The Lake District has long served as an inspiration to writers, the most internationally famous of which are probably William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. Wordsworth, who was born in the Lake District, brought fame to Ullswater (the second largest lake in the district) with his poem, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud. His childhood home can be visited in Cockermouth, while his adult home, a museum and his tomb can are in Grasmere.

Children who have not already done so can read a few Peter Rabbit books, as many of these Beatrix Potter books are set in the Lake District. A few Swallows and Amazons books (a series of adventure stories for children) by Arthur Ransome, were also given settings based on Lake District. One final piece of fiction set in Lake District, more appropriate for adults, is The Herries Chronicle by Sir Hugh Walpole.

For more practical guides about how to get about Lake District, there are numerous travel books by various companies that cover the region. Grevel Lindop publishes a 400-page book called A Literary Guide to the Lake District that points out many of the places in the area that have served as inspiration or homes to certain authors. There are also comprehensive guides published by Berlitz, Michelin, Landmarks Visitors, the Automobile Association, Companion Guides and Rough Guides.