Cumbria is a scenic North West England county famed for the Lake District, historical castles, and vibrant cultural heritage, attracting millions of visitors annually.
Lanercost Priory in Cumbria is a historic Augustinian monastery founded around 1169, featuring impressive ruins and a nave still used as a parish church. Visitors can explore both the outdoor ruins and the indoor church and exhibition areas, who enjoy its rich history including royal visits and Roman influences.
Wordsworth House is a Georgian historic house museum in Cockermouth, Cumbria, where poet William Wordsworth was born. It is a Grade I listed building and is open to public visits from March to October each year.
Cockermouth is a historic market town in Cumbria, England, known for its medieval layout, Georgian architecture, and cultural heritage including the birthplace of poet William Wordsworth. It features a lively arts scene and scenic riverside walks.
Brougham Castle is a medieval ruin situated near Penrith, Cumbria, built on an ancient Roman fort site. Visitors can explore striking remains including a stone keep, gatehouse, and enclosure walls. Rich in history and linked to the Clifford family, it offers an outdoor experience amid scenic river landscapes and has inspired famous artists and poets.
Stott Park Bobbin Mill is a 19th-century working bobbin mill museum in Cumbria, showcasing historic wood turning machinery including a steam engine and water power, operated by English Heritage.
Fell Foot Park is a National Trust country park at the southern end of Windermere in Cumbria, offering lakeside walks, historic boathouses, boat and kayak hire, a café, a playground, and seasonal ferry links to Lakeside station.
Hill Top Farm is a 17th-century historic house museum in Cumbria, England, that was once home to Beatrix Potter. Visitors can explore the preserved interior rooms furnished as in Potter's time and enjoy the surrounding garden maintained in the style of her illustrations. The venue offers a unique insight into the life and works of the beloved children's author in a picturesque Lakeland village setting.
Wray Castle is a Victorian neo-gothic castle in Cumbria with extensive grounds featuring rare trees, part of Windermere shoreline, and historic connections to Beatrix Potter. It is managed by the National Trust and offers both indoor tours and outdoor exploration, including public access to the grounds year-round.
7 Oct–13 Dec (another 65 days)
Explore Beatrix Potter’s creative process behind The Tale of Two Bad Mice through her manuscript, sketches, finished artworks and a restored dolls’ house. Visitors can watch animations and a conservation film, use interactive lighting and handle a replica dolls’ house.
Allan Bank is a Grade II* listed historic villa in Cumbria, England, known for its connection to William Wordsworth and other literary figures. Located in the Lake District, it offers both indoor historical house exploration and outdoor garden experiences with red squirrels. The property is owned by the National Trust and open to the public.
7 Oct, 10–14 Oct…
A permanent exhibition at Allan Bank explores how William Wordsworth influenced the Lake District. Visitors can see large-scale photographs of landscapes featured in his writing, alongside a first edition of his Guide to the Lakes and later guides.
Furness Abbey is a historic ruined Cistercian monastery in Cumbria, England, dating back to 1123. It was once the second wealthiest abbey in the country and is now a protected scheduled monument with Grade I listed buildings, offering an outdoor exploration experience with a visitor centre.
Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial port town in Cumbria known for its historic planned town layout, rich industrial and maritime heritage, and proximity to natural attractions like the Lake District. It offers cultural sites, shopping, varied leisure, and access to offshore wind farms.
Birdoswald Roman Fort is a well-preserved Roman fort on Hadrian's Wall in Cumbria, offering a combination of outdoor archaeological remains and indoor exhibitions at the visitor centre explaining Roman military history and life.
Stagshaw Garden is a woodland garden in Cumbria managed by the National Trust, famous for its shrubs including rhododendrons, azaleas, and camellias, providing a scenic outdoor experience.
Great Langdale is a scenic valley in the Lake District National Park, renowned for hiking, climbing, and outstanding natural features like the Langdale Pikes and Dungeon Ghyll waterfall. It also has historic significance for Neolithic stone axe production and offers outdoor activities for all ages.
7 Oct, 10–14 Oct…
An exhibition by artist Kathryn Poole brings together flower paintings, botanical etchings and lithographs of foxgloves from the grounds of Allan Bank. The works explore the foxglove’s life cycle, regeneration and the contrast between its poisonous and medicinal qualities.
Lakeland Wildlife Oasis is a 3-acre zoological collection in Cumbria featuring over 100 species including snow leopards and fossa, with themed indoor exhibits and outdoor enclosures. It offers interactive animal experiences, a café, and participates in conservation efforts.
Carlisle Castle is a medieval stone fortress in Carlisle, Cumbria, with over 930 years of history, featuring a museum of military life and managed by English Heritage. Visitors can explore both the historic interiors and extensive outdoor grounds including the city walls and battlements.
Thomas Carlyle's Birthplace is a historic house museum in Ecclefechan, Scotland, preserving the home and belongings of the famous writer and thinker Thomas Carlyle, showcasing 18th-century Scottish vernacular architecture and personal memorabilia.
Housesteads Roman Fort, located on Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, England, is a remarkably well-preserved Roman fort dating back to around 124 AD. Visitors can explore both extensive outdoor ruins and an indoor site museum showcasing Roman artefacts, providing insight into over 300 years of Roman military history in Britain.
Sizergh Castle is a Grade I listed stately home and historic house museum in Cumbria, England, featuring Elizabethan and Georgian architecture with notable oak interiors and portraits. Visitors can explore both the castle's historic indoor spaces and its extensive outdoor gardens and estate, which includes the largest limestone rock garden held by the National Trust.
7–20 Oct (another 11 days)
An immersive exhibition in Sizergh’s Great Barn featuring work by local and national artists inspired by soil.