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o truly follow in Miss Potter’s footsteps, you should travel up by train to Windemere. From there, it’s a short transfer to Sawrey House, a National Trust Victorian villa with country-chic guest rooms and a large garden. The best part, though, is that the hotel is just next door to Hill Top House – Beatrix’s home in the Lakes.

Anyone familiar with Potter’s tales will find it spookily reminiscent of her illustrations. You can easily imagine a naughty Peter Rabbit sneaking into the garden, or little Tom Kitten scampering about in a corner. After inheriting the property from Potter herself in 1945, the National Trust has preserved it exactly as she left it.

Find the rest of your favourite characters in Sawrey village or in nearby Hawkshead, where the Beatrix Potter Gallery holds a rotating collection of her drawings and hand-written notes. The area is also home to Wray Castle, where Potter spent her childhood holidays, which you can reach by walking along the shore of Lake Windermere. Who knows, maybe you’ll be inspired to write about it?

If the kids are pining for a more hands-on experience, head to The World of Beatrix Potter in the centre of Bowness-in-Windermere, where they can meet Peter Rabbit and friends in recreations of Potter’s tales.