The arts and culture scene in The Lake District, Cumbria is thriving, with many events taking place throughout the county year-round. Whether you want to enjoy a play, dance to live music, discover an art exhibition or visit a museum, there’s so much to experience in this vibrant part of the country.
If you’re a theatre enthusiast, you’ll find plenty to enjoy in the Lake District, Cumbria, with performances in some truly spectacular venues. How about catching a show next to a lake, or in a coastal town?
We often welcome touring productions including theatre and opera; while our independent cinemas also show live streams of performances taking place in world-class venues like the National Theatre.
If you’re a film buff, there are lots of fantastic cinemas showing the latest releases as well as art house classics. Did you know? The Lake District, Cumbria has featured in a number of films and TV shows like Star Wars and The Witcher!
Put on your dancing shoes and head out for an evening of live music – whether it’s a concert, a festival or an evening at the pub, there’s something to suit all tastes.
For a real celebration of our local culture, why not head for one of our vibrant festivals? The Winter Droving festival in Penrith is a colourful display held every October, complete with torchlit parade and a festive atmosphere. Meanwhile, museums hold regular events and exhibitions highlighting everything from art and film to our local history.
Search and view what's taking place below and let us introduce you to a world of theatre, music and the arts here in Cumbria.
Explore the relationship between land and art in Expanding Landscapes: Painting After Land Art, an…
Poetry readings in the house and gardens at Rydal Mount, the home of William Wordsworth. Evenings…
Take a tour of the Cathedral as you have never seen it before and find out more about our ring of…
Discover the work of pioneering textile designer and entrepreneur Annie Garnett, a leading figure…
Medieval Greystoke - 19 and 20 July 2025 Greystoke Castle, Greystoke, Penrith, Cumbria CA11…
Explore the founding of the school library by ex-pupil, Daniel Rawlinson 350 years ago! For the…
Each summer at ArtyBird, we film our Creative Textile suite of courses. Soon my shell became the…
Hop to your seats, join in the fun and watch with delight as your favourite characters are brought…
Don't miss this opportunity to delve into the life and legacy of Alfred Wainwright at The Armitt…
Karen Marshalsay - The Three Scottish Harps Karen Marshalsay is a master of traditional Scottish…
Local arts charity Signal Film and Media with Photographers Nicholas J.R. White and Dawn Parsonage…
Visitors to the museum can join one of our knowledgeable volunteers for a guided tour around the…
A wildly hilarious, fast-paced comedy that takes you behind the curtain of a chaotic touring…
The Graduation Show of the ArtyBird Carnforth Fellowship group who are intertwined through strong,…
Sue Lancaster is a well-known as a textile artist working in machine embroidery, but her work…
You may leave the Lake District, but once you’ve been, it’ll never leave you.
Number of results: 53
, currently showing 1 to 20.
Ambleside
Don't miss this opportunity to delve into the life and legacy of Alfred Wainwright at The Armitt museum from February to December 2025.
The Armitt museum and Alfred Wainwright Books & Memorabilia are thrilled to announce a collaborative and…
The Armitt Museum, Ambleside
Hawkshead, Ambleside
Explore the founding of the school library by ex-pupil, Daniel Rawlinson 350 years ago!
For the first time, books from this unique collection will be displayed to explore the cultural, social, religious and political climate of 17th Century England…
Hawkshead Grammar School Museum, Hawkshead
Bowness-on-Windermere
Discover the work of pioneering textile designer and entrepreneur Annie Garnett, a leading figure in the British Arts & Crafts Movement.
Step into the vibrant world of Annie Garnett, a pioneering textile designer and entrepreneur of the British…
Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts House, Bowness-on-Windermere
Kendal
Explore the relationship between land and art in Expanding Landscapes: Painting After Land Art, an exhibition that brings together historical works and contemporary artists.
