Wondering what’s on over the summer holidays for families? Check out our What’s On guide.
Keswick is a brilliant base for family adventures in the Lake District. Located beside Derwentwater and surrounded by some of the Lake District’s most dramatic scenery, Keswick offers the perfect mix of outdoor adventure and family-friendly facilities. From lakeside strolls to ancient stone circles, there’s plenty to keep kids entertained, and with such a great concentration of attractions here, it’s one of the best places to experience the many things to do in the Lake District with kids.
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When planning your visit to the National Park, please arrive early or late in the day to avoid crowds if visiting over sunny weekends or school holidays. Please also take all litter home with you, don’t bring BBQs, and park your car in designated parking areas.
1. Get out on the water
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Hiring a boat on Derwentwater is a brilliant way for families to explore Keswick from the water. The hire season runs from end of March to end of October, with a choice of paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, rowing boats, pedalos and small motorboats available from the lakeshore jetties.
Families can match the craft to their group; younger children will often enjoy pedalo-style fun, while older kids may prefer kayaks or rowing together. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult on the water, with enough supervision for all children. Weather conditions may affect availability and where boats can go.
2. Castlerigg Stone Circle
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This Neolithic stone circle dates back to around 3000 BC and is one of the earliest in Britain. It’s free to visit and sits around a 30-minute walk east from Keswick town centre (so outside the National Park boundary, located here), with some parking also available on site if needed.
The setting is what makes it particularly impressive, with views towards Helvellyn creating a dramatic backdrop. Children with an interest in history will enjoy the information boards that explain more about this prehistoric monument.
3. Hope Park & Gardens
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Hope Park is often thought of as a green space to walk through on the way to somewhere else (the jetties, Theatre by the Lake), but it’s well worth a visit all on its own. A beautiful, well kept space, there are a handful of activities for families to enjoy together. Choose from remote controlled boats, crazy golf, boules, or visit the bird hide, and then visit the lovely café for snacks.
4. Whinlatter Forest
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Whinlatter Forest offers spectacular views, family walking trails, mountain biking routes and a popular Room on the Broom trail. Children enjoy spotting characters hidden among the trees, while older adventurers can tackle Go Ape or explore the cycling trails. The visitor centre and café provide a welcome break after exploring the forest.
5. Derwent Pencil Museum
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Keswick’s quirky Pencil Museum tells the story of pencil-making in the Lake District through interactive displays and unusual exhibits. Highlights include one of the world’s largest coloured pencils and fascinating stories about secret wartime pencils. It is surprisingly engaging for children and provides an excellent rainy-day option.
6. Lake District Wildlife Park
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Located a 15 minute drive north of Keswick, Lake District Wildlife Park is home to more than 100 species from around the world. Families can meet red pandas, lemurs, birds of prey, reptiles and farm animals while learning about conservation. Daily keeper talks and animal encounters add to the experience, while indoor and outdoor play areas ensure children stay entertained throughout the day. The manageable size makes it particularly suitable when visiting with younger children.
7. Keswick Museum and Fitz Park
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This award-winning museum, set within Fitz Park near the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Trail, brings the story of Keswick and the surrounding Lake District to life through exhibits covering local characters, industries, art and stories from the area’s past. There are interactive activities for kids and it’s well worth checking what’s on before visiting, especially during school holidays when family-focused events are often running.
After the museum, head to the playground at Fitz Park. There’s also tennis courts, a skate park and mini golf here.
8. The Puzzling Place
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This quirky indoor attraction in Keswick is packed with optical illusions, puzzles and interactive exhibits that will leave the whole family scratching their heads. Kids love the anti-gravity rooms, holograms and mind-bending visual tricks, while parents often find themselves just as entertained.
9. Kong Adventure
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If your children have energy to burn on a rainy day, Kong Adventure in Keswick is a fantastic option. Indoor activities include climbing walls, indoor caving, rope challenges and soft play, making it suitable for a wide range of ages and abilities. Conveniently, it’s just a short walk from The Puzzling Place, making it easy to combine both.
