Keswick Cottages

Lakelovers are the leading choice for holiday cottages in Keswick.

Keswick Cottages

Situated at the northern end of the Lake District in Cumbria, Keswick is a small market town that welcomes some 1.5 million visitors per year. Surrounded by rolling hillsides and what many consider some of the best bodies of water in the Lake District including Buttermere, Bassenthwaite Lake and Crummock Water. Keswick has everything you need, making for a premier UK holiday destination. 

Whether you’re looking for an active holiday or perhaps to take things slowly, enjoying some relaxing strolls, a low pace paddle on some serene waters and taking in breathtaking scenery, our Keswick holiday cottages won’t let you down.

Keswick Accommodation

Lakelovers’ self-catering Keswick cottages offer luxury accommodation for all. Ranging from small high-end 2 bedroom cottages for couples right up to large 10 bedroom properties. Ideal for families or groups, all finished to an exquisite standard. Take your pick of our cottages in Keswick for the perfect Lake District holiday. Properties with alfresco dining and romantic boltholes that sleep 2, our collection has something for everyone.

Places to Visit in Keswick

Keswick’s reputation as a tourist attraction grew in the 18th Century and is home to some of the most splendid residences in the country. 18th Century Derwent Island House, on Derwent Island, is the only inhabited island in the Lakes but is open to the public 5 days a year so you can catch a glimpse of one of the finest properties on the finest location.

Dalemain Mansion, off Ullswater, has been lived in by the current owner’s family since 1679 and includes many extravagant adaptations, including a Chinese Room with original 18th Century hand-painted wallpaper.

The Lingholm Estate, on the Western shore of Derwentwater, was built in the 19th Century as the weekend retreat of the Greenall brewing family, designed by the impressive Alfred Waterhouse, who was also responsible for the Natural History Museum in London. During the 1890’s a rather famous guest visited the estate, which was often let out as a holiday house – none other than creator of Peter Rabbit and friends, Beatrix Potter. This is a beautifully understated house and gardens to visit whilst staying in our Keswick accommodation.

Keswick’s History

The small market town of Keswick has a rich history, waiting to be explored during your stay in one of our Keswick Cottages.

Keswick’s recorded history dates back to the middle ages, but the Stone Age settlement at Castlerigg tells us communities have been living around the town for some 4000 years. It is not known what this prehistoric site was originally intended for, but if you’re booking a Keswick grew in prosperity during the reign of Elizabeth I, who was keen to draw on the town’s natural resources to strengthen her warships.

For years, the area was mined for its considerable deposits of copper, its slate, and most notably, its graphite. The latter was purportedly discovered by a shepherd in Seathwaite and led to the manufacture of what residents claim was the world’s first pencil. Visit the Cumberland Pencil Museum just off the A66 to learn about the history of pencil making from its ‘sheepish’ beginnings to the present day.

Keswick was a popular spot with romantic Lake Poets Wordsworth, Coleridge and Southey and together they catalogued the beauty of the Borrowdale Valley for readers across the world.

Exploring Keswick

Situated in the centre of Keswick is the very well known building of Moot Hall, built in 1571. It was a meeting place to decide local issues. Over time it has been a Prison, Tourist Information Centre, Art Gallery and of course an assembly building. Today it is home to the National Park Information Centre.

From its early days as the Lake District’s first ‘resort for the gentry visiting the great romantic lakes and mountains to the popular tourist centre it is today.

Mystic stone circles are one of the key historical features of the Keswick landscape, situated in the Castlerigg area of the town. The impressive stones of Castlerigg stone circle sit atop the hillside. Some say they are very like the stone formation at Stonehenge. These are said to date back to between 3000 and 2500 BC. This area is well worth a visit during your holiday in Keswick.

Self-Catering in Keswick

Self-catering in Keswick is great fun as the market town offers a rich variety of shopping. Keswick is one of very few towns left in England that has managed to avoid large commercial retail outlets.

Instead you’ll find many exciting independent retailers, offering a variety of goods to browse and meander through. Keswick is also celebrated for its good food.

