Visit a Museum and explore Keswick's colourful history

The Keswick and North Lakes region has a rich social and industrial heritage including slate and lead mining, pencil manufacture and farming. Many great poets and writers have been inspired by the great scenic beauty of the area; Wordsworth, Southey, Coleridge, Ruskin, Beatrix Potter and Walpole all have connections with Keswick and the North Lakes.

Visit the Keswick Museum and Art Gallery to find out about Keswick's sometimes surprising past. To fuel your interest in the history of the area, visit the Cumberland Pencil Museum, the Keswick Mining Museum or go underground at the Honister Slate Mine. If your interest is in cars - Keswick is the home of many famous cars at the Cars of the Stars Motor Museum whilst James Bond fans will be fascinated by the recently opened  Bond Museum. In Cockermouth you will find Wordsworth House the birth place of William and Dorothy Wordsworth and the Cumberland Toy and Model Museum