Keswick is a great base for exploring the Lake District with a central location and good transport links. This guide covers all the best things to do in Keswick, plus great attractions and hikes in the nearby area.
By: Mark Barnes | Last Updated: | Jump to Comments
Keswick sits on the shores of Derwentwater, framed by dramatic mountain scenery.
While its natural beauty is undeniable, the town also has a diverse mix of indoor and outdoor activities. So, it’s a great all-weather destination.
This guide covers our favourite things to do in Keswick, including museums, theatres, children’s activities and scenic viewpoints.
But we also have recommendations for what to do nearby. Keswick is the adventure capital of the Lake District, so it’s the perfect place to test your nerves on a Via Ferrata or try Ghyll Scrambling.
If you’re here to hike, some of the best walks in the Lake District leave from Keswick.
Here’s how to make the most of your trip to Keswick.
MAP: KESWICK & AROUND
Keswick is centrally located, so it’s one of our top areas to stay when visiting the Lake District. We always stay at least a couple of days in the town to make the most of the location.
To help get your bearings, we’ve included all the activities in this guide on the map below. Red are the attractions in the town itself; orange are the activities nearby; and purple are our favourite hikes in the area.
USING OUR MAPS. Click on the top right corner to open in the Google Maps app. Click on the star to save to your Google account.
GETTING THERE & AROUND
Keswick is the first place we’d suggest if you plan to visit the Lake District without a car.
It’s easy to reach by public transport and lies at the centre of a good bus network, connecting you to Grasmere in the south, Penrith in the east, and Cockermouth in the west.
Keswick is easy to reach by public transport and lies at the centre of a good bus network. Buses run south to Grasmere, east to Penrith and west to Cockermouth.
From Penrith train station, numerous regular buses head to Keswick, taking around 40 minutes.
WHERE TO STAY?
Fellpack House – This recently renovated guest house has a picnic area and sun terrace. Conveniently located halfway between the waterfront and the town centre.
Inn on the Square – Right by the market square in the centre of Keswick, this interesting pad mixes Scandinavian cosiness and British modern design
THINGS TO DO IN KESWICK
The town of Keswick is best used as a base to explore the surrounding mountain scenery (which we get to later in this guide). But there are several attractions in town worth exploring, especially when rain is forecast.
1. DERWENT PENCIL MUSEUM
If you have some free time on a rainy day, it’s worth checking out the Derwent Pencil Museum.
The museum takes you on an engaging journey through the story of the world’s first pencil, which was made in Keswick. It has a fascinating exhibition on the pencil manufacturing process and a quiz that makes it fun for kids.
2. KESWICK MUSEUM & ART GALLERY
The Keswick Museum has a broad mix of rotating and permanent exhibitions covering the social and industrial history of the area, along with the work of local artists and writers.
You’ll learn about the story of Keswick, and it has some kid-friendly exhibitions, making it a good family activity. It’s also perfect for a rainy day.
3. KESWICK MARKET
The stalls of Keswick Market hit the town square every Thursday and Saturday.
There are about 60 stalls ranging from local food and drinks to artisan crafts. It also provides a good excuse to potter around the nearby shops in town.
We loved the cheese at the Keswick Cheese Deli and the chocolates at Friars of Keswick.
4. PUZZLING PALACE
This is another good rainy-day activity for the family, and it doesn’t break the bank. The Puzzling Palace is an interactive experience all about creating optical illusions. The highlights are the ‘Anti-gravity room’ and ‘Eyelusions Exhibition’.
5. CROW PARK & HOPE PARK
These two parks are side by side just north of the lakefront. They are a peaceful spot to take a break and offer breathtaking views.
The last time we were here was in May on a crystal clear day when the mountain tops were covered in snow. It was glorious.
6. THEATRE BY THE LAKE
This good theatre venue (right next to Crow Park) does movies, exhibitions, live music and talks. It’s always worth checking out what’s on during your stay in Keswick.
For more film options, head to Alhambra, Keswick’s well-preserved cinema, which has been entertaining audiences since 1914.
7. FRIARS CRAG
For a short, easy stroll, head to Friars Crag (15 minutes from the town centre).
