Lake District - Rail Tour from London with Cream Tea and Cruise
London, England
- 13 hours (approx.)
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Escape the city and explore the Lake District’s landscapes and literary landmarks in one easy day—without organizing transport or tickets yourself. With round-trip rail from London included, travel north and discover highlights such as Lake Windermere, Hawkshead, and Tarn Hows by minivan. In summer, enjoy added experiences including a visit to Hill Top, a scenic lake cruise, and tea at Lindeth Howe, with the option to upgrade to first-class rail for extra comfort.
- Explore beyond London without having to rent a car
- Round-trip rail journeys are included for a seamless experience
- Enjoy scenic views without having to plan a route
- Cover plenty of ground onboard a minivan
What's Included
- Meet your Expert Guide in Oxenholme
- Return Rail Journey
- Free Wi-Fi On Board (Train Only)
- Return Train tickets (between London Euston and Oxenholme Station (reserved seats)
- Culinary Aspect (Cream Tea)
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop off
- Lunch
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Euston Rd., London NW1 2RT, UK
Please do not wait to meet our staff at London Euston Station as we do not conduct in-person departures. All tickets and information for the tour will be sent electronically in advance via email. Upon arrival at Oxenholme Station, a local guide will meet and greet on the platform.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.8:00 am
Itinerary
Select standard or first class rail travel when you book. Then, make your own way to London’s Euston Station and board your train for England’s beautiful Lake District National Park, set in the rugged fells of Cumbria.
Disembark at Oxenholme station, then meet your friendly local guide and set off on your tour by comfortable, air-conditioned minivan.
Admire the spectacular falls and glassy lakes as you trace the banks of Lake Windermere en route to Waterhead, a favorite childhood haunt of the much-loved, early 20th-century children’s storyteller Beatrix Potter. If you’re taking your tour between April and October, step aboard a sightseeing boat here and enjoy a scenic cruise on this lovely expanse of water.
Next, continue to the enchanting village of Hawkshead, a tangle of cobbled lanes and whitewashed cottages. Enjoy free time to explore independently, and view the Old Grammar School, attended by a young William Wordsworth between 1779 and 1787. Have lunch (own expense) here, and then drive to Tarn Hows, a popular beauty spot famous for its gorgeous lake-and-mountain scenery.
If you join the tour between April and October, leave Tarn Hows for Hill Top, the old-world farmhouse bought by Beatrix Potter in 1905. Show your included ticket and stroll around the charming interior, left as in Beatrix’s time, with much of her furniture still in place. Spot some of the pieces and features that appeared in her books, and explore around the gift shop and garden.
Afterward, drive to the Lindeth Howe, a hotel set in a Victorian house formerly owned by Beatrix. Savor a delicious cream tea here before a drop-off at Oxenholme for your return trip to Euston.
If you join the tour between November and March, after time at Tarn How, venture through the idyllic Yewdale Valley, past Skelwith Bridge and Yew Tree Tarn, and stop at Rydal Mount and Gardens, the home of the poet William Wordsworth between 1813 and 1850.
After a guided tour of the house and garden, followed by a cream tea, visit Bowness, a pretty town on the banks of Lake Windermere. Enjoy free time here, and perhaps visit the award-laden World of Beatrix Potter visitor center (own expense), before reconvening with your guide and driving to Oxenholme to catch your train back to London.
Disembark at Oxenholme station, then meet your friendly local guide and set off on your tour by comfortable, air-conditioned minivan.
Admire the spectacular falls and glassy lakes as you trace the banks of Lake Windermere en route to Waterhead, a favorite childhood haunt of the much-loved, early 20th-century children’s storyteller Beatrix Potter. If you’re taking your tour between April and October, step aboard a sightseeing boat here and enjoy a scenic cruise on this lovely expanse of water.
