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It rains from time to time in the Lake District, but how else did you think we got our fabulous landscapes and those lakes? Still, we’re more than prepared for the occasional downpour, and there’s plenty to do while taking shelter from the elements.
The county’s collection of museums alone could keep you busy for a year, whether it’s visiting the homes of William Wordsworth or Beatrix Potter, learning about life on the lake at the spectacular new boat museum on Windermere, or uncovering the fascinating history of the humble pencil, which we-bet-you-didn’t-know was invented in Keswick back in the 16th century. Don’t knock it until you try it!
You can watch Beatrix Potter’s most memorable creations come to life in Bowness or explore the miner’s life deep in a mountain at Honister. The county’s waterfalls are best visited when there’s been a downpour – Aira Force and Stock Ghyll are powerful examples of nature’s extraordinary force and beauty.
Lake cruises depart in all weathers, as do Cumbria’s railroads – what better way of whiling away a wet day than aboard a 19th century steam train? And if you want to work up a proper sweat, there are indoor climbing walls in Ambleside, Kendal `and Keswick.
Cumbria’s towns are well worth a mooch in their own right: Windermere, Bowness, Ambleside and Kendal are beautiful places lined with independent shops and cafes, but you can go farther afield and while away a few hours in the shopping havens of Rheged, near Penrith (where there’s also an IMAX cinema); and Carlisle, whose busy centre is full of distractions (and there’s a pretty impressive castle and cathedral too).
Inspiration
Friendly, contemporary Keswick-based art gallery in the heart of the Northern Lake District…
Welcome to Lakeland's oldest, longest and most scenic railway! La'aL Ratty, the little Cumbrian…
The award winning Lakeland Climbing Centre is one of the country's largest indoor aerial adventure…
“From our better selves we have too long been parted by the hurrying world”
Adrenaline filled adventure inside the belly of a Lake District mountain, ‘Climb the Mine’ is the…
Relax in luxury in our Lakeview Spa, unique in that whether you are in the indoor pool, the…
A magical indoor attraction that brings to life all 23 Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit tales. Meet…
Eskdale Mill is a unique experience, nestled in one of the Lake District's most beautiful locations…
New luxury tourist trains to run daily except Fridays this summer on the famous Settle-Carlisle…
Known nationally as a centre for world-class theatre, music, art and events, the Brewery has a 450…
Welcome to Cumbria's, and possibly the UK's, smallest gin distillery! Based in the lovely market…
Located in Keswick, the home of the first pencil, visitors enter this museum through a replica…
Flanked by two walls of glass, the pool has views that blur the boundary between you and your…
Discover 200 years of Windermere’s boating history and the stories of the people involved - from…
A world hidden from the surface but full of adventure and challenge for all. From simple…
A world hidden from the surface but full of adventure and challenge for all. From simple…
Discover 900 years of history and explore the tumultuous life of Carlisle Castle and its…
Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery is Carlisle's finest visitor attraction, and houses…
There’s nowhere quite like Rheged, where the arts meet good food, family and fun under a green…
Blackwell is one of Britain's finest and most important houses from the turn of the last century,…
Brantwood, the former home of eminent Victorian John Ruskin and a treasure house of art and…
Occupying three floors within an historic building this bright and welcoming gallery showcases the…
Art gallery and art shop run by the Heaton Cooper family, selling original paintings and prints…
Welcome to Cumbria's, and possibly the UK's, smallest gin distillery! Based in the lovely market…
You may leave the Lake District, but once you've been,
it'll never leave you...
Number of results: 76
, currently showing 1 to 20.
Kewick
Friendly, contemporary Keswick-based art gallery in the heart of the Northern Lake District National Park, representing over 80 artists.
Cumbria
Welcome to Lakeland's oldest, longest and most scenic railway!
La'aL Ratty, the little Cumbrian Railway is an award winning heritage visitor attraction and Lake District icon, living up to its “must do” reputation for all ages. Excellent facilities…
Mint Bridge, Kendal
The award winning Lakeland Climbing Centre is one of the country's largest indoor aerial adventure centres, offering fun climbing and aerial activities for all the family from 5 years old to adults.
Grasmere
“From our better selves we have too long been parted by the hurrying world”
Borrowdale, Keswick
Adrenaline filled adventure inside the belly of a Lake District mountain, ‘Climb the Mine’ is the only one of its type in England.
Windermere
Relax in luxury in our Lakeview Spa, unique in that whether you are in the indoor pool, the vitality spa pools on our spa terrace or any of our treatment rooms, you have unrivalled views of Windermere and mountains beyond. The design includes three…
Crag Brow, Bowness-on-Windermere
A magical indoor attraction that brings to life all 23 Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit tales. Meet all your favourite characters and find out more about Beatrix Potter herself.
Boot, Holmrook
Eskdale Mill is a unique experience, nestled in one of the Lake District's most beautiful locations. This charming site embodies the Lake District’s heritage. It is the last remaining working water-powered corn mill in the Lake District.
Carlisle
New luxury tourist trains to run daily except Fridays this summer on the famous Settle-Carlisle railway from mid July to mid September.
Following the success of ‘The Staycation Express’ last year plans are currently being finalised for the 2021…
Kendal
Known nationally as a centre for world-class theatre, music, art and events, the Brewery has a 450 capacity music venue, three cinemas, two visual arts galleries, drama studio, darkroom facilities, meeting rooms, great restaurant/cafe/bar.
Ulverston
Welcome to Cumbria's, and possibly the UK's, smallest gin distillery!
Based in the lovely market town of Ulverston, we're producing small batch, big flavour gins. Smooth enough to be sipped, bold enough to be mixed.
Keswick
Located in Keswick, the home of the first pencil, visitors enter this museum through a replica graphite mine which would have served as the source of the pencil industry over three centuries ago.
Nr Kendal
Quad Biking 16yrs+ and 4x4 off Road driving. Available as one hour sessions or with full and part day packages
Ullswater
Flanked by two walls of glass, the pool has views that blur the boundary between you and your lakeside location.
Windermere
Discover 200 years of Windermere’s boating history and the stories of the people involved - from wealthy owners to boat builders, inspired writers to ordinary Lakeland folk - at the Lake District’s new all-weather museum.
Carlisle
Discover 900 years of history and explore the tumultuous life of Carlisle Castle and its characters, in a new exhibition.
Carlisle
Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery is Carlisle's finest visitor attraction, and houses considerable collections of fine and decorative art, human history and natural sciences.
Penrith
There’s nowhere quite like Rheged, where the arts meet good food, family and fun under a green grass roof. It’s where we share every aspect of what we love about our place.
Windermere
Blackwell is one of Britain's finest and most important houses from the turn of the last century, situated in a stunning setting overlooking lake Windermere.
Coniston
Brantwood, the former home of eminent Victorian John Ruskin and a treasure house of art and memorabilia. The 250-acre estate comprises 8 unique gardens, ancient woodland, high moors and meadows.
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