This rocky outcrop has a couple of lovely benches providing grand views stretching across the water to the mountain of Catbells and the northern Fells. Come in the evening, and the light can be lovely.
8. DERWENTWATER
No trip to Keswick is complete without spending a bit of time on Derwentwater. This very pretty lake is dotted with little islands and surrounded by attractive mountains.
Keswick Launch is located on the lakefront and provides boat tours of Derwentwater. Your options are:
- Take a cruise around the lake, stopping at 7 different locations (hop on and off).
- Hire a motorboat and explore on your own.
- Hire a canoe and paddle under your own steam.
Keswick Canoe and Bushcraft offer half-day canoe or bushcraft tours for a more organised adventure.
THINGS TO DO AROUND KESWICK
As a popular centre for the northern Lake District and surrounded by stunning scenery, there are plenty of great things to do around Keswick.
9. GHYLL SCRAMBLING
Ghyll scrambling involves climbing up narrow ghylls (canyons), sliding down waterfalls and jumping into deep pools with the assistance of ropes and protective equipment.
It’s a really fun way to explore the ravines that cut through much of the Lake District scenery. Keswick is a great place to try it.
Paul and I had a great time on this Keswick Adventures Tour (not sponsored), which heads into Stoneycroft Ghyll. They provide all the equipment you need, and the tour lasts about 2-3 hours.
10. CASTLERIGG STONE CIRCLE
The Castlerigg Stone Circles date back to 3,000 BCE. Surrounded by mountains, they have the most beautiful setting of all the stone circles in the country.
It’s a relatively unattractive 45-minute walk from Keswick, or 5 minutes on the 555 bus (get off at Castle Lane), then a 12-minute walk to the circles.
If you can time your visit to arrive around dawn, the mix of shadows and scenery is incredible.
11. WHINLATTER FOREST
Whinlatter Forest is home to the longest purpose-built mountain bike trails in the Lake District. The area is well set up with a visitors’ centre, café, picnic area, bike hire centre and a series of well-signed trails.
There are also hiking paths for all sorts of abilities and Go Ape for the kids. It’s a 15-minute drive from Keswick or 25 minutes on the 77A bus.
12. WATENDLATH
Watendlath is a great day out from Keswick. The short, winding road from Keswick collects a number of picturesque sights on the way. Stop off at Ashness Bridge (popular with photographers) and pull into Surprise View, before making your way to the pretty Watendlath Tarn.
Set amongst the hills, there’s a café and toilet facilities, and it makes a great spot for a picnic. There are a series of short walks that leave from the car park, which are suitable for families.
The tarn is a 20-minute drive from Keswick, but unfortunately, there is no public transport option.
13. HONISTER SLATE MINES & VIA FERRATA
Honister is the last remaining slate mine in Britain.
Tours run down the mine, but for a real adventure, join Honister’s Via Ferrata Extreme.
Over three hours, scale the edge of Fleetwith Pike using vertical ladders, overhang descents and a nerve-testing bridge.
It ends at the peak with views across to Buttermere.
You are clipped onto iron rails throughout the ascent, so no climbing experience is necessary, but you need to have a reasonable level of fitness, a good head for heights and a strong sense of adventure.
Honister is a 25-minute drive from Keswick or 40 minutes on the 77A bus.
14. GRASMERE
Grasmere is one of the prettiest villages in the Lake District and it’s very easily accessible from Keswick.
Slate cottages with pitched roofs are surrounded by rugged mountains. The village has a few interesting things worth checking out.
Try the homemade gingerbread, pop into Wordsworth’s Cottage, take a boat out or go wild swimming in Grasmere Lake.
It’s a lovely day out and only a 20-minute drive from Keswick or 30 minutes on the 555 bus.
WALKS NEAR KESWICK
This guide has all our favourite walks in the Lake District. Many are in the mountains that either surround or are easily accessible from Keswick.
With a good bus network most can be reached by public transport. Here’s our pick of the best walks from Keswick, starting with the easiest and getting more challenging.
15. LATRIGG
In terms of bang for your buck, this is the easiest circular walk in the lakes that delivers such impressive views.
