Best Pub Beer Gardens in the Lake District
There are so many great pubs in the Lake District and, of course, plenty of stunning beer gardens that go along with them. We’ve highlighted some of our very favourite pub gardens here - this may be due to their ample size, their extra beautiful views of fells or waters, or maybe added amenities like outdoor BBQ pits or beer / music festivals.
In the olden days, we’d tell you to just rock up, grab a drink at the bar and go enjoy the views outside, but these days, bookings will almost always be necessary, so we would advise you to plan ahead and book your table in the beer garden well in advance of your visit. Be sure to the check the weather in advance too!
Lake View Garden Bar
The beer garden at Lake View Garden Bar is one of the most scenic in the Lake District, offering stunning views of Lake Windermere at every turn. In the summer months it is especially popular with live music hosted outside on the terrace garden bar.
The Wilsons Arms (Coniston)
The Wilsons Arms is the perfect place to enjoy a meal and drink when the sun is shining, thanks to its fabulous outdoor seating. There are a small number of tables at the front, along with a unique outdoor fish tank. At the back, you will find a heated terrace with comfortable seating, and a huge grassed space with picnic tables.
Wainwrights Inn (Chapel Stile)
Surrounded by the Langdale fells that over look the Great Langdale Beck feeding into Elterwater, the beer garden at Wainwrights Inn at Chapel Stile has a picture postcard setting. Perfect for enjoying a summer’s evening with a pint and a meal, the beer garden comprises of a terraced area with tables and a garden with a large grassed space.
The Three Shires Inn (Little Langdale)
The Little Langdale Valley is one of the prettiest areas in the Lake District and the beer garden at the Three Shires Inn is one of the best places in the area to enjoy the scenery. Surrounded by the Langdale fells, it’s a delight place to sit and enjoy a pint, with the sound of a babbling brook in the distance.
The Wasdale Head Inn
If your requirement for a pub is that it has an outstanding view in the beer garden, then you won’t be disappointed with the Wasdale Head Inn. Nestled at the base of Scafell Pike the beer garden offers views of the surrounding fells. A stream trickles along the side, with an ancient packhorse bridge adding to the charm of the place.
The Sun (Coniston)
The Sun in Coniston has a large beer garden on two levels. The upper level is on a terrace outside the conservatory dining room and has steps down to the lower level where there is a grassed area with a play structure. There are plenty of tables on both levels and the garden is overlooked by The Old Man Of Coniston fell.
The Ship Inn & Quayside Sports Bar (Bowness-On-Windermere)
There aren’t many beer gardens where you can sit right on the shore of England’s largest lake, which is why the outdoor terrace at the Ship Inn is so special. With plenty of seating, some of which is partly covered, this is a delightful place to enjoy a relaxing drink whilst watching the boats sailing across the lake.
The Masons Arms (Strawberry Bank)
Not many beer gardens can boast of having views that extend out to 15 miles, taking in the delightful fells of the south-eastern Lake District. However, the Masons Arms near Cartmel Fell can do just that. Its covered and heated terrace is perfect for whiling away the hours and feasting on the inn’s award winning food and real ales.
The King’s Head (Thirlmere)
The beer garden at the King’s Head by Thirlmere might be located alongside a main road, but it is arguably a road with one of the best views in the country, surrounded by the fells that sweep around the lake. The upper level is on a terrace, whilst the lower level is within a walled garden filled with flowers in the warmer months.
The Kingfisher Inn (Cockermouth)
Most residents of Cockermouth agree that the pub with the best beer garden in the town is the Kingfisher Inn. Located on the banks of the Derwent and overlooking the park on the other side, the place is perfect for enjoying a pint on a summers day. There is a play area at the end, enabling children to play whilst their parents relax.
The Swinside Inn (Keswick)
If there was a competition for the beer garden with the best views then the beer garden at the Swinside Inn near Keswick would definitely be a contender for the number one spot. Surrounded by the fells that tower above the Newlands Valley, it’s the perfect place to enjoy a pint and plot out your next walk around the north-western fells.
Lanty Slee’s Langdale (Stickle Barn)
The beer garden at Lanty Slee's Langdale can't be beat with incredible views of the fells and a great number of tables to enjoy a sunny day out in the Lake District. The pub also offers food throughout the day, as well as hand crafted cocktails, using their very own distilled liquors made locally in Elterwater.
The Royal Oak Inn (Cartmel)
The beer garden at the Royal Oak Inn, Cartmel, is impressive. The large space behind the pub has a shallow stream running along the back of it where you might spot ducks looking for table scraps. There is a feature wishing well, and a good number of picnic tables. During the summer, a marquee is often erected here with its own bar and BBQ.
The Pooley Bridge Inn
The Pooley Bridge Inn is located near the shore of Ullswater. The inn has a large courtyard to the rear of the building where the old stables have been converted into partly covered seating areas. There is a hut in the courtyard that houses a bar that is open during the summer, so you don’t have venture far to refresh your pint.
Poets Bar at the Lancrigg
It would be hard to find another beer garden with better views than those found at The Poet’s Bar at The Lancrigg in Grasmere. Patrons can sit outside the bar on the terrace that has views across to the surrounding fells. The Lancrigg is set in 30 acres of grounds that visitors to the Poet’s Bar are welcome to explore.
Old Kings Head (Broughton-In-Furness)
The Old Kings Head in Broughton-In-Furness is a fabulous place to head to during the summer months, thanks to its large beer garden. Here you will find an outdoor kitchen with the pub hosting BBQs when the weather is pleasant. The pub also regularly invites bands to perform in the beer garden during the summer, giving it that festival vibe.
The Kirkstile Inn (Loweswater)
Overlooked by the imposing Melbreak fell, the beer garden at the Kirkstile Inn is a wonderful place to enjoy a pint or a meal when the weather is pleasant. With a large grassed area, it’s ideal for children and dogs, and Park Beck that trickles between Loweswater and Crummock Water runs alongside it. The garden also has views of Grasmoor and other fells.
The Eltermere Inn
The grounds of the Eltermere Inn extend for three acres, down to the shore of Elterwater, where there is the inn’s own private jetty. The garden has been beautifully landscaped to create seating areas, with plenty of space between the tables so it never feels crowded. Along with the seating areas the grounds boast of delightful horticultural features, and spectacular views.
Coledale Inn (Braithwaite)
The beer garden at the Coledale Inn is a delight, having recently been refurbished and re-landscaped. It consists of an open grassed area that is ideal for children to play on, with a terrace along the outside that is partly covered. However, it’s the view that is the key selling point here, taking in many of the iconic western fells.
Bower House Inn (Eskdale)
For a perfect, relaxing summer’s day, take a trip on La’al Ratty to Irton Station and visit the Bower House at Eskdale Green, where the beer garden is surrounded by views of the fells. Spacious and calm, the garden features ornamental trees under which you can sit and enjoy a refreshing pint. The garden even has a play area for children.
The Boot & Shoe Inn (Greystoke)
The Boot & Shoe is a traditional pub located in Greystoke, near Penrith. To the rear of the pub there is a large beer garden that has several features, including a covered BBQ area for the summer, and several outdoor games for families, such as giant Connect-4. A marquee can be placed in the garden for events if required.
The Pheasant Inn (Bassenthwaite)
The garden at the Pheasant Inn is much more than a place to enjoy a quick pint. Beautifully landscaped, the gardens feature a variety of plants and topiary, and tables are dotted throughout so it never feels crowded. There is a babbling stream and a footpath that leads to the summit of Sale Fell. A wildlife haven, you may spot red squirrels here.