The Lake District is the UK’s top dining destination
12th March 2024
Updated March 2024
Cumbria and the Lake District is officially the UK’s top dining destination outside of London!
Cumbria is now the proud holder of more Michelin stars than any other county in the UK outside of London!
In March 2024, Cumbrian restaurants and pubs were awarded an amazing 15 Michelin stars between them in the 2024 Michelin Guide. This is a huge achievement for 1 of England’s most sparsely populated counties. However, this well and truly establishes the Lake District and Cumbria as a world-class foodie destination.
Here’s a list of the Michelin starred restaurant and pubs in proximity to our Lake District holiday cottages:-
Cumbria’s Michelin starred restaurants & pubs
L’Enclume, Cartmel 
Rogan & Co. Cartmel 
Heft, High Newton
SOURCE at Gilpin Hotel, Bowness-on-Windermere
The Samling, Ambleside
The Old Stamp House, Ambleside
Lake Road Kitchen, Ambleside
Forest Side, Grasmere
Allium at Askham Hall, Askham
Cottage in the Wood, Braithwaite
Dog and Gun Inn, Skelton
Cedar Tree by Hrishikesh Desai, Brampton
Pentonbridge Inn, Penton
Apart from the exceptionally high quality that you’d expect from a Michelin-starred restaurant, Cumbria’s Michelin-starred restaurants also have another key factor in common – quality local, seasonal, fresh ingredients.
Many of the chefs at these restaurants state how fortunate they are to have such quality, fresh and often unique ingredients on their doorsteps.
The Telegraph stated – “Cumbria and the Lake District are officially the UK’s top dining destination. Forget Kendal mint cake and Cumberland sausages – the Lake District is Britain’s hottest fine-dining destination.”
I must interject though and state that the Lake District isn’t just about fine dining, there’s plenty of very good ‘everyday’ and more affordable food served up in our Cumbrian restaurants, pubs and cafes.
Cumbrian world-famous specialities include Cumberland sausage, Morecambe Bay brown shrimps, Cartmel Sticky Toffee Pudding, Herdwick Lamb, Holker Salt Marsh Lamb, Muncaster Crab, Grasmere Gingerbread, Kendal Mint Cake and rum butter, originally from the west coast of Cumbria in the 18th century following the import of rum and spices into local trading ports.
Here’s more information about food & drink in the Lake District – click here
Our gorgeous Lake District cottages are within 30 minutes drive of 7 Michelin starred restaurants. You can see our Lake District holiday cottages here – click here
Two of our cottages in Cumbria are within walking distance to Cartmel’s Michelin starred restaurants and only a few minutes’ drive to Heft at the top of the Cartmel valley. You can see our 2 Cartmel cottages here
