A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Lake District National Park vs. Balaton Lake for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Lake District National Park or Balaton Lake?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Lake District National Park and Balaton Lake. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Lake District National Park or Balaton Lake?

Lake District National Park

Believe it or not, there are many incredible places to visit in England other than just London! Lake District National Park is definitely one of them. Located in North West England, this area truly captures the beauty of the pristine English outdoors. Of all the national parks in the UK, the Lake District is visited the most, especially during the summer season. The tallest peak and the deepest lake in England are located here, and they are beautiful.

Balaton Lake

Balaton is a major freshwater lake in Hungary and the largest lake in Central Europe with a shoreline of 197 kilometers. The region around the lake is a popular holiday destination with a great number of resort towns and high-rise hotels to accommodate visitors seeking out lakeside activities, beaches, volcanic hills, and vineyards. Some of the towns are also very historic, offering examples from eighteenth-century art and architecture to castle ruins.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in United Kingdom, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United Kingdom, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Hungary, and The Best Luxury Tours to Hungary.


Which place is cheaper, Balaton Lake or Lake District National Park?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Lake District National Park is £81, while the average daily cost in Balaton Lake is £69. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Lake District National Park and Balaton Lake in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lake District National Park £39
    Balaton Lake £38
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lake District National Park £78
    Balaton Lake £76
Compare Hotels in Lake District National Park and Balaton Lake

Looking for a hotel in Lake District National Park or Balaton Lake? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Lake District National Park


Hotels in Balaton Lake


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lake District National Park £33
    Balaton Lake £9.43

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lake District National Park

Also for Lake District National Park, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Lake District Ski Club to Newcastle Airport - Departure Transfer: $33
  • Lake District Ski Club to Manchester Airport - Departure Transfer: $44

Is it cheaper to fly into Lake District National Park or Balaton Lake?

Prices for flights to both Balaton Lake and Lake District National Park change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Lake District National Park £21
    Balaton Lake £22

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lake District National Park £20
    Balaton Lake £16

Tours and Activities in Lake District National Park

For Lake District National Park, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Guided Canoeing Experience on Coniston Water - Half Day: $89
  • Ghyll Scrambling Water Adventure in the Lake District: $89
  • 3-Hours Via Ferrata Experience in Keswick: $140

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lake District National Park £4.64
    Balaton Lake £7.04


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lake District National Park and Balaton Lake, we can see that Lake District National Park is more expensive. And not only is Balaton Lake much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Balaton Lake would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Balaton Lake and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Lake District National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lake District National Park than you might in Balaton Lake.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lake District National Park Expensive? and Is Balaton Lake Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Lake District National Park or Balaton Lake?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Lake District National Park or Balaton Lake in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Lake District National Park as well as Balaton Lake. Many travelers come to Lake District National Park for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

Lake District National Park is cooler than Balaton Lake in the summer. The daily temperature in Lake District National Park averages around 15°C (59°F) in July, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Balaton Lake. In the summer, Lake District National Park often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Lake District National Park gets 159 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 302 hours of full sun.

Lake District National Park usually gets more rain in July than Balaton Lake. Lake District National Park gets 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Lake District National Park 15°C (59°F) 
    Balaton Lake 22°C (71°F)

Should I visit Lake District National Park or Balaton Lake in the Autumn?

Both Balaton Lake and Lake District National Park are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Lake District National Park in the autumn for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Lake District National Park is cooler than Balaton Lake. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Lake District National Park in October average around 10°C (49°F), and Balaton Lake averages at about 13°C (56°F).

Lake District National Park usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during autumn. Lake District National Park gets 69 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 169 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Lake District National Park. In October, Lake District National Park usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Lake District National Park gets 163 mm (6.4 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Lake District National Park 10°C (49°F) 
    Balaton Lake 13°C (56°F)

Should I visit Lake District National Park or Balaton Lake in the Winter?

Both Balaton Lake and Lake District National Park during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Lake District National Park for the cuisine during these months.

The weather in Balaton Lake can be very cold. Lake District National Park can be very cold during winter. In January, Lake District National Park is generally much warmer than Balaton Lake. Daily temperatures in Lake District National Park average around 3°C (38°F), and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).

In the winter, Lake District National Park often gets less sunshine than Balaton Lake. Lake District National Park gets 40 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Balaton Lake receives 72 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Lake District National Park. Lake District National Park usually gets more rain in January than Balaton Lake. Lake District National Park gets 165 mm (6.5 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Lake District National Park 3°C (38°F) 
    Balaton Lake 0°C (32°F)

Should I visit Lake District National Park or Balaton Lake in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Lake District National Park and Balaton Lake. The spring months attract visitors to Lake District National Park because of the natural beauty.

Lake District National Park is much colder than Balaton Lake in the spring. The daily temperature in Lake District National Park averages around 7°C (45°F) in April, and Balaton Lake fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Lake District National Park usually receives less sunshine than Balaton Lake during spring. Lake District National Park gets 134 hours of sunny skies, while Balaton Lake receives 187 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Lake District National Park usually receives more rain than Balaton Lake. Lake District National Park gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Balaton Lake receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Lake District National Park 7°C (45°F) 
    Balaton Lake 12°C (54°F)

Typical Weather for Balaton Lake and Lake District National Park

Lake District National Park Balaton Lake
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 3°C (38°F) 165 mm (6.5 in) 0°C (32°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Feb 3°C (38°F) 111 mm (4.4 in) 3°C (37°F) 32 mm (1.3 in)
Mar 5°C (41°F) 136 mm (5.4 in) 7°C (45°F) 38 mm (1.5 in)
Apr 7°C (45°F) 78 mm (3.1 in) 12°C (54°F) 56 mm (2.2 in)
May 10°C (51°F) 95 mm (3.7 in) 17°C (63°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Jun 13°C (56°F) 93 mm (3.7 in) 20°C (68°F) 84 mm (3.3 in)
Jul 15°C (59°F) 99 mm (3.9 in) 22°C (71°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Aug 15°C (58°F) 132 mm (5.2 in) 22°C (71°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Sep 12°C (54°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 18°C (65°F) 47 mm (1.9 in)
Oct 10°C (49°F) 163 mm (6.4 in) 13°C (56°F) 38 mm (1.5 in)
Nov 6°C (42°F) 151 mm (5.9 in) 7°C (44°F) 56 mm (2.2 in)
Dec 4°C (39°F) 164 mm (6.5 in) 2°C (36°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)