Beatrix Potter Morning Tour | Peter Rabbit's Lake District
Description
This tour is a fascinating experience that takes you on a journey through the picturesque Lake District to explore the world of the famous author and illustrator, Beatrix Potter. The tour is an ideal way to learn about the life and works of one of the most beloved figures in British children's literature. The tour includes a visit to Hill Top, the former home of Beatrix Potter, where you can explore the charming cottage and beautiful gardens that inspired many of her beloved stories. You will also get the opportunity to visit other landmarks related to Potter's life and work, making for a truly memorable and informative morning tour.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your morning starts with a visit to Wray Castle for spectacular scenery and lake views. This is the holiday home where Beatrix first fell in love with the Lake District. There will be plenty of time for photos.
While on holiday, Beatrix visited many of the small villages in the area and Near Sawrey became her favourite. This village features in many of her "little books" illustrations. The Tower Bank Arms is immediately recognisable as the place where Kep, the collie-dog goes looking for the two fox-hound puppies to rescue Jemima Puddle-duck. You will be amazed when you see it, exactly like it is in the book! One of the reasons why Beatrix visited Near Sawrey so often was because while staying on holiday in the area, the Potter's coachman and his family were lodging at a farm there. That farm was Hill Top and is the one Beatrix later bought with the profits from publishing Peter Rabbit. She often visited her 'holiday home' Hill Top and wrote many more books here which were inspired by the people and the places around her in this beautiful part of England. We stop at Near Sawrey and Hill Top for you to see the locations which are so recognisable in the books and the place where Beatrix Potter lived. Entry to Hill Top IS included in the price of this tour. Your guide will take you on a guided walk through the village to show you actual places illustrated in Beatrix's books.
Close by Hill Top is Esthwaite Water where Beatrix walked while courting her future husband, William Heelis. This was a favourite spot for Beatrix who thought it "the most beautiful of the Lakes".
We now stop off in Hawkshead. Your guide will take you on a walking tour around this medieval village pointing out all of the important locations.
William Heelis was a solicitor who advised Beatrix about her land purchases. His offices were in Hawkshead village. They are now the Beatrix Potter Gallery.
Beatrix bought a lot of land in the Lake District and owned the beauty spot Tarn Hows. Here you will have a photo opportunity here.
Coniston Water is the third largest lake in the Lake District and is the straightest. You will have a short stop here to admire the view and see the famous fell of Coniston Old Man towering over the village and the lake. Beatrix also owned a lot of farms in the area and as we travel down the Yewdale Valley back to Ambleside, you will see Yew Tree Farm, famous as a location in the film "Miss Potter".
This is one of our pickup points
This is one of our pickup points
This is one of our pickup points
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The English Lake District weather can change quickly, even in the summer months. Please bring a waterproof coat with a hood in case of rain or windy weather
- As there is a little walking involved on the tour, some uphill and on uneven or wet terrain, please wear suitable, comfortable shoes
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- All passengers, including children of any age, must have a seat purchased for them
- We will collect you from the departure point linked to your chosen option. Please do not change to a different departure point without informing us in advance as we don't automatically go to every departure point. If we don't know you have changed your departure point we may not pick you up for the tour!
Reviews(162)
A very good small tour experience. The guide was knowledgeable, and provided lots of information. Pointed out sights sometimes missed, and painted a well rounded picture of the life of Beatrix, and the key people who were an influence on her life. Tour was well paced, thoroughly enjoyable experience
"Bewitched by Beatrix" — we love that title. The things most visitors walk straight past are often the most interesting, and a well rounded picture of her life as well as the magic of her the books is exactly what Tim sets out to give. Really glad the morning felt so well paced and enjoyable.
The guide was very helpful. We thoroughly enjoyed the visit to the Beatrix Potter home and the surrounding area. It was one of our highlights on our visit to the Lakes District.
Georges, thank you! Hill Top is one of those places that just stays with you, and the surrounding countryside and villages are every bit as special — Beatrix Potter knew exactly what she was doing when she chose to make her life here. Really pleased it was one of the highlights of your trip — that means a lot to us.
