Exploring the Enchanting Home and Gardens of Beatrix Potter

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve loved Beatrix Potter’s lovely books and illustrations. I was mesmerized by the china figurines my mom collected (which she has since given to me) and I even named my stuffed animal bunny Peter. For years I’ve dreamed of visiting Hill Top, Beatrix’s home. Luke took me there on our last trip to England and I wanted to share it all with you. Are you ready for exploring the enchanting home and gardens of Beatrix Potter?

Can you see my excitement to be there?!?

Beatrix Potter’s Home – Hill Top

Hill Top is now run by the National Trust and we would recommend booking tickets ahead of your trip. The home and gardens are shut in the winter and reopen in March. We visited at the end of April 2025.

Her home is so warm and inviting filled with antiques and art. Her gardens just as warm filled with vegetables and blooms. You really feel like you’ve stepped into one of her picture books visiting.

Inside Hill Top

Let’s step inside:

Warm crackling fires, lovely books, and comfortable spots for reading. I adored the wallpaper on the ceilings and all her blue and white!

I’m pretty sure I read that her father painted the blue illustrations on the pottery but I now can’t find that online.

Look how cozy this room is:

So much to love here from the wood paneling, to the door knocker and oriental rug.

Beatrix’s Bedroom:

The tour guide told us that she made the quilt on her bed. It really such an enchanting home!

Throughout the home were her illustrations and sketchbooks. This is what I loved seeing the most. They also have some of her books propped up so you can see spots in her home in her illustrated children’s books.

So interesting to see her sketches…

…that became her watercolors. She puts so much character into each one. I love their personalities!

There was so much to see and explore in her home. It felt magical to step into the past.

Hill Top Gardens

Equally impressive are the gardens of Hill Top. It feel so calm and peaceful there.

It feels like you’re in the garden with Peter Rabbit and any of her characters might pop up.

Trees were in bloom and they have a lovely coffee caravan so we sat with a coffee and took in the calm gardens.

I could have stayed there all day! It really was so lovely. Hill Top also has an incredible gift shop filled with Beatrix Potter’s books, illustrations, and gifts.

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More About Hill Top

Beatrix Potter bought Hill Top in 1905 using profits from her books and a legacy from her aunt. Over time she bought neighboring farms and land to preserve the countryside. She is credited with preserving the land that is now known as the Lake District National Park.

She loved nature, the Lakes, and believed in preserving it. She also did many scientific illustrations and research a lot into fungi. We highly recommend visiting Hill Top if you’re in the Lake District. We also loved the Miss Potter film. I’d also love to read this book.

Where We Stayed

Since we were in the Lake District for only 24 hours (it was a busy trip where we visited Cornwall, Bristol, Lake District, and London, I previously shared the London portion here) we wanted to stay right on the Lake.

The Wateredge Inn

We stayed in this sweet inn, The Wateredge Inn, right on Lake Windermere and it was beautiful!

The room was lovely appointed with pretty wallpaper and etchings of the Lake.

Tea and biscuits in the room upon arrival. The bathroom was lovely too.

It was a long drive up to the Lakes from Bristol. We freshened up and just decided we’d head out to the Lake to explore. It was glorious sunny day and we decided to enjoy some drinks on the patio followed by dinner.

Taking in the wildlife and peaceful setting was just so lovely.

The food at Wateredge Inn was lovely. Luke had pie for dinner and I enjoyed a Mediterranean salad.

I am really so grateful for this time in the Lakes together. I know it wasn’t a long trip and it was a lot of driving for Luke, but I’d love to return to this area on another visit with our boys.

I hope you enjoyed exploring the Lake District and Beatrix Potter’s home with us!

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