Beatrix Potter: Exploring the World of the Famed Children's Author in the Lake District
4.9
95 Ratings
Cumbria
Embark on a fascinating tour through the picturesque Lake District to explore the world of Beatrix Potter, the famed children's author. Visit her former home, Hill Top, and other landmarks that inspired her beloved stories.
Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Wray Castle - 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.
  • Hill Top, Beatrix Potter’s House - 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.

  • Esthwaite water trout fishery - 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”.
  • Hawkshead Grammar School Museum - 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.
  • Beatrix Potter Gallery - 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.
  • Tarn Hows - 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 - 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”.

  • Windermere - This is one of our pickup points
  • Bowness-on-Windermere - This is one of our pickup points
  • Ambleside - This is one of our pickup points
What's Included
  • Relaxed and friendly small-group tour of no more than 7 guests
  • Comfortable minivans with air-conditioning, WiFi and charging points
  • Regular photo and comfort stops
  • Professional Guides sharing expertise in English
  • Entry to Hill Top (Beatrix Potter’s house) included
  • Convenient central departure and return points
  • All entrance fees for itinerary locations included
What's Not Included
  • Food & drink
Additional Information

This expedition offers a captivating adventure through the scenic Lake District while uncovering the universe of the esteemed author and illustrator, Beatrix Potter. It’s the perfect experience for those keen to delve into the life and work of a cherished icon in British children’s literature. As part of the tour, a visit to Hill Top, Beatrix Potter’s previous residence, is arranged where explorers can wander around the quaint cottage and stunning gardens that served as inspiration for many of her adored tales. Bonus visits to other significant locations tied to Potter’s existence and career are also included, promising a thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening morning tour.

  • 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!
Location
Windermere
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(95 Ratings)
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Passenger28887423990
Apr 24, 2024
Exceeded our expectations in all areas - Great guide, Tom I believe, very knowledgeable and personable. A full days worth of beautiful vista's and sighting in a half day tour. We will be back to visit the area and book another tour with English Lake Tours.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kitpinge_k
Apr 8, 2024
Excellent tour guide - Tim was a professional tour guide and provided us with some interesting information. He took us to the villages of Hawkshead, Hill Top and Near Sawrey to compare the pictures in the Beatrix Potter storybooks with the real places.
Review provided by Viator
Onair28901725196
Mar 25, 2024
Amazing tour! - We did the tour with Tim who was incredibly knowledgeable and easy to chat with. The experience was incredible- we learned so much and saw so many beautiful vistas. The stops fit so well with the story. I definitely recommend this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Emily_w
Mar 18, 2024
Amazing tour and guide - We had an amazing experience on this tour with Tim. He was friendly, knowledgeable, helpful. We got an incredible amount of information about Beatrix Potter and saw so many sights that we would have missed had we tried to visit on our own. 100% recommend!
Review provided by Viator
C6244kgmarkp
Feb 19, 2024
Beatrix Potter tour - What a wonderful informative morning we had with English lake tours. I can honestly say it was the best way to see and learn about Beatrix Potter, we had Tim as our tour guide he was very easy going and knowledgeable about the Lake District, if you’re in two minds to book the tour or not then don’t, it really was one of the highlights of our stay
Review provided by Tripadvisor
K1150khgrahamb
Sep 13, 2023
Most enjoyable - Very informative. So nice to visit Hill Top. Could have done with a bit longer there. Hawkshead was delightful. It was lovely being shown the exact places where BP painted illustrations for her books. Seeing Tarn How's was a lovely end to the morning.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Estherbeebee
Sep 9, 2023
Highlight of my holiday! - This was one of the best decisions I made on my trip. It was a last minute decision I was glad I made. The time flew by so fast and I wished it could go on for longer. Our tour guide Tim was a master storyteller and so knowledgeable about the locale, Beatrix Potter's story and Lakes District history/gist in general. It felt like being shown around by a friendly local who is fond of the place and knows people at all the destinations. I thoroughly enjoyed it and left inspired by the amazing life of Beatrix Potter. What a woman. There was no way I would have put together such a cohesive and enlightening journey through her life in about 4 hours. If you’re thinking about it, DO IT! You’ll love it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aileen_s
Sep 5, 2023
What an amazing tour - Beatrix Potter - This was a very intimate tour with 5 participants and our guide Tim was passionate and informative about Beatrix Potter and the Lakes district. We thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend this tour to future visitors to the area.
Review provided by Viator
Taracw3577sh
Sep 1, 2023
A perfect adventure! - A perfect adventure into the life of Beatrix Potter w a fabulous guide who had so many good stories to tell—he made the whole experience come to life. Above & beyond—I loved every minute and did not want it to end!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aka7891
Nov 2, 2023
Disgusting behaviour - 1. The other customers were told to put their seat belts on LATER in the journey. I'm pregnant and they could have fallen on top of me if they happened to not be wearing seat belts. Maybe this can be forgiven as they put their seat belts on at my pick up point but still. 2. The high way code says you don't do sharp breaking for animals as it could hurt the passengers and a car could smash into the back of us. I love animals and hate roadkill but the safety of passengers and my unborn kid should have been more important and the law says its illegal. To protect the squirrels life there is a very easy solution.... DRIVE SLOWLY. I told the company I was pregnant when I complained they basically said I should have disclosed this. Its not a rock climbing activity where the onus is on me. Many pregnant women don't tell taxi drivers their medical history or wear a sign on their head saying their condition because we trust that they follow the high way code. Anyway they haven't answered my last two messages so I will go higher up in the next few hours.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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May 2024
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