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The handsome Georgian town of Cockermouth is the gateway to the western Lake District. A busy schedule of events keeps the town buzzing throughout the year (highlights include the Taste food festival and the Northbound music festival), but it’s the location that makes it a great place to stay: 20 minutes out of town and you’re by the shores of a lake, sitting on a beach or walking up a fell.
The town is also home to the renowned Jennings Brewery, while it is also the proud birthplace of William and Dorothy Wordsworth; Wordsworth House offers a fascinating insight into the poet’s early life but also gives modern visitors a glimpse of how people lived in the 18th century. Other famous children of Cockermouth include astronomer Fearon Fallows, scientist John Dalton and Fletcher Christian of Mutiny on the Bounty fame.
Cockermouth has a tasty selection of places to eat and drink. It’s a place that can cater for every appetite, and every craving.
It’s home to a wealth of cafes and traditional tea shops, perfect for breakfast or a light lunch, as well as pubs serving up the heartiest of local fare, and contemporary restaurants with an international flavour.
If it’s just a drink you’re after, a pint of Jennings ale will always go down well – and it’s brewed in the heart of the town. It doesn’t get more local than that…
Cockermouth and its surrounding villages are gaining a reputation as a foodie paradise. You’ll find some great places to eat in town – tucked down a side street or in full view in the main shopping areas – while the surrounding countryside has some wonderful inns and pubs that serve up gorgeous views along with a delicious meal. Every kind of cuisine is catered to, from classic English to modern European and more. Whatever you’re in the mood for, be sure to try local specialties of meat reared in the fields just outside of town and seafood caught fresh off the West Cumbrian coast.
There’s a fine selection of friendly teashops and cafes, where the emphasis is on local ingredients and old-fashioned home cooking. Some of these even come with their own bakeries, so the cakes and breads you eat are usually fresh out of the oven. Come in the evening and you can enjoy a bistro night along with live entertainment.
Don’t miss the pubs either – the majority of which are dog-friendly. From the liveliest of nights out, to a quiet pint, Cockermouth has a great range, many of them serving food too. Their menus range from bar snacks or proper hearty pub grub, to something more contemporary. The one thing they all have in common is a great range of beers, many of them brewed locally in Cumbria, including of course those brewed by Jennings, right here in town.
If you’d rather eat at home, there’s a good range of takeaways, or head to the town’s brilliant butchers, fishmonger, grocers or delis to find the perfect ingredients.
And, for the perfect foodie treat, head to Cockermouth in the last weekend of September for the annual Taste Cumbria food festival. It attracted an estimated 40,000 people in 2015, all eager to eat, drink and graze their way around the stalls, eat at Michelin-starred chef Simon Rogan’s pop-up restaurant, and learn from some culinary masters.
There’s history, literature, culture, shopping and more in Cockermouth. With family friendly places to visit, everything within an easy walk, and plenty to catch your eye around town, it’s a great place to visit.
It’s also the perfect gateway to the Western Lake District and the Solway coast, so it’s worth planning your trip so you’ve got time to head out of town too. You’ve got fells, lakes, forests and beaches on your doorstep if you choose to stay in Cockermouth.
Cockermouth is the birthplace of the poet William Wordsworth, so you’ll see his face around town, not least at the National Trust-owned Wordsworth House and Garden. If you like history, seek out the mini museum in Banks Hardware store in Market Place or take the Civic Trust’s town trail. For more recent history, look for the flood markers on the town centre businesses which show how high the waters reached when the Rivers Cocker and Derwent burst their banks in 2009.
Tours are also on offer at Jennings Brewery, and they finish with samples of their ales. Or head out of town to the Lakes Distillery, a short drive away, and find out how whisky is being made here for the first time in hundreds of years.
Cockermouth Castle is owned by Lord and Lady Egremont and is usually closed to visitors, but this historic building is open on a handful of days around the time of Georgian Fair and the Midsummer Festival. They are two events not to be missed, as is September’s Taste Cumbria Festival which is a foodie paradise with celebrity chefs, cookery demonstrations and a wealth of stalls; and Woolfest, which attracts international visitors who love crafts and this most natural of products.
