Revealing the 10 Best Things to Do in Keswick
Keswick is at the heart of the Lake District, and is probably synonymous with school trips and rainy holidays. It’s one of the many honeypots of the lake district, and you may ask if it’s worth going, or whether you should try and find a hidden spot, rather than head to the tourist epicentre. However, as someone who has lived in the area my whole life, Keswick remains one of my favourite places, and I wanted to share with you 10 of my favourite things to do in Keswick.
Whether you’re wanting good food, a decent walk, or just somewhere to explore – there really is something for everyone here.
Table of Contents
Top things to do in Keswick
See a play at Theatre by the Lake
Theatre by the Lake will always be one of my top things to do in Keswick, and they always have at least one show on. If you come in the summer when the summer season is on, there are 6 plays in rep and they’re usually scheduled so that in a week, you can see all of them.
You can find out what’s currently on by clicking here
Fuel up on scrumptious pancakes at Lake Road Brunch
The amount of good places to eat in Keswick is ridiculous, but if you’re looking for a bouji brunch then Lake Road Brunch is the place to go. They do insane, and very instagrammable, pancakes, all of your favourite brunch dishes, cocktails, and strong, flavoursome coffee! They have lots of vegan options here too, and cater to dietary requirements well!
Walk around Derwentwater
Derwentwater was probably one of my first ‘big’ walks. It’s around 10k, but it’s relatively flat and truly is a beautiful walk. Walk along the shores of the lake, and through ancient woodlands, and take in the lake district at its finest.
Visit the pencil museum
Whenever you mention Keswick, the pencil museum will inevitably come up. It’s synonymous with rainy days in the Lakes and it always a good day out! They have so many weird and wonderful things including; r secret WW2 pencils with hidden maps, one of the largest colour pencils in the world (measuring almost 8 metres), The Queen’s diamond Jubilee pencil, miniature pencil sculptures, and lots more!
Explore Castlerigg Stone Circle
Castlerigg Stone Circle is one of the earliest stone circles to be found in Britain, and can be found just outside of Keswick’s town centre. It’s absolutely stunning, with a 360-degree view of the surrounding fells – it really does feel magical up there. There are 38 free-standing stones, some up to 3 metres (10 feet) high, however, you don’t always get the same number when you’re counting them there!
Take a cruise along Derwentwater
If you’re wanting to take a scenic boat trip, then a cruise on Derwentwater is for you. This is a 50-minute journey, taking you the length of the lake and is a lovely way to see the area. If you want to go under your own steam, you can rent a rowing boat or motorboat on the lake as well. I did this with some friends a few years ago on Ullswater, and we had so much fun so I can thoroughly recommend it!
Find out more at Keswick Launch Co
Get topsy tervy at The Puzzle Place
Another perfect place to go on a rainy day in Keswick is The Puzzle Place. Filled with optical illusions, holograms and anti-gravity rooms, if you’re looking for something to do in Keswick that the whole family will enjoy, then this is the place to go. The Puzzle Place always has me in stitches, and it’s a really good day out – especially on a wet and windy day!
Have a fine dining experience at The Cottage in the Wood
Cumbria is filled with Michelin starred restaurants, and Keswick is home to Michelin starred The Cottage in the Wood. It’s ranked number 24 in the Top 100 Restaurants in the UK and number 39 in the Top 50 Boutique Hotels in the UK – and is one of the places at the top of my list of places to go!
Support the independent book shop, Bookends
There’s no greater joy than exploring a book shop, and Keswick’s independent book shop, Bookends, is a treasure trove. Not only do they have hundred of books, they also have beautiful postcards and posters.
If you’re looking for things to do in Keswick in Mach 2022, make sure you check out Words by the Water, a literary festival, which Bookends is involved with, at Theatre by the Lake.
Have a go on Keswick’s climbing wall
If you’re wanting to go climbing, but don’t feel confident climbing in the outdoors, you can learn to climb at the climbing wall. They have a wide range of exciting outdoor adventure activities, indoor climbing and indoor archery for groups, schools, families and individuals of all ages. Bonus, there’s free all-day parking for customers, so you can spend the whole day there!
There are 10 things to do in Keswick – I hope you’ve found it helpful for your next adventure to The Lake District. For my fellow foodies, make sure you read this post on where to eat in Keswick. If you’re looking for more Lake District recommendations, you can read all my Lakes blog posts here. Make sure you join the Postcards From mailing list here, to get the latest blog posts straight to your inbox.
