About Keswick…

A bustling and vibrant market town, Keswick offers a warm welcome to all. There can be few towns with a setting as beautiful as Keswick, situated on the shores of Derwentwater and surrounded by mountains.

The compact and mainly pedestrianised town centre makes wandering round the shops a relaxing and enjoyable pastime with a wide range of independent retailers and galleries as well as cafes and restaurants. There is an award winning and very popular market which operates on Saturday all year round and on Thursday (mid Feb – Dec).

For those wishing to find out more about the rich cultural and industrial heritage of the area there is the opportunity to visit museums and historic houses. Mirehouse, just outside Keswick is a beautiful family run historic house with strong literary connections. Discover the history of slate mining at Honister Slate Mine or visit the home of the first pencil at Derwent Pencil Museum where you can trace the history of pencil making through displays and carefully restored machinery. Exhibitions and displays at Keswick Museum tell the story of Keswick’s landscape, history and culture.

Few people come to Keswick without a visit to Castlerigg Stone Circle. It stands on a superb natural plateau to the east of the town commanding a superb 360 degree view over the surrounding fells. Find out about how real ales are brewed at Keswick Brewery and see exactly how whisky, gin and vodka are made right here just outside Keswick at The Lakes Distillery. For the culturally inclined the Theatre by the Lake offers a summer season of six plays or step back in time and enjoy the red velvet seats of the traditional Keswick Alhambra Cinema.

Whether you want to learn something new or improve on your existing skills lots of outdoor experts are on hand in Keswick with a wide range of activities for you to try. On the water you can choose from sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, kayaking, paddle-boarding or just relaxing in a rowing boat. High adrenalin sports are in abundance in Keswick from paragliding to rock climbing to mountain biking. Up in England’s only true Mountain Forest at Whinlatter you’ll find mountain bike and walking trails.