Tourist information for Keswick in the Lake District

Keswick is ideally situated in the heart of the Lake District, between the Skiddaw mountains and the Northern shores of Derwentwater, one of England's most beautiful lakes.

The town is easy to reach by road, being just 20 minutes along the A66 trunk road from Junction 40 of the M6 motorway.

The nearest railway station is at Penrith, which is on the West Coast Main Line. From here there is a regular bus service to Keswick.

There is also a choice of taxi services available at Penrith or pre-booked from Keswick. Many accommodation providers will arrange for a taxi to meet you at the station.

National Express run regular coach services to Keswick from London and other UK locations.

Useful National web sites (and phone numbers) -

RAC route planner
National Rail Enquiries ( 08457 484950 )
Virgin Trains ( 0345 222333 )
National Express Coaches ( 0990 808080 )

Cumbria's local travel information service provides bus timetable information. ( 0870 6082608 )

There are a good range of routes around Keswick served by Stagecoach Cumberland buses. Information on these is available on Stagecoach Northwest ( 0870 6082608 ). Four day travel anywhere tickets are good value for visitors and may be purchased from the Keswick Tourist Information Centre or the Keswick Post Office.

The Lake District has a range of especially scenic bus routes which are described here.

The National Trust provides a minibus service to some popular local spots. Mountain Goat Tours ( 017687 73692 ) provide popular guided tours of most areas of the Lake District and further afield.

The Keswick Launch Company water bus service is very popular and a good way of seeing Derwentwater and the surrounding fells.

National Trust Landscape Tours and Mountain Goat tours may be booked at the Keswick Tourist Information Office, who also supply Keswick Launch tickets at discount rates!

For those who prefer two wheels, cycle hire is available at various locations in and around Keswick.

Keswick offers a wide variety of accommodation for visitors. The Keswick Tourism Association's official web site is the largest source of information about inspected and approved accommodation throughout Keswick and the North Lakes.

See also hotel & B&B accommodation in Keswick.

Keswick, being in the centre of the best walking country in England has a wide variety of shops selling outdoor clothing and equipment, from budget to the very best quality. There is a range of shops selling collectables and antiques, local stone crafts, art in its various forms, locally made Cumberland Rexel pencils etc.. There are also 'essential' shops such as chemists, bakers and confectioners, stationers and so on.

There are too many activities to cover them all here!

Few areas can offer a better variety of walking and climbing opportunities. Guided walks leave the Moot Hall daily from Easter until November. For those who like to plan their own routes there are links to suggestions on our walks page. There are also a large number of cycle routes in the area, some covering the most stunning and rugged scenery.

There are water sports aplenty, horse riding, paragliding, golf, tennis, bowls, fells on which to run....

Fishing licences and permits are available from the Keswick Tourist Information Centre.

You can obtain advice and recommendations about local walks and activities by visiting Keswick's on-line forum.

Keswick's very popular and successful Theatre by the Lake is ideally situated close to Derwentwater. The theatre offers a programme of arts and entertainment throughout the year. There is a coffee shop and fully licensed bars. Tickets and information on 017687 74411

Fulfilling its role as a popular holiday destination, Keswick offers a range of pubs, restaurants and clubs for those who desire them. There is a cinema which shows the latest films and, of course, the Theatre. For lovers of local scenery there are regular slide shows by local photographers, mountain guides and climbers.

In the summer months many of the town centre shops are open until late, ideal for those who like to browse for gifts for friends (or themselves) or momentos of their visit.

The Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale map of the Keswick area is highly recommended for visitors. You can order a copy of this map here.

Click here to view a map of Keswick Town (the map is a large image file, please be patient)
or click here to download a Town Map as a .zip file (1.07Mb)