21 Things to Do in Keswick with Kids
Keswick is a brilliant base for family adventures in the Lake District. From lakeside strolls to ancient stone circles, there’s plenty to keep kids entertained. Here’s a guide to our favourite family-friendly activities and walks that the whole family will enjoy
Things to Do
1. Derwentwater Boat Hire
From the jetties on the shore of Derwentwater you have a choice of boats to hire. If you’re feeling super active you can hire a rowing boat, or for something less strenuous there are small motorboats for hire. Both of these can be hired from the boatshed on the shore.
For a different type of boat trip, you could catch a Keswick Launch from the jetty. It travels around Derwentwater and stops off at various points (including a drop off for the Catbells walk) so it’s a great way to explore the area.
2. Castlerigg Stone Circle
Step back in time at this 5,000-year-old circle. We enjoyed this much more than I expected! It’s easy to explore, and perfect for children to imagine ancient times. It really is quite mind blowing trying to imagine life at the time it was constructed.
There is a walk from Keswick Market Square to the stone circle, which is approximately 4 miles there and back. You can also visit by car, there is free roadside parking. This is super limited, and fills up quickly during school holidays. Alternatively, the 555 bus runs from Keswick, get off at the Castle Lane stop, and from there it is around a 15 minute walk to Castlerigg.
3. Hope Park & Gardens
Hope Park is often thought of as a green space to walk through on the way to somewhere else (the jetties, Theatre by the Lake), but it’s well worth a visit all on it’s own. A beautiful, well kept space, there are plenty of activities for families to enjoy together. Choose from remote controlled boats, crazy golf, boules, or visit the bird hide, and then visit the lovely café for snacks. Find it on Lake Road, Keswick CA12 5DG.
4. Whinlatter Forest Activity Trails
Whinlatter Forest is an adventure lovers playground, with walking trails, bike trails, playgrounds, and nature play. Go Ape, the treetop adventure is based here, as well as a Gruffalo Orienteering course. You can even trek with alpacas!
Check the Whinlatter Forest website when you’re planning a trip, as they have different children’s trails on at different times. At the time if writing there is a Stick Man Christmas Trail.
5. Derwent Pencil Museum
It doesn’t sound like the most interesting day out, but we honestly loved visiting Derwent Pencil Museum! With the friendliest staff we’ve ever met, the museum is small, but perfectly formed.
There are interesting exhibits and plenty to see, with a trail for kids as they go round. Top tip – be prepared for the shop! It’s VERY tempting!
I have a full review of our visit to Derwent Pencil Museum here.
6. Lake District Wildlife Park
One of my daughter’s favourite places to visit in the area, the Lake District Wildlife Park is a great day out. With loads of different wildlife to see, as well as timed displays and talks, there is plenty to do for a whole day. A bonus is that it has a soft play, which can extend the fun even more!
7. Keswick Museum
Another place to pay a visit to is Keswick Museum. packed full of local history with super interesting exhibits for all ages to enjoy. The museum often hosts visiting exhibitions and holds family days, so check out the website here before your visit.
You can find Keswick Museum on Station Road, in Fitz Park.
8. Kong Adventure Centre
Kong is an indoor adventure centre perfect for burning off some energy! Packed out with climbing walls, soft play, and obstacle courses, this is a great place to visit at any time, but it’s perfect for rainy days.
Find the Kong Adventure Centre on Heads Rd, Keswick CA12 5EZ.
9. Mirehouse and Gardens
Mirehouse and Gardens was such a lovely surprise when we visited! We had no idea what to expect, but what we found were huge gorgeous gardens with plenty of room to burn off steam, hidden adventure playgrounds, water features to relax beside and a walk right down to Bassenthwaite Lake.
Right on the shore of Bassenthwaite, Mirehouse is just a short drive out of Keswick, and there is easy parking at Dodd Wood Car Park across the road from the entrance. Buy your tickets at the Old Sawmill Tearoom right next to the car park.
I’ve written a full post about our visit to Mirehouse and Gardens here.
10. The Puzzling Place
Always popular, The Puzzling Place is packed full of optical illusions. With lots of different activities and things to explore, it’s a great place to enjoy a fun hour (especially if it’s raining!). It’s suitable for all ages, and definitely not just for kids!
You can find the Puzzling Place on Museum Square, Keswick CA12 5DZ.
11. Springs Farm
Just outside Keswick, Springs Farm offers farm tours on their accessible farm trailer. Meet the ever popular highland cows, as well as pygmy goats, Herdwick sheep, KuneKune pigs, beef herds and lambs. Lean all about these breeds, and even feed them!
The tours run every weekend day, from April to November. Springs Farm also run special Santa farm tours in December.
12. Alpacaly Ever After
There’s a lot of choice when it comes to the alpacas at Alpacaly Ever After. Firstly, you can choose the experience. Do you want to meet the alpacas, where you get to know the herd, learn all about them and hand feed them? Or, would you like to walk with alpacas, where you get to explore with them, and even take them for a paddle?!
Next, would you like your alpaca fun to be at Basecamp North Lakes, the Lingholm Estate, or in Whinlatter Forest?
Under 10s can go on the walks, but need an adult to lead their alpaca. Book directly on the Alpacaly Ever After website.
