Top 5 Pubs in Cumbria

England is known for its pubs. If you ever visit any part of the country, your visit would not be complete without a stopover at one of the many, many traditional English pubs. There are many different types of pubs, some are franchise chains, others are local village pubs, some are very classy, others smell of bear and you may found the odd knocked out tooth in a corner. Cumbria, or the Lake District, is an absolutely beautiful area of the country and this is the place where you will most likely be looking for quaint little pubs, maybe with a roaring fire place to warm your feet and hands after a long walk around the Lakes. So what are the top 5 pubs in Cumbria?

The Sun Inn definitely has to be in any top 5 pubs list. Many tourists visit the Coniston area for a walk up the Old Man Mountain, and a stopover at this pub cannot go amiss. It is over 500 years old, for starters, and was built when the mountains to west Cumbria were crossed by the Walna Scar packhorse trail. The Sun Inn was right on that trail, allowing weary travellers a place to rest and recuperate. Of course, being such an old building, it has stone walls, a stone floor, beautiful exposed beams and, of course, a fire place. Not just that, however, the village of Coniston has its own brewery, so if you are at the Sun Inn, consider a pint of Coniston Bluebird bitter.

The Queen’s Head can be found just north of Ullswater, in the very small little village of Tirrill. This pub has won plenty of awards and is perfect for that happy feeling. It has its own beers, a fantastic menu and there is a festival in August where you can sample over 20 types of beers and 15 types of sausages!

This is a pub where you can enjoy the views over the Lake District. You can sit outside even in winter, where the canopy is warmed by the patio heaters. Their food is delicious, particularly the Smoked Haddock Chowder and of course the Sticky Ribs.

Bassenthwaite is the only official lake in the Lake District. Here, you will find the old coaching inn known as the Pheasant Inn. It is actually one of the best known pubs in the district, with log fires, polished walls and period furniture. Of course, the beer is delicious but they also do a great Afternoon Tea with homemade scones.

The Angel has a beautiful terraced beer garden and on a visit here you can sample local beers and international lagers on draught. This pub is the most impressive in winter, when you can sit around the roaring log fire on cosy comfy sofas.

So there you have it, the best pubs in the Lake District. They all have the most tasty beers and foods, fantastic atmospheres, old history and – of course – beautiful vies across the Lakes. What more could you ask for?