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Looked over by mountains and with Derwentwater to the south, Keswick is one of the main tourist hubs in the North Lakes. A vibrant market town offering all the usual walking holidays and water-based activities you’d expect in the Lake District, Keswick – with its pencil museum and lakeside theatre – has a unique charm that you won’t want to miss.

For outdoorsy folk there are watersports and boat tours to be snapped up on Derwentwater. Likewise, there’s plenty of scope for walkers – from strollers to striders – as well as climbers and paragliders with the Neolithic Castlerigg Stone Circle to the east of town as well as Friars Cragg and Brandlehow Wood as popular local destinations.

There’s an opportunity to don your cultural cap while visiting Keswick too. Whether you fancy taking in a performance or attending an arts festival at Theatre by the Lake; a mosey around Keswick Museum and Art Gallery might be more your pace; or the Derwent Pencil Museum housed in a replica graphite mine stirs your curiosity – there’s plenty to feed the soul in this North Lakes hotspot.   

Keswick also offers fun for all the family with riddles to be resolved and illusions to immerse in at Puzzling Place. As well as bird of prey displays, there are anacondas to admire, tapirs to tickle and fishing cats to fascinate at Lake District Wildlife Park – located only ten minutes from Keswick with stunning scenery to boot.  

Whether you choose cultural calm, action and adventure or a relaxing roam around by boat or boot, Keswick has the perfect way for adults to end the day. Enjoy a tour and taster at the local craft brewery two minutes’ from the town centre or experience the beautiful surroundings and bountiful offerings of The Lakes Distillery found at the foot of Skidddaw.

Start your trip as you mean to go on with a cosy Keswick holiday cottage recommended by Love Cottages.