What’s On in the Lake District This Christmas?
You’ll find events taking place from November through to New Year’s Day, including Christmas light switch-ons, Santa experiences, carol concerts, festive afternoon teas, Christmas lunches and New Year celebrations.
Keep reading for our guide to Christmas events and things to do across the Lake District to get you in the festive spirit.
Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa Christmas Lights Switch-On
Start the festive season at Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa with the official Christmas lights switch-on.
Join us from 5pm, with the lights switched on at 5.30pm by pupils from Borrowdale School. Mulled wine and mince pies will be available to purchase from the bar, creating a cosy festive atmosphere.
Afterwards, enjoy the festive lounge menu in the beautifully decorated Conservatory & lounges, or book dinner at The Falls Brasserie or Mizu Pan-Asian Restaurant.
Date: Friday 13 November 2026
Location: Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa, Borrowdale
Please note: Food is not included as part of the Christmas Lights Switch-On event. Guests are warmly invited to book a table afterwards. Advance table bookings are essential.
Keswick Christmas Lights Switch-On
Organised by Keswick Town Council, the annual Keswick Christmas Lights Switch-On marks the start of the festive season in the town.
Taking place in Keswick Market Square, in front of the Moot Hall, the celebrations are surrounded by our town-centre hotels, including Inn on the Square, Kings Arms Hotel and Skiddaw Hotel. Visitors can enjoy Christmas lights, music and a festive atmosphere as Keswick officially welcomes Christmas.
Date: Wednesday 18 November 2026
Location: Market Square, Keswick
A much-loved community event and a festive highlight for anyone visiting Keswick at Christmas.
Keswick Victorian Fayre 2026
Get into the Christmas spirit at the Keswick Victorian Fayre 2026, taking place in Keswick’s Market Square on Sunday 6 December.
Enjoy festive entertainment throughout the day, browse stalls selling Christmas gifts, food and drink, and get involved with raffles, tombolas and games.
Set around the historic Moot Hall, it’s a lovely way to enjoy Christmas in Keswick, support local businesses and charities, and make a festive day of it.
A Christmas Carol at Theatre by the Lake
This Christmas, Theatre by the Lake presents A Christmas Carol, a festive adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic tale with music, storytelling and a ghostly twist. A great festive event to enjoy during a Christmas break in Keswick and the Lake District.
Dates: 13 November 2026 – 3 January 2027
Location: Theatre by the Lake, Keswick
Christmas Through the Ages with John Crouch
Join Cumbrian food historian John Crouch at The Borrowdale Hotel for a unique Christmas dining experience exploring festive food through the centuries.
Enjoy mulled wine on arrival followed by a four-course dinner, with each course inspired by a different historical period. John will share the stories, traditions and origins behind the dishes that have helped shape Christmas dining over the years.
Tickets are £45 per person and include tea, coffee and traditional festive sweet treats.
Date: Thursday 10 December 2026
Location: The Borrowdale Hotel, Borrowdale Valley, near Keswick
Festive Afternoon Tea with Miss Pearl
Step back in time this Christmas with a nostalgic festive afternoon tea at The Borrowdale Hotel, near Keswick.
Enjoy a full festive afternoon tea with tea and coffee while vintage vocalist Miss Pearl performs timeless songs from decades gone by. Guests are welcome to dress in vintage or festive style, enjoy the live music and even take to the floor for a dance.
Tickets are £40 per person.
Date: Saturday 5 December 2026, 1.30pm–4pm
Location: The Borrowdale Hotel, Borrowdale Valley, near Keswick
Festive Sunday Lunch with Santa at Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa
Create magical family memories this Christmas with a Festive Sunday Lunch with Santa at Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa.
Children can visit Santa’s Grotto, meet Santa and his helpers, and receive a special festive gift. Afterwards, families can enjoy a three-course Sunday lunch in the Falls Brasserie, featuring seasonal flavours and festive favourites.
A lovely Christmas event for families looking to celebrate together in the Lake District.
Date: Sunday 13 & Sunday 20 December 2026
Location: Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa, Borrowdale, near Keswick
Santa’s Sunday Lunch at Inn on the Lake
Celebrate Christmas with a magical Sunday Lunch with Father Christmas at Inn on the Lake, overlooking Ullswater in Glenridding.
Enjoy a three-course Sunday lunch before a special visit from Father Christmas, with a present for each child. A lovely festive experience for families looking for a Christmas event in the Lake District.
Date: Sunday 6 & Sunday 13 in December 2026
Location: Inn on the Lake, Glenridding, Ullswater, CA11 0PE
Christmas Carols with Lakeland Larks Choir & Festive Dinner
Enjoy a traditional Christmas evening in the at Inn on the Lake, with festive food, mulled wine and live carols.
Guests will be welcomed with mulled wine before enjoying Christmas carols performed by the Lakeland Larks Choir, followed by a two-course festive dinner, mince pies, tea and coffee. The choir will return later in the evening with more seasonal favourites and a festive singalong finale.
Tickets are £40 per person.
Date: Friday 11 December 2026, from 6pm
Location: The Candleroom, Inn on the Lake, Glenridding, Ullswater
Christmas Party Night with Miss Pearl
Celebrate the festive season with a Christmas Party Night with vintage vocalist Miss Pearl, featuring live music, festive dining and dancing.
Enjoy a three-course Christmas dinner, followed by tea, coffee and mince pies, before Miss Pearl performs a mix of classics and party favourites from the 1940s through to today.
Tickets are £48 per person. This event is for over 18s only.
