Serviced Apartments in Cumbria

Discover the best activities and attractions Cumbria has to offer, and find out what makes this city a vibrant and exciting place to live or visit.

Lake District National Park (including Windermere, Derwentwater and Ullswater)
The Lake District National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — is Cumbria’s flagship attraction, drawing millions of visitors annually for hiking, boating, cycling and scenic drives. Its popularity sustains a large local tourism economy: guesthouses, guides, outdoor shops, restaurants and transport services rely on year‑round and seasonal visitor spending, and many community jobs are linked to park conservation and visitor management. The park’s special qualities are dramatic glacial lakes, fells (including Scafell Pike), literary associations (Wordsworth, Beatrix Potter) and well‑maintained trails and heritage sites, making it both a nature conservation priority and a major income generator for rural communities.

Dove Cottage & Wordsworth Museum (Grasmere)
Dove Cottage, the former home of William Wordsworth, and the adjacent museum celebrate one of England’s most influential poets and attract literary tourists, school groups and researchers. The site supports the local economy by drawing visitors into Grasmere’s shops, cafés and B&Bs, funding museum staff and conservation work while promoting cultural education and community events (readings, workshops). Its appeal lies in authentic historic rooms, manuscripts and the surrounding landscapes that inspired the Romantic poets — a unique cultural asset for Cumbria’s identity and heritage tourism.

L’Enclume (Cartmel) — Michelin‑starred dining and local food hub
L’Enclume is internationally renowned for its inventive farm‑to‑table cuisine and for championing Cumbrian producers; it acts as a culinary beacon that brings food tourists to Cartmel and the surrounding area. The restaurant’s success boosts demand for local farmers, artisanal suppliers and hospitality staff, raises the profile of Cumbria’s food sector and helps sustain related shops and accommodation. What makes it special is the focus on hyper‑local ingredients, creative menus tied to seasons and the draw of a high‑quality dining destination in a small rural village, increasing overnight stays and spend in the locality.

Bowness‑on‑Windermere & Windermere Lake Cruises (shopping, eateries and lake experiences)
Bowness is a lively tourist hub on Windermere noted for boutique shops, independent cafés, outdoor gear stores and family attractions; combined with Windermere Lake Cruises it offers easy lake access and scenic boat tours. This concentration of retail and leisure activity creates a strong local supply chain — from retailers to boat crews, hospitality workers and tour operators — supporting employment across the region. The area’s mix of shopping, lakeside promenades and iconic steamers makes it especially popular with families and day‑trippers seeking a classic Lake District experience.

Kendal Mountain Festival (annual cultural and outdoor film event)
Kendal Mountain Festival is a high‑profile annual event celebrating mountain culture, adventure films, talks, exhibitions and competitions; it draws international filmmakers, athletes and outdoor enthusiasts to Cumbria each autumn. The festival generates significant economic impact through hotel bookings, food and drink sales, ticketing and increased off‑season tourism, while also promoting local outdoor businesses and conservation charities. Its unique blend of film, storytelling and adventure sport creates a cultural anchor for Cumbria’s outdoors community and boosts the county’s reputation as a centre for mountaineering and adventure culture.

Explore the diverse transport options available in Cumbria, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- Rail services - A mix of intercity and regional rail serving Cumbria: Avanti West Coast on the West Coast Main Line (key stops at Carlisle and Oxenholme) provides long-distance links to Glasgow, Manchester and London; Northern operates the county’s local routes including the Cumbrian Coast Line (Carlisle–Barrow-in-Furness), the Furness Line (Barrow–Lancaster/Preston), the Settle–Carlisle scenic route and frequent local services serving Penrith, Kendal and other towns.
- Bus services - Commercial interurban and local bus networks operated mainly by companies such as Stagecoach and several smaller local operators, connecting Carlisle, Barrow, Kendal, Penrith, Workington, Whitehaven and rural villages; frequent town services and longer coach-style services to neighbouring cities (e.g., Manchester, Lancaster).
- Community and demand-responsive transport - Volunteer car schemes, community minibuses and local dial-a-ride services run by parish councils and charities to serve rural areas and vulnerable residents where commercial services are sparse.
- Ferry and lake services - Tourist and local passenger services on the Lake District’s waterways (notably Windermere Lake Cruises and Ullswater Steamers) plus small local ferry/boat services on estuaries and lakes; no regular large-distance car ferry terminals within Cumbria itself.
- Taxis and private hire - Local taxi firms and private-hire operators provide on-demand travel; app-based ride-hailing penetration is limited in more rural parts of the county.
- Rail–bus integration and ticketing - Many rail stations offer connecting local bus services and integrated multi-operator tickets (e.g., PlusBus options at certain stations) to help with onward travel from rail hubs.

