Manchester International Airport (MAN) is about 90 minutes from the Lake District. About a hundred airlines provide flights to over 200 cities. In particularly, the airport serves as a hub for the airlines bmi, British Airways, and MyTravel (a charter company). It flies to most major cities in Great Britain, as well as to many other European countries and the Middle East. There are few to North America; New York, Chicago, Toronto and Vancouver, for example, all have regular services on more than one airline. Getting to Manchester from Asia will be more difficult, but limited connections are available from a few countries, including Singapore, Pakistan and Malaysia. To drive to the Lake District from the airport, take the M6 Motorway and exit at Kendal or Penrith. There are also trains running directly from Manchester to Windermere and Barrow.

International travellers may find it easier or cheaper to arrive in London. The Channel Tunnel connects the London Waterloo station with Paris and Brussels, while both  Heathrow and Gatwick airports have direct flights from places not covered by Manchester. From London, a drive to the Lake District is about 6-7 hours (barring bad traffic). You can also take the train to Windermere from London Euston, changing at Oxenholme..