Fell Foot
A National Trust lakeshore park at Windermere's quiet southern tip: grassy banks straight into the water, paddling, boat hire and an adventure playground. The easiest safe lake-swim spot for families.
Days out with the kids in Newby Bridge
4 places in Newby Bridge, Cumbria, 1 of which cost nothing. Everything below is within easy reach if you live locally.
4 in Newby Bridge1 free2 indoor
Newby Bridge is barely a village, a hotel and a bridge at the foot of Windermere, yet it holds more for children than towns twenty times its size. The Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway runs steam up its wooded branch line, the Lakes Aquarium sits by the pier where the boats come in, and the Lakeland Motor Museum is ten minutes of record-breakers and old signage down the road.
Fell Foot is the free one, the National Trust park across the water with lawns running down to the lake shore, a good playground and shallow paddling on hot days. The trick everyone works out eventually is to chain them: train, boat, aquarium and park all sit within a few minutes of each other, so one parking spot can fund a whole day. Book the railway ahead in August.
Places in Newby Bridge
Lakeland Motor Museum
Thousands of vehicles and period pieces packed into a riverside mill, with the Campbell Bluebird story told properly in its own gallery. One for kids who like machines; a surprisingly good wet-weather card.
Lakes Aquarium
A small, well-done aquarium at the quiet end of Windermere with an underwater tunnel walk beneath the lake's own fish, plus otters and rays. Pairs naturally with the steam railway next door.
Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway
A short, perfectly-formed steam line through the Leven valley that connects with the Windermere boats at Lakeside. Do train plus cruise and you have built the classic Lakes day without a single car park argument.
What’s on in Newby Bridge
8 dated events coming up, 1 of them this weekend.
Grange Goshawks Wildlife Watch Group (opens on Cumbria Wildlife Trust)
Cumbria Wildlife Trust · Newby Bridge
2 Aug. Sunday 2 August, 10am to 12pm
Grange Wildlife Watch group meet once a month on a Sunday morning.
Listed by Cumbria Wildlife Trust · collected 2 Aug
Nature tots at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve (opens on Cumbria Wildlife Trust)
Near Witherslack · Newby Bridge
4 Aug. Tuesday 4 August, 10am to 11.30am
Join us for our monthly pre school meet at Foulshaw Moss nature reserve.
Listed by Cumbria Wildlife Trust · collected 2 Aug
Pond dipping at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve (opens on Cumbria Wildlife Trust)
Near Witherslack · Newby Bridge
6 Aug. Thursday 6 August, 10am to 12pm
Come and find out what lurks in the pools at Foulshaw Moss.
Listed by Cumbria Wildlife Trust · collected 2 Aug
Nature tots at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve (opens on Cumbria Wildlife Trust)
Near Witherslack · Newby Bridge
1 Sept. Tuesday 1 September, 10am to 11.30am
Join us for our monthly pre school meet at Foulshaw Moss nature reserve.
Listed by Cumbria Wildlife Trust · collected 2 Aug
Pond dipping at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve (opens on Cumbria Wildlife Trust)
Near Witherslack · Newby Bridge
2 Sept to 5 Sept. Every Wednesday and Saturday, 10am to 12pm
Come and find out what lurks in the pools at Foulshaw Moss.
Listed by Cumbria Wildlife Trust · collected 2 Aug
Grange Goshawks Wildlife Watch Group (opens on Cumbria Wildlife Trust)
Cumbria Wildlife Trust · Newby Bridge
6 Sept. Sunday 6 September, 10am to 12pm
Grange Wildlife Watch group meet once a month on a Sunday morning.
Listed by Cumbria Wildlife Trust · collected 2 Aug
Everything on in Newby Bridge2 more not shown here
Also worth the drive
Not in Newby Bridge, but close enough for a day out.
Windermere Lake Cruises
England's biggest lake from the deck of a proper boat, with red, yellow and green routes so you can pick a 45-minute hop or a full lake cruise. Combo tickets pair it with the aquarium or the steam railway.
Brockhole on Windermere
The national park's visitor centre with treetop nets, archery, mini golf, boat hire and a big adventure playground running down to the lake shore. Free to wander; the activities are pay-as-you-go.
The World of Beatrix Potter
Peter Rabbit's world recreated in walk-through scenes, ending in the garden with Mr McGregor's vegetables. Squarely for the under-8s; it is small, sweet and unashamed of it.
Whinlatter Forest
England's only true mountain forest: Gruffalo sculptures on the trail, the WildPlay adventure area, red squirrels if you are lucky, and Go Ape for older kids. Views over Derwentwater thrown in.
The Puzzling Place
An anti-gravity room where water appears to run uphill, a hologram gallery and a room that shrinks the grown-ups. Cheap, indoor, and exactly the right length for the age group.
Grizedale Forest
Sculptures hidden through the trees turn a forest walk into a treasure hunt, with trails from buggy-flat to proper leg-stretch and Go Ape overhead. Between Windermere and Coniston, and quieter than both.
Muncaster Castle
A lived-in castle above the Esk with a Hawk and Owl Centre whose flying displays are the real event, gardens to roam and a healthy line in ghost stories for the brave. Far, but it earns the drive.
Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway
Miniature steam engines - properly miniature, knee-high to a real train - hauling open carriages seven miles into the fells. Forty minutes of pure delight each way; combine with Muncaster next door.