You are here: Home > Things to Do > History and Heritage
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.
Remnants of five stone circles and two possible stone avenues, circles range from 14' to 60', one…
The present circle of 10 standing stones, 80' diameter, was restored in 1949. The stone circle is…
Stone circle is now incomplete and has a modern wall cutting through it, incorporating one stone.…
A stunning Elizabethan mansion with spectacular interiors and impressive collections of antiques. …
Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery is Carlisle's finest visitor attraction, and houses…
Built in a historic nineteenth century dock, the museum is home to a wealth of objects on the…
Image & Reality, exploring the life of the Armitt's most famous member. Beatrix Potter gave books…
The Laurel and Hardy Museum celebrates the life and career of Stan Laurel, born in Ulverston.
Imposing and well-preserved turret with adjoining stretches of Hadrian's Wall.
Birdoswald Roman Fort is the perfect place to see the longest continuous remaining stretch of this…
A masterpiece of storytelling; 350 years of social history and a celebration of life, revolutions…
Impressive red sandstone remains with ornately decorated chapter house. Once the second most…
Situated on Whitehaven's attractive harbour side, The Beacon is home to interactive science, games…
Historic haunted Castle home to the Pennington family for 800 years. A 70-acre garden famous for…
Meet Coniston's heroes, John Ruskin, artist, radical and seer and Donald Campbell, speed ace, and…
Hadrian's Wall is a spectacular World Heritage Site, marching 73 miles from sea to sea across some…
Discover 900 years of history and explore the tumultuous life of Carlisle Castle and its…
A mock-gothic Castle, on the western shore of Windermere. Empty of original furniture, this is a…
Raised in circa 3000BC, Castlerigg is perhaps the most atmospheric of all British stone circles…
Early 13thC castle, formidable barrier for Scots invaders, restored by the indomitable Lady Anne…
The 15 stones, of which the tallest is just under one metre, form an almost perfect circle some 40…
Three circles and nine small cairns. The south circle is 104' across, the north-west is 72' with a…
Treat yourself to a fabulous day out by train on the famous Settle to Carlisle line this summer…
Family-run historic house with strong literary connections. Live piano music and children's quiz in…
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: 74
, currently showing 61 to 74.
Keswick
Family-run historic house with strong literary connections. Live piano music and children's quiz in the house. Woodland playgrounds, heather maze, lakeside and poetry walk in the grounds.Great tearoom specialising in Cumbrian food.
Ambleside
Wordsworth's best loved family home for 37 years. It was here that he wrote many of his poems. He became Poet Laureate to Queen Victoria at the age of 74 and was his most successful.
Sedbergh
Farfield Mill is a Victorian woollen mill in the Yorkshire Dales. Home to artists’ studios, art exhibitions, heritage looms and tea room.
Ulverston
Working mill on lake Windermere shore, built in 1835 to produce the wooden bobbins vital to the Lancashire spinning and weaving industries.
Grange-over-Sands
Family home to the Cavendish's. Victorian wing, glorious gardens and parkland, woodlands, food hall, gift shop, courtyard cafe and Ilex Brasserie. The hall is set in 25 acres of romantic formal & woodland gardens and ancient parkland, with the…
Ulverston
Peaceful and inspiring Buddhist Temple, amazing Romantic Gothic mansion, relaxing café, gift shop and book store. Bring a picnic. Six minute woodland walk to beach. Guided tour at 2.30pm on Weekends and BHs.
Kendal
The beer hall is the Brewery Tap, sampling room, visitors centre and beer shop. it is a fully licensed bar which looks down onto the brew house.
Brampton
Standing close to Hadrian's Wall, this beautiful 13C church stands to its full height and remains remarkably well-preserved.
Cockermouth
Enjoy a guided tour of the Brewery. Sample superb Lakeland ales. Shop for beer, leisurewear and gifts.
Station Road, Keswick
Treasures and tales of the north lakes in a beautiful Lakeland slate building in Fitz Park with special exhibitions, activities and cafe.
Penrith
A much loved historic family home, set against the grandeur and picturesque splendour of the lakeland fells and the surrounding parkland. Daleman has a delightful five acre plantsman's garden.
Hawkshead, Ambleside
IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS, THE MUSEUM WILL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Wordsworth attended Hawkshead Grammar School from age 9 to 17. The school is now a
museum and looks much as it did in Wordsworth’s day.
Brewery Lane, Keswick
Come and visit our brewery to find out more about us and the beers we make. Only a 2 minute walk from Keswick town centre, enjoy a beer where it’s brewed. Explore on a tour, visit our Brewery Shop, and relax in our Flying Fox Bar.
Maryport
Roman museum displaying the internationally significant collection of Romano-British altars, inscriptions and sculptures from the adjacent Roman fort and civilian settlement.
Receive all the latest news, special offers and information from the Lake District, Cumbria
Cumbria Tourism, Windermere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9PL