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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.
Eskdale Mill is a unique experience, nestled in one of the Lake District's most beautiful locations…
A free Exhibition at the first floor of Windermere Library which tells the heritage of pioneering…
A contemporary art gallery 9 miles east of Carlisle. located close to Hadrian’s Wall, the Scottish…
We are proud to be working with our friends from Barrow Full to bring you our next temporary…
Roman museum displaying the internationally significant collection of Romano-British altars,…
Discover how World War II shaped the lives of people in our community in this powerful, story-led…
Step inside the charming world of Tabitha Twitchit's second-hand bookshop in Hawkshead, where every…
This interactive exhibition celebrates the treasures of the Wordsworth Grasmere trove. Discover…
The EVAN Gallery and Studios is a genuinely artist led creative hub. EVAN was established in 2017…
Grizedale Observatory and planetarium for stargazing under the dark skies of the Lake District.…
As Rheged celebrates 25 years of culture, discover the work of 25 exceptional Cumbrian artists…
This autumn, Abbot Hall presents Boat Works, a solo exhibition by Turner Prize-winner Simon…
SIGNAL proudly presents its first major group exhibition in their newly refurbished gallery spaces.…
If you’re visiting the Ambleside area why not pop into the Old Courthouse Gallery? We have a…
Celebrate 25 years of ceramic art by Edinburgh-based Frances Priest in Motif | Line | Colour. The…
The Hive is a fully licensed events venue in a restored Wesleyan Chapel in Nenthead, offering pop…
Discover life on Windermere through the lens of award-winning artist Juliet Klottrup. This…
A multimedia exhibition at the Dock Museum from 5th December to 23rd February exploring local…


You may leave the Lake District, but once you’ve been, it’ll never leave you.

Number of results: 45
, currently showing 1 to 20.
W Strand, Whitehaven
Discover how World War II shaped the lives of people in our community in this powerful, story-led exhibition. Marking the 80th anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day, Service, Solidarity and Sacrifice shines a light on the extraordinary courage of…
Windermere
Windermere Jetty Museum is a vibrant, family-friendly visitor attraction dedicated to the boats, people and the rich history of Windermere, England’s largest natural lake.
Ambleside
Museum, art gallery and reference library covering the history life and arts of the Lakes. Collections include Kurt Schwitters, Beatrix Potter, photography, fine art and local history.
Penrith
Brougham Hall is a creative haven where you can enjoy the perfect blend of crafts, coffee and restoration.
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.
Coniston
Meet Coniston's heroes, John Ruskin, artist, radical and seer and Donald Campbell, speed ace. View the fully restored Bluebird craft in the Bluebird wing of the museum. Discover the mineral wealth of the fells, all at 'the most thought provoking…
Grasmere
Enjoy your perfect Lake District day out at Wordsworth Grasmere. Discover the home of William Wordsworth, one of England’s most famous poets. Step back 200 years and experience the sights, sounds and smells of family life at Dove Cottage.
Hawkshead
Come and discover all that Grizedale has to offer – take in Lake District landscapes, experience a whole range of contemporary art and enjoy an adventure, no matter your age!
Grasmere
This interactive exhibition celebrates the treasures of the Wordsworth Grasmere trove. Discover grand landscapes by Constable and Turner, a hasty sketch by Dorothy Wordsworth, dramatic watercolours and rarely displayed objects that spark wonder,…
Hawkshead
Grizedale Observatory and planetarium for stargazing under the dark skies of the Lake District. Nestled deep within the breathtaking Grizedale Forest in the heart of the Lake District, this immersive stargazing experience invites the whole family to…
Penrith
As Rheged celebrates 25 years of culture, discover the work of 25 exceptional Cumbrian artists across a range of disciplines. From striking paintings and dynamic sculpture to powerful photography and mixed media, showcasing the talent, creativity,…
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.
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…
Kirkland, Kendal
This autumn, Abbot Hall presents Boat Works, a solo exhibition by Turner Prize-winner Simon Starling. Bringing together his major boat-themed projects, the show explores the vessel as a symbol of migration, transformation, and change.
Highlights…
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.
Nr Kendal
Discover documentary photographer Joanne Coates's powerful exhibition about women in agriculture in Holeslack barn, on Sizergh's estate.
Barrow-in-Furness
A multimedia exhibition at the Dock Museum from 5th December to 23rd February exploring local stories of fragility & survival - of nature, of people - in South Cumbria. Through sound, film, images and words, an unseen, unheard world emerges. A world…
Carlisle
Visit Carlisle Cathedral, centrally located in the heart of the city. Whether for worship, events, family activities, refreshments or simply a moment of peace - a warm welcome awaits.
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.
Blackwell - the Arts & Crafts house, Bowness-on-Windermere
Celebrate 25 years of ceramic art by Edinburgh-based Frances Priest in Motif | Line | Colour.
The exhibition follows her evolution from monochrome pieces to vibrant, intricate designs, featuring her latest collection Unfixing, rarely seen archive…
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