Grasmere sits in the heart of the Lake District with no railway station of its own. The nearest rail connections are at Windermere (about 8 miles south) and Penrith (about 15 miles east), both on the West Coast Main Line via Oxenholme. From Windermere, the 555 Lakeslink bus runs north through Ambleside and on to Grasmere, Keswick and Carlisle — a useful and scenic route that means a car is not strictly necessary.
By car, the A591 runs through the village connecting Windermere to the south with Keswick to the north. The road is often congested in summer and parking in the village is limited. The main car parks fill quickly on weekends. Arriving early, or using the bus from Windermere, avoids most frustration.
There is no practical cycling route into Grasmere without tackling some significant hills. Cyclists should note that the A591 is busy in summer and not particularly pleasant, though the off-road paths through the valley are better.