Windermere, Grasmere, Keswick. All great places to stay.

Get a couple of books of Wordsworth and Keats if you're interested in the Lake District's relation to the British psyche.

Climb a few hills. Helvellyn is popular for the views. Scarfell Pike is the highest in England, but many people find the eventual peak disappointing after the final cruel scramble.

The food isn't too great, apart from the sausages, which I'd probably kill for right now. The beer is excellent.

Take a put-put boat out onto Windermere. Take sandwiches.

Sit in a pub while it rains for a week, solid.

Visit the slate mine and pencil museum when the weather turns bad.

[ah. you're only going for one day. windermere is good. perhaps morning in Bowness, afternoon in Keswick]