Things to do in Keswick
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Keswick Launch
Derwentwater is undoubtedly one of the Lake District's most attractive lakes, and remained a lifelong favourite of Beatrix Potter.The lake jetties are a short stroll south of town, next to the fields of Crow Park. Boats putter out to landing stages at Ashness Gate, Lodore Falls, High Brandlehow, Low Brandlehow, Hawse End, Nichol End. Departures run clockwise and anticlockwise; you can get off and walk to the next stage if you wish. Single fares to each jetty are also available
There are six daily boats from March to November, with a couple of extra afternoon sailings and a twilight cruise in summer. There are only two sailings a day in winter.
Rowboats (£12 per hour) and…
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Pencil Museum
In the mid 17th-century, graphite was discovered in the Borrowdale fells, and Keswick became a centre for of pencil production. The old Cumberland Pencil Factory now houses this rather odd pencil-themed museum, whose exhibits include the world's longest pencil (measuring 8m end to end) and a replica of a Borrowdale slate mine. You can buy luxury Derwent colouring pencils in the museum shop.
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Cars of the Stars Motor Museum
This museum houses a fleet of celebrity vehicles: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Mr Bean's Mini, a Batmobile, KITT from Knight Rider, the A-Team van and the Delorean from Back to the Future, as well as lots of Bond cars.
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Café 26
Knightsbridge comes to Keswick at this groovy wine-bar, decked out with leather bench seats, burgundy paintwork and plenty of velour cushions. Oenophiles will appreciate the extensive wine list, and if you enjoy yourself just a little too much, there are several contemporary rooms above the bar.
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Lakeland Pedlar Wholefood Cafe
This veggie-organic-wholefood emporium has been going for donkey's years, but there's nowhere better in town if you fancy a chunky sandwich or a bowl of soup. There's a bike shop upstairs, too.
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Sweeney's Bar Restaurant & Rooms
Count on decent Brit cooking in comfortable surrounds at Sweeney's. It's half chic wine bar, half restaurant-with-rooms: leather sofas and polished tables spread over two floors, with a beer garden for soaking up the rays.
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Lemon & Lime
This global bistro takes a mix-and-match approach to its wide-ranging cuisine - for starters you might choose falafels, spring rolls or Yakitori chicken, with Malaysian noodles, Thai curry or chicken schnitzel to follow.
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Puzzling Place
If you're a fan of brainteasers, the Puzzling Place is a real treat, with a maze of rooms crammed with holograms, optical illusions and a truly befuddling anti-gravity gallery.
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Keswick Climbing Wall & Activity Centre
Keswick Climbing Wall & Activity Centre, behind the Pencil Museum, organises outdoor activities including canoeing, abseiling, rock climbing and cycling.
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Dog & Gun
With its low ceilings, tobacco-tinted walls and wooden booths, this old Keswick boozer makes a fine place for a swift pint and a plate of nosh.
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Theatre by the Lake
Keswick's theatre shows new and classic dramas, as well as occasional live gigs and events.
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Bryson's Tea Room
Perhaps the most famous bakery in the Lakes, renowned for its traditional fruitcakes, Battenburgs and chocolate sponges.
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Loose Box
The best pizzas in town are dished up at this small Italian diner, attached to the Kings Arms.
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Cotswold Outdoor
There are lots of outdoors shops around town, including a huge branch of Cotswold Outdoor.
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George Fisher
There are countless outdoors shops dotted along the Main St, but none can match George Fisher for heritage. This three-floored store has been here for nigh on a century and stocks everything you could possibly need for a day on the hills – and the boot-fitting service is legendary.
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Abraham's Tea Rooms
Squeezed into an attic on the top floor of George Fishers, this old-timey cafe is great for a country lunch. Go for a hot rarebit (toasted-cheese-on-toast) or mackerel paté, and chase it down with a glass of fresh-made lemonade or a classic cream tea.
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Nichol End Marine
Nichol End Marine hires out kayaks, windsurfers, rowboats and motor-boats.
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Whinlatter Forest Park
Encompassing 1200 hectares of pine, larch and spruce, Whinlatter is England's only true mountain forest, rising sharply to 790m about 5 miles from Keswick. The forest is a designated red squirrel reserve; you can check out live video feeds from squirrel cams at the visitor centre.
It's also home to two exciting mountain-bike trails and the Go Ape tree-top assault course. Bikes can be hired from Cyclewise, next to the visitor centre, which also runs regular skills sessions and training courses.
Mountain bikes can be also hired from Keswick Mountain Bikes. Their road-specific shop is above the Lakeland Pedlar Cafe in Keswick.
Bus 77 (four daily) runs to the visitor centre from…
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The Pheasant Inn
If you've got a car, you won't regret taking a spin along Bassenthwaite to find this hidden-away pub, which boasts one of Lakeland's most convincingly antique interiors. Hunting prints and pewter tankards cover the old bar, stocked with vintage whiskies and Lakeland ales, and the two restaurants serve great country food – as well as a fine afternoon tea, served in the proper fashion on tiered cake towers.
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Keswick Mountain Bikes
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George Hotel
Keswick's most venerable drinking hole, this well-worn pub is a locals' lair, and serves Jenning's ales and runs a popular quiz night on Tuesday.
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Fell Walks
Keswick has a wealth of local walks. The most popular is the family-friendly fell of Catbells (451m), on the lake's west side; the trailhead starts next to the jetty at Hawse End, served by the Keswick Launch.
Hardcore hikers will prefer the more challenging slog up Skiddaw (931m), the huge mountain that looms on Keswick's northern skyline. To the north east of town near Threlkeld, Blencathra (868m) is an equally challenging proposition.
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Morrel's
This reliable restaurant is the address for bistro food in Keswick. The feel inside is suitably sleek and shiny, with tall windows, leather chairs, spotlights and wood floors, providing the perfect setting for plates of guinea fowl with celeriac puree or pork belly on black mash. There are two self-catering apartments upstairs (£400-700 per week).
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Mayson's
Buffet-style dining, cheap prices and generous portions are the modus operandi at this no-fuss diner. Each of the counter-top woks has a different fusion theme (Thai, Chinese, Mexican etc): take your pick, buy a drink, and wait for it to be brought to your table.
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Keswick Museum
Hardly anything has changed since Keswick's municipal museum opened its doors in 1898. Dusty cases fill the halls: the most famous exhibits are a centuries-old mummified cat and the celebrated Musical Stones of Skiddaw, a truly weird instrument made from hornsfel rock that was once played for Queen Victoria.
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