Keswick with small children

[BackIntoTheSun]

We are staying near Keswick at Easter with DC aged 5 and 1 and looking for recommendations of places to visit. I've been to Keswick before but not with kids. I know there's the pencil museum, we'll probably go to that. Is the Beatrix Potter World worth a visit? Also is there a steam train near Keswick or is it quite far to drive to? Any good kid friendly places to eat?

Thanks!

Steam train is on the coast but not too long a journey.

This is quite good for a quick visit www.puzzlingplace.co.uk/

Boat trip on the Lake.

There are launches on Derwent Water, Steamers on Ullswater

Short path from the car park at Lattrigg to the summit for great views.

Find a nice walk at a tarn: Watendlath or Tarn Hows

Short walk up to look at the massive cave above Rydal Water (park in the pub car park and have a coffee there when you come down )

The pencil museum is AMAZINGLY boring, unless you have a massive pre-existing interest in pencils. Dd and I went recently, and because she is older we enjoyed it BECAUSE it was so boring it was actually funny - as if they were making it boring deliberately.

But with the age of your kids I would imagine they would get nothing from it.....

Sorry, it sounds like I am being very negative! I love the Lakes - DD and I have been going every year since she was about 5. Depends how far you are willing to drive - Bowness is best for kids I would say - you have mini golf and the amusement arcade, and the Beatrix Potter World thing, which I imagine most kids would like tho actually DD was never keen.....

And hopefully you will get the weather anyway and be able to spend lots of time outdoors. The Grizedale Forest is lovely and has a sculpture trail we often do.

Enjoy! Quire jealous now - must book something for this year......

I stay near there often but we spend all our time on the water. The park at Keswick is good and has crazy golf etc but you probably would be better more central, it's quite a drive from Keswick to windermere.

Beatrix Potter can be quite quick if your children are the type to rush through the exhibits. I went when mine were 7 and 8 and made them stop and look at everything, pose for photos etc so we enjoyed it but it's possible to dash through in about 20 minutes.

Keswick Climbing Wall has an outdoor play area called The Rookery which my 5yo & 2yos absolutely loved - we ended up going twice as the kids loved it so much.

whinlatter forest is lovely and has a nice play area

windermere - there's an aquarium there which again is nice, pleasantly surprised and good for rainy day

waterfalls at ullswater are beautiful - park other side and take the steamer to them

We also did the Keswick to Threlkeld walk, which is along an old railway line. It’s a nice walk and perfectly flat, so DCs enjoyed doing it on their scooters

Whinlatter forest, lots of walking trails including the gruffalo trail and a play area.

Grizedale forest is farther away but very similar.

The only steam train is the la'al ratty but that's a 2hr+ drive from Keswick!

Nichol End Marina do water sports, paddle boarding and kayaking.

I love Castlerigg stone circle, if your DC have an interest in ancient history

Whinlatter definately
pencil museum definately not
beatrix potter museum….you won’t be in long with children that age …..an hour tops….probably less

I doubt a 5 and 1 year old have an interest in ancient history 🙄

At that age my two would spend ages throwing stones into the lake!

We always loved the crazy golf in the park.

Whinlatter forest.

Mirehouse Gardens are lovely for a wander around.

Brockhole visitor center is half an hour drive away and has loads of activities that your 5 yr old would enjoy.

I’m from the area originally and go back every holidays with my DC to visit DM. Keswick is our favourite trip out. So I would recommend:

Walking down to the Lake, stop to play crazy golf on the way and remote control boats, at the lake buy some duck food from the kiosk, go in a boat and have a nosy at the island and the house on it. Walk along to friars crag at the end. The Theatre by the Lake has family productions too.

Check what’s on at the Alhambra Cinema. It’s a lovely little cinema.

The puzzling place is good for half an hour.

Kong climbing wall.

There’s a brilliant park of play equipment by the cricket club, where the swimming pool used to be.

Friar’s sweet shop is an absolute must!

I agree with others that have said Whinlatter. Great for the kids to have a good run around. Ravenglass is an hours drive from Keswick and you can get on the la’ll ratty there to the end of the line at Dalegarth. Have some lunch, walk down to the church/river and catch steam engine back. The puzzle place is good to pass some time definitely if you get the usual Cumbrian rain!

Oh and absolutely to Whinlatter forest! A great walk and lots of play equipment

Brockhole has an amazing adventure playground. It would be about a 30/40min drive from keswick

We did the pencil museum, bought the tickets on Groupon though, was definitely so bad it was good, and we'd only paid a few quid each so didn't mind.

I love the pencil museum!

We loved the pencil museum, including our 5-year-old, but it is quite small and nerdy. The shop is amazing though.

I love castlerigg stone circle too and small kids seem to like running around it.

Just walking and pottering by the lake the main park has a lovely play area too

Thanks for all the suggestions 🙂

I have actually been to the pencil museum before and I thought it was alright! I think my 5yo might like it, but her favourite phrase at the moment is 'that's boring' so I'm aware that it could go either way!

Argh name change fail 🙈