Engaging with nature and observing our relationship with the landscape…
Abbot Hall, Kendal
The Promenade, Maryport
Visitors to the museum can join one of our knowledgeable volunteers for a guided tour around the site of the Roman fort at Maryport. You can discover the stories of the Romans in West Cumbria and the western extreme of the Frontiers of the Roman…
Senhouse Roman Museum, Maryport
Lake Rd, Keswick
A wildly hilarious, fast-paced comedy that takes you behind the curtain of a chaotic touring theatre company desperately trying to maintain their composure and regain any shred of credibility.
From their frantic last-minute rehearsals in…
Bowness-on-Windermere
Hop to your seats, join in the fun and watch with delight as your favourite characters are brought to life in a theatrical spectacular with beautiful puppets and enchanting songs.
It's Peter Rabbit's birthday and his friends are planning a secret…
Barrow-in-Furness
Local arts charity Signal Film and Media with Photographers Nicholas J.R. White and Dawn Parsonage have created a free public photography exhibition trail in Barrow inspired by the Sankey Photography Archive.
This summer, outdoor and public…
Ambleside
Poetry readings in the house and gardens at Rydal Mount, the home of William Wordsworth. Evenings through summer and autumn by arrangement. Please email for details and price.
Sedbergh
The Graduation Show of the ArtyBird Carnforth Fellowship group who are intertwined through strong, supportive bonds of friendship and shared creativity. The exhibition reflects individuality within the cohesive group.
Farfield Mill is open Wednesday…
Sedbergh
Sue Lancaster is a well-known as a textile artist working in machine embroidery, but her work starts well in advance of the production in stitch. In 'What's the Point' Sue will be exploring landscapes in a variety of media – it will be view point…
Sedbergh
Each summer at ArtyBird, we film our Creative Textile suite of courses. Soon my shell became the focus and star of them – surprising us on how inspiring just one shell can be.
This is a special shell, one that my husband brought me back from his…
2 Compston Rd, Ambleside
Karen Marshalsay - The Three Scottish Harps
Karen Marshalsay is a master of traditional Scottish harp music. One of the very few musicians who specialise on all three Scottish harps – both gut- and wire-strung and the baroque bray harp with its…
Greystoke, Penrith
Medieval Greystoke - 19 and 20 July 2025
Greystoke Castle, Greystoke, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 0TG
Go back in time to the 13th Century to experience elaborate costumes, craftsmanship, traditional music and medieval combat displays.
Event…
Greystoke Castle, Greystoke
Carlisle
Take a tour of the Cathedral as you have never seen it before and find out more about our ring of bells at this special Bell Tower Open Day.
You will be met by a member of our Bell Tower Ringing Team before climbing the steps to the bell-tower; on…
Carlisle Cathedral, Carlisle
Carlisle
Please join us for a special tour of Carlisle Cathedral this summer.
Climb up to our clerestory to experience the Cathedral in a unique way. Get up close to our medieval stained glass in the East Window and see the starry ceiling and the Cathedral…
Carlisle Cathedral, Carlisle
The Abbey, Carlisle
We look forward to hearing Harry Brown on Wednesday 30 July at his next Organ Recital organised as part of the Free Live Music Series at Carlisle Cathedral.
This event is free to enter; there will be a retiring collection at the end of the concert…
Carlisle Cathedral, Carlisle
Brampton
"Though this be madness, yet there is method in't!"
Join the critically acclaimed Pantaloons Theatre Company as they put on a frantic disposition to tackle Shakespeare's greatest tragedy in their own anarchic style.
When he discovers that his…
Talkin Tarn Country Park, Brampton
The Abbey, Carlisle
The Fratry Hall at Carlisle Cathedral will become home to hundreds of pieces of fantastic local artwork from 2 - 17 August, for the Carlisle and Cumbria Artists' 56th Exhibition.
Please call in to see the fantastic display, created by talented,…
Carlisle Cathedral, Carlisle
Braithwaite, Keswick
A rusty 'tin shed' beside a dramatic waterfall in a remote valley just outside Keswick – this building is a tribute to human engineering and ingenuity, and it has a powerful story to tell about humanity's impact on the planet. Before closing in…
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