There’s always something going on in Cockermouth. The town’s arts venue is the Kirkgate Centre, with its mix of music, comedy, theatre and exhibitions. Its Monday night cinema shows everything from subtitled arts films to recent blockbusters, while its Film Club has themed seasons. Many of the Main Street pubs have live music at weekends, and you get ad hoc events in some of the cafes, bistros and at Wordsworth House and Garden. There are lots of creative places to browse, and high-end art is on show at Castlegate Gallery, which has a national reputation.
While you’re in the area, explore the coast – there are fabulous beaches, lovely harbours and loads of history, or head inland to the amazing valleys of Buttermere and Ennerdale. Nearby Whinlatter Forest Park has Go Ape aerial assault course and a brilliant adventure playground trail, as well as great mountain biking and walks.
In busy Cockermouth you’ll find a full range of shops, many of them independently owned and all proud of their friendly service. There are butchers and bakers (no candlestick maker, alas), toyshops and bookshops, antiquarians and homewares. Supplies for your pet? They’ve got you covered.
There are card shops, furniture stores, national supermarket chains and car retailers, as well as historic hardware shops, interesting curios, pharmacies, banks and some luxury shops with lovely clothes, shoes and lingerie.
The town centre is pretty compact (no long walks required) and the bulk of the shopping is divided between three areas: tree-lined Main Street, pretty Market Place and bustling Station Street. There are pop-up vintage, antique and country food and plant markets on Main Street on a weekly basis – look for the signs to tell you they’re open.
It’s worth visiting Cockermouth before Christmas too. The shopkeepers light their doorways with candles, the fairy lights are magical, and there’s even late night shopping, with mulled wine to keep away the chill.
Don’t forget to try your luck on Shop 10, the town’s loyalty scheme and prize draw – available in almost all independent shops. Fill your Shop 10 card with stamps and put it in the box at Meglans IT shop at number 10 Station Street and you could win a £10 voucher for a participating retailer.
The church, dedicated to the Celtic Saint Bega, is situated in a picture perfect setting in fields…
Join us as writer, farmer and Lakes Future Farming Partnerships Manager Andrea Meanwell shares her…
Enchanting evenings of music in the forest, with floor spots, special guests and an informal…
Cyclewise Cockermouth is a premier independant cycle store based in the heart of the very…
A unique and special cafe experience on board the replica Orient Express train and restored station…
Join Jessie McMeekin as she tells tales by the kitchen fire to horrify and delight you. This event…
After exploring the house and getting into the spirit of a Georgian All Hallows Eve, get creative…
Visit William and Dorothy Wordsworth's childhood home and enjoy some much-loved poems around the…
The Hay O' Trail is a 6km multi terrain race. Runners leave the grounds of Cockermouth School,…
Welcome to England's only true mountain forest. Whinlatter boasts unrivalled views across…
Sally's Cottages is an award-winning, local, family run holiday cottage letting agency in Keswick…
The award-winning Lakes Distillery Company opened in December 2014 in The Lake District National…
Based at the head of England's best trail centre, the Altura trail in Whinlatter Forest, Keswick. A…
AN INTIMATE ACOUSTIC TRIBUTE TO THE MUSIC OF JONI MITCHELL.. PRESENTED BY 5 PIECE BAND 'THIS FLIGHT…
The loop begins by skirting along the edge of the fells with dramatic and atmospheric views over…
Unspoiled traditional inn with every modern comfort in understated luxury.
The autumn 23/24 series of canicross races has now launched! Held in England's only mountain…
The Bistro at the Distillery aims to embrace the spirit of the Lake District, which is achieved by…
Overlooking Bassenthwaite Lake and some of England’s highest fells, the Castle Inn offers the…
Based in Cockermouth, on the edge of the Lake District, Wellington Farm have Six Luxury Glamping…
Our cycling holidays are a unique way to discover Cumbria. Designed with the thoughtful traveller…
Choose between the 60km or 99km routes starting just outside Keswick. The route takes us into…
Based at the head of England's best trail centre, the Altura trail in Whinlatter Forest, Keswick. A…
Our restaurant has a warm and modern appeal, for either a romantic meal for two, or a family meal.…
You may leave the Lake District, but once you’ve been, it’ll never leave you.
