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Wherever you are in Cumbria and the Lake District you can feel the shadow of a deep cultural heritage. Here are the standing stones and circles of the ancients, the powerful traces of Rome and the mighty fortresses of the Normans. The history of the Vikings, the Angles and the Saxons is read in the names they left behind, including fell, dale, beck, ghyll, mere, tarn and howe.
Later arrivals came not to conquer but to bask in the beauty of the landscapes and let it inspire them to artistic greatness: William Wordsworth, John Ruskin, Beatrix Potter, JMW Turner, Kurt Schwitters and Andy Goldsworthy are just a few of the names who carved their creativity out of Cumbrian stone; today, a rich creative life builds on this exceptional heritage.
You can see it and feel it within a few short miles; the artworks in mountains and forests, the scores of galleries and artists’ studios, the packed programme performances and festivals – not just music and comedy but wool, print and ceramics. It's the intimate venues and outdoor stages in stunning settings that make a cultural break here something unique.
For a taste of the art and culture waiting for you in England’s best-known landscape explore the sections below and at www.lakesculture.co.uk.
Standing proudly in the city it has dominated for nine centuries, Carlisle Castle remained a…
Parkland and Gothic Revival castle sitting on the west shore of Windermere providing an impressive…
Brantwood, the former home of eminent Victorian John Ruskin and a treasure house of art and…
Kendal Museum is one of the oldest museums in the UK, founded in 1796 by William Todhunter. The…
Welcome to Lakeland's oldest, longest and most scenic railway! La'aL Ratty, the little Cumbrian…
Three circles and nine small cairns. The south circle is 104' across, the north-west is 72' with a…
Windermere Jetty Museum is a vibrant, family-friendly visitor attraction dedicated to the boats,…
Double Circle of stones surrounding cremations in urns (removed). 'Platform' cairn, small barrows,…
Beatrix Potter's iconic house, full of her personal possessions, with traditional cottage garden.…
The present circle of 10 standing stones, 80' diameter, was restored in 1949. The stone circle is…
Circle has a diameter of 60' and stands on a flattened mound or platform. There are 20 uprights,…
Kendal Castle is situated on a mound-like hill, known as a drumlin, to the east of the town of…
Peaceful and inspiring Buddhist Temple, amazing Romantic Gothic mansion, relaxing café, gift shop…
We are an independent brewery & distillery, proudly part of the Grasmere community. We make drinks…
A visit to Dove Cottage today transports you back to this remarkable period of ‘plain living and…
Located in Keswick, the home of the first pencil, visitors enter this museum through a replica…
A playful environment filled with vibrant colours, ambient sounds and digital creatures, inspired…
Originally know as Sunkenkirk, consists of 50 stones at the foot of Black Combe. Access is via a…
This ‘hidden gem’ is the earliest known surviving example of a small English parish church designed…
A 'very remarkable building with windows glowing with gemstone colours', according to architectural…
A beautiful Norman church on site of 7th century monastery in peaceful Lakeland location and home…
According to architectural historian Nicholas Pevsner, this is ‘the stateliest church of its time…
Entered from the Market Square through handsome cloisters built in 1810, the parish church stands…
The mainly 15thC remains of a castle begun by Bishop Strickland of Carlisle and developed by the…
Wherever you are in Cumbria the history of the Vikings, the Angles and the Saxons is read in the names they left behind
Number of results: 119
, currently showing 41 to 60.
CARLISLE
12th century Norman church, built with stones from Hadrian’s Wall and where King Edward I (Longshanks) lay in state in the church for ten days in 1307.
Burgh by Sands is a very interesting church with layers of history.From the 12th century and on…
Whitehaven
Situated on Whitehaven's attractive harbour side, The Beacon is home to interactive science, games and history.
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
322 reviewsPENRITH
The 'Old Church' of St Martin was built in the 1660's on the site of a probable earlier chapel dating from 1220. The church is fully open and much visited, with all entries in the visitor’s book remarking on the special atmosphere and sense of peace…
Ulverston
Double Circle of stones surrounding cremations in urns (removed). 'Platform' cairn, small barrows, Romano-British farmsteads.
Workington
Stone circle is now incomplete and has a modern wall cutting through it, incorporating one stone. Eleven others survive, some only a few inches high.
ULVERSTON
St Peter’s was built in 1874 designed by well known Lancashire firm of Paley and Austin and won an award for its design as a ‘mountain chapel’.
WHITEHAVEN
A fine example of a Georgian church, which has been sympathetically modernised.
Windermere
Windermere Jetty Museum is a vibrant, family-friendly visitor attraction dedicated to the boats, people and the rich history of Windermere, England’s largest natural lake.
SEDBERGH
Brigflatts, near Sedbergh, Cumbria, is one of the most famous Quaker meeting houses, known and loved by Friends all over the world.
Grange-over-Sands
A fascinating historic house where the elegance and loveliness of the Victorian era combine with the warmth and welcome of a much loved family home. The hall is set in 25 acres of romantic formal & woodland gardens and ancient parkland, with the…
Cockermouth
Step back in time to the 1770s and experience William and Dorothy Wordsworth’s childhood home. Whether you meet the maid-of-all-work or a knowledgeable 21st-century guide, you’re guaranteed a warm welcome.
BRAMPTON
A 'very remarkable building with windows glowing with gemstone colours', according to architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner and the only church designed by preRaphaelite architect Philip Webb.
Brampton
Imposing and well-preserved turret with adjoining stretches of Hadrian's Wall.
Grasmere
A visit to Dove Cottage today transports you back to this remarkable period of ‘plain living and high thinking’. The sights, sounds and smells bring to life the bustling family home the Wordsworths would have known over 200 years ago.
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
968 reviewsCockermouth
A unique and special cafe experience on board the replica Orient Express train and restored station buildings, with a level-access path along the former platform and through woodland teeming with wildlife. Serving interesting and fresh cafe food,…
Lakeside
Steam from the lake shore of Windermere along the heritage track to Haverthwaite Station, where you can visit the station tea room, gift shop, woodland playground, picnic area and engine shed. Steam trains running a seasonal daily service from…
CARLISLE
A local landowner, Sarah Losh (1785-1853), designed St Mary's in 1840, partly in memory of her sister and parents. Influenced by the architecture seen on her Grand Tour of Europe, she created an original design that was very much at odds with the…
Penrith
One mile east of Orton is the ancient Gamelands stone circle. One of the largest in Cumbria, all of its stones have fallen over so none are higher than one yard but they are 100 yards in circumference.
Penrith
The mainly 15thC remains of a castle begun by Bishop Strickland of Carlisle and developed by the Nevilles and Richard lll. Set in a municipal park opposite the railway station.
Eskdale
Hardknott Roman Fort is one of the most dramatically sited and remote Roman forts in Britain. It measures just three-acres and the fort at Hardknott enjoyed command of the Eskdale Valley and the Roman road to Ravenglass.
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