Next, continue to the enchanting village of Hawkshead, a tangle of cobbled lanes and whitewashed cottages. Enjoy free time to explore independently, and view the Old Grammar School, attended by a young William Wordsworth between 1779 and 1787. Have lunch (own expense) here, and then drive to Tarn Hows, a popular beauty spot famous for its gorgeous lake-and-mountain scenery.
If you join the tour between April and October, leave Tarn Hows for Hill Top, the old-world farmhouse bought by Beatrix Potter in 1905. Show your included ticket and stroll around the charming interior, left as in Beatrix’s time, with much of her furniture still in place. Spot some of the pieces and features that appeared in her books, and explore around the gift shop and garden.
Afterward, drive to the Lindeth Howe, a hotel set in a Victorian house formerly owned by Beatrix. Savor a delicious cream tea here before a drop-off at Oxenholme for your return trip to Euston.
If you join the tour between November and March, after time at Tarn How, venture through the idyllic Yewdale Valley, past Skelwith Bridge and Yew Tree Tarn, and stop at Rydal Mount and Gardens, the home of the poet William Wordsworth between 1813 and 1850.
After a guided tour of the house and garden, followed by a cream tea, visit Bowness, a pretty town on the banks of Lake Windermere. Enjoy free time here, and perhaps visit the award-laden World of Beatrix Potter visitor center (own expense), before reconvening with your guide and driving to Oxenholme to catch your train back to London.
Lake District National Park (Pass By)
1
Hawkshead
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Tarn Hows (Pass By)
Coniston Water (Pass By)
2
Lake Windermere
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
Hill Top, Beatrix Potter's House
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 2 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Outbound: Train departs London Euston: 08:30 / arrives Oxenholme: 11:08
- Return: Train departs Oxenholme: 18:30 (18:26 Sat) / arrives at London Euston at 21:20
- Your electronic tickets and vouchers will be sent to you 7 days prior to your scheduled departure date via email (or, if booked within one week then within 24 hours of booking). We would recommend arriving at Euston Station 30 minutes before your scheduled train departure
- Please note that the train journey is unescorted. On arrival at Oxenholme station in the Lake District you you will be met by your tour guide and start your Lake District guided tour
- Child age: 5-11 yrs inclusive (Children under the age of 5 are not permitted on this Tour)
- Itinerary is subject to operational and seasonal variations
- We will make every effort to fulfil any requests you have for seating on the train however this cannot be guaranteed
- Hill Top House, home of Beatrix Potter, is not open Fridays outside of the UK school holidays or between November - February. When Hill Top is closed we will visit the World Of Beatrix Potter in Bowness.
- Hill Top Farm is closed for winter From 1st November 2024 to 15th February 2025. This tour visits the World of Beatrix Potter during this time.
- Please advise us of any special dietary requirements at least 7 days prior to travel
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Rithika
Peter was excellent. He has amazing knowledge and was really good at story telling! He made good conversation, was clear with instructions and has amazing driving skills haha! Loved every bit of it.
I loved how they company explained everything from start to end about the travels to and from Euston station and Oxenholme station. This was very helpful!
Reviews
4.1
based on 75 reviews
Jeanne_W, Jul 2025
This was a terrible tour. I booked 5 tours this trip via Viator and this was by far the worst. All other tours that I booked were 5 stars and this was sub-par. Why?
1. Mike, our guide did not have a sign when met in the train station. We had to search for him in the parking lot. His excuse was that he would know how to find us.
2. He spoke as if he had marbles in his mouth. We had no issues with any other tour guide.
3. His history of the area was all over the place and not well organized.
4. Some stops didn't allow for much time, one stop was 5 minutes
5. We arrived in the lake district for lunch at 2:50 and all the cafes closed at 3:00. Needless to say, we didn't have lunch.
6. The cream tea was 1 1/2 hours which should have been 1/2 hour and the extra hour could have been used for exploring and shopping.
Most of the trip seemed very rushed other than the Beatrix Potter tour which was very pleasant and time well spent.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Dear Jeanne_W,
Thank you for taking the time to provide such detailed feedback regarding your recent tour. We are truly sorry to hear that this experience did not meet your expectations, especially given your otherwise positive experiences with other tours.