Another great tour with English Lakes Tours after the Brontes. I thought Beatrix Potter just wrote children's books. I was wrong. I learned much more about her on the tour with our extremely knowledgable guide (and small group). She was a powerhouse when it wasn't common for women. She was brilliant: an activist, an environmentalist, a botanist, a philanthropist, a farmer, and much more, which you will learn about on the tour. We also drove thorough beautiful areas of the the Lake District. I highly recommend this tour.
Two days with us and two completely different stories — what a way to spend your time in the Lakes! "A powerhouse when it wasn't common for women" is such a perfect description of Beatrix Potter, and you discovered exactly what the tour is designed to reveal — the activist, the environmentalist, the botanist, the philanthropist, the farmer, all wrapped up in the woman most people only know from the children's books. Tim loves telling that story and it sounds like it came through brilliantly. The spectacular Lake District landscape as the backdrop makes the whole morning even more special. Thank you so much for coming back to us — and for such a generous recommendation!
A wonderful tour with our driver and guide Tim. So much more to see, so informative , he new everything you needed to know about Beatrix Potter. Her house and grounds were full of amazing treasures. We Loved it. I recommend this tour, great memories. Thank you Tim.
Gillian, so glad Tim made the morning such a rich one — there really is so much to discover about Beatrix Potter, and Hill Top never disappoints. Really pleased you loved it and came away with such good memories. We'll pass your thanks straight on to Tim!
If you wish to learn about Beatrix Potter's life, her wonderful characters & her inspirational work preserving the farming way of life in the Lakes District, this is the tour you need! Tim was so knowledgeable & took time explaining places. Loved the Hill Top Farm visit. Wonderful experience!
Mervyn, what a brilliant review — thank you! Tim really does love taking his time at each spot, properly sharing her life, her characters and that whole conservation story rather than rushing through it. Hill Top is the heart of the morning and we're so glad it felt that way for you too. Thanks so much for this — made our day!
We experienced an informative and educational tour that was entertaining as well. Our guide was very generous with sharing their knowledge and captivated our attention. We got to see more of the Lake District and to discover what makes this area so special and so important. The tour is good value for money. We felt that the duration of the tour was just right and got back in time for lunch. The tour group size is small, just a handful of us. The group is friendly and relaxed. You can be yourself and take your time. If you love to learn more about the history of this region you will live this tour.
So glad the morning struck that balance between informative and genuinely entertaining — that is exactly what we aim for. Discovering what makes this landscape so special, at a relaxed pace with a small group where you can really be yourself, is the heart of the experience. Glad the timing worked perfectly for lunch too. Thank you for such a thoughtful review.
Tim was excellent. He has a great way of setting the context and then pointing out th essentials of each location along the tour
Really glad Tim made the Beatrix Potter morning feel so well structured — the context first, then the details that make each location click into place. That approach is what turns a drive through beautiful countryside into a story you actually take home with you. Hope to see you again soon.
Best tour guide and driver ever. Learned so much about Beatrix Potter. You must go on this tour to get a deeper knowledge of one of England’s greatest artists writers and environmentalists.
Gael, "best tour guide and driver ever" is about as good as it gets — thank you, Tim will be delighted! Beatrix Potter the artist, the writer and the environmentalist all in one morning is exactly the depth we love giving people, and we are so glad it landed that way for you. Hope to welcome you back to the Lakes again soon.
Outstanding tour. Our guide, Tim, was fantastic. We learned so much about Beatrix Potter in a morning.
Judith, there is more to the Beatrix Potter story than most people expect — and Tim loves telling all of it. We are glad the morning came alive for you. She was a remarkable woman long before and long after Peter Rabbit. Hope to see you back in the Lakes again.
Pretty comprehensive tour of Beatrix Potter area. Scheduled to gain entry to Hill Top house. Many illustrated buildings pointed out in the area. Our guide, Tim, was extremely knowledgeable about B. Potter, history, and the area. Never could have done this on my own, and would have missed a lot. Definitely book for a tour of Beatrix Potter territory.
Lois, really glad the morning felt so comprehensive — timed entry to Hill Top and all those illustrated buildings pointed out along the way in the "little books" are exactly what makes Tim's tour so different from finding your own way round, the village comes to life! So much would have been missed without him, and we are glad you didn't have to. Thank you for such a thorough recommendation.