Drive to the car park at Underskiddaw, which is a simple 15-minute stroll up a grassy bank to the summit.
If you don’t have a car, it is a 6-mile round-trip walk from Keswick town centre to the summit.
Paul and I often head up here in the early evening (on a nice day), armed with a picnic, and take in the views of Derwentwater and the northern Fells laid out beneath the summit.
Map – Latrigg Walk Map
16. BUTTERMERE LOOP
Buttermere is the most beautiful lake in the Fells. Backed by the craggy face of Haystacks and the pointed summit of Fleetwith Pike the area possesses some of the best views in the Lake District.
This simple hike around the lake is relatively flat, takes just over 2 hours and is blessed with numerous photo opportunities.
It begins at Buttermere, which is a 30-minute drive from Keswick or 50 minutes on the 77/77a bus (Easter holidays to October half-term).
For a greater challenge, extend the hike and head up Haystacks and Fleetwith Pike.
All the details are on our best Lake District Walks.
17. CASTLE CRAG LOOP
This is a relatively short (about 90 minutes) but great circular hike that encapsulates a lot of what’s great about the Lake District.
It starts in the village of Rosthwaite, crosses a packhorse bridge and heads into a moss-covered forest. There are caves to explore, a river to picnic by, and then a short climb up to a pretty viewpoint.
There is a small car park in Rosthwaite Village which is a 15-minute drive from Keswick or 25 minutes on the 77A/78 bus.
Map – Castle Crag Loop Walk
18. CATBELLS
Catbells is not one of the highest peaks, but it stands imperiously over Derwentwater.
From its northern side, the mountain appears steep and sleek and from its summit, the 360-degree views are excellent. It is only medium difficulty and rightly one of the most popular walks in the Lake District.
From Keswick town centre, either drive to the Gutherscale Car Park or get the ferry across to the Hawse End Jetty from where it’s a short walk to the base of the mountain.
The hike takes around 2 hours, is about 3 miles (5km long), and ascends 320 meters.
Map – Catbells Walk
19. BLENCATHRA
Blencathra appears little more than a large hill but looks can be deceiving.
Its ridges contain one of the best grade 1 scrambles in the Lake District.
Sharp Edge is a thrilling, narrow arête with a bad step that will challenge the most adventurous hikers. This is one walk that should not be attempted in wet or windy weather.
Walking up Blencathra via Sharp Edge and Halls Fell Ridge is one of the great adventures in the Lake District.
You can find all the information on hiking Blencathra.
20. SKIDDAW
Rising above Keswick, Skiddaw is the 4th highest mountain in the Lake District.
The hike to the summit is not the most interesting as it heads up a relatively plain shoulder, but the paths are easy to follow and the views from the summit are great.
The most popular route is from Keswick where it is a 13-mile (21km) hike to the summit and back. The total ascent is 931 metres, so it’s not to be undertaken lightly.
21. SCAFELL PIKE
There are several different routes up Scafell Pike but the best is the Corridor Route.
The walk begins at Seathwaite (a 25-minute drive from Keswick) or from nearby Seatoller (30 minutes on the 77A/78 bus).
This challenging hike takes up an excellent position beneath the summits of Scafell Pike and Great End. It includes towering crags, deep ghylls, stunning views and hidden tarns.
Paul and I have walked a lot in the Lake District, and this is our favourite hike. Detailed instructions are on walking Scafell Pike via the Corridor Route.
MORE LAKE DISTRICT GUIDES
- Find your perfect area with our guide to the best places to stay in the Lake District.
- Use our detailed guide to see the Lake District without a car.
- Tackle one of our favourite hikes in the Lake District.
- Attempt one of the many routes up Scafell Pike.
- Or choose the best option and hike the Corridor Route.
- For the best Grade 1 scramble, hike Helvellyn via Striding Edge.
- Try one of these amazing wild swimming locations in the Lake District.
- There’s more than hiking, find more great things to do in the Lake District.
- Check out our easy-to-reach best views in the Lake District.
- Find all the great things to do in Keswick.
- Discover all the best attractions in Ambleside and the nearby area.
READER-SUPPORTED
When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
Thanks for your support. Paul & Mark