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The Lake District, Cumbria, has provided inspiration for a whole host of artists throughout the years, so it may come as no surprise that we’ve got a rich arts and crafts scene across the area! Here, you’ll find a range of art galleries and exhibition spaces that host an ever-changing calendar of works in virtually every medium.
Discover pieces by local and nationally known artists at venues including independent galleries and studios, to museums and seasonal fairs. Some offer the chance to take a piece home with you, while others host regularly changing exhibitions as well as permanent art collections.
There’s even the opportunity to check out art in the great outdoors: there’s a sculpture trail at Grizedale Forest, for example, as well as open air exhibitions as part of festivals and events throughout the year.
If you fancy trying it for yourself, several galleries and studios also host workshops and classes. Often, you’ll be able to get inspired by the stunning natural surroundings of your venue as you learn a new skill or hone existing abilities.
As well as viewing some fantastic art pieces, here in Cumbria we also invite you to explore the studios and workshops where that work was made; and even meet the artists who create it.
Keep an eye out, too, for touring exhibitions to see something a little different while in the Lake District, Cumbria. Discover our galleries and exhibitions below.
Reactor, by Felicity Hammond, is a new multimedia installation exploring the possibilities of the…
Join us for a powerful multi-media exhibition exploring stories of fragility and survival, told…
Conceived by the British painter Daniel Sturgis, On the Thick and Thin of Painting explores the…
Great exhibitions, activities, gift shop and café in a glorious park setting amongst the mountains.…
Roman museum displaying the internationally significant collection of Romano-British altars,…
Step inside the charming world of Tabitha Twitchit's second-hand bookshop in Hawkshead, where every…
Discover the creatures that came before the T.REX. Step back to the Carboniferous period, 100…
Useful/Beautiful marks 25 years of contemporary craft at Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house,…
Discover 200 years of Rock Climbing history, from the earliest scrambles to the modern sport we…
Head to the Great Barn at Sizergh to see an exhibition from a creative collective of artists,…
Connie Flynn's Text & Textile! explores everyday sayings rooted in the textile trade. Using…
REACTOR is a new multimedia installation by Felicity Hammond, launching on Thursday 28th May at 6pm…
Grizedale Observatory and planetarium for stargazing under the dark skies of the Lake District.…
Join Rosehill this summer for The People's Gallery, a free, family-friendly exhibition showcasing…
This exhibition brings together two emerging portrait painters. Lela Harris gives depth and…
"Our personal encounters within Morecambe Bay." This exhibition brings together the creative voices…
Every Wednesday, 11am - 2pm: Finds handling Get hands-on with history. Visitors can get hands-on…
The Paper Quilt Project is a living exhibition in which a community art piece is created while on…
Discover documentary photographer Joanne Coates's powerful exhibition about women in agriculture in…
If you’re visiting the Ambleside area why not pop into the Old Courthouse Gallery? We have a…
Eskdale Mill is a unique experience, nestled in one of the Lake District's most beautiful locations…
Venture into the fateful night that inspired one of the world's greatest gothic tales: Mary…
Celebrating the beauty, behaviour, symbolism and diversity of birds through the work of 57 UK…
We are very pleased to bring you a new exhibition to the Dock Museum, "What the sea decides to give…


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.
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.
W Strand, Whitehaven
Pop in and meet Bry Cooper, our family history expert, for a free informal session packed with helpful hints, tips and advice to help you uncover your family story.
Whether you're just starting your research or looking to overcome a stumbling block,…
Hawkshead, Ambleside
Mark Hatton, a researcher and enthusiast of local mining history will be joining us to explore the heritage of Coniston Coppermines: the story of the discovery of rich veins of copper at Coniston & the men, women & children who worked them over the…
Blackwell - the Arts & Crafts house, Bowness-on-Windermere
Useful/Beautiful marks 25 years of contemporary craft at Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house, celebrating the makers, ideas and objects that have shaped our collection since opening our doors to the public in 2001.
Set throughout the house, the…
Windermere
The Windermere Record Fair
SUNDAY 26th July 2026
Marchesi Centre
Holly Road
Windermere
LA23 2AF
FREE ADMISSION
Discover the thrill of vinyl at Britannia Record Fairs!
Thousands of vinyl records on sale at our fair including LP's, 45's, Punk, Mod,…
Station Rd, Keswick
Discover 200 years of Rock Climbing history, from the earliest scrambles to the modern sport we know today at our latest community gallery exhibition, in partnership with the Mountain Heritage Trust.
To honour this incredible milestone, the…
Kendal
Abbot Hall is one of Britain’s preeminent small art galleries, set in a Grade I listed Georgian building on the banks of the River Kent in Kendal. The gallery holds an outstanding collection of 18th-21st century art and hosts exhibitions. The…
Grasmere
We are celebrating our new exhibition in style – with a Gothic summer garden party!
Step into a Gothic tale as you explore our immersive exhibition, where moonlit woodlands, haunted villas and eerie seascapes surround rare treasures, including a…
Kendal
Lakeland Arts' much-loved art collection includes paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture ranging from the 1700's to the present. In our refreshed collection galleries discover the stories of our extraordinary collection pieces and the people…
Garsdale Rd, Sedbergh
Connie Flynn's Text & Textile! explores everyday sayings rooted in the textile trade. Using recycled fabrics and white cotton garments, she hand-stitches phrases in red thread and integrates letterpress elements to evoke time and heritage.
Blending…
Moresby, Whitehaven
Join Rosehill this summer for The People's Gallery, a free, family-friendly exhibition showcasing art from creatives across Cumbria.
Plus, spend time getting creative in our Art Lab, a creative play space packed full of free activities, books, art…
Kirkland, Kendal
The Paper Quilt Project is a living exhibition in which a community art piece is created while on display in the gallery. This project has been designed in response to the two adjoining exhibitions; Bellwethers and Joshua Donkor & Lela Harris. Both…
W Strand, Whitehaven
Discover the creatures that came before the T.REX.
Step back to the Carboniferous period, 100 million years before the dinosaurs. Visit tropical forests and swamps teeming with bizarre and ferocious ancient monsters, some of which had larger teeth…
Nr Kendal
Discover documentary photographer Joanne Coates's powerful exhibition about women in agriculture in Holeslack barn, on Sizergh's estate.
Garsdale Rd, Sedbergh
An anniversary exhibition celebrating British wool, craftsmanship, collaboration, and twenty-five years of creative practice.
Celebrating 25 Years of The Wool Clip marks a significant milestone for the artist-led co-operative founded in 2001 with a…
Garsdale Rd, Sedbergh
Seven artists explore shared landscapes, material connections, and personal perspectives on land, memory, and transformation.
Common Land: Septenary Perspectives brings together seven artists united by a shared reverence for natural form,…
W Strand, Whitehaven
Join us for a trip back in time and discover over 200 iconic objects and artworks that bring the Nineties to vivid life. This exhibition has been curated by collector and cultural commentator Matt Fox.
Revisit the days of Britpop and Cool…
Ulverston
The Laurel and Hardy Museum celebrates the life and career of Stan Laurel, born in Ulverston.
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.
Kendal
Kendal Museum is one of the oldest museums in the UK, founded in 1796 by William Todhunter. The Museum has a long history in Kendal Town and has occupied various sites but has been at its current location (previously a wool warehouse) since 1913.
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