Follow our itinerary for a Royal Day Out
To celebrate the coronation of King Charles III, we’ve put together a list of things to do, places to go and sights to see, all inspired by royal visits and the King’s love of the Lake District.
Be inspired and follow in royal footsteps
- Visit Crow Park, at Keswick – King Charles unveiled the plaque which designated the Lake District National Park as a UNESCO World Heritage Site here, describing the ‘incomparable beauty of the Lake District’.
- Spot a Herdwick – King Charles is the patron of the Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association. You’ll see Herdwicks, with their cheeky faces, all over the Lake District. They’re part of our rich farming heritage, which the King acknowledged in his speech at Crow Park: ‘successive generations of farmers have worked in harmony with the natural world, rearing native breeds of sheep in ways that have shaped and enhanced a spectacular mountain landscape’.
- Take a trip of the Ullswater steamer – head to Glenridding and hop on the steamer, like King Charles did in 2018.
- Visit Windermere Jetty Museum – in 2019, His Royal Highness officially opened the new museum. You can hire a boat, or view the exhibitions – Amy Bateman’s Forty Farms is open until 4 June.
- Try some Hawkshead Relish – King Charles unveiled a plaque at their headquarters to mark his visit, and commemorate the 20th anniversary of the company.
- Enjoy afternoon tea at The Gaddum – head to Brockhole for a royal-themed afternoon tea.
- Look out for Cumbrian fell ponies – the Queen loved fell ponies, and was the patron of the Fell Pony Society. You can see fell ponies on the fells and in the valleys.
- See if you can spot a red squirrel – His Royal Highness gave a speech in support of the Red Squirrel Survival Trust during a visit to Cumbria in 2009. If you do spot any red squirrels, log your sighting using the iNaturalist app.
- Pop in to Pooley Bridge – the King has visited Pooley Bridge a few times, and opened a temporary road bridge installed after Storm Desmond.
