Things to do

There are a plethora of things to do and places to go and visit when you are here in Keswick. Some are close by (indeed many are possible without the need to jump in the car), some are further afield. Some are for dry days and some for the wet weather days we occasionally get here.

Whatever the weather and whatever you decide to do you will almost certainly want to come back. It's that kind of place.

 

Keswick Attractions in and around town :

Theatre by the Lake - Keswick's own award winning Theatre

Alhambra Cinema - Top Films and a quality traditional Cinema in Keswick

Keswick Launch Company - Lake cruises on Derwentwater, rowing boats and self drive motor boat hire.

Keswick Climbing Wall - Indoor climbing and outdoor activities

Keswick Mountain Bikes - Buy and hire mountain bikes in the Northern Lakes.

The Cumberland Pencil Museum - The famous Keswick pencil museum

The Puzzling Place - Where seeing is not always, believing

Good Taste - Run by entrepreneurial Pete Sidwell it offers a take away service as well as an eating in facility upstairs. The best coffee in town and really good soups, sandwiches, paninis and smoothies. Check out his recently published book for ideas. Not open on Sundays.

The Square Orange - A really good cafe / bar that is so much better now that it is non smoking. Really good for reading the Sunday papers over a coffee. They also do Pizzas, paninis and Tapas.

 

Visits and attractions slightly further afield :

Castlerigg Stone Circle - A pleasant walk out of town gets you to this fascinating place

Honister Slate Mine - Via Ferrata, Underground Mine Tours and learn how slate is mined

Rheged & National Mountaineering Exhibition - Europe's biggest grass covered building!

Keswick Golf Club - A round of golf at one of the UK's most beautiful courses

Osprey Watch - Keep in touch with the nesting Ospreys at Bassenthwaite

 

Keswick festivals :

Keswick Mountain Festival - Activity based Festival held each May. Films, Lectures, seminars, walks, scrambles, demonstrations and activities for all outdoor enthusiasts.

Keswick Beer Festival - Book early as it is popular. Annual beer festival in June

Keswick Film Festival - A fantastic programme of film from around the world.

Words By The Water - Keswick's literature Festival based at The Theatre by the Lake

Keswick Jazz Festival - Famous festival attracting visitors from around the world

Keswick Convention - Keswick's Christian Convention now in its 125th year

 

Places of interest further afield :

Dove Cottage - William Wordsworth’s home at Grasmere

Rydal Mount & Gardens - near Ambleside

Holker Hall - Gardens & Lakeland Motor Museum, plus the Campbell Bluebird Exhibition

Hill Top - Former home of Beatrix Potter near Sawrey

The World of Beatrix Potter - Gallery at Bowness

Abbot Hall - One of Britain’s finest independent galleries

Mirehouse - stately house and lovely gardens

Muncaster Castle - Castle, Gardens, Owl sanctuary and Maze.

 

Other sites of interest :

The Wainwright Society - In honour of Master Fellwalker Alfred Wainwright