3 Nights in the Lake District for £120 Per Person: Our Real Budget Trip from Edinburgh
Three nights, a private hostel room, return train from Edinburgh, Windermere, a day of trekking, Grasmere Gingerbread and local souvenirs — all for around £120 per person.
The Lake District can easily become an expensive UK break once you add train fares, accommodation, eating out and activities. We approached it differently. We booked our rail tickets early, stayed in a private room in a youth hostel, carried most of our food from home and spent a lot of the trip doing what the Lake District is best for: walking.
Our Lake District budget
| Expense | Cost per person |
|---|---|
| Edinburgh Waverley ↔ Oxenholme return train | £18 |
| Private room in a youth hostel — 3 nights | £50 |
| Bus to Windermere | £6 |
| Hostel breakfast | £5 |
| Grasmere Gingerbread | £20 |
| 3 handmade soaps | £8 |
| Trekking / walking | £0 |
| Most food | Brought from home |
| Other local spending | About £13 |
| Total trip budget | £120 |
Getting there: Edinburgh to Oxenholme
We travelled from Edinburgh Waverley to Oxenholme Lake District on TransPennine Express. A single ticket was around £11, but by booking the outward and return journey together we paid about £18 return per person.
We reached the Lake District in the afternoon, made our way to the youth hostel and settled in. We had deliberately chosen a private room, proving that using a hostel does not necessarily mean staying in a dormitory.
Food: another big saving
As with our London trip, we carried much of our own food from home. That kept restaurant spending low and left more of the £120 budget available for getting around and enjoying the trip. On one morning we chose to have breakfast at the hostel for £5 per person.
Day 1: Windermere
Our first full day was about Windermere. The bus cost around £6 per person. Once there, we spent our time exploring rather than paying for a packed schedule of tours and attractions.
One of the best things about the area is that the scenery itself is the experience. We could wander, enjoy the lake and take our time without needing to buy a ticket every hour.
Day 2: Trekking and exploring on foot
Our second full day was the most straightforward budget day of the trip: we walked. We went on a trek in the Lake District and then explored the nearby town and local area on foot.
That meant no expensive guided activity and almost no sightseeing cost. Fresh air, mountain views, lakes and a long day on our feet were some of the best memories of the trip.
Day 3: Grasmere Gingerbread and local shopping
Our train back to Edinburgh was in the afternoon, so we used the morning for a relaxed final outing and some local shopping.
We visited the famous Grasmere Gingerbread shop and bought a pack for around £20. We also browsed for local products including homemade jams and pure honey.
We bought three handmade soaps for £8. Even these treats and souvenirs were included in our overall £120-per-person budget.
Why this trip worked on £120
- We booked the return train early for about £18.
- We used a private hostel room rather than a conventional hotel.
- We carried most of our food from home.
- We used a low-cost local bus for Windermere.
- Much of our sightseeing was walking and trekking.
- We still left room in the budget for breakfast, gingerbread and local souvenirs.
Would we travel this way again?
Absolutely. What made the trip memorable wasn't an expensive hotel or a long list of ticketed attractions. It was the scenery, the walks, Windermere, the local shops and having enough flexibility to enjoy the destination at our own pace.
Budget traveller's quick summary
Route: Edinburgh Waverley → Oxenholme Lake District
Length: 3 nights / 2 full days, plus arrival afternoon and departure morning
Train: TransPennine Express, about £18 return per person when booked together
Accommodation: private room in a youth hostel, booked via Booking.com
Accommodation cost: £50 per person for 3 nights
Highlights: Windermere, trekking, local exploration, Grasmere Gingerbread and local shopping
Total: about £120 per person
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