13. Aira Force
Close to Ullswater, and just 20 minutes from Keswick, Aira Force is a beautiful place to visit. The waterfall itself is impressive, and is surrounded by woodland paths, trails and bridges. This means your walk can be as short or long as you like.
You could visit Aira Force as part of a longer walk right up to Gowbarrow Summit, or you could simply visit the falls themselves and explore the immediate area.
Parking is free for National Trust members, or you can stop off at Aira Force on an Ullswater Steamer.
I’ve written a full guide to visiting Aira Force here.
14. Theatre by the Lake
The Theatre by the Lake is, as it suggests, a beautiful theatre set by the side of the stunning Derwentwater. With plenty of choice when it comes to performances, there are almost always shows that families will enjoy. Some shows are touring, and some a created by the Theatre by the Lake team themselves.
Next door to the the theatre is the Lakeside Cafe Restaurant, giving you the option of food alongside a show.
You can find the Theatre by the Lake at Lakeside, Keswick CA12 5DJ and the nearest parking is Lakeside car Park.
Family Walks near Keswick
15. Keswick Mouse Trail
The Keswick Mouse Trail is a fun trail around Keswick, and while it’s a lovely trail, it also supports the Keswick Mountain Rescue team, so it’s extra lovely!
First, you need to download a map from the website or pick one up from Keswick Cheese Deli. Then use the map to locate the 22 mice that have escaped from the deli and are hiding in shops all over town! Once you’ve found them all, go back to Keswick Cheese Deli, get your map stamped and buy a badge (at the time of writing these are 50p) to celebrate your success! All monies go straight to Keswick Mountain Rescue.
This is a lovely trail to do in a day or over a few days.
16. Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Walk
This walk is an accessible, mostly flat trail following an old railway line. Perfect for families, buggies and wheelchairs. You don’t even have to walk it! Take a bike or a scooter and enjoy using wheels to rack up the km.
The walk starts in Keswick, in the car park of Keswick Leisure Centre. From there, follow the well signed path as it starts along the old railway track. You’ll go through tunnels, over rivers, and through beautiful countryside as you make your way towards the village of Threlkeld.
The full walk (there and back) is 10km, but you have km markers on the trail so you know how far along the walk you are. And if at any point you think you don’t want to complete the full walk, you can always just turn around and head back. If you do go all the way to Threlkeld, you’ll find a delicious cafe, and you can take the bus back to Keswick if you’ve run out of steam.
I’ve written more about the Keswick to Threlkeld walk here.
17. Walla Crag
This is a great walk for families with older children. It’s a low fell climb, offering stunning views without a full mountain hike.
The walk is 6 miles, and you’ll need 3-4 hours to get it done. It starts at Market Square in Keswick town centre, and finishes in Hope Park. During the walk, you’ll see amazing views, summit Walla Cragg, see Ashness Bridge, and Friars Cragg. It’s a fab route and the perfect length for stronger legs.
Full details of the walk can be found here.
18. Keswick Lakeside Round
A 1.5 mile walk starting in Keswick, perfect for families. The walk is pushchair accessible, and so varied, including lakeshore and woodland paths, and the beautiful Friar’s Crag. Kids will love spotting ducks, watching boats, and running off lots of steam in the open spaces.
The walk takes about an hour, but leave longer for playing time, especially if you finish in Hope Park, where there’s loads to do. Full details of the walk can be found here.
19. Derwentwater Circular
This is a beautiful, flat long walk right round the whole of Derwentwater. It is 10 miles in total, so it’s definitely an all day walk. Passing through ancient woodland and along lakeside paths, the terrain is easy and not challenging.
The walk starts the walk at Keswick Lakeshore, by the launch, and if you do the entire loop, it finishes here too! However, the great thing about Derwentwater is that because of the launch jetties, you are able to hop on a boat back to Keswick from multiple points around the lake. So it’s a fab, flexible walk with lots to see and do right around the lake.
Full details on the Derwentwater Walk can be found here.
20. Catbells
Catbells is a classic! It’s the first Wainwright I did when I was growing up, and thanks to school trips, it’s the first one all of my kids have done too. It is totally achievable, while still being challenging enough to be interesting, with a cheeky little bit of scrambling in there just for fun.
The most fun way to start the walk is to travel from Keswick lakeshore, and catch a launch, getting off at the Hawes End jetty for the main route up Catbells. (You can park close to the start but it is SO busy I just don’t recommend it if you can at all help it.)
The walk is popular, and generally fairly busy, so it’s pretty easy to find your way. However, I always recommend planning your route first with OS Maps or AllTrails, AND taking a paper OS map with you so you can check where you’re going.
21. Dodd Wood
Dodd Wood is directly across the road from the previously mentioned Mirehouse and Gardens, and shares a car park with it. Looked after by Forestry England, Dodd Wood has a network of walking trails of different grades and lengths, which means you can choose one to suit your family.
If you’re feeling up for it, choose the trail that leads you all the way to Dodd Summit, for the outstanding views at the top. It’s a 4 mile loop, but has a lot of uphill sections, so definitely a challenge!
Once you’ve completed your trail, visit the Old Sawmill Tearoom right back at the car park for a post-walk treat.
Details of all the trails (and the all important cafe) can be found on the Forestry England site here.