Step back in time and discover a rich history across Westmorland & Furness. For kids, there are interactive exhibitions and activity trails; while everyone will love learning more about our local history through fascinating displays and immersive experiences. Discover it all with a visit to one our fascinating museums.
Jump to:
Hawkshead Grammar School Museum
Kendal Museum
Penrith & Eden Museum
Quaker Tapestry Museum
The Armitt Museum
The Ruskin Museum
Lakeland Motor Museum
The Dock Museum
Windermere Jetty Museum
Back in the day if you ever carved your name into your school desk you’d be in good company as William Wordswoth did just that at this fascinating former school turned museum which tells the story of school life in Hawkshead from 1585 to 1909.
A treasure trove of historical curiosities and artefacts covering the natural world, minerals, fossils and plants. If you never expected to encounter a polar bear in Cumbria, think again as Kendal Museum has an enormous one as part of its taxidermy collection, said to be the largest collection in Europe!
Established in 1883, this museum is dedicated to preserving, displaying and interpreting artefacts and antiques that are of cultural significance to the Penrith & Eden area. Learn all about famous and notorious locals, Penrith’s pewter trade and Druid rituals.
As the name suggests this is home to the wonderful Quaker Tapestry, a piece of artwork created by approximately 4,000 global crafts people. Although the full tapestry consists of 77 panels, the museum regularly displays around 40 in total, each of which depicts the story of Quaker life, people and events throughout history.
A museum, gallery and library displaying unusual objects which depict life in Ambleside and the surrounding area. There are original paintings of fungi by Beatrix Potter, while to bring out as much of the museum’s heritage as possible, regular exhibitions focus on specific subjects relating to Lakeland.
After hitting the headlines earlier this year with the return of Donald Campbell’s Bluebird K7 to the museum, Ruskin Museum is on everyone’s list for a must see museum. Also learn about early copper miners on Coniston Old Man, the imagination of Arthur Ransome that helped him create Swallow’s and Amazons and the founders of the first Mountain Rescue.
Home to approximately 30,000 items from cars and motorbikes to other memorabilia, this museum is a petrolheads paradise. Explore the world of motor travel through the ages from vintage and classic vehicles to modern day supercars.
Telling the story of Cumbria’s naval history, shipbuilding industry and an overarching history of Barrow-in-Furness this fascinating museum is not only free to enter but it’s perfect for kids thanks to interactive displays, quizzes and an adventure playground. Note the museum will be closed 24 June to 24 July for refurbishment.
A family friendly exploration of Windermere’s 200 year old boating history. The collection includes SL Dolly, the oldest mechanically powered boat in the world and a rowing boat once owned by Beatrix Potter.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus
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