Cumbria is a scenic North West England county famed for the Lake District, historical castles, and vibrant cultural heritage, attracting millions of visitors annually.
Cartmel Priory Gatehouse is a medieval building in Cumbria that served as part of the Augustinian Cartmel Priory and later a grammar school. It is now owned by the National Trust with limited public access to the Great Room on certain days.
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.
Derwent Island House is a Grade II listed 18th-century Italianate house located on Derwent Island in Derwent Water, Keswick, Cumbria. Owned by the National Trust, it features neoclassical interiors and is open to the public only five days a year, offering a glimpse into historical architecture and island life in the Lake District.
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.
Wetheral Priory Gatehouse is a well-preserved 15th-century fortified gatehouse in Cumbria, offering visitors a glimpse into medieval monastic architecture and local history with its historic rooms and battlements.
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.
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.
Hawkshead and Claife is a National Trust property in Cumbria featuring the historic town of Hawkshead, Claife Viewing Station with unique colored glass rooms offering views over Windermere, and nearby Wray Castle. Visitors can enjoy walking and cycling along the lake shore and explore notable historic sites within the woodland and village areas.
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.
7–8 Oct, 11–15 Oct…
A 45-minute outdoor walk around the perimeter of Wray Castle, where a member of the Wray team shares stories about the estate’s history, notable guests and future plans.
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.
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.
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.
Dalton Castle is a 14th-century Grade I listed peel tower in Cumbria, England, managed by the National Trust. It offers indoor historical exhibitions including local history and art displays, highlighting its past as a prison and administrative center.
Dalton-in-Furness is a historic market town in Cumbria with attractions including Dalton Castle and South Lakes Safari Zoo, offering a walkable town center accessible by train and local buses.
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.
Townend is a 17th-century historic house in Troutbeck, Cumbria, owned by the National Trust. It offers insight into the life of a wealthy farming family and is a Grade I listed building open to the public for tours.
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.
The Ruthwell Cross is an 8th-century Anglo-Saxon stone cross featuring large relief carvings and inscriptions in Latin and runic alphabets. It is located inside Ruthwell church in Scotland and is renowned for its biblical imagery and Old English poetry text, including lines from the Dream of the Rood.
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.
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.
Clifton Hall is a historic fortified manor house in Cumbria, featuring a surviving early 16th-century pele tower. Visitors can explore its rich history from the 15th century, its involvement in the English Civil War and Jacobite risings, and architectural details preserved by English Heritage.
The Steam Yacht Gondola is a restored Victorian steam-powered passenger vessel offering scenic cruises on Coniston Water, England. Operated by the National Trust, it runs from March to October with options for private charters and an immersive 'Engineer for the Day Experience'.
Tabitha Twitchit is a historic 17th-century stone building in Hawkshead, Cumbria, which housed the Beatrix Potter Gallery dedicated to original book illustrations by Beatrix Potter. It showcases her artwork and relates to her life and work within a preserved former solicitor's office, managed by the National Trust until 2022.
7 Oct–13 Dec (another 65 days)
Visitors explore Hill Top to spot needle-felted mice and miniature scenes inspired by Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Two Bad Mice.
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.
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.
Lakes Aquarium in Cumbria showcases diverse aquatic life from lakes around the world with themed exhibits including Lake District native species and a virtual diving bell experience, offering an engaging indoor aquatic encounter.
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.