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Wherever you are in Cumbria and the Lake District you can feel the shadow of a deep cultural heritage. Here are the standing stones and circles of the ancients, the powerful traces of Rome and the mighty fortresses of the Normans. The history of the Vikings, the Angles and the Saxons is read in the names they left behind, including fell, dale, beck, ghyll, mere, tarn and howe.
Later arrivals came not to conquer but to bask in the beauty of the landscapes and let it inspire them to artistic greatness: William Wordsworth, John Ruskin, Beatrix Potter, JMW Turner, Kurt Schwitters and Andy Goldsworthy are just a few of the names who carved their creativity out of Cumbrian stone; today, a rich creative life builds on this exceptional heritage.
You can see it and feel it within a few short miles; the artworks in mountains and forests, the scores of galleries and artists’ studios, the packed programme performances and festivals – not just music and comedy but wool, print and ceramics. It's the intimate venues and outdoor stages in stunning settings that make a cultural break here something unique.
For a taste of the art and culture waiting for you in England’s best-known landscape explore the sections below and at www.lakesculture.co.uk.
Situated in the beautiful valley of Dentdale, Cumbria yet within the boundary of the Yorkshire…
A stunning Elizabethan mansion with spectacular interiors and impressive collections of antiques. …
A 'very remarkable building with windows glowing with gemstone colours', according to architectural…
Situated prominently in the heart of the village, in an area of outstanding natural beauty. St…
Crosthwaite Church has a long history and it is thought that Christians have worshipped on this…
Hadrian's Wall is a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site, marching 73 miles from sea to sea…
Imagine leaving the heart of Whitehaven's historic port and being taken back in time to an exotic…
A local landmark, the church is set on the end of a limestone ridge at the gateway to the Lake…
Beatrix Potter's iconic house, full of her personal possessions, with traditional cottage garden.…
Double Circle of stones surrounding cremations in urns (removed). 'Platform' cairn, small barrows,…
The church is situated centrally in Keswick and stands out by virtue of its tall spire. The site…
Brougham Hall is a creative haven where you can enjoy the perfect blend of crafts, coffee and…
Situated on Whitehaven's attractive harbour side, The Beacon is home to interactive science, games…
The church was designed by Edward Welby Pugin (son of Augustus Welby Pugin) and built between 1873…
A magical indoor attraction that brings to life all 23 Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit tales. Meet…
Egremont Castle Park in the town of Egremont, offers 2.8 acres of beautiful green space that is…
Raised in circa 3000BC, Castlerigg is perhaps the most atmospheric of all British stone circles…
Circle has a diameter of 60' and stands on a flattened mound or platform. There are 20 uprights,…
Striking in its symmetry with its central round headed doorway between by matching round headed…
A lovely church in a remote setting. Known locally as Ninekirks, St Ninian's stands remote down a…
The tranquility of St Andrew's church, set on the banks of the river Esk, belies the turbulence of…
The brewery is now open again, at the foot of Cockermouth Castle, surrounded by the River Derwent…
Several stone circles and many small cairns are visible on the moor. The circles are distinguished…
This church is well known because of its associations with the great Romantic poet William…


Wherever you are in Cumbria the history of the Vikings, the Angles and the Saxons is read in the names they left behind

Number of results: 144
, currently showing 21 to 40.
Workington
Lamplugh church, designed by William Butterfield, is located in a dramatic landscape on an elevated site, set against the outlying fells of the Lake District National Park with Owsen and Blake Fells beyond.
Ulverston
Come and join us at The Old Calf Shed for a behind-the-scenes look at our distillery, followed by a relaxed spirits tasting in our stylish visitor bar.
Bowness-on-Windermere
Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house is a rare architectural gem in the heart of the Lake District and offers a perfectly preserved snapshot of early 20th-century living.
CARNFORTH
Right in the heart of Kirkby Lonsdale,the beautiful Norman church sits above the River Lune with commanding views from the churchyard.
Eskdale
Hardknott Roman Fort is one of the most dramatically sited and remote Roman forts in Britain. It measures just three-acres and the fort at Hardknott enjoyed command of the Eskdale Valley and the Roman road to Ravenglass.
CARLISLE
The 8th century, Anglo Saxon Bewcastle Cross, stands free in the churchyard where it has been for nearly 1500 years. The church is somewhat simpler and certainly younger, with some parts of it dating from 1277, although mostly it is from the…
Penrith
One mile east of Orton is the ancient Gamelands stone circle. One of the largest in Cumbria, all of its stones have fallen over so none are higher than one yard but they are 100 yards in circumference.
AMBLESIDE
Visible from miles around that spire of St Mary’s nestles into the beautiful landscape of the Heart of the English Lake District.
Brampton
Set in a tranquil rural landscape, overlooked by Hadrian's Wall, Lanercost Priory forms a magnificent and fascinating complex of historic buildings. St Mary’s sits in the former nave of the Priory, an Augustinian monastery founded in 1169.
Cumbria
The present circle of 10 standing stones, 80' diameter, was restored in 1949. The stone circle is on private land belonging to Seascale How Farm, but can be seen from a nearby footpath.
The Promenade, Maryport
Roman museum displaying the internationally significant collection of Romano-British altars, inscriptions and sculptures from the adjacent Roman fort and civilian settlement.
Penrith
Black Cat Distillery operates out of a stunning fortified and walled Medieval Hall at Brougham. Our gin is infused with the echoes of the past that permeate the very walls! We distill, fill and label our products on site.
APPLEBY-IN-WESTMORLAND
St Lawrence's church is a grade I listed building, of late 12th century foundation, rebuilt late 13th after a raid by the Scots, restored 16th by Lady Anne Clifford, followed by two rounds of 19th century internal remodelling.
Keswick
Raised in circa 3000BC, Castlerigg is perhaps the most atmospheric of all British stone circles with the mountain of Helvellyn as a dramatic backdrop.
WIGTON
Caught in the Anglo Scottish wars of the 14th century, a good bit of luck followed the Dissolution of the Monasteries for this church, when the local people successfully petitioned Thomas Cromwell to allow them to continue to use the church.
WORKINGTON
The church was designed by Edward Welby Pugin (son of Augustus Welby Pugin) and built between 1873 - 1876 to replace a chapel in the grounds which now forms part of St Joseph's High School.
Penrith
The mainly 15thC remains of a castle begun by Bishop Strickland of Carlisle and developed by the Nevilles and Richard lll. Set in a municipal park opposite the railway station.
Brough
Come and walk up the aisle of our beautiful and peaceful church and learn about the lives of the inhabitants of Brough under Stainmore.
St Michael’s has not always had such a quiet time. Its close proximity to the castle 200yds away, meant it was…
Ambleside
Beatrix Potter's iconic house, full of her personal possessions, with traditional cottage garden. Her paintings of the House and garden were used to illustrate many of her tales.
Penrith
Second largest circle in England - 360' diameter. Long Meg is an outlying stone and is decorated with concentric circle - late Neolithic or early Bronze Age (c2000 or earlier).
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