Major Highways
- M6 - The county’s primary north–south motorway corridor running through eastern Cumbria, linking to Lancaster, Manchester and the Scottish border via the A74(M)/M74 at Carlisle.
- A66 - Major east–west trans-Pennine route across Cumbria connecting the M6 (Penrith area) to the A1(M) corridor further east; key for freight and cross-country travel.
- A69 - Main route from Carlisle eastwards to Newcastle (via Hexham), providing an alternative trans-Pennine link to northern England.
- A6 - Historic north–south trunk road running through Kendal, Penrith and into Carlisle, still important for local connectivity and as a scenic alternative to the M6.
- A590 - Principal road connecting Barrow-in-Furness and Furness Peninsula to the M6, important for commuter and freight movements to/from Barrow.
- A595 - Coastal route serving west Cumbria, linking Workington, Whitehaven and other coastal towns to the M6/A66 corridors.
- A596 / A597 - Key local arteries in West Cumbria linking coastal towns to Carlisle and the wider network.
- A591 - Main tourist and commuter route through the central Lake District between Kendal and Keswick, heavily used by local traffic and visitors.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Cycle lanes and routes - A mix of on‑road cycle lanes in towns (e.g., Kendal and Carlisle), traffic‑free multi‑use paths around lakes and along some former rail corridors, and designated regional/national routes such as Hadrian’s Cycleway (National Cycle Network Route 72); local authorities have also been developing Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) and using Active Travel funding to improve links for commuting and leisure, though provision is uneven and rural sections remain challenging.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- A66 upgrade plans - Ongoing/planned major improvements and safety upgrades for sections of the A66 (part of the Northern Trans-Pennine corridor) aimed at improving capacity and journey times for cross‑county and cross‑region traffic.
- Rail service & station investments - Recent timetable and rolling‑stock improvements across the network, plus targeted station accessibility and facility upgrades at key hubs (Carlisle, Oxenholme, Penrith and others) to improve passenger experience and connections.
- Active travel and cycling projects - Investment via national Active Travel funds, LCWIPs and local capital programmes to expand segregated cycle lanes, improve crossings and create better town-centre links in places like Kendal, Carlisle and Barrow, helping short‑distance commuting.
- Bus network support and community transport funding - Local and central government funding packages and recovery support have led to service stabilisation, some route restorations and strengthened community transport provision in rural areas.
- Port, freight and industrial connectivity upgrades - Targeted improvements at Barrow, Workington and other ports to support freight handling and local industry (including defence and energy sectors), which also aim to reduce heavy goods vehicle pressures on local roads.
- Strategic transport planning under new unitary authorities - The county’s reorganisation into new unitary councils has brought refreshed transport strategies and coordinated investment plans focused on road maintenance, sustainable travel and connectivity improvements across Cumbria.

In Cumbria, finding the right furnished rental apartment for short term or long term rental can be challenging - especially with affordable rates all year round in Cumbria. That is where we help companies find the right serviced apartment to stay when working away from home. Our accommodation offers you the perfect self-catering, furnished rental properties in central Cumbria and easy-access locations nearby. Whether it be one week, one month or one year, we have flexible terms to suit you.