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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.
Grade I listed, it is one of the finest examples of a late medieval, vernacular Lake District…
A local landowner, Sarah Losh (1785-1853), designed St Mary's in 1840, partly in memory of her…
Right in the heart of Kirkby Lonsdale,the beautiful Norman church sits above the River Lune with…
Located in Keswick, the home of the first pencil, visitors enter this museum through a replica…
Standing proudly in the city it has dominated for nine centuries, Carlisle Castle remained a…
Steam trains running a seasonal daily service from Haverthwaite to Lakeside via the Leven valley.…
Originally know as Sunkenkirk, consists of 50 stones at the foot of Black Combe. Access is via a…
St. Peter's is an outstanding example of the decorated style of architecture, with its warm red…
The mainly 15thC remains of a castle begun by Bishop Strickland of Carlisle and developed by the…
A unique and special cafe experience on board the replica Orient Express train and restored station…
A fine example of a Georgian church, which has been sympathetically modernised.
Stone circle is now incomplete and has a modern wall cutting through it, incorporating one stone.…
Lakeland Arts' much-loved art collection includes paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture ranging…
The church, dedicated to the Celtic Saint Bega, is situated in a picture perfect setting in fields…
Imposing and well-preserved turret with adjoining stretches of Hadrian's Wall.
Brigflatts, near Sedbergh, Cumbria, is one of the most famous Quaker meeting houses, known and…
Three stone circles and two smaller settings of boulders 12' across. Inside one of the circles was…
Cartmel Priory has been described as the medieval jewel among churches, making a lasting impression…
A beautiful Norman church on site of 7th century monastery in peaceful Lakeland location and home…
A magical indoor attraction that brings to life all 23 Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit tales. Meet…
Double Circle of stones surrounding cremations in urns (removed). 'Platform' cairn, small barrows,…
This ‘hidden gem’ is the earliest known surviving example of a small English parish church designed…
The priory is one of the architectural jewels in Cumbria and well worth a visit. This beautiful and…
According to architectural historian Nicholas Pevsner, this is ‘the stateliest church of its time…
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: 120
, currently showing 1 to 20.
AMBLESIDE
Grade I listed, it is one of the finest examples of a late medieval, vernacular Lake District church. It has literary connections with Wordsworth and was also the home the home of Archbishop Sandys in the 16th century.
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…
CARNFORTH
Right in the heart of Kirkby Lonsdale,the beautiful Norman church sits above the River Lune with commanding views from the churchyard.
Keswick
Located in Keswick, the home of the first pencil, visitors enter this museum through a replica graphite mine which would have served as the source of the pencil industry over three centuries ago.
Ulverston
Steam trains running a seasonal daily service from Haverthwaite to Lakeside via the Leven valley. Licensed tea room, gift shop, engine shed, picnic area & playground.
Millom
Originally know as Sunkenkirk, consists of 50 stones at the foot of Black Combe. Access is via a long farm track from a minor road branching off the A595. Well worth the walk!
GRANGE-OVER-SANDS
St. Peter's is an outstanding example of the decorated style of architecture, with its warm red sandstone and distinctive shingled spire and clay tiled roof, an unusual feature in the Lake District.
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.
Cockermouth
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,…
WHITEHAVEN
A fine example of a Georgian church, which has been sympathetically modernised.
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.
Kendal
Lakeland Arts' much-loved art collection includes paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture ranging from the 1700's to the present. In our refreshed collection galleries discover the stories of our extraordinary collection pieces and the people…
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.
Brampton
Imposing and well-preserved turret with adjoining stretches of Hadrian's Wall.
SEDBERGH
Brigflatts, near Sedbergh, Cumbria, is one of the most famous Quaker meeting houses, known and loved by Friends all over the world.
Penrith
Three stone circles and two smaller settings of boulders 12' across. Inside one of the circles was a series of cremations, one in a collared urn.
Grange-over-Sands
Cartmel Priory has been described as the medieval jewel among churches, making a lasting impression on the visitor, standing over the village and giving an idea of the way early priories must have dominated their surroundings.
PENRITH
A beautiful Norman church on site of 7th century monastery in peaceful Lakeland location and home of the Dacre Bears, four unique medieval stone statues.
Bowness-on-Windermere
A magical indoor attraction that brings to life all 23 Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit tales. Meet all your favourite characters and find out more about Beatrix Potter herself.
Ulverston
Double Circle of stones surrounding cremations in urns (removed). 'Platform' cairn, small barrows, Romano-British farmsteads.
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