We sincerely apologize for the issues you encountered—from the initial difficulty locating your guide Mike, to concerns about his communication style and the organization of the tour. We also regret that the timing of stops, including lunch and the cream tea, was not satisfactory and impacted your enjoyment.
Your comments are very important to us, and we will be sharing them with our management team to ensure improvements are made in training, scheduling, and overall guest experience. Please be assured that we take all feedback seriously and strive to deliver the highest standards on every tour.
If you would be open to discussing this further, we would welcome the opportunity to make things right and regain your trust. Please feel free to contact us directly at info@evanevanstours.com.
Thank you again for your honesty, and we hope to have the chance to provide you with a much better experience in the future.
Warm regards,
The Evan Evans Team
Rithika, Jun 2025
Peter was excellent. He has amazing knowledge and was really good at story telling! He made good conversation, was clear with instructions and has amazing driving skills haha! Loved every bit of it.
I loved how they company explained everything from start to end about the travels to and from Euston station and Oxenholme station. This was very helpful!
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Dear Rithika,
Thank you for your fantastic feedback!
We're so pleased to hear you had such a great experience with Peter. He's truly one of our best – knowledgeable, engaging, and as you said, a great storyteller! It's wonderful to know that his clear communication and warm personality made the day even more enjoyable (and yes, his driving skills are impressive too!).
We're also glad you found the travel information helpful. We know how important clear guidance is when navigating between stations, and we're happy it made your journey smoother.
Thank you again for joining us – we hope to welcome you back on another Evan Evans adventure soon!
Warm regards,
The Evan Evans Team
Sheila_C, Nov 2023
Mark, the guide, knows the area very well and has great information about many details.
I'd suggest leaving the Beatrix Potter's World off the tour, unless there are young children signed up.
Response from Host, Dec 2023
Hi Sheila_C,
Thank you for leaving us feedback on your tour. We are glad you had a good time on your tour. We are glad our team managed to make your day a good one. We hope to see you again soon!
Best wishes
Evan Evans
Lisa_T, Sep 2023
Round Top and the boat ride on the lake. We had a very personable and knowledgeable guide who was very attentive.
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Hi Lisa_T,
Thank you so much for this 5-star review. We really appreciate you being a customer and helping to share the word about us.
We hope to see you again on another one of our tours!
Best wishes
Evan Evans
Taei_H, Aug 2023
We got picked up 2 hours late from the station. No apologies from the local guide. Not worth of money at all!
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Hello Taei_H,
Thank you for your review, we appreciate you sharing your experience. We would like to hear more about what happened. Could you please email us at reservations@evanevanstours.co.uk
so we can investigate this issue.
All the best
Evan Evans
Lara_S, Jun 2023
The tour was great! A truly beautiful part of the world. The tour is very well organised, informative, fun and has a range of activities, including a boat ride. Well worth the day trip!
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Hi Lara_S,
Thank you so much for this 5-star review. We really appreciate you being a customer and helping to share the word about us.
We hope to see you again on another one of our tours!
Best wishes
Evan Evans
TERI_R, Jun 2023
Truly loved this tour. Peter was an amazing tour guide. He seems to love what he does and made the trip so memorable for us. We loved the scenery, the history, the boat ride and tea. We also enjoyed getting to know people from other countries. I highly recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Hi TERI_R,
Thank you so much for this 5-star review. We really appreciate you being a customer and helping to share the word about us.
We hope to see you again on another one of our tours!
Best wishes
Evan Evans
uzma_i, Dec 2022
Gerry from mountain goat tours was an excellent guide and story teller. Kept us entertained throughout
Response from Host, Dec 2022
Hello uzma_i,
Thank you for leaving us this fantastic review!
We work hard to meet expectations like yours, and we’re happy to hear we hit the mark for you.
Come back and see us soon!
