Trundling past the quaint cottages of surrounding villages with a view to the rounded hills overlooking the town. This IS the Lake District. Keswick is located on the shores of Derwent Water and filled with small coffee shops and one too many outdoor shops! It is a walking town of course, so I suppose I’ll let them away with the large number of outdoor activities shops. The charming market town is in the heart of the Lake District National Park, with plenty of fun things to do for all the family.
Down by the shore geese and ducks mill around looking for brown paper bags of maize, bought especially to feed them from the nearby launch shop. Tourists head out on the beautiful wooden launches to cruise around the water or stop at the various piers dotted around the lake. On a sunny day it is glorious! On a wet day you may be better off finding some shelter in one of the indoor attractions. From Keswick museum to Honister Slate Mine, you will find various indoor attractions around the area too.
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How To Get To Keswick
Keswick is surprisingly easy to get to. By car you just need to turn off the M6 at Penrith and follow the A66 to Keswick. However you can also get there by public transport too! Take the East coast train to Penrith (from either Glasgow or as far South as London), then catch the bus to Keswick, either X4 or X5 from right outside the station. It’s very simple and quick with regular services by bus! Plus you don’t have to cope with the crazy number of cars on the narrow roads around the town!
Where To Stay In Keswick
There are plenty of places to stay both in and around Keswick. For budget travellers there is the Keswick or Derwent Water Camping and caravan Club Campsites. Or stay at one of the many guest houses and hotels in the town. From the grand Keswick Country House Hotel and Brackenrigg House self-catering to the Keswick YHA, you will find something for every budget and need.
Don’t forget to check out the surrounding area too. We had a lovely stay at the Pheasant Inn, by Bassenthwaite lake, travelling there by bus from Keswick. The area is very well connected by the bus service. It also has fantastic local food int he restaurant.
Top 15 Things To Do In Keswick
So, you have your accomodation booked and know how to get there. But which are the best places to visit in Keswick, the must-see attractions? There are plenty of walks around for outdoor enthusiasts, although I haven’t included the highest peaks in these things to do. But the lower hills and walks still have amazing views and are excellent for nature lovers.
Hope Park
Don’t miss Hope Park in Keswick, a great place to play some crazy golf, walk among the beautiful gardens and even play with remote control boats. It’s just on the way down to the lake shore and certainly a great spot to visit if you are staying for a few days.
Lake District Wildlife Park
Located near Bassenthwaite Lake, North of Keswick, under the backdrop of the Skiddaw massif, is an excellent wildlife park. With 24 acres of land and over 100 different species this is an excellent place to visit a short drive (or bus ride) from Keswick. Both older children and their younger siblings will enjoy a day out amongst the animals.
Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path
The railway path between Keswick and the village of Threlkeld begins behind the leisure centre in Keswick and finishing just outside the village of Threlkeld. You can of course start the other way round too. We chose to walk from Keswick to Threlkeld and then caught the bus back at the end. You could also take the bus direct to Threlkeld and walk back toward Keswick. It’s only a few miles long, so it’s also possible to walk there and back too.
Expect plenty of beautiful views over the river, old railway tunnels to walk through and many information boards about the history and biodiversity of the area.
Castlerigg Stone Circle
Just outside of Keswick (signposted off the railway path above) is Castlerigg Stone Circle. Castlerigg is an atmospheric stone circle surrounded by panoramic views of the hills. It is an English Heritage site and easily reached by foot (around 30 minutes) from Keswick. Parking is limited, so walking is the best option!
The stone circle is known to be built around 3000BC, so is a Neolithic stone circle. Different to the Bronze Age stone circles that tend to dominate the UK. Although the site hasn’t been extensively excavated, you will still find plenty of information on site.
Derwent Water Launch
Derwent Water is surrounded by some of the highest peaks near Keswick. It is a truly enjoyable place to enjoy the pure magic of the surrounding peaks and watch the changing reflections on the water. Get tickets for a cruise out on the lake from the little stone boat house by the launches. But don’t just stay on the boat! Choose some stops to get off the boat, go for a walk, visit a cafe and enjoy the stunning scenery. Hop back on the boat to go to a different stop or back to Keswick. A wonderful way to get round the lake without a car. Check out the Keswick Launch Co for more information on tickets and pricing.
Whinlatter Forest
Just outside of Keswick is a true mountain forest, Whinlatter Forest. There is a visitor centre with toilets and a play park, however it’s the trails that are the attractions here. Enjoy various trails from 30 minutes in length to 3 hours, the Wow trail is said to be the best one for breathtaking views!
Ashness Bridge
Easily reached by foot or launch across the water from Keswick is Ashness Bridge. There is also the possibility of driving there by car, but during the summer season car parks are often full and roads too busy. I personally suggest taking a lunch and walking up from the pier to the bridge, it’s only 30 minutes walk uphill. The bridge itself is a beautiful stone bridge, water rushing below. If you are looking for the perfect place to take Instagram photos, this probably isn’t it. Even in September we only had it to ourselves for a few minutes!
Honister Slate Mine
Just a 25 minute drive South of Keswick is Honister Slate Mine. It’s also accessible by the 77A bus from Keswick, taking around an hour to get to the slate mine. This isn’t just a boring old mine, you can actually get inside and explore via a mine tour, or scale the walls, climb ladders and fly down zip lines during a mine climbing experience. You can also try some adrenaline activities outside the mine, including the via ferrate and crossing the infinity bridge! It’s certainly an exciting day out.
Lakes Distillery
At the North end of Bassenthwaite Lake, reached by car of the X4/X5 buses, you can visit he Lakes Distillery. Here you can take a distillery tour, whisky or gin tastings and even whisky and chocolate pairings. A good place to visit if you would like to try some local spirits.
Latrigg
Easily reached from the centre of Keswick, you can walk up the gentle incline to the top of Latrigg. Although it’s only a short walk, you will enjoy grand views across Keswick, Derwent Water and Bassenthwaite Lake. A great option for younger children.
Catbells
Only a 3.5 mile walk up to the peak of Catbells, but you will be stunned by the natural beauty of Catbells and the surrounding mountains. This a is a great climb, with some optional scrambling at the top. Looming over the far end of Derwent water you will be able to spot the mountain from your boat trip on Derwent Water launches!
Derwent Pencil Museum
A short walk from Keswick town centre is the Derwent pencil museum, previously known as the Cumberland pencil museum. This is the perfect place to visit and learn about one of the important historic employment opportunities for the Lake District. From graphite miners to creating exciting products and helping with the war efforts. There really is a lot of interesting information here. If you fill out the quiz you also get a few pencils as a reward!
Theatre By The Lake
Enjoy fantastic theatre shows by the shores of Derwent Water. Shows change throughout the year, so check out the website to see which shows are currently being shown. From Shakespeare to kids theatre, you will find lots of excellent theatre shows. This is definitely one of the best things to do whilst you stay in Keswick.
The Puzzling Place
In the centre of Keswick is the Puzzling Place. It’s a world of optical illusions with 5 exhibition spaces to explore, perfect for all the family, but it’s not just for young children! Everyone can discover the delights and enjoy the optical illusions, don’t miss the anti-gravity room. However, there is no onsite parking, so walk from your hotel or park elsewhere nearby.
Keswick Climbing Wall
Just outside of Keswick, beside Castlerigg stone circle, is the Keswick climbing wall. It’s a great place to visit on a rainy day, with climbing available for experienced climbers or lessons for beginners. They also have a cafe on-site and plenty of parking.
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