Number of results: 83
, currently showing 1 to 20.
Keswick
The church, dedicated to the Celtic Saint Bega, is situated in a picture perfect setting in fields on the east shore of Bassenthwaite Lake.
Cockermouth
Join us as writer, farmer and Lakes Future Farming Partnerships Manager Andrea Meanwell shares her stories and vision for the future of farming in the Lake District.
Cockermouth
Join us for celestial exploration of flavour for one night only, Saturday 4th May 2024.
To celebrate the launch of Galáxia, you are invited to join us at the distillery for an evening of stargazing and whisky tasting. Co-hosted by local…
Whinlatter Pass, Keswick
Enchanting evenings of music in the forest, with floor spots, special guests and an informal session to round off the evening.
South Street, Cockermouth
Cyclewise Cockermouth is a premier independant cycle store based in the heart of the very picturesque town of Cockermouth. The shop was opened in 2015 to compliment our mountain biking hire centre in Whinlatter Forest.
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
154 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,…
Cockermouth
Join Jessie McMeekin as she tells tales by the kitchen fire to horrify and delight you.
This event is suitable for children aged 4 to 11. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
This event is free but normal admission charges apply…
Cockermouth
Join photographers Rosamund and John Macfarlane as they share stories and slides from their winter photographic adventures in Norway and the Arctic Circle. Booking is essential and tickets can be purchased via the Wordsworth House and Garden website…
Cockermouth
After exploring the house and getting into the spirit of a Georgian All Hallows Eve, get creative by making yourself something scary to wear or decorate the house!
Join us in the discovery room where you will find everything you need for a spooky…
Cockermouth
Visit William and Dorothy Wordsworth's childhood home and enjoy some much-loved poems around the house to celebrate National Poetry Day.
Step back in time and explore the birthplace and childhood home of romantic poet William Wordsworth and his…
Cockermouth
The Hay O' Trail is a 6km multi terrain race. Runners leave the grounds of Cockermouth School, heading away from Cockermouth along a footpath adjacent to the road (Castlegate Drive)
Braithwaite
Welcome to England's only true mountain forest. Whinlatter boasts unrivalled views across Bassenthwaite Lake, Derwentwater and Keswick. Located in the North West of the Lake District, you'll find us in the heart of it. It plays host to two of our…
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
256 reviewsKeswick
Sally's Cottages is an award-winning, local, family run holiday cottage letting agency in Keswick with 500 self-catering holiday cottages in the Lake District and Cumbria, including over 270 dog-friendly cottages.
Nr Bassenthwaite Lake
The award-winning Lakes Distillery Company opened in December 2014 in The Lake District National Park with the vision of producing a world class single malt whisky and a global brand that is recognised and respected around the world
Braithwaite, Keswick
Based at the head of England's best trail centre, the Altura trail in Whinlatter Forest, Keswick. A well stocked trail centre bike shop offering premium bike hire, fast repairs and premium road and mountain bike sales. We also offer guiding and…
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
154 reviewsKirkgate, Cockermouth
AN INTIMATE ACOUSTIC TRIBUTE TO THE MUSIC OF JONI MITCHELL.. PRESENTED BY 5 PIECE BAND 'THIS FLIGHT TONIGHT'
The loop begins by skirting along the edge of the fells with dramatic and atmospheric views over the valleys of the River Keekle and Dub Beck to distant villages and the rearing hills beyond.
Cockermouth
Unspoiled traditional inn with every modern comfort in understated luxury.
Keswick
The autumn 23/24 series of canicross races has now launched! Held in England's only mountain forest, Dodd Wood & Grizedale Forest. The perfect location for you to enjoy stunning scenery and a fully marked course on forest roads and trails.
This…
Nr Bassenthwaite Lake
The Bistro at the Distillery aims to embrace the spirit of the Lake District, which is achieved by using regional ingredients where possible and having a key focus on freshness, flavour and simplicity.
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