Grasmere

The Town

Any property buyer exploring the Lakes will soon discover attractive tourist magnet Grasmere owes much of its fame to the poet William Wordsworth. If you’re keen on a Lake District property search but aren’t sure where Grasmere is located, ask your property search company. On the River Rothay, from the north west Grasmere is overlooked by Helm Crag. The small town of Ambleside lies to the south; our real estate buyers agent can confirm, Grasmere lies within the historic county boundaries of Westmorland. Our property buying agent can clarify current population estimates for the Ambleside and Grasmere ward: around 4,600.

Transport 

If, as a property buyer, road connections are important, ask our buyers agents. Your Recoco property finder can confirm the main A591 road links Grasmere to the Vale of Keswick and Kendal. Need railway link information? Again, ask your Recoco buying agent. The nearest station is Windermere, nine miles away; local services run hourly. Drivers might find it useful to know that most Lake District roads are relatively narrow single carriageways; at peak times traffic can be very heavy.  

History

The name of the village is a combination of “grass” and the old word “mere” meaning lake. The church dates from the 1200s, with your Recoco buying agent able to present many 19th or early 20th century options. Ask our property buying agent about the history of the 17th-century cottages, Church Stile. Our property search company can confirm the cottages are now owned by the National Trust.

William, Mary, and Dorothy Wordsworth all taught at the village school; our Recoco property finder can identify the churchyard entrance opposite. Our buyers agents may also draw your attention to Broadgate Meadow; Canon Rawnsley, a co-founder of the National Trust, planted a Peace Oak here following World War I.

Education

Grasmere has a Church of England primary school; Grasmere School and Nursery are also in the village. Our property buying agent can identify local independent schools including the Browhead Campus and the Elleray Campus of Windermere School, Casterton Sedbergh Preparatory, and Chetwynde School.

Leisure and Events

As your buyers agents can tell you, the main draw of the Lake District is the stunning scenery, which attracts hikers, artists, and those who enjoy outdoor pursuits and spending time on the water. Rowing boats are available for hire if you’d like to explore Grasmere lake, although our real estate buyers agent can attest that the island in the centre is owned privately and not open to visitors.

As our Recoco buying agent can confirm, Grasmere appeals to those who enjoy walking; the walk around the lake is easy to access, partly along the main A591 road. Or take time out from your property search for a stroll around the Wordsworth Daffodil Garden, a formerly neglected piece of land in between river and church.

From late July to early September, Grasmere Village Hall hosts the annual Lake Artists Society Summer Exhibition, showcasing works by local sculptors and artists. The Hall also hosts an Easter exhibition. Or ask your Recoco property finder about Grasmere Sports Day - as our property search company will tell you, it’s one of the most popular, and longest-established, traditional events on the Lake District calendar.

Celebrity Connections


As well as William Wordsworth and his family, famous former residents include Canon Hardwicke Drummond Rawnsley, who co-founded the National Trust, and Oxford University academic William Archibald Spooner, who gave his name to slips of the tongue: brunday sunch instead of Sunday brunch, say. Artists Alfred and William Heaton Cooper are also strongly associated with Grasmere: their landscapes have lured many a property buyer to the area.

Foodies’ Corner

Sampling local cuisine offers a highlight for many a property search – so sample sticky toffee pudding at Lewis’s, super seasonal fare at Forest Side, or unusual world cuisine in the eclectic surroundings of the Jumble Room. Some of the dining facilities at Lancrigg Hotel are also open to non-residents, or former coaching inn The Swan serves up many a hearty repast. And our real estate buyers agent will agree you’re spoilt for choice in this part of the world when it comes to tea: scones, crepes, craft beers, apple pies, and Bath buns are all on offer somewhere in the locality. One final tip - don’t visit Grasmere without visiting Sarah Nelson’s Gingerbread Shop.

Fun Fact


Helm Crag’s nicknames are The Lion and the Lamb or the Old Lady at the Piano.