Best wishes
Evan Evans Team
Madawi_I, Aug 2022
We had a wonderful day. Peter our tour guide was welcoming and helpful, and had a great knowledge about the place history.
The ride was lovely we had reasonable time to enjoy all stops and the cream tea was amazing.
To be honest I has some doubts about the feasibility of visiting the Lake District in a day trip from London.
But I think this is great if you are short of time and wish to have a taste of Lake District and don’t mind the 3h each way train journey.
Response from Host, Aug 2022
Hello, Madawi
Thank you for your feedback.
We are very happy that you took the time to leave us this wonderful note.
We do our best to keep our customers happy and we are glad that our hard work has paid off!
We look forward to seeing you again in the future.
Best wishes
Evan Evans Team
Melanie_R, Oct 2021
I’m quite picky about my trips and I can say this one was lovely. Even though there are still some changes from COVID, the directions to get to the train were simple and clear. My tour guide was right there when I arrived in Oxenholme and so friendly! Although it was a rainy day (with rain off and on) it seemed the rain stopped every place we stopped for an experience or just for photos. The Lake District is not to be missed! Such beauty. I also loved the included cream tea at the end at Beatrix Potters house which is now a lovely hotel. Yes it is a very long day, but it didn’t feel like it. I would say our guide Graham was also part of the highlight. So very knowledgeable and friendly.
Response from Host, Oct 2021
Hello Melanie,
Thank you for the 5* review!
Thank you for taking the time to share your opinion about our services. We are glad that our team did not disappoint and we made this trip a memorable one for you.
We hope to see you again soon.
Sending you our best wishes
Evan Evans Team
PradeepKumar_A, Oct 2018
I had to wait for 2 hours approx to start the tour. Called up agent but was communicated that agent is coming but the person came after 2 hours. There is no professionalism in the people operating the tour
Ian T, Sep 2018
An extremely well organized tour - all aspects of this tour occurred with clockwork precision. The travel in the Lake District was provided by Mountain Goat Tours with our guide having excellent knowledge of all aspects of the history, culture, geography and life style of the Lake District and the part Beatrix Potter played in that history. A great day.
Noel H T, Sep 2018
Booked first class rail on Saturday. Breakfast -sandwich??, dinner Muffin and cup of tea, no wine??. Comment from Virgin train staff - first class is 'rusbbish' on the weekends' At least in first class we were away from the drunks in stanard class.This train is the London to Glasgow and return so shall we say a wide range of travellers
As for the tour - Mountain Goat Tours, Peter our guide was execellent, very knowledgable, took us to all the key locations, lake cruise was good. Would recommend Mountain Goat tour, suggest do first class rail but not on weekends.
Tian S, Aug 2018
I could not take the tour due to work reasons. Called to try and re-schedule and was told not possible. Said that I am happy to pay for my own train tickets and would only like to be taken around by the bus / coach once in Lake District and still told that was not possible. In the end, had to lose the entire amount paid for the tour without a minute of the tour. A
Merran_P, Jun 2018
A wonderful day trip from London. Clear instructions were provided on the ticket emailed including where to meet a representative from the tour company at Euston Station. The representative was excellent outlining the day trip and what to expect. Upon arrival at Oxenholme railway station, we were met by Peter Fox our tour guide for the day. Peter was very polite, informative, obliging and an excellent driver. The highlights for me were Beatrix Potters home Hilltop, Hawkshead and the cruise on Lake Windermere. Peter ensured we were back in time at Oxenholme to meet our train back to London. A beautiful part of the UK and would highly recommend the tour if you have limited time to visit.
Dean M, Dec 2017
The Lake District is beautiful and a few days there would be fun. But if you do not have that time this tour is a great way to see it. It is very doable in a day. The guide was very nice and full of fun interesting information. I would recommed this tour.
judith p, Oct 2017
Itinerary was well planned and thoroughly enjoyable. Tour Guide was professional and knowledgeable.
