Windermere
At 10.5 miles long and a mile wide, Windermere is England's largest natural lake, and there are buses, boats and trains to make sure you don't miss a thing. Take a cruise from Bowness to Ambleside or to Lakeside - at Lakeside you can visit the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway.

Lancaster
Medieval Lancaster Castle was the prison where the Pendle Witches were tried and sentenced to death. Williamson Park has a Butterfly House and tropical birds, and there are eagles, hawks and owls at neighbouring Carnforth's Leighton Hall Falconry.

Morecambe
The traditional seaside town is famous for a sweeping 5-mile promenade with amazing views of Morecambe Bay and its wide range of birdlife - celebrated around the town by the bird sculptures of the TERN Project. The statue of comedian Eric Morecambe, himself a keen birdwatcher, takes pride of place on the seafront.

Sellafield
With hands-on attractions, interactive exhibits, experiments and workshops, Sellafield Visitor Centre offers a great fun day out for scientists of all ages. The fantastic Immersion Cinema lets you walk with the dinosaurs or swim with the sharks.

Barrow-in-Furness
The spectacular Dock Museum tells how a small hamlet became the world leader in iron and steel and a major shipbuilding centre. The 700-year-old site of Furness Abbey is both fascinating and relaxing.

Whitehaven - an 'England Gem Town' The picturesque harbour dates back to 1633 and Whitehaven's mining began in the 13th Century. Get the full story at the Beacon and Haig Colliery Mining Museum, and uncover the‚¬ËœDark Spirit of Whitehaven' in the Rum Story.

Ulverston
Well, here's another fine attraction you can get yourself into - the Laurel and Hardy Museum. Stan was born in Ulverston on 16 June 1890, and along with an amazing collection of memorabilia you can enjoy films of the catastrophic duo.
Ulverston is also famous as Cumbria's Festival Town with events staged throughout the year. Historic places of interest include Swarthmoor Hall, recognised as the birthplace of Quakerism, and Conishead Priory, a gothic Victorian mansion that is now an international Buddhist Centre and Temple.

Kendal
Kendal boasts two castles - you can see the bailey and motte of Castle Howe, built around 1092, and the earthworks of 12th century Kendal Castle. Though little remains of Kendal Castle, its ruins and the views are impressive. Kendal Museum has re-creations of Kendal Castle and tells the story of the building and its people, while the Museum of Natural History and Archaeology has a re-creation of the office of Alfred Wainwright, author of the hand-drawn and written Pictorial Guides to the Lakeland Fells. Abbot Hall is one of the country's finest small art galleries and also houses the Museum of Lakeland Life.

Take the bus and explore further
Getting off the train needn't mean the end of the line for your journey of discovery and the incredible views at every turn‚ the wonderful experience can continue with the regular bus services. Cumbria and the Lake District are just full of the kind of places you just shouldn't miss and here are just a few:

Keswick is where you can take a trip on Derwentwater or just enjoy the amazing views across the lake from Friars Crag. Other attractions include Keswick Museum and Art Gallery, Mining Museum, Cars of the Stars Museum, Moot Hall, shops and weekly market.

Cockermouth with Wordsworth House - birthplace of the poet William Wordsworth, the Lakeland Sheep and Wool Centre, Museum of Printing, Cockermouth Castle and the Jennings Brewery which you can tour.

Ambleside has the Roman fort of Galava, and is so picturesque that the 17th century Bridge House is one of the Lakeland's most photographed scenes. A short walk out of town is Stock Ghyll Force, a spectacular 70ft waterfall.

Grasmere with Dove Cottage and Allan Bank, homes of William Wordsworth, the school where he taught - now the famous Sarah Nelson's Gingerbread Shop - and St Oswald's Church where he is buried. At the Heaton Cooper Studio are permanent displays by the artists William Heaton Cooper and Alfred Heaton Cooper.

Ullswater has unrivalled and unforgettable views of the Lakes and the dramatic scenery, take the Steamers from Glenridding or Pooley Bridge.

Coniston with the 'Old Man of Coniston' rising dramatically behind the village, Coniston and Coniston Water retains the true qualities of peace, remoteness and adventure - take a trip on the Coniston Launch to Brantwood (the home of John Ruskin) or visit the Ruskin Museum.