History of Lake District Tourism

The English Lake District is an area of greaton Lake Windermere are one of the most
natural beauty located in the north of England. Thesuccessful tourist attractions in England!
area is famous for its amazing beauty andTourism adds tens of millions of pounds to the
peaceful landscapes. Its popularity has alwayslocal economy every year. And even though
been partly due to its rich cultural past involvingmany people now enjoy going abroad on their
three famous Lakes poets - of whom more in aholidays, the enduring appeal of the Lakes will
moment!ensure millions of people continue to visit in the
The Lakes also hosts England's highest mountain,years ahead.
Scafell Pike, and deepest lake, Wast Water. All ofAs we mentioned, the Lake Poets - especially
these qualities have made the Lake District oneWordsworth - were instrumental in promoting
of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK.Lake District tourism through their depiction of the
Back in the late 17th century, walking and hikingglorious scenery. The "Lake Poets" is the collective
breaks in the Lake Districts were mostly enjoyedname for a group of iconic poets who all lived in
by people who lived near or in the local area, sincethe Lake District during the late 18th and the early
they could easily reach the beautiful valleys and19th century: Robert Southey, William
mountains the area has to offer.Wordsworth, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
But things had to change - and they did, when, inAll three poets drew inspiration from the
1778, Thomas West wrote his pioneeringspectacular landscapes in the Lake District to
guidebook about the Lake District, a newcreate some of their most famous works. And all
development which promoted visitors and broughtthree men were major influences in establishing
hundreds of travellers to the area. The popularitythe Romantic Movement.
of the region grew so much that in the late 18thWilliam Wordsworth was born in Cockermouth in
century the local authority responded by erectingApril 1770. The place of his birth has now been
viewpoints and "station houses", which allowedrenamed Wordsworth House. From 1779 until
visitors to see and experience some of the Lake1787 he attended Hawkshead Grammar School;
District's most stunning views and landscapes.there he had his first experience of writing and
Wordsworth wrote his first guidebook to thereading poetry which he practiced extensively
Lakes in 1810, and over the years this developedthanks to encouragement from his teachers. He
into a five volume work which became anoften walked into the countryside and got his
invaluable tool for travellers. Of courseinspiration from the Lakes scenery which
Wordsworth also drew poetical inspiration fromsurrounded him. After his years at the small village
the Lake District - more on this in a moment!grammar school in Hawkshead, one can only
In the early 19th century, tourism in the Lakeimagine how he felt when he departed for
District started booming thanks to theCambridge university.
establishment of railway links in areas such asIn 1795 while Wordsworth was staying in Dorset,
Kendal and Windermere. These railway links madehe met Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert
the Lake District much more accessible toSouthey. This was the beginning of a stimulating
working people. To accommodate the hugeand creative relationship. Wordsworth travelled
numbers of visitors, new attractions and facilitiesextensively throughout his life, especially in Europe
were introduced; for example, the poweredand the Alps, but always returned to the Lake
motor vessels on the lakes let people see a worldDistrict; indeed, he passed away at Grasmere in
they would never have dreamed of only a few1850.
years before, and contributed to massiveRobert Southey was born in Bristol in 1774 and
economic growth in the local area.Samuel Taylor Coleridge in Devon in 1772. They
In the early 1950s the Lake District got nationalbecame immediate friends, and when they met
park status so as to help preserve its naturalWordsworth, the group known as the Lake Poets
beauty from unhealthy commercial and industrialwas founded. They became poetical pioneers of
influences. The new motorway - the M6 - whichthe Romantic Movement.
was built along the east side of the area madeBetween the three of them, they helped
the Lake District even more accessible by car;revolutionize this period in English poetry, and the
something of a mixed blessing, with over 14 millionLake District was the perfect backdrop for their
people travelling to the Lake District each year!inspiration - as it has continued to be to this day,
Interestingly, the Lake District is Britain's secondfor artists as diverse as William Heaton-Cooper
largest tourist attraction, with people coming fromand Beatrix Potter.
all over the world. And still, to this day, the boats