Hill Top

Children’s author and illustrator, Beatrix Potter, has had a lasting impact on the Lake District. During your stay in the national park you are likely to encounter shops selling Peter Rabbit merchandise and attractions that will appeal to children. At Hill Top, located between Lake Windermere and Esthwaite Water, you can explore one of Potter’s former homes as it would have been presented during her residency.

Many of her most famous characters were created here, with The Tale of Samuel Whiskers set entirely in the house and many of the illustrations in this book match with items of furniture that are still visible in the house today.

History

Following her death in 1943, Beatrix Potter, beloved children’s author and illustrator, left a number of lands and property to the National Trust. Among them was Hill Top, her home from 1905 until her marriage to William Heelis in 1913, when the couple moved into a larger property in the same vicinity. Before her marriage, Potter spent a lot of time at the property, using it as inspiration for her children’s tales.

After her marriage, the house was retained and let to tenant farmers who helped to manage Potter’s large collection of lands and assist with her enthusiasm for breeding Herdwick sheep. In her will, Beatrix Potter made it very clear to the National Trust how the house should be presented to the public, and therefore, what you see when you visit is exactly how the writer intended.

Things To See

The Tale of Samuel Whiskers is on sale at Hill Top as an “alternative guidebook” and children can use it to try and match the illustrations to items in the house. As you wander through the house you will see Potter’s own writing desk and other personal artefacts, including furniture and china. The garden at Hill Top features in two of Potter’s books and is filled with flower beds and vegetable patches.

Useful Information

There is no café at Hill Top but the adjacent Tower Bank Arms is a 17th century inn also owned by the National Trust where you enjoy lunch and dinner.

There is a gift shop at Hill Top where you can purchase Beatrix Potter merchandise, including soft toys, books, and china.

Tickets

Hill Top is a very popular attraction and, therefore, a timed ticketing system is in operation. You cannot book in advance but be advised you may have a long wait for entrance during peak seasons.

Map