Wordsworth Grasmere : ultimate literary day out in the lake district

One family synonymous with The Lake District is the Wordsworth family. Born in Cumbria, William Wordsworth, writer of the famous Daffodils poem, went to school in the village of Hawkshead, and when he lived in Grasmere as an adult, was inspired by the amazing landscape. Many of his famous poems (some of which you probably studied at school!) were inspired by the local landscape of Grasmere. Now, you can visit Wordsworth’s house at the Wordsworth Grasmere.

Based around Dove Cottage, Wordsworth Grasmere is the fountain of all knowledge on the Wordsworth family. Dove Cottage has been restored to how it would’ve been when they lived there, and the museum next door is faced in the local stone and is beautiful.

5 things you must see at Wordsworth Grasmere

1. Treasures on Tour

For the first time ever, the manuscript of William Wordsworth’s ‘I wandered lonely as a Cloud’ is on display at Wordsworth Grasmere. It is amazing to be able to see William and Dorothy’s actual handwriting and their thought process.

The manuscript is on loan from The British Library and is on show until the 29th May

2. Dorothy Wordsworth

Whilst William Wordsworth was the renowned poet, his sister Dorothy was also a writer. This spring/summer, Wordsworth Grasmere has an exhibition dedicated to Dorothy Wordsworth. She was a writer, friend, collaborator, aunt, pioneering walker, local philanthropist, inspiring gardener, and – perhaps most famously – author of the Grasmere journal.

You can see, The Grasmere journal – her most famous and well-known work and her Rydal journal – unpublished and subject of new research which has rarely displayed before. There are also many letters, including the earliest one to survive, written when she was sixteen (her last surviving letter is also on display)

3. Dove Cottage

You must go to Dove Cottage when you visit Wordsworth Grasmere. This was their home for many years and has been restored to how it would’ve been when they lived there. Before entering the house, you watch a video that sets the scene and explains the importance of the family and this house. This simple thing makes the whole house and museum much more accessible. I’ll be honest, I didn’t know much about the Wordsworths before visiting, and I found this video interesting, and informative, and it really set the tone and scene.

4. The Garden-Orchard & the Woodland

Behind Dove Cottage is the beautiful garden and woodland. The garden has been restored to resemble the ‘domestic slip of mountain’ that William and Dorothy lovingly created. It’s beautiful, and once you walk to the top, you get the most stunning views and can just about see the lake. You really get a sense of how they became so inspired by the landscape, it truly is stunning.

5. The Museum

The museum at Wordsworth is stunning, and really gives you an understanding of the Wordsworth family. The museum upstairs is laid out chronologically and, if you’re like me and don’t know much about William Wordsworth, is really accessible. It explains the timeline, and the importance of events, without pandering to you. It also has original manuscripts and items and knowledge which Wordsworth fanatics would love too! There truly is something for everyone, and for all ages as well. There’s a space for children to go and explore, and a place for people of all ages to sit and write, hopefully inspired by the museum and the Lake District countryside.

Getting to Wordsworth Grasmere

You can find Wordsworth Grasmere south of Grasmere village, on the A591 Kendal to Keswick road. Postcode: LA22 9SH. 

If you are planning on coming during the summer months, this is a busy road so allow yourself time to travel!

How much does it cost to go to Wordsworth Grasmere?

Tickets are valid for 12 months, so once you have your ticket, you can come multiple times in the year! The prices are as follows;

Dove Cottage, Museum, Garden-Orchard & The Woodland

Adult: £12.00
Concession*: £8.50
Child 6–16 years (5s and under free): £5.00
1 Adult Family (1 adult and up to 3 children)**: £20.00
2 Adult Family (2 adults and up to 3 children)**: £32.00

Museum, Garden-Orchard & The Woodland

Adult: £8.50
Concession*: £7.50
Child 6–16 years (5s and under free): £4.00
1 Adult Family (1 adult and up to 3 children)**: £15.00
2 Adult Family (2 adults and up to 3 children)**: £23.00

Correct as of April 2022

Wordsworth Grasmere is a brilliant day out in The Lake District, and one which will teach you a little bit more about the history as well. You can find out more and buy tickets online by clicking here. If you’re planning a trip to The Lake District, make sure to click here to read more of my Lake District posts. I also write a lot about day trips (a lot of them being day trips in and around Cumbria) which you can read as well.

This trip was gifted in exchange for a post