10. Keswick Climbing Wall
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One of the largest indoor climbing centres in the Lake District, Keswick Climbing Wall offers climbing routes for beginners through to experienced climbers. Children can try climbing in a safe, supervised environment, with sessions and instruction available for those new to the sport.
11. Mirehouse Gardens
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Mirehouse Gardens is a lovely little trip from Keswick, especially for families wanting some outdoor space for children to roam. Set on the shores of Bassenthwaite Lake, the gardens offer winding paths, peaceful water features, hidden adventure play areas and plenty of open space. There’s also a scenic walk leading right down to the lakeshore.
It’s just a 10 minute drive from Keswick, with easy parking at Dodd Wood Car Park opposite the entrance, and tickets available from the Old Sawmill Tearoom next door.
12. Springs Farm
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A 1 mile walk from Keswick Town Centre, Springs Farm offers a hands-on experience for animal-loving children. Families hop aboard an accessible farm trailer for a guided 75-minute farm safari, meeting Highland cows, pygmy goats, Herdwick sheep, lambs, KuneKune pigs and beef herds along the way, with opportunities to help feed some of the animals too.
Tours run on weekends from April to November and are led by the Hutton family, who have been farming here since 1924. These must be pre-booked and are rather pricey for families. There’s also Annie’s Pantry café on site for a bite to eat after your adventure.
13. Alpacaly Ever After
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One of the Lake District’s most unique experiences, Alpacaly Ever After allows families to meet, feed and walk rescued alpacas and llamas. Guided walks take place in some spectacular locations around Keswick, offering stunning scenery alongside plenty of animal encounters. Children particularly enjoy getting to know the alpacas’ individual personalities. Children under 10 can join the walks, although an adult will need to lead their alpaca.
14. Aira Force
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Close to Ullswater, and just a 20-minute drive from Keswick, Aira Force is one of the Lake District’s most iconic waterfalls, offering a beautiful short walk with big rewards for very little effort. Children will love navigating the woodland trail, with small steps, bridges and plenty of tree roots to clamber over along the way.
The impressive 20-metre waterfall showcases the raw power of nature as it tumbles through ancient woodland. The site was made accessible by the Victorians, who created the well-maintained paths, stone bridges and viewing platforms that visitors still enjoy today. Beyond the waterfall itself, the area also houses an arboretum containing ‘the UK’s girthiest tree’, and is one of the few places in England where red squirrels still live in the wild – so keep your eyes peeled!
15. Theatre by the Lake
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As the name suggests, Theatre by the Lake sits right on the shores of Derwentwater. There’s a varied programme throughout the year, with plenty of performances that appeal to children and families alongside its wider schedule. Expect a mix of touring productions as well as shows created by the in-house team. Right next door, the Lakeside Café Restaurant makes it easy to pair a family meal with a show, all while enjoying one of Keswick’s prettiest settings.
16. Complete the Keswick Mouse Trail
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The Keswick Mouse Trail is a fun way to explore the town while keeping little ones happily occupied. Families can pick up a trail map online or from Keswick Cheese Deli, then set off in search of 22 mischievous mice hidden in shops around town after escaping from the deli.
Once all the mice have been found, children can return to get their map stamped and pick up a small badge to mark their success. Better still, all money raised goes directly to Keswick Mountain Rescue Team, making this a lovely activity that supports a brilliant local cause while adding a little adventure to time spent exploring Keswick.
17. Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path
The Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Trail is one of the best family-friendly trails in the area, following a former railway line on a mostly flat, accessible route that works well for buggies, wheelchairs, scooters and bikes.
Starting near Keswick Leisure Centre, the trail winds through beautiful countryside, crossing rivers and passing through old railway tunnels as it heads towards the village of Threlkeld. The full return route is around 10km, but distance markers along the way make it easy for families to gauge distance and decide whether to turn back if little legs have had enough. For those making it to Threlkeld, there’s a popular café waiting, plus the option of catching the bus back to Keswick.
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