Luxury Knitting Retreats in England's Beautiful Lake District

If you're in the UK and looking to escape for a week of knitting in the most beautiful part of the country, with expert workshops and delicious homecooked food in a luxury cottage, look no further! You’re invited to join us for a wonderful week of woolly goodness at our Luxury Lake District Knitting Retreats.

2026 Lake District Retreats

This year, I have three fabulous retreats planned, right here in the Lake District, the UK's most popular national park, and a UNESCO world heritage site.

SPRINGTIME IN THE LAKE DISTRICT KNITTING RETREAT 2026
Monday 27th April - Friday 30th April 2026
LIMITED AVAILABILITY

LATE SPRING IN THE LAKE DISTRICT KNITTING RETREAT 2026
Monday 18th May - Friday 22nd May 2026
SOLD OUT

AUTUMN IN THE LAKE DISTRICT KNITTING RETREAT 2026
Monday 19th October - Friday 23rd October 2026
LIMITED AVAILABILITY

What Sets Our Retreats Apart

I know that picking a retreat is a big decision, so it’s really important that you find the one that’s right for you. Over the years, I’ve refined our retreats based on feedback from all the incredible knitters who have come along. Some of the things that set our retreats apart are:

• Having studied both hand-knitting and teaching at college, before becoming a knitting designer with a focus on vintage knits and the history of our craft, I have a unique perspective which I absolutely love to share.
• Charlie is just the most wonderful cook, so you’ll be very well fed. She’s worked in some fabulous restaurants, including one which now holds two Michelin stars. You’ll be dreaming of her dishes for years to come! A Retreat cook book has even been requested!
• I create a brand-new and exclusive project for every retreat, designed to reflect the theme, and to teach you new skills you’ll be able to carry with you into your future knitting adventures.

Discovering the Lake District

The setting for your retreat is The Lake District, a UNESCO world heritage site and a National Park, with stunning countryside, high fells and deep lakes which have been the inspiration for artists, writers and poets for generations. The pastoral landscape has been used predominantly for sheep farming for hundreds of years but is also visited by millions of tourists each year.

Much of the area is owned and managed by the National Trust, a private organisation to which Beatrix Potter bequeathed 4000 acres of land and 14 farms on her death. Other notable residents of and visitors to the Lake District include William and Dorothy Wordsworth, Samuel Coleridge, John Ruskin, J.M.W. Turner and many more. Here you will also find many sheep - in fact, around six times more sheep than there are people living here!

What To Expect: A Sample Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive at the picturesque Thorney How, where you’ll find a friendly welcome and a delicious home-cooked meal. Meet your fellow guests and relax with your knitting.
Day 2: I’ll lead a full-day workshop for you to enjoy, featuring an exclusive knitting pattern designed specifically for your retreat.
Day 3: Head down to my beautiful yarn studio and shop, Assa Marra Studios, where Charlie will help you create your own unique skein of sock yarn.
Day 4: Discover the secrets of the Lake District with a trip to a stunning historic site, before heading home for more knitting time and a fabulous celebratory dinner.
Day 5: Over your final home-cooked breakfast, it’s time to cast off and say farewell to your new friends.

Our retreats usually sell out very quickly, so if there’s one that catches your fancy, make sure you secure your place as soon as you can.

And if you have any questions at all, please just get in touch!