Date: Friday 11 & Saturday 19 December 2026, from 7pm
Location: The Borrowdale Hotel, Borrowdale Valley, near Keswick
Carols by Candlelight at Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa
Celebrate the festive season with Carols by Candlelight at Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa, a warm Christmas evening in the heart of the Lake District.
Enjoy mulled wine on arrival, live Christmas carols performed by Keswick Amateur Operatic Society, and a two-course festive dinner, followed by mince pies, tea and coffee.
Tickets are £40 per person and booking is essential.
Date: Saturday 12 December 2026, from 6.30pm
Location: Derwent Suite, Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa, Borrowdale, near Keswick
The Ultimate Christmas Part Night with Johnny Morton – Live Singer, Sax & DJ
Get ready for a lively Christmas party night at Inn on the Lake, with festive food, live music and plenty of dancing.
Your evening begins with a welcome glass of fizz before sitting down to a three-course festive dinner in the Candleroom. Afterwards, Johnny Morton, Singer & Sax, will take to the stage for two live sets, followed by a DJ playing party favourites through until midnight.
Tickets also include tea, coffee and mince pies, with festive table decorations and seasonal novelties helping set the mood for the night.
Tickets are £55 per person.
Date: 13th December
Location: Ramblers Bar & the Candleroom, Inn on the Lake, Ullswater
Perfect for Christmas parties, festive nights out and group celebrations with friends, family or colleagues.
Winter Walks in the Lakes
There’s no better place for a winter walk than the Lake District. Pull on your walking boots, wrap up warm and make the most of the quieter winter days. Whether you fancy a gentle lakeside stroll, a walk through the valleys and fells or a more challenging winter hike, there’s something for every pace — and plenty of beautiful scenery to enjoy along the way.
Warm Up with a Spa Day at The Falls Spa
After a few busy days of Christmas celebrations — or a chilly winter walk — slow things down with a spa day at The Falls Spa. Set in the Borrowdale Valley, the spa offers a peaceful place to warm up and unwind, with its thermal experiences and outdoor hydrotherapy pool surrounded by Lake District scenery.
Explore spa days at The Falls Spa and add a little relaxation to your Twixmas plans.
New Year’s Eve Celebration at Inn on the Lake
Welcome 2027 with a black-tie New Year’s Eve celebration at Inn on the Lake, overlooking Ullswater in the Lake District.
Enjoy a five-course dinner in the Lake View Restaurant, live music and dancing, followed by a traditional piper and midnight snack as the New Year begins.
Tickets are £125 per person. This event is for over 18s only and booking is essential.
Date: Thursday 31 December 2026, 6pm–1am
Location: Inn on the Lake, Glenridding, Ullswater
New Year’s Eve Party at Skiddaw Hotel
Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Keswick with a night of festive dining, live music and dancing at the Skiddaw Hotel.
Enjoy a six-course celebratory dinner in the Greta Suite, followed by live entertainment and dancing. At midnight, head into Keswick Market Square to welcome 2027 before returning for a glass of fizz, traditional haggis, neeps and tatties, and a traditional piper.
Tickets are £125 per person.
Date: Thursday 31 December 2026, 6pm–1am
Location: Skiddaw Hotel, Keswick, Lake District
New Year’s Eve Party at Borrowdale Hotel
Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Borrowdale with a night of fine dining, live entertainment and dancing at The Borrowdale Hotel.
Enjoy a six-course Gala Dinner in our elegant restaurant, followed by DJ entertainment, a disco and dancing. At midnight, raise a glass of fizz, enjoy a late-night snack and welcome 2027 to the sound of a traditional piper.
Tickets are £125 per person.
Date: Thursday 31 December 2026, 6pm–1am
Location: The Borrowdale Hotel, Borrowdale Valley, Lake District
New Year’s Day Celebration Brunch Buffet at Inn on the Lake
Start New Year’s Day at Ullswater with a relaxed brunch, live entertainment and beautiful Lake District views at Inn on the Lake.
Enjoy a welcome drink on arrival before settling in to our all-you-can-eat Lakes & Fells Cumbrian buffet, with a generous selection of seasonal favourites, comforting brunch dishes and locally inspired flavours. Live singers will perform throughout the event, creating an easy-going start to 2027.
Tickets are £63 per person.
Date: Friday 1 January 2027, 10am–2pm
Location: Inn on the Lake, Glenridding, Ullswater
New Year’s Day Brunch at Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa
Start New Year’s Day in the Lake District with a relaxed brunch, live music and plenty of choice at Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa.
Enjoy a welcome drink on arrival before taking your seat for a 90-minute all-you-can-eat East-meets-West buffet, with everything from classic brunch favourites to Pan-Asian dishes. Live music from a solo artist will set the tone for a sociable start to 2027.
Tickets are £75 per person.
Date: Friday 1 January 2027
Location: Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa, Borrowdale, Lake District
New Year Breaks in the Lake District
Planning to stay a little longer and make a proper break of New Year? Our hotels offer a few different ways to welcome 2027 in the Lake District.
For a spa escape: Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa in Borrowdale combines a festive New Year stay with beautiful surroundings, great dining and The Falls Spa on the doorstep.
For New Year in Keswick: Skiddaw Hotel and Kings Arms put you right in the heart of the town, ideal if you want to enjoy the atmosphere of Keswick over New Year without needing the car.
For a peaceful country-house escape: The Borrowdale Hotel offers a more traditional New Year stay in the Borrowdale Valley, surrounded by fells and countryside.
For a relaxed Ullswater break: The Patterdale Hotel offers a friendly, easy-going stay surrounded by the fells, perfect if you’d rather welcome the New Year at a slower pace.
Take a look at our New Year breaks and find the one that suits you best.
