Things to Do
Keswick View is ideally located to explore the North Lakes and there’s always something to do, whatever the weather and your personal tastes. Below are a few suggestions to whet your appetite along with some useful links.
Attractions & Activities
Keswick offers a wide range of leisure attractions, including museums, historic houses and family-friendly activities.
If you enjoy cycling, you can bring your own bikes and store them securely on our premises, or hire mountain bikes locally. You can also hire mountain bikes at Whinlatter Forest to ride on purpose-built trails. Some cycle routes for the Keswick area can be downloaded here.
If you enjoy messing about on the water, you can hire canoes, dinghies, rowing boats or motor launches from a choice of marinas, or go for a cruise round the lake on the Keswick Launch.
For the more adventurous, there are all sorts of challenging activities, including the Via Ferrata at Honister Slate Mine, Go Ape! at Whinlatter Forest and various organised activities including ghyll running and mountaineering.
To explore local attractions in more detail click here.
Entertainment & Events
There’s always something happening in Keswick. Up-to-date information on current events is available here.
The Theatre by the Lake offers a varied programme of plays, musical events and speakers. The Alhambra cinema also offers a varied programme of current release and art-house films. Many smaller venues offer live entertainment in bars and cafes, including nearby Cafe Bar 26.
Keswick hosts a number of annual festivals, including film (Keswick Film Festival), music and outdoor activities (Keswick Mountain Festival), and the ever-popular Keswick Convention (Keswick Ministries)
Walking
There are excellent walks on the doorstep for all levels of fitness and mobility. Keswick View lies on Lake Road and Derwentwater is just a short stroll away, with the chance to go for lakeside walks and picnics. You can take the Keswick Launch to visit the far banks of the lake, a popular way to start the climb up Catbells.
Many guests spend a day walking around the lake, stopping off at Portinscale or the Borrowdale hotels. Another popular walk is the short climb up Latrigg, which can be extended to visit Threlkeld village, returning on the old railway path or via Castlerigg Stone Circle. A climb up Walla Crag, descending via Ashness Bridge, provides great views of the lake. For the more strenuous, a climb up Skiddaw, gives the satisfaction of climbing one of England’s highest hills.
Keswick View apartments overlook the Newlands valley and this offers a selection of fell-walks, including Causey Pike and Robinson as well as the day-long, iconic Coledale horseshoe.
Downloadable walk guides are available at:
Shopping
Shopping in Keswick is an enjoyable pastime – the compact streets are ideal for browsing and make a pleasant change from larger towns and cities.
Independent shops offer antiques, books, paintings and pottery, jewellery, speciality foods and local produce as well as clothes, gifts and toys.
Keswick has a good choice of food stores: Booth’s supermarket is a short walk away, along with a number of convenience stores.
Keswick has two market days: a traditional weekly market on Saturdays and a local produce and craft market on most Thursdays. The Saturday market provides an opportunity to buy local specialities and farmers’ produce.
As you’d expect, Keswick has lots of places to buy outdoor clothing and equipment. As well as national chains, Keswick has well-known local companies including George Fisher, whose webcam includes Keswick View and Lake Road in the foreground.
Food & Drink
Keswick View’s self-catering apartments provide everything you need to prepare your own meals. If you fancy treating yourself, there’s a wide range of cafes, restaurants and pubs offering everything from a simple take-away to a gourmet meal. Click here to see a wide range of options for eating out in Keswick.
Some of our favourite nearby cafes include Bryson’s Tea Room in the Market Square for a traditional afternoon tea or the Lakeside Cafe at the Theatre by the Lake.
Keswick has lots of great pubs: favourites within walking distance include the Wainwright, George Hotel, Dog & Gun and Pheasant Inn.
Restaurants cater for all tastes: there’s a good choice of inexpensive pizza, Italian and Asian restaurants, while more upmarket options include Fellpack and the Inn on the Square.
Exploring the Lakes
Keswick is an excellent base for exploring the North Lakes. Keswick lies at the foot of Borrowdale, gateway to England’s highest and best-known fells, including Scafell and Great Gable. A circular drive to Buttermere (Haystacks and Red Pike) is accessible via Honister Pass returning via Newlands Hause or Whinlatter Pass. Threlkeld lies on the main Penrith road (A66) and is a good access point for Blencathra. The A591 south to Ambleside, via Thirlmere (Helvellyn) and Grasmere (Helm Crag and Loughrigg Terrace), has been voted Britain’s Favourite Road.
Many guests leave their vehicles in our car park and use alternative forms of transport to explore. Click here to view information on local bus services and other transport options.
Half an hour’s drive away are the market towns of Cockermouth, childhood home of William Wordsworth, and Penrith, dating back to medieval times. Further north, past the eastern shores of Bassenthwaite, lies Carlisle with its impressive castle and the border country of Hadrian’s Wall and the Scottish Borders. If you have time, these are well worth exploring.
