Situated within the picturesque Lake District National Park, Keswick is a charismatic market town at the base of Mount Skiddaw. Home to fine museums and a renowned lakeside theatre, Keswick also serves as a launching point for hikes and scenic drives across the region.

Things to do

Discover the history behind the humble pencil at the Derwent Pencil Museum, which documents 350 years of pencil making adjacent to a 1920s factory. Wander through a replica graphite mine and learn how pencil making evolved from a cottage industry to large-scale modern production, then witness the largest coloured pencil in the world.

Learn about the natural and cultural history of the region at the Keswick Museum and Art Gallery, which is set within an elegant building dating back to 1898. Admire the Musical Stones of Skiddaw that were played to Queen Victoria and a teacup belonging to Napoléon Bonaparte, as well as significant 19th-century works by regional artists.

Keswick is a hiker’s paradise with walking trails leading along the shores of the Derwent Water and up to the summit of Mount Skiddaw. Ride the ferry to Hawse End and a trail that leads to the popular Catbells fell or opt for a scenic drive over the Honister, Newlands and Whinlatter passes for magnificent views across the Lake District.

If you’re looking for something to do after dark, enjoy a show at the Theatre by the Lake, which is famously patronised by Dame Judi Dench. Classic plays and themed performances are presented throughout the year, together with literature, jazz and film festivals.

Getting around

Keswick is a 35-minute bus ride from Penrith and trains connect from Keswick north to Carlisle. Buses travel throughout the Lake District and Keswick is an easy town to explore on foot.