Patricia T, Oct 2017
The day in the Lake District was the highlight of my trip to England. Everything, from the train trips, being picked up and returned to the station, and the visit to Beatrix Potter's cottage, went without a glitch. It's a long day, but it was thoroughly enjoyable!
Joe B, Oct 2017
Our tour guide, Peter Fox, could not have been more pleasant and enjoyable.
Susan K, Sep 2017
Very good tour and handled nicely. Loved seeing Beatrix Potter's house.
Manuela-Lidia G, Jul 2017
I travelled to Lake District on the 29th July. Someone from the agency waited for me in the train station and handed me the train tickets to and from Oxenholme. There, a very friendly guide was waiting for me in the station. She drove to other locations to gather everyone from the group, which had 10 people. We covered everything listed in the trip details, and the guide was amazing, she had impressive knowledge on the area and the people. The landscapes were breathtaking, so I would strongly encourage you to take this tour.
Joanne G, May 2017
This was a great tour! But not because the guide was good because he was not, I am use to learning many interesting facts he really had none to share? The coach had no air conditioning either. We were just lucky that the countryside was so beautiful and the towns so charming!
Kathryn_J, Aug 2016
A must if your a Beatrix Potter fan. The tour is operated in the Lake District by Mountain Goat Tours. The scenery is beautiful, the day was packed with activities. Our tour guide gave great history about the area, gave us a little to explore the sites.
I gave it three stars because if you need someone to guide you from London, you'll be disappointed. Evan Evans was the local company that met us at Euston station in London. She was difficult to find, had no identifying name tag or banner. We roamed and asked people who looked official. She handed us our packet including tickets and said, Have a good time, that we would be met at the station in Kendall. A little disconcerting for those of us who have never been to England.
If you're in for a quick day trip, this is it. Otherwise book a longer trip. The area is beautiful and needs time to explore.
Susan C, Aug 2016
Great tour by Peter Fox. He was very knowledgeable, friendly and adept at getting us around the area without a hitch. The boat ride and the cream tea were nice features. It was a fabulous way to see this region in one day and still get back to London.
LynnR_B, Jun 2016
This was a very nice tour which had a bonus of touring Beatrix Cottage and a lake cruise. The only complaint was that we were shorted tour time because the driver/guide had to pick up additional tourists at their hotels and going back to the tour office to sign in. They could have had the others brought to the tour office to be there when our group arrived. Other than that it was a very pleasant experience and wonderful scenery.
Michael R, May 2016
Highly recommend this tour! Peter was a great tour guide. I went in April and the weather and area was enjoyable. Not overly crowded or cold! If you're worried about taking a train to and from London... 3 hours really goes by fast on the Virgin trains.
Lucie R, Oct 2015
Excellent birds eye view of the Lake District, very good guide informative and efficient. The seat reservations were not good, fortunately the train was not full and we were able to change, a window is infinetly preferable to a blank wall. Trains unlike aeroplanes do have views, often scenic! Departure information was incorrect, we were told to be at the station by 7.30am for an 8am departure but the train was not scheduled to leave until 8.30am.
Ai Vee N, Sep 2015
The upgrade to first class was worth it. Even it is just a day trip , you get a taste of Lake District. There plenty of time on each location as advertised on trip. David was an excellent driver and got us on time and safely from 1point to the other. The tea was good. The lake cruise was enjoyable.
Patricia S, Jul 2015
The Lake District Day Trip was a wonderful experience.
We loved getting to see Beatrix Potter's home, but the rest of the Lake District was also wonderful.
Having afternoon tea at the hotel was a wonderful experience.
What a beautiful area!
Sally R, Jun 2015
This was wonderful! We were met at the station and given our tickets and then relaxed on the train to the Lakes District. Leaving the train we were met by our guide and spent a lovely day! Our guide was very knowledgeable and pointed out many interesting sights along the way. I loved our time in Ambleside, particularly the old school which our guide had recommended we go to...Wonderful, wonderful day and it was one of my sons favourite days on our holiday! He is 6
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