I go to the Lake District every year — here are the best things for families to do

My husband and I are big fans of the Lake District after discovering Keswick for our 10th wedding anniversary. This time we wanted to return to the beautiful views and have a different experience with our two young kids.

I still wanted to relax among the chaos of bringing our little ones, and The Swan Hotel and Spa by Newby Bridge ticked these boxes. It had a relaxed setting, an outdoor play area and swimming pool to keep the kids entertained and a spa for us adults. You can even take your dog, which reflects the hotel’s warm atmosphere.

There are cottages available but we chose to stay in one of the hotel’s family suites, which have a separate room with bunk beds. The restaurant, which has a cosy fire, serves superb food, including amazing roast dinners that even got approval from the world’s two fussiest eaters.

Having some evening drinks outside is a must, admiring the view of the River Leven while the sun is setting, before taking advantage of the complimentary cookies and milk delivered to your room before bedtime.

The spa at The Swan

The Swan’s Holte Spa is an adult-only zone, and guests get two hours of access during their stay. Here I escaped for a moment of complete bliss at the outdoor Finnish sauna and Jacuzzi before finishing with a 30-minute spa massage. I suffer from back problems and this one started with a breathing exercise, and the clenching and unclenching of fists, to release tension before the real relaxation began. It worked a treat.

Rooms at The Swan Hotel and Spa start from £180 per night and from £240 per night for a suite with breakfast included.

Things to do with kids in the Lake District

As this was a family staycation, we had to visit The World of Beatrix Potter Attraction, a 15-minute drive away in Crag Brow. The closest car park, Rayrigg Road, is opposite, and an essential find with children in tow. A family ticket for two adults and two kids cost £30, and we were there for about an hour and a half, the kids engrossed in Peter Rabbit’s garden that brought their favourite characters to life. After exploring this quaint town, we grabbed some fish and chips and enjoyed them by the lake, watching the boats and ducks.

Five minutes away, Windermere Jetty Museum has recently had an extensive makeover. Here you can explore Windermere’s 200-year boating history and book a 30-minute heritage boat trip around one of the UK’s most beautiful locations, the Lake District National Park.

You can also visit the Brockhole on Windermere, which has an excellent adventure playground, gardens designed by renowned landscape artist Thomas Mawson and lots of boat hire options for the lake.

At Coniston, you can take the whole family out on the water with a variety of boats for hire, from motor boats to traditional wodden rowing boats.

The Ravenglass and Eksdale Railway is one of the longest narrow gauge railways in England. The journey is seven miles long and takes about 40 minutes each way with stunning views of the Lake District. Or you could take in the views and explore the Lake District without the hassle of driving or parking by taking a bus tour. Stagecoach has a guide to the Lake District has timetables and maps to help you.

While the Lake District might be most famous for its, um, lakes, there are also forests like Grizedale and Whinlatter to explore via loads of walking and cycling trails.

And when it comes to animals, there's the Lake District Wildlife Park withn over 100 species of animals, or you can walk with alpacas at Alpacaly Ever After.