They have an array of great traditional pubs offering local ale and pub grub, fine dining restaurants for special occasions, just a short walk away from your Keswick accommodation. Plus plenty of cafés where you can sit out in the central area and watch the crowds pass by.

Walking Holidays

For all you walkers out there, Lakelovers have hand-picked the finest cottages in Keswick perfect for your next walking holiday. We place you within a stone’s throw of some of the most loved walks in the region.

Alfred Wainwright once said that one of his favourite walks was Catbells. It is easy to access from Keswick and is a great walk for all ages.

Catbells is one of the smaller fells in the Lakes but with views like no other and is a definite must-do when visiting Keswick.

Don’t forget pets are free with Lakelovers so bring your four-legged pal too. They’ll love running around the endless landscape and enjoying the Lakeland fresh air. We have over 150 dog friendly cottages across the Lake District, all to our high 3 – 5 star standard.

Keswick was voted the winner of The Kennel Club’s most Dog Friendly town award. With its pedestrianised town centre and large array of dog friendly eateries it is a great choice for a dog-friendly holiday.

Challenges

For those of you who want a bit more of a challenge, why not venture onto the largest and highest fells in the Keswick area? Meet Blencathra and Skiddaw, where you can enjoy climbing some of the oldest rocks in the Lakes. Allow a full day's walk for both of these and make sure you bring appropriate clothing. The weather can change quickly on many of the Lake District tops.

Head south towards the often-quieter areas surrounding Grasmere, nestled close to the craggy Langdale valley. Here you’ll find more of your walkers’ paradise. You can easily access the notorious Helvellyn and Scafell Pike.

As well as spot all-year-round climbing, bouldering and scrambling among the Langdale Pikes and surrounding quarries.

If you’re after some adventure whilst staying in Keswick, why not visit the famous Honistor Slate Mine? It is the last working mine in England and well known for producing the famous Lake District blue/green stone. You can take a guided tour of the mine and for those thrill seekers, have a go at Via Ferrata. Scale vertical cliff edges and scramble across high exposure bridges and cargo nets. Not for those who are afraid of heights!

For the more faint-hearted, a visit on foot or bike to the beautiful Borrowdale Valley is not to be missed when staying in Keswick.

Eating and Drinking in Keswick

There’s no shortage of delicious food in Keswick. Market Square is lined with pleasant cafes and traditional bakeries, and a number of homely gastropubs, fish and chip shops and excellent restaurants sit around the town. With so much to try, it is a good job that a day in the fresh country air will work up an appetite.

Nestled on the shores of Derwentwater, The Chalet Tea Rooms is a lovely eatery in a picturesque location. The Austrian breakfast is very popular, as is their hearty soup and deep-filled toasties, which have been warming up ramblers on a pit-stop from Cat Bells hikes for years. Muddy paws are welcome too.

If you are in the mood for pub grub, there is an array of cosy pubs with great food to choose from. With its oak beams and flagstone floors, The Dog and Gun is very popular with walkers and climbers and is renowned for its Goulash.

For something a little fancier, enjoy fine dining at the Bistro at the Distillery in Bassenthwaite where chefs use local Lakes produce to create exceptional, honest food. The wine list is extensive too, and the restaurant boasts a range of signature cocktails

Keswick Holiday Cottages

Keswick also has an array of other activities available during your stay. These include pony trekking, quad biking, walking, canoeing, rock climbing and many more.

For the writers amongst us, don’t miss a trip to the home of the world’s first pencil, the Keswick Pencil Museum. You can also see the World’s longest pencil as well as visit the great Kids Art Studio. Plus see how WW2 spies smuggled maps in hollowed out 2Bs!

For those seeking culture, Keswick has much on offer including many art galleries. There is also a very well visited Theatre by the Lake, the Alhambra. Or visit one of Britain’s oldest cinemas, the annual Keswick Mountain Festival or the fantastic Jazz festival as well as a Regatta which is growing in popularity.

All this and more situated right on the doorsteps of our wonderful Keswick cottages.

So why not book that special break away in one of our self-catering Keswick holiday cottages and one of the Lake District’s most enchanting towns.