You are here: Home > Things to Do > History and Heritage
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.
Circle is 37' across, seven stones and the retaining kerb of a destroyed cairn. Nineteenth-century…
Stone circle is now incomplete and has a modern wall cutting through it, incorporating one stone.…
Make yourself comfortable in the former home of National Trust Founder, Canon Rawnsley. Only…
A magical indoor attraction that brings to life all 23 Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit tales. Meet…
St Lawrence's church is a grade I listed building, of late 12th century foundation, rebuilt late…
Newlands church, set in the midst of the lovely Newlands Valley, is a haven of peace and…
Raised in circa 3000BC, Castlerigg is perhaps the most atmospheric of all British stone circles…
A tranquil haven with an almost-forgotten industrial past. Walled garden with outstanding medicinal…
Caught in the Anglo Scottish wars of the 14th century, a good bit of luck followed the Dissolution…
Carlisle Brewing Co is a small, family-run brewery based in Cumbria's capital city. We make beer…
A real Lakeland hidden treasure set in the beautiful village of Troutbeck, this 17thC solid stone…
Standing proudly in the city it has dominated for nine centuries, Carlisle Castle remained a…
The church is situated centrally in Keswick and stands out by virtue of its tall spire. The site…
Steam trains running a seasonal daily service from Haverthwaite to Lakeside via the Leven valley.…
Entered from the Market Square through handsome cloisters built in 1810, the parish church stands…
A playful environment filled with vibrant colours, ambient sounds and digital creatures, inspired…
Museum, art gallery and reference library covering the history life and arts of the Lakes.…
A 'very remarkable building with windows glowing with gemstone colours', according to architectural…
St Peter’s was built in 1874 designed by well known Lancashire firm of Paley and Austin and won an…
Parkland and Gothic Revival castle sitting on the west shore of Windermere providing an impressive…
Brantwood, the former home of eminent Victorian John Ruskin and a treasure house of art and…
Museum, art gallery, community hub, generally great place. We offer a forward-thinking programme of…
Three stone circles and two smaller settings of boulders 12' across. Inside one of the circles was…
Eskdale Mill is a unique experience, nestled in one of the Lake District's most beautiful locations…
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: 121
, currently showing 1 to 20.
Penrith
Circle is 37' across, seven stones and the retaining kerb of a destroyed cairn. Nineteenth-century excavations produced a cremation.
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.
Grasmere
Make yourself comfortable in the former home of National Trust Founder, Canon Rawnsley. Only partially restored and decorated, this isn’t a typical National Trust experience.
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.
APPLEBY-IN-WESTMORLAND
St Lawrence's church is a grade I listed building, of late 12th century foundation, rebuilt late 13th after a raid by the Scots, restored 16th by Lady Anne Clifford, followed by two rounds of 19th century internal remodelling.
KESWICK
Newlands church, set in the midst of the lovely Newlands Valley, is a haven of peace and tranquillity, it can be traced back to the mid 16th century, although it was substantially refurbished in the 1840s.
Ulverston
The Laurel and Hardy Museum celebrates the life and career of Stan Laurel, born in Ulverston.
Keswick
Raised in circa 3000BC, Castlerigg is perhaps the most atmospheric of all British stone circles with the mountain of Helvellyn as a dramatic backdrop.
Penrith
A tranquil haven with an almost-forgotten industrial past. Walled garden with outstanding medicinal and culinary herb collection and orchards, woodland walks to a restored watermill.
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
379 reviewsWIGTON
Caught in the Anglo Scottish wars of the 14th century, a good bit of luck followed the Dissolution of the Monasteries for this church, when the local people successfully petitioned Thomas Cromwell to allow them to continue to use the church.
Windermere
A real Lakeland hidden treasure set in the beautiful village of Troutbeck, this 17thC solid stone and slate house sits imposingly on the hillside, its huge chimneys typical of the area.
Carlisle
Standing proudly in the city it has dominated for nine centuries, Carlisle Castle remained a working fortress until well within living memory. Today's highlights include the Prisoners' beautiful carvings, the exhibition and wall walk.
KESWICK
The church is situated centrally in Keswick and stands out by virtue of its tall spire. The site for this church commands superb views of the surrounding Lakeland hills.
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.
KIRKBY STEPHEN
Entered from the Market Square through handsome cloisters built in 1810, the parish church stands on the site of a Saxon church and contains many ancient relics.
Rayrigg Rd, Bowness-on-Windermere
A playful environment filled with vibrant colours, ambient sounds and digital creatures, inspired by ecosystems found in nature. Immerse yourself in the Microworld and discover a space where creatures respond to each other and to you.
Ambleside
Museum, art gallery and reference library covering the history life and arts of the Lakes. Collections include Kurt Schwitters, Beatrix Potter, photography, fine art and local history.
Tripadvisor Traveller Rating
104 reviewsBRAMPTON
A 'very remarkable building with windows glowing with gemstone colours', according to architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner and the only church designed by preRaphaelite architect Philip Webb.
ULVERSTON
St Peter’s was built in 1874 designed by well known Lancashire firm of Paley and Austin and won an award for its design as a ‘mountain chapel’.
Ambleside
Parkland and Gothic Revival castle sitting on the west shore of Windermere providing an impressive backdrop of turrets, towers, informal grounds and miles of lakeshore paths.
Receive all the latest news, special offers and information from the Lake District, Cumbria
Cumbria Tourism, Windermere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9PL