouse
When looking for places to eat in Cockermouth, BLOCKS is well worth a visit. Opened after a vote by residents about the kind of restaurant they’d like, this steakhouse uses only the best local products, and it shows!
Mizu Pan Asian Restaurant
In the beautiful valley of Borrowdale, overlooking Derwentwater, Mizu brings together foods from Japan, Korea, China, Vietnam and Thailand. One of our favourite places to eat in Borrowdale.
Cafes in the Lake District
Treat yourself to cake or stop off for a light lunch during a day of exploring the lakes. With cafes tucked away in mountains valleys and those in the heart of the most vibrant towns, you’re bound to find several places that win your heart - and taste buds! Read about our top picks below or browse some wonderful Lake District walks with tearooms.
Cafe Ambio
In Backbarrow, the light and airy Café Ambio has full-length windows to take advantage of the waterside views. In good weather, sit outside by the river for lunch or afternoon tea.
The Chalet
The Chalet, with its lovely stacked-wood feature wall and location in the centre of the popular village of Portinscale, is a great place for breakfast or lunch.
Copper Pot
Head to the Copper Pot for top-notch coffee and cake. This cosy little cafe in the heart of Ambleside has a characterful exposed wall and pretty terrace.
The Green Housekeeper Cafe
A cafe with a heart, The Green Housekeeper serves home-made food from local producers and holds its responsibility to people and the planet very highly.
Farmers’ markets in the Lake District
There’s something very special about market day, when the streets are topped with canvas, the stalls are filled with fresh produce, and the atmosphere is alive. And the Lake District has plenty of markets to explore. Why not visit one and pick up some products before heading to one of the Lake District’s prime picnic spots or purchase some ingredients for a delicious meal at your holiday cottage?
Keswick
A weekly market with food, gifts and homeware. You can find it surrounding the Moot Hall every Saturday and on Thursdays from February to December.
Orton
Browse the stalls of over 25 local farmers, growers and crafters at Orton Farmers Market held every second Saturday of the month.
Penrith
Penrith has held markets since 1222, though today it’s a little less raucous! Pick up some tasty fruit and veg and the finest cuts of meat at the modern-day market every Tuesday.
Brampton
Run by Sustainable Brampton and taking place on the last Saturday of the month, Brampton market sells everything from venison and seafood to mustards and herbs.
Food festivals in the Lake District
Put your taste buds to the test at Holker Hall's Chilli Fest; sample sweet and bitter preserves at Dalemain's Marmalade Festival; or sample one of Cumbria’s most famous exports - the Cumberland sausage - at Muncaster Castle's Sausage Fest!
To wash down all this delicious food, don’t miss the beer festivals at Keswick and Boot each June. You’ll be able to sample all sorts of beers from local, national and international brewers.
For foodie celebrations with a whole mix of local foods and drinks, look for Taste Cumbria events. Their popular foodie celebrations include Taste of the Sea in Maryport - where you may see the trawlers bringing in the fresh seafood you’re about to buy! Taste Cumbria also runs popular food festivals in Wigton (April) and Cockermouth (September and December), and at Christmas.
Stay in a self-catering holiday cottage in the Lake District
Wherever you choose to begin your Lake District food adventure, we're bound to have the perfect cottage to make your stay special. Gather some of your favourite foods - and some new ones! - and cook up a storm in your holiday cottage, or head back for 40 winks after a delicious meal out.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.