An artistic day out in Cumbria : ultimate day itinerary for the Eden Valley

Having grown up in the Eden Valley in Cumbria, and spending most of my life living here, I’ve become an expert in crafting the perfect day out in Cumbria. People don’t always realise how artistic the Eden Valley is, and Cumbria as a whole! There are so many creatives in the area, from poets and writers to potters and painters to distillers and chefs.

Because it’s such a creative place, there are some brilliant places to immerse yourself in art. So here is a jam-packed itinerary to help you have a very artistic day out in Cumbria!

Here’s your ultimate 1 day itinerary for an arty day out in Cumbria

If you’re in Cumbria and looking for a day out where you can get your creative juices flowing, and even create something yourself. This itinerary is perfect for if you are on holiday exploring the North Lakes as Penrith is the gateway to the North Lakes.

Penrith is about 20 minutes from Keswick, and accessible by bus and train from the majority of The Lake District.

EVAN’s gallery, Penrith

Based in the heart of Penrith, EVAN’s gallery is a cooperative art gallery, showcasing artists based in the Eden Valley.

Around 45 different artists work are on display, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, ceramics, jewellery and textiles.

It’s an absolutely gorgeous space, with three different gallery areas. You can also visit some of the artists studios and see them at work as well!

From April 5th – 26th 2024, there is the Spring Open Exhibition, featuring work from over 70 local artists.

The EVAN Gallery and Studios are open 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday, and closed Sundays.

Learn more about the local history at Penrith Museum

Around the corner from EVAN’s is Penrith museum. Based in the tourist information, the museum is a social history museum about Penrith and the Eden Valley and has a wide range of exhibitions, from the Geology gallery, Neolithic in The Eden Valley (my favourite exhibition!), and Penrith Stories, sharing local people’s stories.

It’s a great way to learn more about the history of the area and well worth a look around!

A day out in Cumbria at Brougham Hall

Brougham Hall is a five minute drive from Penrith, and is a real creative hub. Filled with independent artistic businesses, there is so much to do in this incredible place.

If you’re looking for the perfect gift, there are some brilliant shops here; including ceramics made on site, Lino and Screen printing, ASCENT jewellery, Black Cat Distillery and so much more.

As well as incredible artisan shops, you can also learn new skills. Many of the businesses run workshops, from learning pottery with Mary Chapplehow to distilling your own gin, to learning how to be a blacksmith!

There truly is something for everyone at Brougham hall, and it’s a must on your next day out in Cumbria!

The perfect spot for lunch in The Eden Valley

One of my favourite cafes is based in Brougham Hall, Fell and Bean.

This cosy cafe opened in November 2023, and has some of the best coffee in the area. They use Carvetti Coffee, a local roaster, and it is gooood. They also have some incredible hot chocolates here, including a chocolate orange one which is to die for.

For such a small cafe, the food offerings are incredible. I had an incredible beef, cheese and pickle toasted ciabatta with a bulgar wheat salad and beetroot and horseradish relish and it was so full of flavour. As well as the best toasties, they also have homemade soup and a range of pasties and pies. There’s also lots of cakes and traybakes for those with a sweet tooth. It’s worth noting there is a brilliant range of vegan and gluten-free options.

Bracelet making workshop in Cumbria

Whilst I was at Brougham Hall, I got the chance to do one of the brilliant workshops on offer.

I did a copper bracelet making workshop with Ellie from Grace Forge, the onsite blacksmith, and it was so much fun!

Under the tuition of Ellie, I took a piece of copper, flattened it, engraved it with my year of birth, and filed it down, and I’m so happy with how it looks! It was a really fun workshop, and great to make something from scratch!

Why you need to head to Rheged on your next day out in Cumbria

The final stop on my arty day out in Cumbria was to Rheged, which is part of the Westmorland Services family. Rheged is a brilliant place, with a cinema, cafe, gorgeous shops and gallery spaces.

The gallery space is beautiful and is home to touring exhibitions. Currently, there is the New Light Art Prize on, showcasing northern artists and there are some incredible pieces of work. What I love about the gallery space is each exhibition is so different; in the last year I’ve seen the National Geographic Wildlife Photography exhibition and the Great Print Exhibition and each one was breathtaking.

Another thing I love about Rheged is their incredible shops. From outdoor clothing, to ethical clothing, to homeware to an incredible toy shop; the products on sale are of brilliant quality and it always feels quite luxurious to shop here. There’s also a senses shop, selling some incredible candles, and it smells incredible in there as well.

And there’s your ultimate one day itinerary for an artistic day out in Cumbria. I love getting to explore my local area, it’s the perfect micro adventure! If you’re looking for more guides to Cumbria and the Lake District, click here. And if you’re ready to start having more microadventures, you can get plenty of idea’s here!

The Let’s Go Culture project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and is supported by Westmorland & Furness Council.