Captivating Cumbria: 9 Superb Things To Do In Keswick, England

best things to do in keswick uk
Antonia
Antonia 
Updated
| 4 min read

The English Lake District is not, perhaps, well-known outside the UK and certainly not as a tourist attraction on par with London or even Blackpool, which is closer by. It is, however, an attraction to many day-tripping Britons and an increasing number of discerning overseas tourists. Charming small towns with a range of bucolic and more modern attractions - such as Keswick - are something Northern England does rather well. In fact, Keswick is a wonderful holiday choice should you wish to cast your net further when visiting the UK.

1. Rock on at Castlerigg Stone Circle

Castlerigg Stone Circle
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Mike Peel used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Neolithic standing stone sites are something people might more immediately associate with Stonehenge, far to the South. However, there are as many as 1,300 such sites around Britain and Northern France. Castlerigg is the most visited one in Cumbria and one of the most visited in Britain. This might have something to do with the spectacular scenery that surrounds it, including the picturesque peak of Skiddaw.

Castlerigg Stone Circle

Address: Castle Lane, Underskiddaw, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 4RN

Website: Castlerigg Stone Circle

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2. Witness the unique at Honister Slate Mine

The Honister Pass, looking west
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Rosser1954 used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Two things mark out Honister as remarkable. The first is that it is the last remaining working slate mine in all of England. The second and perhaps more important remarkable trait is its astounding, rugged natural beauty. Tours of the mine start at 38 GBP (about 50 USD) and allow you to climb the sheer valley walls. It’s real value for money as the experience lasts up to three hours and provides some of the most thrilling views anywhere in England.

Honister Slate Mine

Address: Honister Pass, Keswick CA12 5XN

Website: Honister Slate Mine

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3. Indulge your cultural side at Keswick Museum and Art Gallery

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

While Keswick’s natural attractions are not in any doubt, do not be misled into thinking that it lacks more “refined” indoor pursuits. The Keswick Museum and Art Gallery is an attraction that will keep curious minds occupied for hours on end.

First built in 1898 and refurbished in 2014, the museum features the works of local artists and filmmakers, as well as displays inspired by the natural surroundings of Keswick. At 4.25 GBP for an adult and 2.50 for a child (5.50/3 USD), it’s a bargain. The tea shop is also well worth a visit!

Keswick Museum and Art Gallery

Address: Station Road, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 4NF

Website: Keswick Museum and Art Gallery

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4. "Lead" the way to Cumberland Pencil Museum

Keswick Pencil Museum
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Andrew Abbott used under CC BY-SA 2.0

You may ask yourself: “Is a museum about pencils really where I want to spend my time?” The answer to that is yes, of course, it is.

Among the museum’s claims to fame is that it hosts the (former) world’s biggest colouring pencil - 26 feet long and weighing just under half a metric tonne. If you’re wondering what colour the pencil is, it’s yellow. You’ll also find the world’s first ever pencil, as well as a collection of World War II pencils which contained hidden maps. Offbeat? Maybe, but also fascinating and genuinely historical.

Cumberland Pencil Museum

Address: Southey Works, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5NG

Website: Derwent Pencil Museum

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5. Take in a show at the Theatre By The Lake

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Given the UK’s cultural history, it is no surprise that most cities and towns have one or more performing arts theatre. However, the Theatre by the Lake is a little bit different. Opened in 1999 on the banks of the Derwent, the theatre itself is as much an attraction as any of the shows that tread the boards within. In one of Britain’s prettiest counties, it makes sense that you would find one of its prettiest theatres. It may be less than twenty years old, but it’s rich in old world charm and character.

Theatre by the Lake

Address: Lakeside, Lake Rd, Keswick CA12 5DJ

Website: Theatre by the Lake

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6. Take a walk around Derwent Water

Derwent Water, Lake District, Cumbria - June 2009
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Diliff used under CC BY-SA 3.0

As noted, Keswick is in the Lake District, and its theatre is located on a lakeside. So, of course, those lakes play a huge part in the tourism and general life of this region. Perhaps the most prominent attraction is Derwent Water, which covers more than two square miles and contains no less than twenty-nine million cubic metres of water.

That in itself is impressive, but it’s the setting that really makes it. The lake can be viewed from any of the seven separate marinas, one of which is located at Keswick itself. Motorists may enjoy the drive from Keswick to Borrowdale, which runs along the Western shore and provides some of the most stunning views.

Derwent Water

Address: Lake District, Cumbria

Website: Derwent Water

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7. Become utterly confused at The Puzzling Place

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

If you thought the Pencil Museum was a bit offbeat, then the Puzzling Place will just about finish you off - in the best possible way. Entry here is free, allowing you to browse around the shop and tease your brain in the puzzle area. You will be expected to pay (just 4 GBP, less than 5 USD for adults) for the World of Illusion, however, which contains such attractions as the Anti-Gravity Room (don’t try to levitate, it won’t work) and the Eyelusions Exhibition. It’s all of those creepy optical illusions you’ve seen online and in pictures. You’ll leave feeling bewildered and entertained.

The Puzzling Place

Address: Museum Square, Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5DZ

Website: The Puzzling Place

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8. Wander, lonely as a cloud, to the Wordsworth Museum

Dove Cottage
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Sourav Niyogi used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Close to Keswick (about 20 minutes’ drive away), you’ll find the charming village of Grasmere. Here is where the legendary poet William Wordsworth made his home. He and his sister Dorothy lived in Dove Cottage from 1799 to 1808. It was also here that Wordsworth wrote the immortal lines “I wandered, lonely as a cloud / That floats on high, o'er vales and hills…” The poem itself was inspired by a visit to nearby Ullswater, itself worth a visit. Entry to the museum costs just 9 GBP, less than 11 USD.

Dove Cottage & Wordsworth Museum

Address: Grasmere, Ambleside LA22 9SH

Website: Dove Cottage & Wordsworth Museum

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9. Climb for the view at the Cat Bells

Cat Bells
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Ian Capper used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Just three miles away from Keswick on the shores of Derwent Water, you’ll find the gentle rising fell of Cat Bells. A slope which rises to 451 metres, it’s the perfect place for a country walk. Pack a picnic and you can lunch while looking out over the magnificent lake beneath. If your camera has a panoramic function, this is an ideal place to put it to use - one sweeping vista can take in Bassenthwaite Lake, the Newlands Valley, Keswick and Skiddaw.

Cat Bells

Address: Cumbria, England

Website: Cat Bells

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Keswick: where weird is really weird, and wonderful is everywhere!

Keswick
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Diliff used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Whether it be optical illusions or very real lake shores, the take-home message from Keswick is that it has to be seen to be believed. You’ll be captivated by the vertiginous scenery and enchanted by the character of this unique town. You’ll want to visit again and again.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Antonia Kelly is a freelance writer based in Leicester, UK and she enjoys European travel as well as road trips closer to home. Her favourite domestic destinations include Snowdonia and the Brecon...Read more

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