Victorian villas sit comfortably beside hotels, galleries and shops catering to tourists. Gingerbread lovers stop for a treat at the famous, teensy Gingerbread shop near the church. It's hard to imagine this tiny space was once a school. Church Stile, a row of 17th century cottages, is now the home of the National Trust shop, but in a past life was an inn. Across from Church Stile in the village centre sits the 13th century church, dedicated to St Oswald, the 7th century Christian king of Northumberland.
Children parade to the church bearing rushes in the form of a cross.
Grasmere's most famous resident, William Wordsworth, is buried in the churchyard. He lived here from 1799 to 1813 in the two storey Dove Cottage. The whitewashed cottage with its Lakeland slate roof was originally an inn, the Dove and Olive Branch. When Wordsworth was alive, it was known as Town End. Today, tours are offered of the home and next door an exhibition on Wordsworth informs and delights poetry lovers.