Region in Cumbria, United Kingdom
Lake District for solo travelers
Is Lake District good for solo travel?
England's most-visited national park for lakes, fell walks and stone villages. Best with hiking boots or a car; buses are thin, rooms are pricey in summer and the weather is wet.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Friendly |
| English | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Safety | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Solo women | Very comfortable for solo women on valley walks and in villages. On high fells, tell someone your route and carry a charged phone. |
How to meet people in Lake District
YHA and independent hostels in Keswick, Ambleside and Borrowdale, guided fell walks, parkruns and wild-swimming groups, and friendly village pubs.
Good things to do alone
- Climb Catbells above Derwentwater
- Walk the Tarn Hows loop
- Cross Windermere on the cable ferry
- Hike Helvellyn via Striding Edge in good weather
- Wild swim or paddle at Buttermere
Where to stay in Lake District
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Keswick | Hikers: Derwentwater, Skiddaw, gear shops, lively pubs |
| Ambleside | Walkers based near Windermere and the central fells |
| Windermere and Bowness | Lake cruises and train access; touristy and busy |
| Grasmere | Quiet village with Wordsworth sites and easy walks |
| Kendal | Cheaper base town with trains and supermarkets |
Solo travel across United Kingdom
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| London | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Edinburgh | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Bristol | 5/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Manchester | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Liverpool | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Glasgow | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Brighton | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Scottish Highlands | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| York | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Lake District | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Cornwall | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Belfast | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Cardiff | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Birmingham | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Newcastle | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Leeds | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Snowdonia | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Oxford | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Bath | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Cambridge | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Isle of Skye | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Cotswolds | 3/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
Quick answers
Is Lake District good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). England's most-visited national park for lakes, fell walks and stone villages.
How do you meet people in Lake District?
YHA and independent hostels in Keswick, Ambleside and Borrowdale, guided fell walks, parkruns and wild-swimming groups, and friendly village pubs. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Lake District?
Spoken almost everywhere.
Is Lake District safe for solo female travelers?
Very comfortable for solo women on valley walks and in villages. On high fells, tell someone your route and carry a charged phone.
More about Lake District
Going to Lake District solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Lake District meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.