The Lake District is one of Britain's most popular summer holiday destinations with 16 million of us making the annual pilgrimage to this special corner of England ever year.

Unlike anywhere else in the country, it offers over 200 mountains, 16 major lakes and thousands of stunning walks. What's more there are also over 200 activities and attractions to try and the choice of places to stay is fantastic with over 17,000 different beds offered at budget B&Bs, hip hotels, stylish self-catering cottages and cool campsites!

Why not take inspiration for your holiday from this year’s award winners, chosen by the tourist board for the Lake District - Cumbria Tourism.

Best Lake District Accommodation - Best Large Hotel

The Lakeside Hotel, Newby Bridge, whose slogan reads: “We overlook nothing but the Lake.” That’s the king of the Lakes – Windermere - which at 10-and-half-miles long is England’s biggest.

Earning all of its four stars and maybe more, staff at the superbly-situated Lakeside do not miss a trick when it comes to the needs of guests – even slipping a complimentary bookmark in to your bedside novel if you’ve not one to hand.

Visit www.lakesidehotel.co.uk

Best Lake District Accommodation - Bed & Breakfast of the Year

With origins going back to 1360, there is nothing old-fashioned about the Boltongate Old Rectory, an incredibly stylish property with five silver stars, which is as far away from the traditional B&B as Earth is from Pluto.

Few visitors to the Lake District would know Ireby - a delightful village at the Back Of Skiddaw, that fist of imposing fells facing Keswick. Ireby is found at the rear of the Skiddaw sierra in a quieter part of the Lake District dubbed the “Northern Fells.”

This is where you’ll find the Old Rectory, with its stunning array of wines, many of which have come from vineyards that owners Gill and David Taylor have visited. Alternatively, finish a flute of Pol Roger champagne in view of the duck and lily pond.

Visit www.boltongateoldrectory.com

Best Lake District Accommodation - Best Self Catering Diet

Imagine the perfect Lake District self-catering cottage and the mind’s eye will conjure up everything available at Stone Cottage in the tiny hamlet of Deepdale near Ullswater. With every guest window framing a classic Lakeland view to the gorgeous showroom interior, it’s a self catering property with the wow factor of a boutique hotel. Months of toil were spent on its renovation and the proverbial Phoenix from the ashes is now a marvellous chic cottage. Feel at home and unwind in the understated luxury of this spacious cottage for six.

Visit www.lakelandstonecottage.co.uk

Best Lake District Accommodation - Best Large Visitor Attraction

Straddling the border between England and Scotland, Carlisle is a historic city on the banks of the River Eden boasting its own Castle, Cathedral, Citadel and the starting point for the 78-mile long Hadrian’s Wall. As if that’s not enough, it now boasts the crown of Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery. Set the Sat Nav for CA3 8TP and check out one of the best-kept secrets of Cumbria in a superb museum which houses collections of national importance.

Visit www.tulliehouse.co.uk

Best Lake District Accommodation - Best Small Visitor Attraction

All weather entertainment is a must in England and few do it better than Whitehaven’s Rum Story. Situated in the newly-regenerated coastal port of Whitehaven on Cumbria’s west coast, The Rum story won The Small Visitor Attraction of the Year prize. Admire the elegantly-painted Georgian buildings and head for a walk back-in-time to 1785 along the courtyards, cellars and bonded warehouses of yesterday. The Rum Story also allows you to journey through a tropical rainforest, African village and a realistic slave ship to discover the dark spirit of Whitehaven, all in the year of the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery.

Visit www.rumstory.co.uk

Best Lake District Accommodation - Caravan Park of the Year

This is not just a caravan site, this is Wild Rose Park. Set in 40-acres of panoramic countryside at Ormside near Appleby, in the Eden valley, it’s the place to take a touring caravan, or hire a luxury holiday home or lodge. The adventurous can stay in a wig-wam and there’s an outdoor heated swimming pool, sparkling clean showers, shop, restaurant and wonderful little touches for children, including an outdoor adventure playground and baby baths when they’ve had enough.

Visit www.wildrose.co.uk

Best Lake District Accommodation - Business Tourism Award

Sometimes work has to come before play and if there are any execs out there looking for a place to hold the next conference, then look no further than The Castle Green Hotel which collected the Business Tourism Award of the Year 2007. Along with 100 bedrooms and 14 acres of wooded countryside at the “gateway to the Lakes,” judges found a “nothing is too much trouble,” attitude at The Castle Green. What’s more the level of professionalism, superb welcome and excellent facilities, means those essential power-point get-togethers run like clockwork.

Visit www.castlegreen.co.uk

Best Lake District Accommodation - Small Hotel of the Year

Small hotels are one of the treasures of the Lake District. After all, the only things allowed to be eight storeys high in the Lakes are the mountains. Tucked away at the village of Newlands, which is 10 minutes from Keswick, is Swinside Lodge. Swinside has just added the Small Hotel title to its other big award win of 2007, Lakeland Hotel of The Year by the Good Hotel Guide.

Visit www.swinsidelodge-hotel.co.uk